It's a gorgeous late-August day in the Freeman community — still, sunny and 78 degrees, per the clock at CorTrust Bank.

Workers from Triple R Paving were back at it Monday morning as they finish up on the main concrete work on the sidewalks and extended curbs. Another subcontractor is expected to begin the middle part of the week installing the remainder of the concrete — a ribbon of exposed aggregate running along the sidewalk closest to the road. When that is finished, the downtown business district will reopen to traffic and workers will turn their attention to the northern stretch of Main Street and the side streets.

Freeman Academy head soccer coach Scott Dent asks his team to regain their focus after a sloppy first half of play in the Bobcats' home opener against Dakota Valley Saturday, Aug. 27. Freeman Academy, which is joined by players from Freeman Public, Marion and Parker, led by 1-0 at the break before responding to their coach's encouragement to away with a 4-0 win. The Bobcats, now 2-1, got two goals from Chris Cardona, one from both Leo Wang and Domani Butler, and an assist from Emma Tuschen. Freeman Academy is home again on Tuesday when they host Sioux Falls Christian.

Chris Cardona gives a thumbs up as he and others with the Freeman Academy soccer program get ready to take the field for the home opener. The Bobcats (1-1) were scheduled to take the field against Dakota Valley at 11 a.m.

A temporary patch of exposed aggregate concrete (lower right) is pictured across the street to the north of The Et Cetera Shoppe. The decorative surface will be in installed along a narrow strip of the sidewalk closest to the roadway through the main part of the downtown business district starting next week.

Members of the Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy football team and other students and staff members from Freeman Public line up outside the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Freeman Thursday morning, Aug. 25 for the funeral of Kahlen Salis. Kahlen, an eighth grader, passed away on Aug. 16 from complications following a liver transplant. Kahlen's brother Ricky is a freshman member of the Phoenix football team.

The Wednesday morning sun peeks above the trees on the east side of the Freeman Junior-Senior High School parking lot as a steady rain falls across the community. The morning broke with thunder, lighting and a hard shower that quickly dumped as much as an inch-and-a-half in some areas. More was possible later.

Workers with Triple R Paving lay out a rock base in advance of concrete work commencing in front of Jamboree Foods on Freeman's Main Street. Much of the primary sidewalk has been installed, and after that is completed, another crew will come in to lay the ribbon of exposed aggregate — a more decorative style — on the are closest to the roadway. Concrete also has to be poured on the four intersections that feature an extended, zero-grade curb. Paul Korn of Sayre Associates says the business district should be open to traffic the first week of September.

Marnette Hofer, executive director and archivist at Heritage Hall Museum & Archives, introduces Gary Waltner prior to his presentation in Pioneer Hall Sunday afternoon, Aug. 21. Waltner, a 1956 graduate of Freeman Academy and 1958 graduate of Freeman Junior College, is an expert on the history of the Germans-From-Russia people and their trek across Europe that ultimately led to the migration to the United States beginning in 1874.

This is what was known as Freedom Corner starting in the late 1920s and continuing into the 1960s. Located at the corner of Highway 81 and Sixth Street — now the location of Casey's — the small settlement was about a half-mile east of Freeman when it was established and included a lunch counter known for beer and chislic on the west side and an automotive garage to the east. The "Freedom" moniker was likely in reference to the corner being removed from the strict rules and expectations found in Freeman itself, particularly as it related to alcohol.