Assuming the South Dakota High School Activities Association Board of Directors signs off on the deal early next month — and it almost assuredly will — local football fans can expect to cheer on a brand-new team starting in fall: The Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy ___________________. Hallelujah.

I don’t know whether to chuckle or cringe at two nuggets of “wisdom” published in the Freeman Courier 100 years ago this week; both are printed in the History section on page 6A but should also be shared here. The first, from an exchange:

Freeman Academy/Marion's much anticipated rematch with Viborg-Hurley tips off between 6:15 and 6:30 p.m. Friday night, Feb. 4. The Bearcats, 10-1 on the season, memorably lost to the Cougars in overtime during last season's Region 5B tournament after leading late. Click here for the link to the game.  

And the devil danced among them The following account was published in the Freeman Courier 100 years ago — on Jan. 20, 1922

I have a lot of questions these days, and it feels exhausting. In light of the announcement that Schmeckfest as we know it is once again on hold, I wonder when the big tasting festival will return to form, and what form that might look like. Will the big meal, served buffet style in recent years, draw enough to fill the Pioneer Hall dining room like it once did? Will musical theater, a touchstone of Schmeckfest, be part of the celebration? And with an ongoing concern about the volunteer labor force — a reality before the pandemic hit — is the two-weekend festival sustainable?

One of the most overlooked and under appreciated assets of a community newspaper is also one of the most important: Public notices. Also known as legals, this is the documentation of official proceedings of city councils, school boards, county commissions, townships and/or other government entities doing the people’s business here in Freeman, the state of South Dakota and across the land.

More than three years ago, staff at Freeman Public Schools spent a full day in training learning about, and how to respond to, an active shooter situation. Led by Chad Sheehan, a retired law enforcement officer from Sioux City who developed a program called S.A.V.E. Yourself, the training included both a lecture and a lab in which staff members were placed in a real-time scenarios, with various orders on how to respond.

It’s been said before but it’s being said again — because it’s that critical. Buy local.

South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg continues to be in the public spotlight — and it’s not for good reason. The S.D. House of Representatives this week began the process of considering whether the first-term attorney general should face impeachment for his role in a vehicle/pedestrian accident west of Highmore last year. It’s an important step that needs to be taken seriously, not only by lawmakers, but also by the people of South Dakota.

The debate about controversial nicknames and stereotypes has returned to Atlanta, where the baseball culture there has embraced an offensive chant. The MLB franchise — and/or MLB itself — must step in and end it now. Atlanta may have just won a World Series, but the Major League Baseball franchise has some work to do in the offseason. Specifically, the organization must figure out how to deal with the racial insensitively that has surrounded the ball club for decades.