This was the scene at the Freeman softball field Tuesday evening, May 23 as the Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy Phoenix hosted Viborg-Hurley in the high school softball SoDak 16. As the higher seed, the No. 8 Phoenix hosted the No. 9 Cougars but ended up on the losing side of a 13-6 score. F/M/FA finishes the SDHSAA's inaugural season of sanctioned softball with a 5-11 record.

Erin Uecker, who is co-managing the Freeman Swimming Pool with Kate Miller this summer, cleans shelving inside the bathhouse Tuesday morning. An open house at the local summer hotspot will be held Tuesday, May 30 starting at 4:30 p.m. to allow families to purchase season passes, and the first day of the season is scheduled for Thursday, June 1.

Easton Tschetter looks home after getting the runner out at second base during Canistota/Freeman/Marion's Region 1B game against Dakota Valley in North Sioux City Sunday afternoon, May 21. Also pictured is shortstop Tayden Kerrigan. The No. 7 Sticks fell to the No. 2 Panthers 8-3 to finish their first-ever varsity season with a 5-7 record. Also in Region 1B action on Sunday, the No. 4 Scotland/Menno Trappers lost to No. 5 Parkston 8-1 to see their season come to an end with a 9-5 record.

Angelyn Allison and the Freeman Academy Class of 2023 are pictured on the Pioneer Hall stage during graduation Saturday afternoon, May 20. This has been a commencement weekend for a number of schools and communities, including FA — where 11 seniors said goodbye — and at Marion — where nine seniors closed out their high school careers.

The setting sun this past Thursday had an eerie feel to it due to wildfires in Canada. The smell of smoke and haze in the air was a reality starting that morning and prompted the US Environmental Agency to issue a warning through its Air Quality Index for the Great Plains and Midwest.  

Paul Wynia, Freeman Public’s public address announcer, gives instructions at the start of yesterday’s Region 4B Track and Field Meet. The competition was the last of its kind as the SDHSAA is doing away with region track meets after this year because of the new qualifying structure for state (a top-24 performance list) that has been in place since 2021. The Menno boys and the Centerville girls won Thursday’s Region 4B meet.    The state meet is next Thursday-Saturday in Sioux Falls. The field is expected to be released later today. 

Ashton Massey, a Menno junior and the top Class B hurdler in South Dakota, warms up at the Region 4B Track and Field Meet in Freeman Thursday morning, May 18. Field events began at 10 a.m. and running events are scheduled to start at 12 p.m. This marks the final year of region track meets in South Dakota — a decision that comes on the heels of a change in the way the field of state qualifiers is set.

Donna Ries, outgoing instrumental instructor at Freeman Academy pictured in the lower center, stands with both current and former students at the conclusion of a pep band concert that was part of a full evening of activities at the school on what was a beautiful Tuesday evening, May 16. The event, which included a tribute to Ries' years of service to the school, was marked by a surprise visit from Donna's three daughters, who are pictured standing next to her.

Katie Juhnke, principal at Freeman Junior-Senior High School, gestures in the direction of a new bench that has been placed in front of the school building in honor of Kahlen Salis, the 14-year-old student who passed away last August following complications from a liver transplant. Freeman Public held an assembly for students and staff on the last day of school Tuesday morning to dedicate the bench, which was made by Jim Christensen using red cedar and is inscribed with the words, "In Loving Memory, Kahlen Ranae Salis, 2008-2022," and bookended by two butterflies, which she loved.

The Courier is happy to share as its Photo of the Day the picture that is featured in Heritage Hall Museum & Archives' weekly feature, "Monday on Main." Here's the text that accompanies this classic click: