This is the floor of the South Dakota House of Representatives during the 32nd day of the 2023 legislative session Wednesday, March 1. Publisher Jeremy Waltner was in Pierre Wednesday and Thursday to visit with local legislators for a story in the upcoming issue of The Courier.

Freeman Public Schools Superintendent Jake Tietje, left, and Freeman Academy Head of School Brad Anderson visit prior to Tuesday night's Region 4B game between the Flyers and the Freeman Academy/Marion Bearcats. It was a friendly but competitive environment inside Sterling Hall as the Bearcats fended off the Flyers in what was a scrappy, physical and often ugly affair. FA/Marion's 42-35 win pairs the Bearcats with Irene-Wakonda Friday night in Centerville, with the winner advancing to the SoDak 16.

Players from the Menno boys basketball team are reflected on the court during a timeout Monday night, Feb. 27. The No. 8-seed Wolves hosted No. 9 Gayville-Volin in the opening round of the Region 4B Tournament and were edged by the Raiders  56-53. Ten three-pointers by the visitors propelled them to the win. Region 4B action continues tonight with four games, including a showdown between Freeman Academy/Marion and Freeman Public at 6 p.m. in Sterling Hall.

Postseason basketball picks up once again starting tonight — and this time is the boys who will take the court. The Region 4B Tournament will get underway tonight with one game, when No. 8 Menno hosts No. 9 Gavyille-Volin at 6 p.m. Action continues with four games on Tuesday, including a showdown between No. 2 Freeman Academy/Marion and No. 7 Freeman Public at 6 p.m. in Sterling Hall. The winners of Tuesday's games will play Friday night for spot in the SoDak 16.

Freeman senior Erin Uecker defends Centerville's Thea Gust in what was an entertaining Region 4B battle between the No. 3 Flyers and No. 2 Tornadoes in Irene Saturday night. The two teams went back and forth in the first half to give fans a thrilling brand of basketball, and Uecker and the Flyers held a 34-30 lead early in the third quarter. But a shooting exhibition from multiple girls from Centerville followed, and the Tornadoes began pulling away.

The Freeman Public boys played their final regular season game at home against Gayville-Volin Friday night, but before tipoff, the team's only senior, Ethan Balvin, was recognized and presented with gifts by juniors Evan Scharberg, left, and Rocky Ammann. The Flyers went on to win 58-42 and will take part in the Region 4B Tournament next week. Freeman will face Freeman Academy/Marion Tuesday at 6 p.m. in Sterling Hall.

City workers clear a windrow of snow from Main Street Friday morning following the latest round of winter weather. And it's cold, with the air temperature below zero and a high today expected to be in the single digits. 

As expected, another winter storm dumped more snow across the already snow-soaked region on Wednesday and early Thursday morning, bringing with it high winds and very cold temperatures. The Freeman community was on the southern side of the system and received a lesser amount of snow than others — one measurement showed just under 8 inches in town — but the blowing snow made conditions very poor.

A solid defensive effort, like this shown by Rylee Peters (20) and Erin Uecker helped lead the Freeman Public girls to a 62-36 win over Alcester-Hudson in the Region 4B Tournament Tuesday night in Centerville. Here's the full report.

Marion/Freeman head wrestling coach Chris Sayler offers a few remarks during a Tuesday morning sendoff for the state-bound wrestlers, who left for Rapid City at 9 a.m. to get ahead of the incoming winter weather. Also pictured is assistant coach Jeff Wollman and those grapplers heading to state: From left - Brody Gossen at 106, Easton Tschetter at 113, Finley McConniel at 120 and Riley Tschetter, who is going as an alternate at 160 lbs. The competition begins Thursday morning at 10 a.m. MST.