JEREMY WALTNER  - PUBLISHER One of the most academically accomplished classes in recent memory said goodbye to Menno Public School Saturday afternoon, May 15 at a commencement that revealed the work ethic, accomplishments and wide-ranging personalities of 19 graduating seniors. But much of the focus was on the high-level of achievement exhibited by Menno’s Class of 2021. Five graduated with 4.0 GPAs or higher.

JEREMY WALTNER - PUBLISHER The city of Freeman last week held its first reading of a revised parking ordinance that aims to place stricter regulations on residents of Freeman who park their vehicles on the yards of their homes. Meeting in regular session Wednesday night, May 5, the Freeman City Council discussed Ordinance No. 2021-05, which if approved would be included in the city’s zoning guidelines and limits where on private property residents can park.

JEREMY WALTNER  - PUBLISHER No formal action was taken, but the Freeman School Board consented Monday night to move one step closer to what would be two major developments on school grounds. 1. Construction of a new wrestling facility east of the Freeman Elementary gym and west of the bus lane, and, 2. Support for new youth ball fields to be built on the east/northeast portion of school grounds, south of College Street and west of Stadium Drive.

JEREMY WALTNER  - PUBLISHER The Freeman School Board early this week made a number of notable staff moves, including hiring a new head boys basketball coach/social studies teacher and accepting the resignation of a longtime teacher and coach, and also the school counselor.

JEREMY WALTNER  - PUBLISHER Seniors from Freeman Academy and Freeman Public were reminded on Sunday that, because of their relationship with God, they can be “more than conquerors” and surpass the accomplishments of some of the world’s most revered explorers, including Genghis Khan and Alexander the Great.

Freeman’s first responders were called to a structure fire 12 miles northwest of Freeman around 12:15 p.m. Wednesday, May 5 and arrived to find a run-down ranch style home fully engulfed in flames. The property is owned by Leland Hofer of Bridgewater and was occupied by two individuals who were nearby at the time of the fire, according to law enforcement on the scene.

Heritage Hall Museum & Archives to introduce ‘Final Fridays’ April 30 This Friday, April 30, Heritage Hall Museum & Archives is introducing “Family-Friendly Final Fridays.” The museum will be open until 8 p.m. that evening and all children age 12 and under will be admitted free when accompanied by a paying adult. The museum plans to continue these late hours the last Friday of the month through the summer.

The Menno Public School music department will be presenting its spring concerts the first week of May.  Students in grades K-6 will have their concert on Tuesday, May 4 at 7 p.m. in the Menno gym. The fifth- and sixth-grade band will perform several selections. Students in grades K-6 will be presenting a Disney-themed program with many familiar songs.

JEREMY WALTNER  - PUBLISHER Whether or not streetscaping will be included in the city of Freeman’s multimillion dollar Main Street project remains to be seen. Meeting in regular session Wednesday night, April 21 at the Freeman Community Center, the Freeman City Council heard both opposition to, and support for, incorporating decorative elements into the infrastructure of a new downtown roadway, which is expected to be built in 2022.

BY JEREMY WALTNER When the coronavirus pandemic hit home in March of 2020 — and even in the months leading up to it, as the leadership at Freeman Regional Health Service (FRHS) began preparing for the worst public health crisis in 100 years and what that would mean for the local nursing home — everybody there was all in.