PHOTO OF THE DAY: SUN(DAY) DOGS
photo day
By Jeremy Waltner 
February 16, 2025
Vibrant sun dogs decorated the eastern sky Sunday morning as the sun rose and rays of light refracted through ice crystals in the atmosphere — a pheno...
breaking news
By Jeremy Waltner 
February 16, 2025
A rough second quarter doomed the Freeman High School boys in their upset bid against Class B No. 3 Dell Rapids St. Mary in the Corn Palace Saturday n...
PHOTO OF THE DAY: ALL IN THE FAMILY
photo day
By Jeremy Waltner 
February 15, 2025
This week's issue of The Courier includes a story about the Ortman family pictured in their egg barn on a cold late-winter afternoon. They are, from l...
PHOTO OF THE DAY: 50 YEARS LATER …
photo day
By Jeremy Waltner 
February 14, 2025
Saturday night at the Corn Palace, the Freeman High School boys will face Dell Rapids St. Mary as the second-to-last game of the all-day DWU/Culver’s ...
PHOTO OF THE DAY: SIGNING DAY
photo day
By Jeremy Waltner 
February 13, 2025
Freeman High School senior Christopher Aasen, seated center, is pictured with some of his football teammates during a ceremonial signing with Dakota S...
PHOTO OF THE DAY: CAMPUS VISIT
photo day
By Jeremy Waltner 
February 12, 2025
The front of the Freeman Academy boulevard is pictured on a snowy Wednesday morning. The school is in the news again this week as The Courier has publ...
MIKE PETERSON: A SELF-BUILT, AMERICAN-MADE PARADOX
news
By Jeremy Waltner 
February 12, 2025
You don’t know Mike Peterson. You think you do. Those who have encountered the community resident of 36 years, or have heard about him, know him as a ...
THE STATE OF FREEMAN ACADEMY – PART 2
news
By Jeremy Waltner 
February 12, 2025
Or Start with Part 1 While there are enrollment and financial challenges, there have also been positive developments in recent years. That, along with...
PUBLISHER’S DESK: THE MAN IN THE MIRROR
news
By Jeremy Waltner 
February 12, 2025
I don’t know a single journalist who doesn’t thrive on the opportunity to hear people’s stories and then share those stories with others. After all, i...
MARION SCHOOL BOARD APPROVES $300K OPT-OUT
news
By Jeremy Waltner 
February 11, 2025
Monday night action is a continuation of previous 5-year opt-outs Meeting in regular session Monday night, Feb. 10, the Marion School Board OK’d a fiv...
PHOTO OF THE DAY: WINTER IN BLACK & WHITE
photo day
By Jeremy Waltner 
February 11, 2025
The beauty of winter was on full display Tuesday morning following an all-day snow event the day before, as several inches fell across the region. Tha...
THE STATE OF FREEMAN ACADEMY – PART 1
news
By Jeremy Waltner 
February 6, 2025
It’s hard to think about the history of Freeman without thinking about Freeman Academy, the institution founded more than 120 years ago. But what does...
PHOTO OF THE DAY: AS EXPECTED
photo day
By Jeremy Waltner 
February 10, 2025
The forecast was right — another round of snow is falling across the region on Monday and making for difficult travel. While a lack of wind is helpful...
sports
By Jeremy Waltner 
February 10, 2025
The Freeman High School girls will not travel to Avon tonight for the game against the Pirates due to the weather conditions, but a full slate of game...
PHOTO OF THE DAY: SNOWY, SUNNY SUNDAY
photo day
By Jeremy Waltner 
February 9, 2025
The Freeman Area Veteran's Memorial is pictured on a pleasant Sunday morning, with the sun shining and a white landscape offering a picturesque scene....
PHOTO OF THE DAY: MORNING CHORES
photo day
By Jeremy Waltner 
February 8, 2025
For the first time this winter, moving snow was the order of the day as community residents woke to a mantle of white. About two inches of accumulatio...
sports
By Jeremy Waltner 
February 8, 2025
After trailing most of the game, Scotland/Menno staged a fourth quarter rally to come away with a thrilling 46-45 win over Irene-Wakonda in girls bask...
PHOTO OF THE DAY: ON THE RISE
photo day
By Jeremy Waltner 
February 7, 2025
"Ahead of schedule and under budget." That's the report from Freeman Public Superintendent Jake Tietje regarding the custodial shed that is being buil...
PHOTO OF THE DAY: BROWN TONES
photo day
By Jeremy Waltner 
February 6, 2025
Winter days continue to pass in this community — strangely — without any snow. While the season has brought a few dustings and some spectacular frost ...
By Jeremy Waltner 
February 6, 2025
The Freeman High School girls and boys both won over Alcester-Hudson in Alcester Thursday night, Feb. 6, and the Scotland/Menno girls defeated Platte-...
COMMUNITY REPRESENTED AT TRIBAL RELATIONS DAY
By Jeremy Waltner 
February 6, 2025
Four Freeman organizations spend meaningful day inside Capitol rotunda in Pierre last Wednesday TIM L. WALTNER  -  FOR THE COURIER A Star Quilt presen...
PHOTO OF THE DAY: BIRD WATCHING
photo day
By Jeremy Waltner 
February 5, 2025
This photo was submitted by Courier reader Carol J. Eisenbeis, who took the picture northwest of Turkey Ridge. Marnette Hofer, also a Courier reader w...
PHOTO OF THE DAY: BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE …
photo day
By Jeremy Waltner 
February 4, 2025
This photo that shows volunteers making noodles for Schmeckfest was posted on the Schmeckfest Facebook page Saturday, Feb. 1 — the day that several do...
DEATH NOTICE: TROY HOFER, 31
By Jeremy Waltner 
February 3, 2025
Troy Hofer, 31, of Bridgewater, S.D., passed away Feb. 1. A funeral service will be held on Friday, Feb. 7 at 10:30 a.m. at Montrose United Methodist ...
PHOTO OF THE DAY: DOWNTOWN FIXTURE
photo day
By Jeremy Waltner 
February 3, 2025
This photo — along with the accompanying explanation — was posted on Facebook by Heritage Hall Museum & Archives as part of its weekly look back. Coas...
By Jeremy Waltner 
February 3, 2025
Freeman Academy and Freeman Public Schools have both announced a 1:30 p.m. Monday dismissal because of icy roads and, because Scotland and Menno are b...
PHOTO OF THE DAY: SUNDAY SELECTION
photo day
By Jeremy Waltner 
February 2, 2025
The Bethany Mennonite Church is pictured as it once stood in Freeman - similar in style and location to the structure that stands today but dated in t...