JEREMY WALTNER  - PUBLISHER The Freeman Public School Board wants more information about what consolidation with Marion would mean for the local district — particularly as it relates to finances — and also agreed to an informal conversation about what a sports cooperative would look like, not only with Marion, but also Freeman Academy. No action was taken on either matter, but the board agreed to take a closer look at all options during its regular monthly meeting Monday night, Jan. 11. Here’s a breakdown of what’s on the table.

Freeman Regional Health Services (FRHS) and Salem Mennonite Home (SMH) have entered into a cooperative arrangement to plan for the construction and development of new healthcare facilities in Freeman, SD. Both FRHS and SMH provide affiliated senior care services. SMH delivers assisted living care and independent living. FRHS serves individuals who require skilled nursing, long-term care and congregate independent living.

This is Part 3 of a 3-Part series about the medical journey of one rural Freeman family. Click on the links below to read the first two parts. CLICK HERE FOR PART 1 CLICK HERE FOR PART 2   PART 3 “I, Sonja, am writing a summary of your accident so that you know why you are at Madonna and QLI, and why you have to work so hard before coming back home.”

All five board members who represent the Freeman School District, along with Superintendent Kevin Kunz, spoke in favor of at least continuing the conversation about a possible partnership with Marion in terms of both sports cooperation and, later, consolidation.

The Freeman Regional Health Services (FRHS) Board of Directors announced in a press release Monday, Jan. 4 that Courtney Unruh has been named the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the health care facility. “After reviewing 52 applications and four rounds of interviews, Courtney was selected as our top candidate,” said Lori Uecker, who chairs the FRHS board.

If you haven't read Part 1, click here to do so.   The family of six stood in the living room where they had spent many holiday seasons before, arms wrapped around each other, all dressed up for Christmas Day. There were no forced smiles here, only genuine happiness, love and no doubt thankfulness for the moment they were in.

JEREMY WALTNER  - PUBLISHER Fifty-five years after Orville A. Waltner established Valley Electric Service as his own business — named for Valley Township south of town, where Waltner lived — the Freeman-based business is under new ownership. Ryan Sorensen has purchased it from Ted Pidde Jr., in a sale that was finalized Tuesday, Dec. 29.

For many, the year 2020 will be remembered for the coronavirus pandemic that significantly altered life as it had been known. For one rural Freeman family, however, the year will be remembered for something else — one where a husband and father nearly lost his life, only to overcome the threat of death through perseverance, support from family and friends, great care from the larger medical community and unwavering faith, prayer and belief in a larger purpose.

The following was submitted by the Salem Mennonite Home in Freeman and signed by its administrator, Shirley Knodel. Salem Mennonite Home (SMH) has been vigilant since the onset of the pandemic in an effort to keep our residents and staff safe from COVID-19. These measures came from recommendations from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, and the South Dakota Department of Health, Freeman Regional Health Services (FRHS) and Avera.

JEREMY WALTNER  - PUBLISHER One month after showing little interest in what a possible partnership with neighboring Marion could look like — sports cooperation in the short-term and, later, school cooperation — officials from Freeman Public agreed to revisit the issue with the help of Tom Oster, who works with school districts on long-term planning and has his own consulting firm based in Volga.