The Swimming Pool Park was the place to be in Freeman Saturday evening, Aug. 15 as the Freeman Volunteer Fire Department hosted its seventh annual Firehouse Rib Cook-Off. With perfect weather and an eagerness to get out and do something social, the fundraiser was a smashing success, with large crowds and positive vibes. Music filled the air as men, women and children of all ages gathered in the late afternoon, early evening hours of a fleeting summer day. Watch for pictures and a full report in the Aug. 20 edition of The Courier.

Phil Luke and Victoria Blau of Marion prep ribs on a picture-perfect Saturday morning at the Freeman Swimming Pool Park. The Marion Fire Department is one of 16 teams taking part in the seventh annual Firehouse Rib Cook-Off being hosted by the Freeman Volunteer Fire Department; organizer Chad Soulek said more than 20 teams were scheduled to take part, but the threat of COVID-19 took six of those out. A bean bag competition and car show starts at 12 p.m. Judging of both brisket and ribs will begin at 4 p.m. with serving to the public beginning at 5 p.m.

Bottles of hand sanitizer are placed in classrooms throughout Freeman Public Schools as staff prepares to welcome students back into the building next week. Freeman Public recently released its comprehensive back-to-school plan, and Freeman Elementary yesterday released its action plan in response to COVID-19. You can read that by clicking here.

The final of the falls sports — volleyball and cross-country — officially begin today, Thursday, Aug. 13, with the first allowable practices in South Dakota. Watch next week's Courier on what to expect from Freeman and Menno schools in the weeks and months to come.

Street work is in its second day at the corner of Main and Fifth streets as workers from Koerner Construction are repairing the badly damaged intersection. While local traffic is allowed, through traffic is being asked to find another route. 

Work on the Freeman city water tower is complete. The city is refilling the tower today following the maintenance project by Maguire Iron that began on July 13 and finished up over the weekend — well short of the 45 days that had been scheduled for the job. The city is now under contract with Maguire Iron for ongoing maintenance and upkeep as it becomes necessary.

Street work at the corner of Main and Fifth streets in downtown Freeman is scheduled to begin this week — weather permitting. While access to nearby properties will be available, other traffic is advised to avoid this intersection and plan an alternate route during construction. The intersection will continue to be off-limits to regular traffic into the week of Aug. 17, as seven full days will be required for concrete to dry before the street can be driven on.

Kids are enjoying the Freeman Swimming Pool for one more day this season; Sunday, Aug. 9 is the final day for recreation at the local summer hotspot. The pool in Menno will be open for one more week. PHOTO BY OLIVER WALTNER

A tomato ripens on a vine growing in a local garden. It is the season for fresh produce as vegetables grow, are picked, sold in grocery stores and farmers markets, and, finally, consumed. 

The public got its first glimpse of what the "new" Freeman water tower will look like as workers with Maguire Iron made progress on painting Thursday, Aug. 6. The tower will feature the Freeman city logo with gold trim; the bottom portion of the bowl will be maroon, as will be the legs. Work is expected to be completed by the end of the month.