A city of Freeman garbage container sits curbside following the weekly pickup for properties north of Sixth Street. Residents and businesses living on that side of Freeman should note that next week's Tuesday collection will be moved to Wednesday instead because of the Fourth of July holiday.

Lavender, one of the schoolchildren attending Crunchem Hall, declares classmate Matilda her best friend during a scene in the Freeman Area Children's Choir's production of "Matilda, Jr.!" presented Sunday night, June 25. Lavender and Matilda were played by Hannah Bradley and Ella Lewter, respectively, who are the daughters of FACC directors Amber Bradley and Iwona Lewter. They were part of cast of 32 young actors in grades 4-8 to present the popular children's story to a large and appreciative audience following a two-week rehearsal schedule.

The was the cloud formation looking to the east late Saturday as unsettled weather dotted the region. Rainfall totals across the larger Freeman community varied considerably, but was well over an inch in most places — especially after a brief but hard shower rolled across the area early Saturday evening. Sunday will be windy and cooler.

An overnight storm brought much-needed rain (reports from across the area have ranged from 1.25 to more than 2 inches) but also wind, as evident in this photo taken along Freeman's South County Road. There was also no water at some locations in Freeman because of what is believed to be a lighting strike at the city's water tower. 

That's a hard rain pounding Main Street shortly before noon on Friday. The region is entering a fairly active weather pattern that will bring a chance of rain and thunderstorms into the area overnight and into Saturday.

Jocelyn Lee, who plays the part of Miss Trunchbull — the headmistress of Crunchem Hall Primary School and the antagonist in the story — sings "The Smell of Rebellion" during a rehearsal for "Matilda, Jr.!" Thursday morning. It was the ninth day of the 10-day musical theater camp for the Freeman Area Children's Choir, which will culminate with a performance Sunday, June 25 in Pioneer Hall starting at 6:30 p.m.

This week marks the 25th anniversary of the announcement of plans to build the Freeman Prairie Arboretum, a multi-phase process that saw a major transformation of 40 acres of pasture land located in the southwest corner of Freeman over a three-year period. The arboretum was formally dedicated in 2002. This week's Courier editorial reflects on the announcement, all that came afterward and the rich value the arboretum brings to the community.

Tis the season for swimming lessons — at least it is in Freeman, where the first of two sessions for all levels is underway. Tuesday, June 20 was the second day of the first two-week session, and this is the Level 1 participants (the youngest group) getting used to the water. Lessons begin each day with Levels 5 and 6 at 8 a.m., with Levels 4, 3, 2 and 1 continuing through 11:45 a.m. The first session of lessons runs from June 19-30 with the second session scheduled for July 10-21.

A group of young actors involved with the Freeman Area Children's Choir rehearse a scene from "Matlida Jr!" which is the focus of a June 12-23 musical theater camp being led by FACC directors Amber Bradley and Iwona Lewter. The 10-day camp is being held during the mornings, and "Matilda Jr!" will be presented Sunday afternoon on the Pioneer Hall stage.

There's a slight haze in the air but the sun is shining on a beautiful Sunday morning in Freeman. This picture features Sixth Street — the primary roadway into Freeman from Highway 81 — running diagonally through the center-right portion of the image. The Freeman Missionary Church is pictured in the lower left, with the St. Paul Lutheran Church and Freeman Regional Health Services further toward the top.