Dakota Valley’s PTO coordinated the elementary school’s spelling bee contests on Tuesday, Jan 17. Students in grades 1st, 2nd and 3rd competed for a chance at a 1st place trophy.

North Sioux City City Council member Adam Spates resigned from his seat Jan. 17. Spates represents the residents in Ward 4. He resigned after the council approved hiring him as a police of_cer for the city toward the end of the meeting. The council will have to decide at their next meeting whether they want to take letters of interest for the seat or if the seat will remain vacant until the next election.

For over 15 years, Elk Point and surrounding communities have supported the local blood bank, LifeServe Blood Center, with at least six blood donation opportunities per year. Over the course of January, one blood drive was hosted to support the 150- plus local hospitals that LifeServe Blood Center serves. They collected 28 units of blood which has the ability to save up to 84 local lives.

South Dakota FFA state officers in conjunction with 49 district FFA officers hosted over 40 legislatures and special guests for a legislative breakfast to connect about current trends in agriculture, education, FFA and also the political process on Thursday, Jan. 12 at the Izaak Walton League facility in Pierre, SD.

The Dakota Dunes Community Improvement District Board of Supervisors had their first meeting on the year Tuesday, Jan. 17. The board approved the first readings of Water Rate Increase Ordinance No. 2023-01 and Sewer Rate Increase Ordinance No. 2023-02. A second reading will be held at the February meeting, published in the local paper and then go into effect by the March billing. On the water side, the base rate will stay at $6.98. Changes were made to Tier I – zero to 7,000 gallons – which is considered domestic use, will go from $1.65 per 1,000 to $1.72 per 1,000. Tier II – 7,000 to 30,000 gallons – which is considered commercial/irrigation, will go from $2 to $2.33. Tier III – 30,000 gallons and up – considered to be high irrigation users will go from $2.26 to $2.84. On the sewer side, the board approved a 50 cent per 1,000 gallon increase in the usage rates; the base rate of $18 will remain the same. The current usage rate is $4.50 and will increase to $5. So for a typical residential home, residents will see a 5.6 to 6.7 percent increase or $2 to $3 a month added to their bill. Two Bond Resolutions were approved by the board. These bond resolutions are so the state can issue bonds on the CID’s behalf for the two SRF loans being awarded to help pay for the project. The two surcharge resolutions for the two projects were also approved. These resolutions say that the CID is going to implement a surcharge to residents once that project is completed. The surcharges will be $1.10 on the sewer side and $1.70 on the water side per meter per month. The board approved the automatic expenditures from CID funds in order to pay bills and other payments on time. Dakota Dunes CID District Manager Jeff Dooley discussed goals for 2023. Those goals are:

2022 was a year of ups and downs, twists and turns – and the Dakota Dunes/North Sioux City Times was there to cover it all. January The year began with the Union County Board of County Commissioners needing to redefi ne the lines of their districts due to the 2020 census.

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Rachel Bryan, a student at Dakota Valley, and Mackenzie Steinbrecher from Yankton County attended the 4-H National Western Round Up and placed fifth overall in Hippology in Denver, CO. They were a team of three but the third member was unable to make it out to Denver due to the bad weather. Hippology is the study of horses. 4-H kids from around the country met in Denver to compete at the round up. Some kids came as far away as Hawaii.

Eric Rosenbaum is presenting a discussion about the early settlers of the Big Sioux Township and their role in fur trading, agriculture, military supply and the growth of the area. The event, which will include the discovery of human remains along I-29, will take place Jan.

The Siouxland Humane Society is currently taking orders for its Gourmet Double Chocolate Caramel Apples, the perfect Valentine gift. The cost is $20 per apple with all proceeds going to the homeless animals in the area.