Inclusion, friendship, leader‑ship and camaraderie are all great things being perpetuated in Dakota Valley’s Best Buddies program. Only in its second year of existence, within the Pan‑ther school district, the program boosts solid numbers when it comes to volunteers and social interactions. Program advisors are Madison Kenney for the high school and Morgan Hinds for the Panther middle school. Both are educators in the special educa‑tion department (SPED) at Da‑kota Valley (DV).

North Sioux City com‑missioners advanced sev‑eral major infrastructure and flood‑recovery projects Monday, approving land ac‑quisition, design work, and testing contracts tied to the River Drive and Centennial lift stations and the McCook Lake grading project.

Dakota Valley’s Parent Teacher Organization (PTO), in conjunction with the Panther elementary school, hosted an event called Storyland Carnival on Thursday, March 19, 2026. From 5:30 pm to 8 pm, a love for reading and fun was brought to life.

No nearby parking was to be found at the Union Country courthouse on Mon‑day, March 16, 2026. Poten‑tial jurors reported, at 9 am, to the Elk Point building for jury selection in the crimi‑nal case against Samir Yas‑ser Albaidhani. Over 180 county residents were at the courthouse as prosecutors and Albaidhani’s defense team went to work to select a jury of 12 plus three alter‑nates. First Circuit Judge Tami Bern oversaw the tri‑al. Jury selection was com‑pleted by mid-afternoon on March 16.

Elk Point‑Jefferson School District announced that the final day of class‑es will now be Wednes‑day, May 20, shifting the calendar one day earlier than planned. District of‑ficials said the adjustment is necessary to accommo‑date construction work scheduled for late May. Families were notified of the change on Monday.

Union County commissioners voted 4–1 on Tuesday to accept a $45,600 proposal from Michaels Fence to replace the failing fence around the fairgrounds track and grandstand. Commissioners Kevin Joffer, Bob Ballard, Tom Kimmel and Peggy Ustad supported the bid, while Commissioner Michael Dailey cast the lone dissenting vote.

Soloists, duets, trios and ensembles played in Dakota Valley’s Performing Arts Center on Thursday, March 19, 2026 for the “Night of Superiors” music concert. It was an evening full of band and choir performances. The goal of the concert was to recognize Panther students who had received the high rating of SUPERIOR at regional small group contests in 2026.

Union County 4‑H member Regan Ras‑mussen returned from San Antonio with more than memories—she came home a national reserve champion. Rasmussen, the daughter of Mike and Trisha Rasmussen of Elk Point, represented South Dakota at the 2026 4‑H Family & Con‑sumer Sciences Nation‑al Championship, where the state’s Skill‑A‑Thon team earned second place nationally and third place in the Life Skills Assessment.

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This year’s prom at Dakota Valley will be on Saturday, March 28, 2026 for Panther seniors and juniors, plus their dates. This year’s theme is “Masquerade Mystery”. The grand march is set to happen at 8 pm in the high school gym. It is a great opportunity for the general public to attend and take photos in addition to seeing attendees in their formalwear.