5...4...3...2...1... Blast Off! The Elk Point-Jefferson School and Friends of the Library have partnered to bring a sky dome planetarium to the EPJ gym Monday, Feb.

Each fall, students in seventh through ninth grade are selected by recorded audition to participate in a mixed choir or a women’s choir in conjunction with the Winter SD-ACDA (South Dakota-America Choir Directors Association) conference. EPJ had one participant in the women’s choir, Jayden Provost-Shay, who is a freshman Soprano 2, and there were 72 students from across South Dakota accepted into the women’s choir in total.

An updated guide explaining South Dakota’s Open Meeting Laws has been released by South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley and the South Dakota NewsMedia Association (SDNA). The guide, released for the first time since 2017, is designed to better explain the state’s meeting laws to both media outlets and local government agencies.

The EPJ School/Public Library has received a monetary donation from the Louie DeSmet family honoring the memory of their parents, Louie and Valda DeSmet. The Library Board was able to purchase two new display cases. The cases will allow the librarians to exhibit the artwork of EPJ students and crafts, collections, etc. of the citizens of Elk Point and Jefferson.

Thanks to the dedication of one Elk Point-Jefferson Teacher and the help of the Superintendent and Activiites Director, the school district is now considered to be a Unified Champion School. Before becoming a Unified Champion School, Cassandra Schmith helped bring back Elk Point-Jefferson Special Olympics.

Thanks to an Elk Point couple, Ollie’s will live on in Ollie’s 2.0. Eric and Traci Holmquist purchased Ollie’s Drive Inn in October 2023 with the hopes of keeping the nostalgia of the diner alive.

Last month, the Elk Point City Council discussed the possible replacement of the community message board and sign currently located in the Jones Food Center parking lot. The community sign board has been needing frequent repairs and due to its age, it’s getting more difficult to find parts to repair it.

The Union County Board of County Commissioners learned the fate of the City of Alcester’s Police Department at their meeting Jan. 9. At the end of Alcester’s City Council meeting, the council approved to disband the Alcester Police Department. They reached out to the Union County Sheriff’s Department to form a contract for law enforcement coverage. Sheriff Dan Limoges relayed the information to the com- missioners and said he would have a contract for the commissioners to approve at their next meeting.

The ongoing battle of the old Jefferson High School building should soon come to an end as the building and school grounds – around 11 to 12 acres – have been sold to another party. The Jefferson City Council was made aware of the transfer of property at their meeting Jan. 8.

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