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.

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.

The Elk Point‑Jefferson Board of Education worked through a full agenda Monday night, approving tax levies for the coming school year, accepting several resignations, and finalizing both certified and non‑certified contracts during its May 11 regular meeting.

The Elk Point Pink Ladies will host their fifth annual Pink in the Park Activity and Ven‑dor Fair on Saturday, June 6, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Elk Point City Park. The community event features a mix of family activities, food options and local ven‑dors.

The Union County Commission moved through a full agenda Tuesday, approving several highway contracts, discussing temporary office relocation during courthouse construction and handling routine business during its May 12 meeting.