Early and absentee voting for South Dakota’s June 2 primary election will begin April 17, giv‑ing voters more than six weeks to cast ballots ahead of Election Day. Voters may cast absen‑tee ballots in person at their county audi‑tor’s office during regu‑lar business hours.

The Union County Commission moved for‑ward on a major court‑house and sheriff’s office expansion Tuesday while also approving a series of personnel changes, highway agreements and audit findings during a wide‑ranging March 31 meeting.

The South Dakota Depart‑ment of Transportation (SD‑DOT) will hold a public meeting open house on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. (CT) to discuss and receive pub‑lic input on the proposed recon‑struction of the S.D. Highway 48 and S.D. Highway 50 inter‑changes with Interstate 29 in Union County. The public meet‑ing open house will be held at the Vermillion Fire EMS De‑partment, located at 820 N. Da‑kota St. in Vermillion.

Dakota Valley’s prom was not the only formal affair in town on Saturday, March 28, 2026 as the Panther’s Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) also held their annual “Daddy Daughter Dance”. Approximately 230 people attended the fun event which took place in the Dakota Valley (DV) elementary school building.

William Shorma of Dakota Dunes said he will not seek re‑election to the South Dakota House of Representatives and instead will run for the Union County Commission seat representing District 1. District 1 includes Dakota Dunes, where residents will vote in the June 2, 2026, primary.

.

The Huskies represented well at Region 1 Junior High Festival Choir on March 25, 2026. Vocalists in grades 7th-8th, from Elk Point-Jefferson (EPJ), joined other area schools in the Irene-Wakonda gymnasium for a day full of singing and musical education. Katelyn Brunick, a choir director at EPJ, accompanied her students. Other participating schools included: Alcester-Hudson, Avon, Dakota Valley, Gayville-Volin, Irene-Wakonda, Lennox, Vermillion and Viborg-Hurley.

On March 16, 2026 the Dakota Dunes Community Improvement District (CID) held a regular monthly meeting. Members on hand included: Scott Wetz, Ken Beaulieu, Dalton Hanson, Janet Finzen and William Shorma. Multiple residents were also in attendance plus CID Manager Andrew Tramp, legal counsel Darrell Jesse, CID employee Katelyn Irby, Rodd Slater of Two Rivers Golf Course and Mike Tison from the Dakota Dunes Country Club.

.

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.