Amber Arlint, who grew up in Freeman as Amber Stern, sits on the Capitol steps in Pierre prior to the House session last week Thursday. Arlint, who lives with her husband and two sons in Sioux Falls, is representing District 12 and is featured in this week's Courier as the 5-Minute Interview. Read about her experience as a first-term lawmaker, including a surprising lesson about honey bees, online Wednesday and in print Thursday.

Luella D. Auch age 96 of Menno, S.D., passed away Sunday, March 5, 2023, at her son’s home. A funeral service will be held at 2 pm., Friday, March 10 at Salem Reformed Church, Menno, with Rev. Michael Hecht officiating. Burial will be in the Menno Cemetery.

Today's "Monday on Main" feature posted on Facebook by Heritage Hall Museum & Archives offers a look at this historic building. The information accompanying the photo reads as follows: Today's Main on Monday feature shows a building that was a fixture at Fifth and Main in Freeman for half a century. It became home to Stucky Electric, Janver Stucky’s electric repair business, shortly after he opened at Fifth and Main in October 1974. Stucky had started his electric motor repair business on the family farm southeast of Freeman several years earlier.

The cross atop the steeple at the St. Paul Lutheran Church is pictured on a sunny late Saturday afternoon; the Freeman Missionary Church is shown in the distance. 

This photo from a century ago offers a look at what downtown Freeman looked like back then. While much have changed, several of the buildings shown on the right side of the picture are still standing, as is the Merchants State Bank clock located in the center of the photo. 

The Freeman Academy/Marion boys were upset by Irene-Wakonda in the third round of the Region 4B Tournament Friday night, March 3. The second-seed Bearcats lost to the third-seed Eagles 62-52 and finish the season 13-9. Irene-Wakonda takes an 11-11 record into Tuesday's SoDak 16, where as the No. 16-seed will face No. 1 Lower Brule.

Jenny Peters fixes a plate of pancakes Friday morning, March 3 at the Freeman High School FFA pancake feed being held in conjunction with National FFA Week. Pictured in the background is Austin Unruh, head boys basketball coach for Freeman Academy/Marion, visiting with Patrick Hofer about tonight's Region 4B final in which Unruh's Bearcats will face Irene-Wakonda for a spot in the SoDak 16. The game will be the second of two and will follow the game between Viborg-Hurley and Scotland, which is scheduled to start at 6 p.m.

This is the floor of the South Dakota House of Representatives during the 32nd day of the 2023 legislative session Wednesday, March 1. Publisher Jeremy Waltner was in Pierre Wednesday and Thursday to visit with local legislators for a story in the upcoming issue of The Courier.

Freeman Public Schools Superintendent Jake Tietje, left, and Freeman Academy Head of School Brad Anderson visit prior to Tuesday night's Region 4B game between the Flyers and the Freeman Academy/Marion Bearcats. It was a friendly but competitive environment inside Sterling Hall as the Bearcats fended off the Flyers in what was a scrappy, physical and often ugly affair. FA/Marion's 42-35 win pairs the Bearcats with Irene-Wakonda Friday night in Centerville, with the winner advancing to the SoDak 16.

Players from the Menno boys basketball team are reflected on the court during a timeout Monday night, Feb. 27. The No. 8-seed Wolves hosted No. 9 Gayville-Volin in the opening round of the Region 4B Tournament and were edged by the Raiders  56-53. Ten three-pointers by the visitors propelled them to the win. Region 4B action continues tonight with four games, including a showdown between Freeman Academy/Marion and Freeman Public at 6 p.m. in Sterling Hall.