Some called it a blessing and others declared it a miracle. Both descriptions ap‑pear to be correct when it comes to the “Grass‑hopper Crosses” of Jef‑ferson, South Dakota. It was in the late 1800s that three crosses were erected in the small town within Union County. This was done in an effort to combat the devastating lo‑cust outbreak. A plea for divine intervention worked and the cross‑es still stand today. Therefore, an excit‑ing community event is planned for Sunday, September 13, 2026. It includes a pilgrimage walk, mass service plus a potluck meal to honor the cross’s 150th anni‑versary.

The South Dakota Association of Middle Level Edu‑cation (SDAMLE) awarded Elk Point-Jefferson’s Cas‑sandra Schmith with the Emerging Educator Award on July 27, 2026. The announcement came at this year’s SDAMLE conference in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Area residents and four-legged companions gathered Wednesday, Aug. 12, to celebrate the grand opening and official naming of North Sioux City’s new dog park during a summer ice cream social hosted by the North Sioux City Parks and Recreation Board.

The North Sioux City Planning Commission recommended updates to the city’s commercial and industrial zoning regulations and approved a conditional use permit for a new car wash during its Aug. 12 meeting.

Speed was an asset for the Dakota Valley girls soccer team on August 14, 2026 in Aberdeen. They defeated Groton by a score of 10-2 in incredible fashion. Senior Sophia Meyer went off for the Panthers and was responsible for 6 goals in the match. Playing with a lean roster, Dakota Valley (DV) persevered with a couple of middle schoolers, Eliana Corporon and Kiley Ryan, stepping up to be goalkeepers.

With the start of the school year approaching, the Elk Point-Jefferson School Board locked in coaching positions, raised adult meal prices and reviewed facility up‑dates during its Aug. 10 meeting.

Dakota Valley fell 5-2 at Freeman on Saturday, Aug. 15, but the Panthers showed clear improvement from last season.

South Dakota’s new‑est historical marker was dedicated Aug. 8 at Elmwood Cemetery in rural Elk Point, where about 60 people gath‑ered for a ceremony that also rededicated the historic burial grounds.