Two major ordinances were approved at the Elk Point City Council meeting Dec. 5.

We take pride at Dakota Valley in that we teach students from elementar y all the way through high school to be kind to their friends. We would like to say that this occurs 100 percent of the time. However, the truth is that many times students feel lonely, left out or outright excluded from their peers at school. In a world where children are bombarded with YouTube

South Dakotans depend on their local community newspaper to keep them informed and connected and here are the facts. • Every month, 574,000 consumers – or 83 percent of South Dakota adults – read the local newspaper in print or online.

Band Director Daryl Jessen and Choir Director Kari Wilmes conducted multiple students from 7th grade to 12th grade in the Performing Arts Center at Dakota Valley’s Winter Band & Vocal Concert on Dec. 2.

Sioux City Metros Varsity kicked off a road trip to Waterloo, IA with a 5-2 win Sat. Nov. 26. They would end the weekend Nov. 27 defeating the Warriors 6-2. The JV would split the weekend with a 1-2 loss Saturday and 3-1 win Sunday.

The American Legion Post 319 in North Sioux City held it’s monthly pancake breakfast Sunday, Dec. 11 at the North Sioux City Senior Citizens Center.

The Union County Commissioners treated the Union County employees to an Appreciation Dinner Monday, Dec. 5 at Spink Family Restaurant in Elk Point. Employees with 15-plus years of service to the county received a plaque. Those dedicating 15-19 years of service received blue plaques; 20-29 silver and 30-plus gold.

North Sioux City’s City Council had an agenda full of ordinances and resolutions Dec. 5.

The staff at CNOS have always enjoyed Christmas and season after season, they’ve been helping hundreds of local children and families enjoy it too. CNOS’s Angel Tree tradition began over 20 years ago when the doctors at CNOS suggested that instead of giving them gifts for Christmas, the CNOS team could help spread a little bit of magic to less fortunate children in the area.

There are a lot of fun holiday characters to be spotted during the day in Dakota Dunes as many entryways are decorated for the winter season. On Fawn Hollow Drive, members of the Peanuts gang plus the Grinch Who Stole Christmas are on display.