PHOTO OF THE DAY: MEETING OF THE MINDS
photo day
PHOTO OF THE DAY: MEETING OF THE MINDS
By Jeremy Waltner 
July 19, 2025
Edie Tschetter and Nathan Epp talk logistics ahead of the live auction that will help highlight the 2025 South Dakota Mennonite Central Committee Reli...
PHOTO OF THE DAY: CREATIVE JUICES
photo day
PHOTO OF THE DAY: CREATIVE JUICES
By Jeremy Waltner 
July 18, 2025
Luke Kelly creates art by pressing a decorative rubber block onto a pad of ink before transferring it to paper Thursday afternoon, July 17. It was par...
PHOTO OF THE DAY: SKY HIGH
photo day
PHOTO OF THE DAY: SKY HIGH
By Jeremy Waltner 
July 17, 2025
The three center flags at the Freeman Area Veteran's Memorial are pictured against a partly cloudy sky in Freeman on Thursday — another day that is se...
‘BRIGHT STAR’ NAMED 2026 SCHMECKFEST MUSICAL
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‘BRIGHT STAR’ NAMED 2026 SCHMECKFEST MUSICAL
By Jeremy Waltner 
July 16, 2025
“Bright Star,” a musical that opened on Broadway in 2016 and was nominated for five Tony Awards, including Best New Musical, has been selected as the ...
PHOTO OF THE DAY: NOT GOOD
photo day
PHOTO OF THE DAY: NOT GOOD
By Jeremy Waltner 
July 16, 2025
This Silver Maple and a chunk of the front deck at Erin and Leah Lachman's home fell victim to a strong storm that moved across the region Tuesday eve...
PHOTO OF THE DAY: BOOM, BLAST, HISTORY
photo day
PHOTO OF THE DAY: BOOM, BLAST, HISTORY
By Jeremy Waltner 
July 14, 2025
This photo, taken during the fireworks display at the conclusion of Freeman's Independence Day celebration held July 6, is featured on the cover of th...
KNODEL REFLECTS ON CAREER ROOTED IN COMPASSION
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KNODEL REFLECTS ON CAREER ROOTED IN COMPASSION
By Jeremy Waltner 
July 15, 2025
She started at Freeman Academy before settling in at Menno. With one year left, she is now the SDCTE Teacher of the Year. Betsy Knodel knew she wanted...
SD MCC SALE FEATURES NEW GENERATION
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SD MCC SALE FEATURES NEW GENERATION
By Jeremy Waltner 
July 15, 2025
SD MCC Relief Sale featuring new generation of poppy seed roll-makers Wide variety of foods will be available starting at 11 a.m. Saturday Over the ye...
PHOTO OF THE DAY: EYES ON YOU
photo day
PHOTO OF THE DAY: EYES ON YOU
By Jeremy Waltner 
July 14, 2025
A lawn ornament absorbs the hot sun and intense heat of the day as temperatures are again climbing into the 90s. Hot weather will continue through Tue...
PHOTO OF THE DAY: MOON SHOT
photo day
PHOTO OF THE DAY: MOON SHOT
By Jeremy Waltner 
July 13, 2025
The moon that rose in the eastern sky late Saturday night, July 12 was a beautiful one, with orange accents standing out against other elements — in t...
PHOTO OF THE DAY: TOUR GUIDE
photo day
PHOTO OF THE DAY: TOUR GUIDE
By Jeremy Waltner 
July 9, 2025
With his wife, Lillie, to his left, Andre Eisenbeis leads a group of 20 newspaper men and women from around the county — and one from the UK — on a to...
PHOTO OF THE DAY: STANDING WATER
photo day
PHOTO OF THE DAY: STANDING WATER
By Jeremy Waltner 
July 8, 2025
Emma Schoenwald and friend Evelyn Lafrentz found enjoyment in a ditch full of water not far north of their Dewald Street homes in Freeman Monday eveni...
MUSEUM GOES BACK IN TIME TO ONE-ROOM SCHOOLS
By Jeremy Waltner 
July 7, 2025
June 29 program offers historical context, a look at local impact, and an  exploration of Diamond Valley School Through exhaustive research and a thor...
