JEREMY WALTNER - PUBLISHER For those who have moved to Freeman in the past 30 years, or for those born in the 1990s or later, Valley View Golf Course has always just been part of the larger community — an 80-acre recreational vista located one mile south of town that is a regular destination for novice and serious golfers alike. Of course, it hasn’t always just been.

JEREMY WALTNER - PUBLISHER On the occasion he is asked by a visitor to his office at the Salem Reformed Church on the south side of Menno the best way to get to Scotland — a 15-minute drive to the southwest — Rev. Michael Hecht says there are three ways to do so in order to avoid gravel. One way is to continue south for three miles to Maxwell Road, go through the colony and pick up Highway 25. Another way, the pastor said, is to go down to the Stone Church, continue across the river and take the oil road into Scotland.

Because of poor field conditions and the threat of more severe weather, the Menno July 4 baseball game against Freeman — and the fireworks to follow — have been postponed. Both have been rescheduled for Thursday, July 6.

The flag at City Hall is pictured in front of an unsettled sky Monday evening as storms make their way across the region. Severe weather is expected throughout the July 4 holiday. 

Jake Weier, right, and Austin Smidt tend the grills at the chislic stand during Sunday's Independence Day celebration in Freeman, which was once again sponsored by Merchants State Bank and staffed by volunteers with the Freeman Baseball Association. Sunday's celebration was a hot one and featured youth baseball and softball games, as well as teener and a amateur baseball. The 14U Sticks defeated Scotland/Menno 12-2 while the 16U Sticks beat the Trappers 5-4 in extra innings. In the evening game, the Freeman Blacksox lost to Tabor 7-0. The night ended with fireworks. 

Those attending the Patriotic Worship Service in Menno Sunday morning, July 2 joined together in singing the national anthem at the onset of the 10 a.m. service. The traditional acknowledgement of God and country once again took place at the city park and this year included a sermon from Rev. Michael Hecht titled “Holding Forth the Word of Life.” 

With classmate and teammate Penny Schultz looking on, Holly Becker practices her pitching with Becca Schultz at the Freeman softball field Saturday morning. Penny and Holly will both be sixth graders in fall and play with the Rebels 10U softball team, which will play at the state tournament in Sioux Falls July 14-16. A number of local softball and baseball teams will take the field Sunday for Freeman's Independence Day celebration:

Fensel’s Electric, the store that has operated at the corner of Highway 81 and the North County Road (278th St.) since 1963 and specializes in hardware and electrical and plumbing supplies, has been sold to Kleinsasser Heating and Cooling.

“Constantly improving since its inaugural event in 2018.” Those were the words of South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem as she announced the winner of the state’s Peter Norbeck Excellence in Tourism Innovation Award earlier this year. Saturday, July 29, 2023, will mark the fifth in a series of festivals that have managed to attract state, regional and national media attention while drawing thousands to the small, southeastern South Dakota town of Freeman.

Youth baseball and softball will take center stage starting at 11 a.m. Sunday morning, July 2; Merchants State Bank is once again sponsoring a baseball player-operated chislic stand throughout the afternoon; and the traditional amateur game between Freeman and Tabor will start at 7:30 p.m., followed by fireworks once again being made possible thanks to CorTrust Bank. All of it will mark another Independence Day celebration at the baseball/softball park complex in Freeman. A complete schedule is printed in the advertisement on page 2B. Menno’s big bash