Encyclopedia Britannica defines Thanksgiving as an “annual national holiday in the United States and Canada celebrating the harvest and other blessings of the past year.” It is the perfect time to give thanks and be gracious.

Pupils at Dakota Valley filled the Performing Arts Center on Thursday, Nov. 9 to listen to guest speaker Wesley Fluellen reflect on his childhood, professional basketball achievements and the importance of choosing to be successful. Teachers and staff were also in attendance for this speaking engagement put on by SportsWorld.org that has the motto of “encouraging positive choices”.

In the last week, the Union County Sheriff’s Office has received multiple phone calls from Union County residents informing them of a new scam in the area. Residents are receiving phone calls from individuals claiming to be from the Union County Sheriff’s Office, sometime even utilizing some of the deputies’ names.

It was 2017 when Tony Gonsor, a 74-year-old Vietnam veteran and Custer, SD, resident, took charge of the community’s veterans honor guard, presenting military honors at funerals and on holidays such as Memorial Day and Veterans Day.

Hundreds sat in the audience of the Performing Arts Center at Dakota Valley to watch the high school’s performance of PUFFS on November 10 and 11. To say all were entertained would be an understatement.

Many attended Christmas at the Homestead, on Nov. 11, as the gorgeous weather contributed to a beautiful Saturday. All decorated for the holidays, volunteers were on-hand to show off Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve.

A recent trip to Montreal, Canada was made to benefit the residents of the Dakota Valley Emergency Services District. North Sioux City Fire Chief Bill Pappas and Assistant Chief Jim Christenson travelled to Montreal to retrieve the newest asset to the district’s fleet – a new ambulance.

It was a full meeting for the North Sioux City Council Monday, Nov. 6 as they discussed multiple projects, property nuisances and sewer and garbage rate increases.

November 11 is an occasion to honor veterans who have served in war on behalf of the United States. The selfless duty of others allows America to be a land full of freedom. Tom Jacobs, of McCook Lake, knows this more than many as his duty of military service took him to Vietnam during wartime.

The traffic on Northshore Drive has been a hot topic for many years amongst various government entities. Now, the city road which acts as a farm-to-market road, is looking to be addressed.