The Jefferson City Council received a letter from the Southeastern Council of Governments (SECOG) about a grant opportunity. The council discussed the grant and their monetary commitment at their meeting March 4.

The Union County Highway Department put out the annual bids for different construction materials which were approved at the Union County Board of County Commission meeting March 5. The bids were awarded to: • Chip and Seal from The Road Guy was awarded at $5,960 per mile.

The Elk Point City Council convened on March 4 to discuss the future of the city’s lagoon. A preliminary study from Bolton & Menk was reviewed. “Option A” was determined to be the most cost effective option. City Administrator Derek Tuttle and Public Works Director Trevor Job explained this is the project the city is being forced to do by the state. The city originally was going to redo the lagoons, but the cost was too high. Option A is to purchase more aerators to help fix the issue with the lagoons.

It was a full house at the North Sioux City Community Center Thursday, Feb. 29 for the Union Crossing Town Hall meeting.

The Elk Point-Jefferson School District has spent the last few years looking at and contemplating the needs of the growing school district, including various updates to the facilities. In 2022, the school district attempted a bond issue for these improvements, but the bond failed to pass a vote of the people. This sent the district back to the drawing board.

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Birthdays are a staple in life. And on Wednesday, Feb. 28 the 7th grade girls youth discipleship group from St. Teresa’s in Dakota Dunes worked together to give birthday parties to foster children in need. This act of kindness was done in conjunction with the Siouxland Foster Closet, a nonprofit organization, who makes it their mission to help children in the foster care system by providing a free shopping experience of clothing and other necessities.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $42,956,000 from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda for South Dakota drinking water and clean water infrastructure upgrades.

The start of March was an important time for the Dakota Valley high school debate team as they traveled to Watertown for the state competition on March 1 and 2. South Dakota has two classes for debate.

Dakota Valley high school art teacher Demi Harlan and some of her students were in Vermillion on Friday, Feb. 9 for the 2024 Art Wars competition. This event was hosted by South Dakota High School Activities Association and was held at the University of South Dakota.