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.

The North Sioux City Fire and Ambulance Departments held their annual Awards Banquet on Dec. 9, 2023.

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.

North Sioux City received a petition with 385 signatures to bring the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with PBR Capital Group to a referendum. The matter appeared on the agenda at the city council’s meeting Jan. 8, leaving the council with two options – 1) set an election date or 2) rescind the MOU.

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 commissioners and said he would have a contract for the commissioners to approve at their next meeting.

Yeni Condon, a senior at North High School, has been selected as the January 2024 Rotary Club Student of the Month. She was honored during the Rotary Club meeting on Monday, Jan. 15 at the MidAmerican Energy Community Room.

At the end of 2023, theater students at Dakota Valley auditioned and began rehearsing for the One Act Play & Technical Theater season. All of the actor’s and stagecrew’s hard work is about to be highlighted as the Panthers perform on Friday, Jan. 19 and Saturday, Jan. 20 at 7pm in the DV middle school’s Performing Arts Center (PAC).

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.