Becky Hupp outline
By Jeremy Waltner 
July 7, 2025
Outline: Diamond Valley School History Introduction and Context Geographic Setting Located next door to Heritage Hall Museum Part of broader education...
Tim L. Waltner outline
By Jeremy Waltner 
July 7, 2025
South Dakota School Consolidation and Freeman Junior College Connection National Context and South Dakota's Educational Crisis National Consolidation ...
Ryan Mews Outline
By Jeremy Waltner 
July 7, 2025
South Dakota One-Room Schoolhouses: Historical Educational Development Introduction: The Educational Landscape of South Dakota Hundreds of one-room sc...
‘THIS IS MENNO; THIS IS WHAT WE ARE’
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‘THIS IS MENNO; THIS IS WHAT WE ARE’
By Jeremy Waltner 
July 7, 2025
American pride again on full display as thousands flock to Menno for the biggest small-town Independence Day celebration around Mettler Implement show...
PHOTO OF THE DAY: COOK’S CORNER
photo day
PHOTO OF THE DAY: COOK’S CORNER
By Jeremy Waltner 
July 7, 2025
Mark Johnson and Austin Smidt man two grills used for cooking chislic during Freeman's Independence Day celebration Sunday, July 6. The traditional ch...
PHOTO OF THE DAY: WALK ‘N CHALK
photo day
PHOTO OF THE DAY: WALK ‘N CHALK
By Jeremy Waltner 
July 6, 2025
Dustin Tschetter chalks the left field line Sunday morning, July 6 in advance of a day of baseball at Merchants State Bank Field and the adjoining sof...
PHOTO OF THE DAY: CANDY RUSH
photo day
PHOTO OF THE DAY: CANDY RUSH
By Jeremy Waltner 
July 5, 2025
Scenes like this played out over and over again as thousands packed the streets of Menno late Friday morning, July 4 for the traditional Independence ...
SAARIE AND HIS STOLEN POLARIS RANGER; THE REPORT
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SAARIE AND HIS STOLEN POLARIS RANGER; THE REPORT
By Jeremy Waltner 
July 5, 2025
EDITOR'S NOTE: This story will appear in print in the July 9 issue of The Courier. Three individuals have been arrested and are facing state felony ch...
MENNO AMATEUR GAME, FIREWORKS MOVED TO JULY 5
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MENNO AMATEUR GAME, FIREWORKS MOVED TO JULY 5
By Jeremy Waltner 
July 4, 2025
Menno's Fourth of July baseball game between the Mad Frogs and Freeman — and the fireworks to follow — has been moved to Saturday, July 5 because of r...
79ERS WIN A PAIR AT MENNO’S JULY 4 CELEBRATION
sports
79ERS WIN A PAIR AT MENNO’S JULY 4 CELEBRATION
By Jeremy Waltner 
July 5, 2025
The only team to beat the Post 152 Junior Legion team so far this season — Tabor — saw what the 79ers are capable of Friday afternoon, July 4, as they...
PHOTO OF THE DAY: FOURTH OF JULY FEAST
photo day
PHOTO OF THE DAY: FOURTH OF JULY FEAST
By Jeremy Waltner 
July 4, 2025
Isla Andersen, daughter of Menno native and community resident Brittney Massey, goes through the line at the Menno FFA-hosted Fourth of July feed insi...
PHOTO OF THE DAY: SHOW AND TELL
photo day
PHOTO OF THE DAY: SHOW AND TELL
By Jeremy Waltner 
July 3, 2025
Will Stuck, a children's performer who works with libraries around the country, introduces himself and his show to those who are taking part in the Su...
79ERS’ JUNIOR LEGION IMPROVES TO 13-1
sports
79ERS’ JUNIOR LEGION IMPROVES TO 13-1
By Jeremy Waltner 
July 1, 2025
One night after blasting Alexandria 19-1, the Post 152 Junior Legion won twice more at Crofton, Neb., sweeping a doubleheader against Post 128 with 12...