The red of a stop sign contrasts with the green of summertime growth and the dark blue of a summertime sky Tuesday morning, July 14. While showers moved across much of the region overnight and early Tuesday, the local region saw just enough moisture to get the ground wet.

The lot on the northeastern corner of Main and Fourth streets is now an empty one following the removal of the building that many remember as the home of Kaufman Optometric/Eye Care. The brick building was taken down late last week after sitting empty since Vision Care Associates moved to the North County Road a decade ago. The former Kaufman Eye Care property is owned by the Johnny Stahl estate. 

Solomon Ortman takes an order from the walk-up window at The Chislic House Saturday night, July 11. Solomon, his brothers Liam and Christian and their parents Will and Sherilyn, have been serving up homemade ice cream from the otherwise closed restaurant the past few Saturdays and Sundays. Chislic was also available this weekend.

Maintenance on the city of Freeman's water tower will begin Monday, July 13 and is expected to last for 45 days. The city announced on Friday that, while there will be no water outage during this time, there may be a reduction in water pressure. Because water reserves will be used, residents are being asked to conserve usage as much as possible during this time.

Sprinklers water the first fairway at Valley View Golf Course shortly after sunrise Friday, July 10. The 9-hole course, located one mile south of Freeman, opened in 1992 and is in its second year being run as a municipality of Freeman.

Driver education has been underway at Freeman Junior-Senior High School all week as instructor Tyler Uecker has instructed students in the school's chorus room Monday through Thursday, July 6-9. Driving begins next week and will continue through much of July.

Lane McCune fishes at the Freeman Prairie Arboretum early Tuesday afternoon, July 7.

For the first time since the Freeman Public Library closed its doors to the public and suspended all organized activities amid coronavirus concerns in mid-March, driver license renewals are returning. The station is set up for appointments inside the library's front entrance; with all slots for the July 7 renewals full, they will also be available Tuesday, July 14.

It was a picturesque scene at Merchants State Bank Field in Freeman Sunday night, July 5, as the community celebrated Independence Day. Youth softball and baseball games in the afternoon were followed by town team action as the Freeman Blacksox hosted Tabor — and won 4-1 behind a strong pitching outing from Nate Brohem. The day also included chislic sponsored by Merchants State Bank, other concessions and fireworks to cap the night, which were again sponsored by CorTrust Bank.

Menno's Dylan Lehr is pictured during the national anthem prior to the Mad Frogs' Fourth of July baseball game against Freeman on a warm but comfortable Saturday night. Menno won the traditional Independence Day game 12-5 to improve to 9-4 on the season. The Blacksox will take a 5-11 record into tonight's home game against Tabor that will be part of Freeman's celebration. Youth softball games begin at 12 p.m., with baseball games to follow beginning at 3 p.m.