A review of the outstanding Schmeckfest musical ‘Jane Eyre’ | BY JEREMY WALTNER Let’s reach into our bag of words and see what we can find. Engaging. Sure, but we can do better. Enthralling. Yes, absolutely. But still not quite right. Mesmerizing. Definitely. But what about … Spellbinding. That’s it...

Boards appear to be closing in on 9-year sports agreement as ‘Pheasants’ starting this fall, with football, softball & wrestling beginning in fall of 2026 Parker School Board to hold special meeting with public input Thursday, April 3 at 6:30 p.m. Marion School Board to invite additional public comm...

Other demonstrations planned for Schmeckfest April 4-5; Freeman museum to debut new exhibits at annual festival Heritage Hall Museum & Archives has a full slate of activities planned during Schmeckfest 2025. That includes artisans who will demonstrate traditional crafts and “Heritage Pickers,” indiv...

EDITOR’S NOTE: Since January, the cast and production team involved with the 2025 Schmeckfest stage production, “Jane Eyre,” have been working diligently to prepare the musical drama for its three-night run on April 3, 4 and 5. Performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. each night. While “Jane Eyre” has b...

No other races necessary on April 8; Cody Fransen to join Freeman City Council, Katie Fransen Freeman School Board There will be two new members serving on the Menno School Board of Education when it convenes for another fiscal year in July. According to the business manager Dale Weiss, Ben Crick, J...

Three-day state tournament begins Thursday in Rapid City Three minutes and 45 seconds. That’s how long Easton Tschetter was on the mat during last week’s Region 2B Wrestling Tournament in Salem, and in that time, he recorded three pins and a championship in what can only be described as total domina...

This week, Mark Bradley will do something he’s never done before: Lead the Marion/Freeman Rebels into the region tournament. And if everything goes well, the first-year head coach will find himself — and his wrestlers — in an even bigger spot later next week: The state tournament out west. All of it...

Or Start with Part 1 While there are enrollment and financial challenges, there have also been positive developments in recent years. That, along with a rich history, is giving consituancy motivation to find a path forward. So what comes next? That’s the question many are pondering as the Freeman Ac...

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 five-year opt-out in the amount of $300,000, which as approved will be payable through the 2030 calendar year. This is a continuation of similar opt-outs...

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 the future hold? That is the question of the day. An email popped into Brian Paff’s inbox not long ago from a supporter of Freeman Academy who doesn’...