The inch-plus of badly-needed rain that fell across the Freeman community is reason for celebration, as are the graduations scheduled for today; commencements at Freeman Public (pictured) and Menno are both scheduled for this afternoon.

This photo, taken by famous Freeman photographer Willard Waltner sometime in the later 1960s, features Freeman's baseball field and a government C.C.C. bin site the foreground, with the community further to the south behind it. The relatively new-at-the-time St. Paul Lutheran Church is pictured toward the upper center, and what was then Freeman Public School is pictured right of center in the upper third of the photo. 

Banners honoring the Freeman High School and Freeman Academy classes of 2023 went up on along Sixth Street Wednesday night, and banners honoring the Menno High School Class of 2023 are going up along Fifth Street in Menno Thursday morning. Hanging the banners in Freeman were Mitch Kleinsasser and Tabitha Schoenwald, and Ken's Electric is assisting in Menno this morning. The 26 banners recognizing the seniors in Menno and the 31 recognizing the seniors in Freeman are sponsored by various businesses, organizations and individuals.

This photo by Courier reader Evan Waltner was taken Sunday morning. While the community hasn't received much of the rain that has been in the forecast, it has been partly cloudy the past few days, with a brief shower coming on Tuesday. And rain and wind are in the forecast for the next several days, with a chance for stormy weather.

Merchants State Bank in Freeman is pictured beneath cloudy skies on Tuesday — part of an overcast week that may produce rain and thunderstorms. There's a chance for both each of the coming days, with the best chance of severe weather Thursday and Friday.

Randall Koehler, pastor at the Hutterthal Mennonite Church northwest of Freeman, offers the message Sunday afternoon, May 7 at the Freeman Ministerial Association's community baccalaureate held at the Freeman Community Center. Many of the graduating seniors from Freeman Academy and Freeman Public attended the religious worship service that included music, scripture, prayer and the keynote from Pastor Koehler. Watch for a recap from Sunday's baccalaureate in this week's Courier.

The front of the Freeman Academy campus boulevard is pictured on an overcast Saturday morning. The countdown to the end of the school year is on at school's like Freeman Academy with corresponding events planned. The Freeman community baccalaureate will begin at 4 p.m. today at the Freeman Community Center, and the upcoming weeks will be the final ones for area students. Graduation at Freeman Public and Menno is scheduled for next Saturday afternoon, May 13 with Freeman Academy and Marion holding their respective commencements Saturday afternoon, May 20.

The warden of the town (played by Kolter Schmidt) takes a selfie with a a motorcycle-riding hotshot named Chad (played by Jackson Donlan) in Marion Public School's presentation of "All Shook Up," a musical that uses the tunes of Elvis Presley presented Thursday and Friday night. The story centers around Chad's arrival in 1950s America and his influence on the people of the town, specifically their relationship with love and music.

Donna Ries, instrumental instructor at Freeman Academy, warms up one of her students inside the gymnasium at Freeman Elementary at the Freeman Music Contest Friday morning, May 5. The vocal, ensemble and instrumental competition for students in grades 5-8 will continue all day with seven schools, including Freeman Public, taking part. The Freeman Music Contest debuted in 2010 the year after the new elementary school was built after being held in Tripp for decades prior.

Dusty Johnson, a United States Representative from Mitchell, visits with the junior U.S. Government class at Freeman Public Thursday morning, May 4. Johnson is spending the morning at the local school district meeting with several classes and the student council.