The clean-up crew with the city of Freeman clears the windrow of snow lining the center of Main Street Thursday morning, Jan. 5, and will be turning their attention to the side streets Thursday afternoon. No traffic is being permitted in these areas until the work is done. Today is the first "nice day" since a major winter storm consumed the region starting Monday afternoon and continuing into Wednesday. Sixteen inches of new snow is being reported in both Freeman and Menno.

Carsen Hofer is joined by his younger brother, Christopher, and dad, Chris, in digging out in front of their Dewald Street home on Tuesday. Lingering effects from this week's storm continued on Wednesday morning, with reports of upwards of 16 inches falling locally. Much remains closed today and travel continues to be difficult because of both visibility in rural areas and many roads that have not yet been cleared.

An AC unit is pictured as snow continues to pile up across the area, bringing communities like Freeman to a standstill. The system that moved in Monday afternoon has only been gaining in intensity on Tuesday with no travel advisories issued across southeastern and eastern South Dakota. Snowfall totals locally have well exceeded 6 inches and the storm is expected to continue through Tuesday evening, with winds and lingering effects continuing into Wednesday. Given the amount of snow and the high winds, it will likely be into Thursday before the start of 2023 gets back to "normal."

An already snowy landscape is going to get hit with another round of weather Monday afternoon into Tuesday as a significant winter storm is in the forecast. Totals are expected to exceed 6 inches and could be much higher locally. With the snow lasting into Tuesday and the high winds that are expected, Jan. 3 basketball games are in question and there's a chance of a late start for students returning to school on Wednesday. Heritage Hall Museum & Archives will be closed on Tuesday, with a Wednesday opening also in question. Check back for weather-related updates as they come in.

Paul M. Hofer, age 91, of Doland, S.D., passed away Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022, at the Huron Regional Medical Center. His funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, Jan. 5 at the Emmanuel Mennonite Church, rural Doland. Burial will be in the church cemetery. His service will be livestreamed through the Kuhler Funeral Home website.

This photo shows the northern portion of the Freeman Prairie Arboretum as well as the campus of Heritage Hall Museum & Archives on a snowy New Year's Day morning. Also pictured in the top right corner is the Freeman Academy's administration building — officially named Memorial Hall — as well as Pioneer Hall.

This photo from the 1950s looking south on Freeman's Main Street was taken shortly after vapor lights were installed on the new roadway. The year 2022 ends today with a brand-new Main Street, but without any lights. Those are scheduled to be installed by NorthWestern Energy in the coming year.

Laverne Graber, who has recently become a regular volunteer at Heritage Hall Museum & Archives, paints one of the faux trees that are part of the Natural World Exhibit being developed. The local museum is open to the public during the winter months Monday through Friday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The photo taken during the demolition and removal of Shanard's Elevator in Freeman is included with this week's look back at 2022 through photos. Some are included in this week's print edition and all can be found in the Courier's online photo gallery by clicking here.

This photo of Menno resident Dale Goehring driving his 1979 Corvette Stingray through the Fourth of July parade is part of the Photos of 2022 retrospective included in this week's issue of The Courier. The final edition of the year also includes a narrative looking back on what made the past year such an eventful one; it will be released online early this afternoon and in print on Thursday.