On January 21, 2025 the Board of Supervisors for the Dakota Dunes Community Improvement District (DDCID) met for their regularly scheduled meeting at 6 pm. The members on-hand were: Ken Beaulieu, Scott Wetz, Julie Shanafelt and Janet Finzen. Bill Shorma was absent. Manager Andrew Tramp, plus finance officer Katelyn Irby were in attendance. Also present at the meeting was Crary Law Firm’s Darrell Jesse and Travis Thom of Civil Engineers & Constructors.
The North Sioux City City Council convened for its regular meeting on February 18, 2025. The meeting, presided over by Mayor Teel, commenced promptly at 7:00 p.m., with a full council present, including Mr. Benson, Mr. Bogenrief, Ms. Christiansen, Mr. Christenson, Mr. Davis, Mr. Green, Ms. Hoffman, Mr. Meyer. Key city officials, such as City Administrator Jeff Dooley, Finance Officer Amy Lilly, and City Attorney Sarah Kleber, also attended.
The Elk Point-Jefferson Board of Education convened in its regular session on February 10, 2025, at 5:00 PM, hosted in the high school study hall. Board President Geary led the meeting with several members in attendance, including Brewer, Jacobs, Sayler, and Hanson, who participated via teleconference. Superintendent Schonebatum, Business Manager Watterson, and various school administrators joined the gathering.
Many schools already had Monday, February 17, 2025 off due to the President’s Day holiday. However, that leave got extended as frigid arctic air forced administrators from Dakota Valley and Elk Point-Jefferson to make adjustments to their weekly schedules. The extreme weather meant school was closed or starting late.
The Union County Board of Commissioners convened for a regular meeting on February 18, 2025, at the Courthouse in Elk Point, South Dakota. The session commenced promptly at 8:30 a.m., with members present, including Commissioners Dailey, Joffer, Kimmel, and Ustad.
Some Elk Point-Jefferson students took the literal plunge on Saturday, February 15, 2025 to benefit Special Olympic athletes from throughout South Dakota. The “polar plunge” happened in cold waters at the Old Lumber Company in Vermillion.
Cassandra Schmith, a Husky educator and Unified Champion Special Olympics Coach, took the plunge along with Zaden Raber, Clara Lambing, Rawsen Vogt, Korbyn Vogt, Ava Peters and Laila Peters. This type of event raises funds for the Special Olympics South Dakota and was reported to help benefit 2,750 athletes from the state.
