Ha r d w a r e wa s brought home by the Elk Point-Jefferson jazz band as they put on a fine performance at the University of South Dakota (USD). Preston Pohlman, band director for the Huskies, was elated with his students and their musical prowess on the stage.

A portion of S.D. Highway 46 east of Beresford will close Tuesday, April 7, as crews begin the surfacing phase of a multi‑million‑dollar road project, according to the South Dakota Department of Transportation.

The South Dakota Legislature hosted two Dakota Valley seniors for their page program during the 2025/26 school year. They were Bennett Jensen and Danica Euliss. Both of these Panther high schoolers reside in Dakota Dunes and each got to serve with state representative Chris Kassin.

Northshore Drive will close to nearly all traffic beginning April 1 as the city begins a multi‑month reconstruction project, leaving the neighborhood and Dakota Valley school campus accessible only from the west.

Burbank resident Nor‑een Jorgensen is happy to share the beauty and histo‑ry of Blue Tin Ranch as it is more than just a home and a business. It is a dream. And also a source of joy that she shares with those who visit from near and far. On January 22, 2026, recogni‑tion of Jorgensen’s zeal for Blue Tin Ranch was on full display, as she received the Ruth Ziolkowski Outstand‑ing Hospitality & Customer Service Award.

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).

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.

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.

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.