Starting Saturday, July 1, Fensel's Electric located on the northeast corner of the Freeman community will be under the ownership of Kleinsasser Heating and Cooling. The Freeman-based business will close Fensel's Electric for at least the new two weeks for inventory. Current owner Don Beier will remain involved.

Menno businessman and owner of Ken's Electric, Ken Steponik, helps take down senior banners from the light poles on Fifth Street Thursday morning — just in time for the American flags to go up in anticipation of next week's Fourth of July celebration in Menno. The senior banners, which were hung for the fourth year, are being given to families thanks to the sponsorship support that helps make the project possible and may be picked up inside the main entrance to Menno Public School.

This was the scene in the basement of Pioneer Hall Wednesday morning as Michelle Pepper, a driver's education instructor out of Sioux Falls, leads this year's class of learners at Freeman Academy. More than 30 young men and women from the area are taking the class, which includes four full days of lecture Monday though Thursday of this week, with driving beginning on Friday and continuing through July 20. Each student will be required to pass a written test and the six hours behind the wheel that is required.

A city of Freeman garbage container sits curbside following the weekly pickup for properties north of Sixth Street. Residents and businesses living on that side of Freeman should note that next week's Tuesday collection will be moved to Wednesday instead because of the Fourth of July holiday.

Lavender, one of the schoolchildren attending Crunchem Hall, declares classmate Matilda her best friend during a scene in the Freeman Area Children's Choir's production of "Matilda, Jr.!" presented Sunday night, June 25. Lavender and Matilda were played by Hannah Bradley and Ella Lewter, respectively, who are the daughters of FACC directors Amber Bradley and Iwona Lewter. They were part of cast of 32 young actors in grades 4-8 to present the popular children's story to a large and appreciative audience following a two-week rehearsal schedule.

The was the cloud formation looking to the east late Saturday as unsettled weather dotted the region. Rainfall totals across the larger Freeman community varied considerably, but was well over an inch in most places — especially after a brief but hard shower rolled across the area early Saturday evening. Sunday will be windy and cooler.

An overnight storm brought much-needed rain (reports from across the area have ranged from 1.25 to more than 2 inches) but also wind, as evident in this photo taken along Freeman's South County Road. There was also no water at some locations in Freeman because of what is believed to be a lighting strike at the city's water tower. 

That's a hard rain pounding Main Street shortly before noon on Friday. The region is entering a fairly active weather pattern that will bring a chance of rain and thunderstorms into the area overnight and into Saturday.

Jocelyn Lee, who plays the part of Miss Trunchbull — the headmistress of Crunchem Hall Primary School and the antagonist in the story — sings "The Smell of Rebellion" during a rehearsal for "Matilda, Jr.!" Thursday morning. It was the ninth day of the 10-day musical theater camp for the Freeman Area Children's Choir, which will culminate with a performance Sunday, June 25 in Pioneer Hall starting at 6:30 p.m.

This week marks the 25th anniversary of the announcement of plans to build the Freeman Prairie Arboretum, a multi-phase process that saw a major transformation of 40 acres of pasture land located in the southwest corner of Freeman over a three-year period. The arboretum was formally dedicated in 2002. This week's Courier editorial reflects on the announcement, all that came afterward and the rich value the arboretum brings to the community.