JEREMY WALTNER  - PUBLISHER Anybody who has visited downtown Freeman in the past month knows that navigating the streets has been a challenge. With the city’s $5.1 million Main Street project now well underway, four blocks are closed to vehicles — from Fifth Street north to Railway and from Railway southwest to Juniper. Parking is available on side streets and alleyways adjacent to Main Street and pedestrian traffic is being maintained in front of all business storefronts.

JEREMY WALTNER  - PUBLISHER The Freeman Community Development Corporation and other local groups are gearing up to welcome bicyclists from Ride Across South Dakota (RASDak) to Freeman this coming Saturday, June 11, and the entire community is welcome to join in the fun.

Workers unload the new First Interstate Bank sign that went up at the former Great Western Bank in Freeman on Tuesday, June 7 — the last of the new signage signifying the merger of the banks that took place on Feb. 1. This is the fourth iteration of the financial institution that opened as First Federal Savings and Loan in 1975 before later becoming Home Federal Bank. 

Maurice Waltner overwhelmingly won the race for Hutchinson County Sheriff with 84% of the vote, defeating Barron Nankivel 1,286 to 243 in the June 7 primary. Without a general election challenger, Waltner will take over for retiring Jim Zeeb on Jan. 1, 2023. Tuesday's primary election also saw a victory by Jessica Bahmuller and Drew Peterson in the five-way race for two District 19 seats in the South Dakota House. Bahmuller was the leading candidate, earning 2,229 votes (30%) while Peterson came out ahead in a tight battle for second with 1,660 votes (22%).

Matt Rigo casts his vote electronically Tuesday morning, June 7 as part of the 2022 primary election. Polls like the ones at the Freeman Community Center are open until 7 p.m., with Constitutional Amendment C, the race for Hutchinson County Sheriff and for the District 19 House among those up for grabs. The Courier will post results when they become available later tonight.

A pickup truck is parked at Total Stop in Freeman after filling up with gas Monday morning. The ongoing rise in the cost of fuel continues to make headlines; as the sign shows, unleaded was $4.39/gallon on Monday morning and diesel just under $5.

This photo shows the building on the Freeman Academy campus known today as Music Hall, presumably not long after it opened as South Dakota Mennonite College in 1903. The familiar structure stands today the most historical structure in the community of Freeman and, in addition to the music department, is home to Freeman Academy's youngest students. 

Scenes like this were common late Friday afternoon as bicyclists taking part in the 2022 Ride Across South Dakota (RASDak) arrived for an overnight stay on the Freeman Public School campus. Participants left by motor vehicle for the western part of South Dakota Saturday morning to begin their trek back across the state. They will spend Saturday in Hill City and then leave for Rapid City on Sunday, with subsequent stops in Wall, Kadoka, Murdo, Winner, Armour and, finally, Freeman on Saturday, June 11. This year's RASDak is being called "Explore 44."

Lane McCune tries out an iron that's part of a golf club set being sold at Carolyn Waltner's rummage sale on Friday. Multiple sales are taking place through Saturday around the town as part of Freeman's citywide sales. Maps are available at the local grocery stores, the front entrance at The Courier office or by clicking here.

This photo shows the stretch of Highway 81 that runs along the eastern edge of Freeman on a beautiful June morning.