Children in the Elk Point-Jefferson area have been giving back to the community this summer in a unique and helpful way. The nice acts have come in the form of lawn care and free mowing services. Several young adults have taken the challenge to help others for no fee as a way to be kind, considerate and upstanding.

The Panthers had back-to-back games on July 16 and July 17, 2025. Both were tough contests and the result was 1 loss and 1 victory for Dakota Valley.

Two Panther students were in Anaheim, California on June 29-July 2, 2025 for the Future Business Leaders of America, Inc.’s (FBLA) National Leadership Conference (NLC). Soon to be 11th grader Asher Pfeifer and incoming 10th grader Kshitij Patil were South Dakota student representatives at this year’s conference. The pair from Dakota Valley attended along with over 15,000 others.

Stifel (NYSE: SF) today announced that its Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated broker-dealer subsidiary has moved its office from Sioux City, Iowa, to Dakota Dunes, South Dakota. The Sioux City office’s origin dated back to the early 1950s when TC Henderson established an investment office in the Badgerow Building in downtown Sioux City.

The Dakota Valley School District #61-8 held its annual Board of Education meeting on Monday, July 14, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. in the district boardroom. All five board members— Jesica Hanson, Steve Kistner, Andrew Nilges, Emily Norby, and Matt Thompson—were present, along with Superintendent Dr. Craig Schmidt and Business Manager Sponder. Chairperson Kistner called the meeting to order and welcomed visitors before the board unanimously approved the agenda. No new conflict-of-interest disclosures were presented.

There is a new face at the extension office and the counties of Union and Clay are excited about it. Laurie Fritsch has hit the ground running in her new position as 4-H Educator for the two neighboring areas in South Dakota’s southeastern corner. She began her new job role on June 2, 2025. She comes to the extension office from the University of South Dakota where she worked for the computer science department as a Senior Administrative Assistant.

Runners raced for a cause at the 5th Annual Cross Country 5K Road Race Fundraiser, held Saturday, July 19, 2025. The event brought together dozens of participants and supporters, with community spirit and fast finishes marking a successful day.

Elk Point-Jefferson High School’s own Karlene Stabe, teacher leader for the school’s Educators Rising chapter, attended the National Educators Rising Conference held June 25–29 in Orlando, Florida. Accompanied by three students, the group represented EPJ with pride on the national stage. One of Stabe’s students, Ava Peters, placed an impressive 8th out of 80 competitors in the Job Interview competition.

The Huskies football program joined forces with the Coyotes of the University of South Dakota (USD) to bring a skills camp to Elk Point on July 15-16, 2025. Interested young athletes from Elk Point-Jefferson were invited with over 50 youth campers ultimately attending the event The camp was held on the EPJ high school football field. Starting at 6 pm, there were 3rd through 6th graders taking the field to work on skills and drills for 90 minutes. At 7:30 pm, it was then time for 7th-9th graders to have their turn to work on football fundamentals.

The Huskies had legion baseball back-to-back days on July 16 and July 17, 2025. A huge victory was seized versus nearby rival Dakota Valley (DV) as Elk Point-Jefferson claimed the win by a score of 3-1. The next day they battled Vermillion and were on the losing end 3-13.