As the Wednesday morning light hits Freeman’s most historic building, Olan Schrag and Ezekiel Unruh smile for a picture before walking in to start their first day of kindergarten at Freeman Academy. All students like Olan and Ezekiel — the 5-year-old sons of Nick and Sonja Schrag and Austin and Lindsey Unruh — from across the area are now back at school for another year.

Menno School Board members Joel Rempfer, left, and Tim Freier help serve a light supper to students, parents and staff during an open house in advance of the new school year Monday evening, Aug. 21. As is per traditional, the school board prepared and served the meal in conjunction with an open house that included a number of activities, as well as a chance for families to meet teachers and ask questions. School is set to start at both Menno and Freeman Academy on Wednesday. Freeman Public started with a half day on Tuesday while Marion began its 2023-24 term on Monday.

This is today's "Monday on Main" photo posted to Facebook by Heritage Hall Museum & Archives. It appears with the accompanying text:

This photo shows the campus of Freeman Academy, where tonight constituency will gather for the traditional Opening Convocation that precedes the start of the school year. Convocation will begin at 7 p.m. on the campus lawn following a picnic-style supper starting at 6 p.m. Freeman Academy begins the 2023-24 school year on Wednesday. Freeman Public and Menno both start on Tuesday and Marion's first day is set for Monday.

Flowers that are part of this landscaping arrangement at a Freeman home soak up the Saturday morning sun — and increasing heat. Temperatures are expected to climb beginning today and continuing into next week, with highs in the triple digits expected Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. And with no rain in the immediate forecast, watering will become common.

Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy will open its second season at a football cooperative tonight against Burke in Freeman at 7 p.m. The Cougars are the team the Phoenix defeated 34-12 in their debut a year ago this week and come to Freeman tonight with a roster of 14, only five of which are upperclassmen. F/M/FA, meanwhile, brings a roster of 23, including two with all-conference honors in sophomore quarterback Riley Tschetter and senior tight end/defensive lineman Evan Scharberg. The game will be streamed on the school's YouTube channel.

The St. Paul Lutheran Church is pictured at daybreak earlier this week; note the preparation that has been made for new shingles — a project that has made considerable headway this week.

The news that broke out of Marion, Kansas over the weekend following the search and seizure of the Marion County Record’s newsroom and publisher’s home is troubling at best and deeply dangerous at worst. Not only was it reckless and intrusive, but it appears to be in violation of federal law that protects free speech and freedom of the press. For those who don’t know, here’s what happened.

JEREMY WALTNER - PUBLISHER When Ashley and David Downs moved their family to Freeman from Washington State in December of 2021, they did so because they wanted to experience a different way — and pace — of life. They had always loved South Dakota and, after taking a look at the Experience Freeman Welcome Guide that included a page featuring a quick glance at the community and some of what it has to offer, they settled on Freeman.

JEREMY WALTNER - PUBLISHER When Ashley and David Downs moved their family to Freeman from Washington State in December of 2021, they did so because they wanted to experience a different way — and pace — of life. They had always loved South Dakota and, after taking a look at the Experience Freeman Welcome Guide that included a page featuring a quick glance at the community and some of what it has to offer, they settled on Freeman.