Union County 4-H members, leaders, and supporters gathered at the Southeast Farmers Elevator Coop, Elk Point, SD, on Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025, to celebrate the hard work and dedication of 4-H youth and volunteers. This year’s event brought together families, community members, and supporters, to acknowledge outstanding accomplishments and encourage continued involvement in 4-H programs. Several individuals and clubs received special recognition for their exceptional contributions. demonstrated outstanding leadership and community service, volunteer efforts, as well as clubs that achieved significant milestones in project work.

Elk Point provider Traci McDonald, EdD, MS, APRN, CNP, PMH‑NP BC; has accepted the role of Director of Behav‑ioral Health for Horizon Health. She began her new position on Novem‑ber 24.

The Elk Point-Jefferson School district received a significant donation from Thermo Bond Build‑ings, LLC on Tuesday, November 25, 2025. A check for $40,000 was presented to the Huskies and all members of the school district are beyond excited and thankful.

Accolades were on the docket for Tami Goehring, of Elk Point-Jefferson, as she was named Middle School Physical Educa‑tion Teacher of the Year on No‑vember 6, 2025. Bestowing this honor was the Society for Health and Physical Educators of South Dakota (SHAPE SD). They an‑nounced this award during a banquet at their annual conven‑tion in Brookings, South Dakota. Goehring has a career in educa‑tion that spans many years, and she has been a part of the Husky family for over a decade.

Elk Point’s second annual Hometown Christmas Market filled Main Street with holiday spirit as families gathered Nov. 30 to celebrate the season with San‑ta, Mrs. Claus and a cast of familiar char‑acters.

The Union County Board of Commission‑ers met in regular ses‑sion Nov. 25, 2025, at the courthouse in Elk Point, with Commissioners Peg‑gy Ustad, Michael Dailey and Kevin Joffer present.

Fourteen families across Union County schools received com‑plete Thanksgiving meals this week thanks to donations from local businesses and coor‑dination by the Union County Sheriff’s Office. The initiative provid‑ed turkeys, side dishes and desserts to fami‑lies in the Dakota Val‑ley, Elk Point‑Jefferson, Beresford and Alcester school districts.

A ceremony to induct the next class of Huskies into the National Honor Society (NHS) took place at 7 pm on Thursday, November 13, 2025. The event happened in the high school with many from the community in attendance. Elk Point-Jefferson’s NHS advisor, Rita Ahmann, welcomed the crowd before turning over speaking duties to the students in order for them to discuss the four pillars associated with NHS.

Each November, communities across South Dakota gather to honor the men and women who served our country. This past week, I joined students, families, and community members in Elk Point for a Veterans Day ceremony that reminded me how important this day is for all of us.

The Union County Board of Commissioners met Nov. 12 at the courthouse in Elk Point, where members approved rezoning for Rancho Pacifica, renewed liquor licenses and adopted new Union County Fair Board by-laws.