Dakota Dunes North Sioux City Times & Southern Union County Leader-Courier

Union County receives donation

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Elk Point United Parish VBS

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DV students attend HOSA International Leadership Conference

Several Dakota Valley high schoolers traveled to Nashville, Tennessee on June 18-21, 2025 to represent the Panthers for HOSA which stands for Health Occupations Students of America. The International Leadership Conference (ILC) brought together HOSA students from all over the country and world for seminars, workshops, exhibits and competitive events.
Murray, Riibe attend USAO Academy-Summer law camp

Soon to be Panther seniors, Alexandria Murray and Mia Riibe, attended the United States Attorney’s Office (USAO) Academy-Summer Law Camp for 2025. The Dakota Valley students applied in the spring and had to submit an application as well as answer a variety of essay questions in order to be accepted. The students were alerted near the end of April or early parts of May, by the U.S. Attorney’s Office District of South Dakota, on their acceptance.
Fleurish Fest: A brand-new flower festival

Submitted Fleurish Flower Farm, located just outside Elk Point, is excited to announce a brand-new event coming to the community this summer. Fleurish Fest will take place Saturday and Sunday, July 19–20, and invites visitors of all ages to enjoy a weekend full of flowers, music, food, and family fun — right here in Union County.

Local veteran tells uncensored story in “Good Night, Vietnam”

Shannon Jost

Thursday, December 18, 2025

Robert Lawrence remembers the war not only for the battles he survived, but for the stories he wasn’t allowed to tell. Now living in McCook Lake, the former Army broadcaster has published Good Night, Vietnam, a memoir that confronts censorship, deception and the personal toll of America’s most divisive war.

Panther volleyball adds All‑State, coaching honors after Class A title

Kelly Riibe

Thursday, December 18, 2025

Accolades continued for the Dakota Valley volleyball team after being named Class A state champions on November 22, 2025. To start the month of December the South Dakota Volleyball Coaches Association announced their selection for the Class A All-State roster. Senior Claire Munch and junior Madie Munch both made 1st Team All-State to represent the DV Panthers.

DV Esports posts strong midseason results across multiple titles

Submitted

Thursday, December 18, 2025

The Panther Esports program was busy throughout the week of December 8-11, 2025 with multiple matches played over many differing game titles. Dakota Valley Esports will be on a short hiatus with the holidays as winter break is set to start on December 19. They will be back in the new year for more competitive play.

Patil works to combat litter, donates locally

Kelly Riibe

Thursday, December 18, 2025

It is the holiday season of giving and Kshitij Patil, a Dakota Valley sophomore, has gone to great lengths recently to make an impact at the local level. Patil has helped the environment and made gains to combat littering as he donated money and collected trash in Sioux City. He also recently made a significant dona‑tion to help those in need of food and support in the local area.

DV weighs facilities and football concerns

Shannon Jost

Thursday, December 18, 2025

The Dakota Valley School District Board of Education met Dec. 8, moving through routine business while fielding commu‑nity input on athletics and ap‑proving an emergency repair to the middle school water line.

Holiday harmonies ring out at EPJ middle school winter concert

Kelly Riibe

Thursday, December 18, 2025

Holiday cheer could be heard from Elk Point-Jefferson as middle schoolers performed for the winter music concert on Monday, December 8, 2025. The program began with vocals as EPJ choir members, in grades 6th-8th, performed under the direction of Katelyn Brunick.

Huskies battle hard but fall to Madison in opener

Kelly Riibe

Thursday, December 18, 2025

Competitive play met up with the Husky boys basketball team on December 13, 2025. Elk Point-Jefferson was in Madison to kickstart the 2025/26 high school basketball season. The game proved fierce and unfortunately the Huskies did not leave town with a win. However, hard work was observed on the court.

Defense powers girls to victory over Madison

Kelly Riibe

Thursday, December 18, 2025

Mother Nature finally decided to let the high school basketball season begin for the Elk Point-Jefferson girls basketball team on Saturday, December 13, 2025. An earlier contest, December 11 versus Canton, was postponed until January 5, 2026 due to snow and icy conditions.

EPJ delivers standout storytelling, theatre

Kelly Riibe

Thursday, December 18, 2025

South Dakota’s state oral interpretation festival, for high schoolers, was held on December 5-6, 2025. The event took place in Watertown and Elk Point-Jefferson was represented at state by Carter Heckathorn, Austin Clercx, Jaxon Vande Vegte, Lexi McDermott and Stella Bonnema. All of these pupils punched their tickets to state after qualifying at regionals in November.

County authorizes budget changes

Shannon Jost

Thursday, December 18, 2025

The Union County Board of Commissioners met Dec. 9 at the court‑house, working through a wide agenda that ranged from facility upgrades and highway easements to tax abatements and budget adjustments.

News

Sports

Obituaries

Union County receives donation

Elk Point United Parish VBS

DV students attend HOSA International Leadership Conference

Murray, Riibe attend USAO Academy-Summer law camp

Fleurish Fest: A brand-new flower festival

Local veteran tells uncensored story in “Good Night, Vietnam”

Panther volleyball adds All‑State, coaching honors after Class A title

DV Esports posts strong midseason results across multiple titles

Patil works to combat litter, donates locally

DV weighs facilities and football concerns

Holiday harmonies ring out at EPJ middle school winter concert

Huskies battle hard but fall to Madison in opener

Defense powers girls to victory over Madison

EPJ delivers standout storytelling, theatre

County authorizes budget changes

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