Br ight and early on Saturday, October 11, 2025 high schoolers and middle schoolers in band, at Elk Point-Jefferson, traveled to Yankton, South Dakota. They were headed there for their final marching band competition of the season. The destination site was hosting the annual event known as March to the Meridian. The contest included many band programs from both South Dakota and Nebraska. There is a parade component with schools marching across the iconic Meridian Bridge.

Construction advances on Elk Point-Jefferson’s new multipurpose room, a centerpiece of the district’s $8.3 million facilities upgrade.

With the federal government shutdown continuing into November, local food pantries like Elk Point’s are preparing for a wave of new need—especially as SNAP benefits are suspended for the month, leaving millions of Americans without critical food assistance.

The city of Elk Point is mourning the loss of longtime Ward 2 representative and City Council President Lance Penfield, who died Oct. 13 in Omaha, Nebraska.

The combat sport, and a highly practiced martial art, of judo has been popular with some high schoolers in the area. So popular in fact, that Eston and Bella Monical, from Dakota Dunes, traveled to judo’s birthplace of Japan this past summer. The siblings are both brown belts and they visited the Asian country accompanied by their mom Wendy.

The Dakota Valley School District Board of Education approved a district-wide data center upgrade and appointed Andrew Nilges as the ASBSD Delegate Assembly Member. It reviewed department updates and more than $1 million in expenditures during its regular meeting Oct. 13.

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First Dakota National Bank announced today the introduction of a no-interest, no-fee loan program for credit-qualified federal government employees affected by the shutdown. First Dakota has set aside $10 million to provide relief to federal staff. Through the Federal Employee Shutdown Relief Loan Program, borrowers can apply for loans of up to three months of their net pay. Applicants are not required to be existing customers of First Dakota to qualify.

Elk Point-Jefferson’s Unified Special Olympics Bowling team was in Sioux Falls on Saturday, October 11 and Sunday, October 12, 2025 for an area competition. The 1st day of the contest was for individual bowling and the 2nd day consisted of doubles. Cassandra Schmith accompanied the EPJ bowlers. Schmith works with the Huskies in the school’s Structured Learning Center and is also the Unified Cham- pion Special Olympics Coach.

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