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 this week's Courier. It was one of more than 600 similar images made by photographer Jeremy Waltner, who in addition to Freeman's celebration, covered t...

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 Tuesday before a mid-week cooldown.

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 the case the lights at the Freeman Junior-Senior High School parking lot.

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 tour of their Prairie Roots Produce operation located south/southwest of Freeman. It was a part of a day filled with activities for community journalist...

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 evening, July 7. The opportunity followed a hard rain that dumped more than 2 inches of rain locally, with lesser amounts in rural areas. The strong system...

Mark Johnson and Austin Smidt man two grills used for cooking chislic during Freeman's Independence Day celebration Sunday, July 6. The traditional chislic stand was staffed mostly by baseball players, with Merchants State Bank sponsoring the 225 dozen sticks of the traditional food, with all of it ...

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 softball park. It's Freeman's turn to host an Independence Day celebration, and action will begin at noon with the first games of the day, as well as the...

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 Day parade. There were 87 entries representing Menno and the surrounding area, and the processional lasted a full hour. Watch for a full report in the...

Isla Andersen, daughter of Menno native and community resident Brittney Massey, goes through the line at the Menno FFA-hosted Fourth of July feed inside the city/school auditorium following Friday's Independence Day parade. Thousands once again stormed Menno for the Fourth of July celebration, which...