Decorations dress up this Cherry Street home in advance of Thanksgiving, which is now just one day away.

One of the city of Freeman's familiar green garbage calls sits curbside along Fifth Street following the Tuesday morning collection. The city has announced that, with a number of holidays coming up, it has altered its Friday collection. The Nov. 27 pickup has been moved to Monday, Nov. 30, which will also be the schedule the week of Christmas Day and New Year's Day — both of which fall on Fridays.

Just two school vehicles were parked in the Freeman Elementary lot Monday morning, Nov. 23 — an eerie reminder of the reality at the local public school district. All is quiet across the Freeman Public campus as instruction has been suspended for the week. Administration made the decision late last week in response to the growing spread of COVID-19 locally as well as the mental well-being of a frustrated and exhausted staff. Instruction will resume Nov. 30, although Freeman Public has not yet announced what that will include.

A row of trees stands tall on the south side of Fifth Street in Freeman — a "tree city."

Yes, that is a moose in a field just west of the Freeman Prairie Arboretum, located in the southwest corner of Freeman, on Saturday morning, Nov. 20. The unusual spotting drew quite a bit of activity along the West County Road as residents stopped for a look at the animal that was an estimated 150 yards from the road. One of the onlookers said the moose had previously been spotted near Wolf Creek, and further west before that.

The Friday morning sun lights up the "Experience Freeman" sign located on the east side of Highway 81 at the Sixth Street corner. The Freeman Community Development Corporation has been using the "experience" messaging as a way to promote the community for years. 

This was the sunset Wednesday evening, Nov. 19 looking west from Freeman.

With milder weather in the forecast for Wednesday and Thursday, Valley View Golf Course is open to golfers; this was the scene there Wednesday morning as carts awaited patrons. Note that the clubhouse is, however, closed. Highs are expected to be in the 60s both today and tomorrow.

This sign of hope and encouragement is on display between the two wings on the south side of the Salem Mennonite Home in Freeman.

These signs outside Rural Medical Clinics in Freeman instruct visitors what to do amidst continuing precautions about the spread of COVID-19. Numbers continue their upward tick with local public schools dealing with the crisis on a constantly changing basis. Freeman Public is offering both in-person and remote instruction, with those choosing to come to school doing so on a rotation basis. Eight students and a half-dozen staff members have tested positive for COVID in the last 10 days, with additional confirmed cases coming Monday.