The Dakota Valley boys basketball team hosted the Parker Pheasants for the first game of regionals on Tuesday, Feb. 27. The pep band was present and loud, as were the fans and cheerleaders who were ready to see DV in action on the court.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $42,956,000 from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda for South Dakota drinking water and clean water infrastructure upgrades.

Esports has taken the state of South Dakota by storm and leading the charge is Dakota Valley with a program that sees many Panthers making an appearance in the postseason. Fenworks, a North Dakota based company that specializes in Esports and drone racing programs, will host the 2024 South Dakota Esports State Tournament. The event is to be held at Club 71, Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium at South Dakota State University in Brookings on March 22-23.

Birthdays are a staple in life. And on Wednesday, Feb. 28 the 7th grade girls youth discipleship group from St. Teresa’s in Dakota Dunes worked together to give birthday parties to foster children in need. This act of kindness was done in conjunction with the Siouxland Foster Closet, a nonprofit organization, who makes it their mission to help children in the foster care system by providing a free shopping experience of clothing and other necessities.

The Bishop Heelan girls basketball team made it to the Iowa State basketball tournament in Des Moines, IA for Class 4A. Thye qualified for state by being the Region 3 champion. The Crusaders defeated Lewis Central, from Council Bluffs, in the 1st round of state by a score of 70-40. They fell 3741 to Waverly-Shell Rock in the next round.

The start of March was an important time for the Dakota Valley high school debate team as they traveled to Watertown for the state competition on March 1 and 2. South Dakota has two classes for debate.

Dakota Valley high school art teacher Demi Harlan and some of her students were in Vermillion on Friday, Feb. 9 for the 2024 Art Wars competition. This event was hosted by South Dakota High School Activities Association and was held at the University of South Dakota.

The Sioux City Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), also known as the Siouxland tri-state region, retained the nation’s top spot for per capita economic development performance for populations under 200,000 for the fourth year in a row. Additionally, in the competitive ranking among states, the State of South Dakota was recognized as the top performing state in the nation based on per capita economic development projects for the 2023 calendar year.

The South Dakota Transportation Commission awarded 24 preservation, rehabilitation, and replacement Bridge Improvement Grants (BIG) totaling approximately $20 million at the recent commission meeting held in Pierre. The goal of the grant process is to enhance the overall condition of critical assets that South Dakotans are dependent upon each and every day. These struc- tures provide the link that drives the interconnectedness of the state’s overall transportation system, while enhancing statewide economic development overall.

The Union County Board of County Commissioners met on Feb. 20 to conduct county business.