Union County voters will see a wide range of local, legislative and statewide contests on the June 2 primary ballot. Races vary by pre‑cinct, but Republican voters county‑wide will decide several competitive contests. Sample ballots for all pre‑cincts appear in this week’s edition.

State and regional transpor‑tation officials have presented the final recommendations for the Interstate 29 Corridor Study, outlining a series of major recon‑struction projects, interchange redesigns and long‑term improve‑ments planned for the 11‑mile stretch of interstate running through Union County. The public open house, held May 19 at the North Sioux City Com‑munity Center and streamed vir‑tually, served as the final public meeting before the study is com‑pleted later this year. The South Dakota Department of Trans‑portation (SDDOT) is leading the project with consultant HDR and partner agencies including SIMPCO, Union County, North Sioux City, Dakota Dunes, the Iowa DOT and the Federal High‑way Administration.

The Dakota Valley School Board approved a series of staffing changes, national convention fund‑ing and facility upgrades during its May 11 regu‑lar meeting, while also reviewing early budget plans for the coming year. Chairperson Steve Kist‑ner called the meeting to order with board members Jesica Hanson, Andrew Nilges and Emily Norby present. Matt Thompson was absent. Superinten‑dent Garrett Schmidt and Business Manager Jill Sponder also attended.

North Sioux City com‑missioners continued pushing ahead on major flood‑recovery and infra‑structure projects dur‑ing their May 18 regular meeting, approving de‑sign work, construction payments and contract adjustments tied to ongo‑ing reconstruction around Northshore Drive and McCook Lake.

Sign-ups are happening for the 2026 season of sum‑mer reading at the North Sioux City (NSC) Library. This year’s motto is “Un‑earth a Story”. The pre‑historic theme highlights dinosaurs, fossils and ad‑venture.

All of the youth baseball teams, softball squads and t-ball rosters from the local community are invited to the legion baseball field, in North Sioux City, on Monday, June 8, 2026 at 5:30 pm. Teams are encouraged to come for the National Anthem and take in a first pitch ceremony. A carnival, with baseball and softball themes, will follow on field #2 at the NSC/DV complex located at 1150 Northshore Drive, near Dakota Valley’s elementary school building.

Registration for the Elk Point-Jefferson (EPJ) Library’s Summer Read‑ing Program is currently open until May 31, 2026. Activities are planned for children ages 3 to 11 on: ● July 14-16, 2026 ● July 21-23, 2026 For those who are 7-years-old and younger there will be activities from 11am to noon. Chil‑dren between the ages of 8 to 11 will have activities slated to occur from noon to 1pm on the dates listed above.

The Husky Class of 2026 walked to receive their high school diplomas on Saturday, May 16, 2026. It was the 32nd annual graduation for Elk Point-Jefferson (EPJ) with the event being held in the high school gymnasium at 1 pm.

With the 2026 session of South Dakota Boys State set to begin next week in Aberdeen, two recent Elk Point‑Jefferson graduates who attended last year say the program remains one of the most valuable civic‑education experiences available to high‑school students.

Panther students who hope to pursue careers in health were in Sioux Falls, on April 16-17, 2026, for the South Dakota HOSA State Leadership Conference. Spread out over three sites, Dakota Valley high schoolers attended events held at the Sanford Pentagon, Southeast Technical College and University of South Dakota-Sioux Falls. Kenton MacArthur, Panther HOSA advisor, accompanied the students. He was pleased with how all of the HOSA members did in their competitions throughout the conference.