For those who attended the Salem Mennonite (South) Church in the early to middle part of the 1900s, this was a familiar scene. The church itself, located closer to the highway than it sits today, was built in 1908 with an addition and a parsonage (also pictured) constructed in 1917. Then in 1966, it...

The Freeman High School boys run through drills Saturday morning in advance of their game against White River scheduled to start at 3 p.m. that afternoon as part of the Hoops City Classic at the Corn Palace in Mitchell. The Flyers are 2-0 and tied for fifth in the Class B South Dakota Prep Media Bas...

Traffic is high on Freeman's Main Street in this odd time between Christmas and New Year's Day, both of which this year fall smack dab in the middle of the work week. The rest of Friday, the weekend and the days leading up to Jan. 1, 2025 are sure to remain busy, especially for grocery stores like J...

This story appears on the front page of Dec. 26 issue of The Courier. Bob Rennolet has worn many different hats over the years. A master’s degree in agriculture earned from South Dakota State University put him on a career path with the Soil Conservation Service. He’s been a Grand Knight for the Bon...

This vintage photo showing Freeman's Main Street looking to the south was taken in 1918 and reflects a quiet, peaceful time — much like Christmas morning of this year. Fog and frost continue to paint the landscape, meaning this is a white holiday season despite the lack of snow.

There may not be snow on the ground as Christmas approaches, but Mother Nature did dress the community in frost during the overnight hours of Tuesday, Dec. 24. This sign is located on Sixth Street and greets westbound traffic heading into Freeman.

This photo appears on the front page of The Courier's special Christmas greeting section that is included with this week's issue. It shows a festive carol sing-along inside the historic Bethel Church located on the campus of Heritage Hall Museum & Archives earlier this month. "Christmas at the Museu...

This photo, which is part of the collection at Heritage Hall Museum & Archives, shows Freeman's Main Street following blizzard in 1909. Things look much different today as the community will most likely experience a brown Christmas — the absence of any significant snowfall so far this season. In fac...

This photo taken at the James River Valley looking west on Highway 44 is representative of the fading light of the year and the unknowns that lie ahead —  right around the corner — in 2025. This issue of The Courier marks the last of 2024, and the newspaper will return next week with a look back on ...

The Freeman High School pep band had a Christmas look and sound while it played prior to the Thursday night boys basketball game between the Flyers and the Canistota Hawks. With the exception of the schools songs and the national anthem, the evening's repertoire featured familiar holiday songs. And ...