Jessie Ahlers, head volleyball coach at Freeman Public, goes over the instructions for a serving drill during the first day of practice Thursday, Aug. 10. While football and soccer practices have been underway for a while, today is the first allowable practice for volleyball teams across the state. Ahlers, who was an assistant last year, replaces Kendra Peterson as head coach. She is assisted by Angele Letcher. Twenty-two girls in grades 9-12 reported to the first day of practice for the Flyers.

Work is being done by Koerner Construction in front of the Freeman Junior-Senior High School to build a wheelchair accessible ramp leading from the parking lot to the main entrance. 

With Freeman Police Chief Jay Slevin standing by, Freeman resident Max Alderson explains the idea behind the Freeman Neighborhood Watch Program at an informational meeting held inside the meeting room of the Freeman Community Center Monday evening, Aug. 7. A better-than-expected crowd of close to 40 attended the 50-minute meeting, which highlighted the value of Freeman residents taking part in looking out for the safety of the community — not as vigilantes, but as eyes and ears when suspicious activity is observed. Watch for more on this start-up program in this week's Courier.

This graphic by Heritage Hall Museum & Archives in included with this week’s “Monday on Main” Facebook post and shows the red markings for reference. The museum post includes the following text:

As expected, an active weather pattern has moved across the region, bringing with it storms and heavy rain starting Saturday and continuing into Sunday. Rainfall reports vary, but 2.30 inches was reported in Freeman as of Sunday morning, with closer to 2 inches toward Menno. Rain is expected to continue for much of Sunday with cooler temperatures expected this coming week.

Dylan Lehr is greeted by teammates after he and Peyton Wieseler (Expos jersey), a pickup player from Wynot, come around to score in the top of the ninth inning against Northville Friday night. It was the opening round of the 2023 State Amateur Baseball Tournament in Mitchell and the Mad Frogs used four runs in the final inning to pull away from the Merchants and win the first-round game 8-3. Menno will next face Lesterville Monday at 7:30 p.m. in the quarterfinal round of the single-elimination, 32-team tournament.

Dylan Lehr is greeted by teammates after he and Peyton Wieseler (Expos jersey), a pickup player from Wynot, come around to score in the top of the ninth inning against Northville Friday night. It was the opening round of the 2023 State Amateur Baseball Tournament in Mitchell and the Mad Frogs used four runs in the final inning to pull away from the Merchants and win the first-round game 8-3. Menno will next face Lesterville Monday at 7:30 p.m. in the quarterfinal round of the single-elimination, 32-team tournament.

Kristi Hofer waters the plants that decorate the planter in front of her place of employment, First Interstate Bank, Friday morning. While rains have been timely this summer, a week without moisture has prompted the need for manual attention to plants, flowers and gardens. Additional rains and/or thunderstorms, however, are in the forecast through the weekend.

Kristi Hofer waters the plants that decorate the planter in front of her place of employment, First Interstate Bank, Friday morning. While rains have been timely this summer, a week without moisture has prompted the need for manual attention to plants, flowers and gardens. Additional rains and/or thunderstorms, however, are in the forecast through the weekend.

The Freeman Area Veteran's Memorial on Sixth Street is pictured on a beautiful Thursday morning. The memorial was built by a force of local veterans and was dedicated in the summer of 1999 — a dedication that featured an address by Gov. Bill Janklow.