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.

Tis the season for swimming lessons — at least it is in Freeman, where the first of two sessions for all levels is underway. Tuesday, June 20 was the second day of the first two-week session, and this is the Level 1 participants (the youngest group) getting used to the water. Lessons begin each day with Levels 5 and 6 at 8 a.m., with Levels 4, 3, 2 and 1 continuing through 11:45 a.m. The first session of lessons runs from June 19-30 with the second session scheduled for July 10-21.

A group of young actors involved with the Freeman Area Children's Choir rehearse a scene from "Matlida Jr!" which is the focus of a June 12-23 musical theater camp being led by FACC directors Amber Bradley and Iwona Lewter. The 10-day camp is being held during the mornings, and "Matilda Jr!" will be presented Sunday afternoon on the Pioneer Hall stage.

There's a slight haze in the air but the sun is shining on a beautiful Sunday morning in Freeman. This picture features Sixth Street — the primary roadway into Freeman from Highway 81 — running diagonally through the center-right portion of the image. The Freeman Missionary Church is pictured in the lower left, with the St. Paul Lutheran Church and Freeman Regional Health Services further toward the top.

Ryan Sorensen and sons Nash (left) and Hayes head for a fishing spot at the Freeman Prairie Arboretum Saturday morning, June 17 in the minutes leading up to the 9:30 a.m. start of the 17th Freeman Fishing Derby. Temperatures were comfortable for the family-friendly, catch-and-release event — which was scheduled to conclude at 11 a.m. — but turnout was light.

The Photo of the Day on Wednesday showed the new stop sign that faces west at the corner of Cherry and Fifth Street. This is the other new stop sign that has gone up in Freeman and faces east at the corner of Cherry and Sixth Street.

Freeman was a busy place Wednesday night with the farmer's market (pictured) at the Swimming Pool Park, baseball and softball games across the road and a bike rodeo/light meal downtown that included participation from the Freeman Community Development Corporation, Freeman Regional Health Services and Pink Ladies. The evening also included a bike donation to community "bike doctor" Dennis Ries, who fixed up the rides for those who might be in need.

Drivers navigating the familiar Cherry Street jog that connects Sixth Street with Fifth Street will notice two new stop signs that have been placed at two intersections — this one facing west at Fifth and Cherry and another facing east at Sixth and Cherry. The signs are there to help control traffic at what is a busy connecting point for areas around town. 

This week's Courier is being produced by Publisher Jeremy Waltner from a charter bus on the way home from the Freeman Music Department's trip to Florida. This photo was taken from the front seat of the bus taken in the overnight hours of Monday into Tuesday as the group passed from Tennessee into Kentucky. The students and adult chaperones and music teachers are due to arrive back in Freeman Tuesday afternoon between 4 and 5 p.m. Waltner accompanied the group as a parent, chaperone and community journalist to report on the trip.