The Northern Plains Independent and Community News, under the leadership of publisher Darla Downs, earned several awards during the Montana Newspaper Association’s Better Newspaper Contest. The 136th Montana Newspaper Association annual convention was held in person June 18-19 in Big Sky. The Northern Plains Independent won first place for best black and white advertisement to sell or

A Wolf Point man who admitted to seriously injuring an infant on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation has been sentenced to 40 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Leif M. Johnson said. Charles Connor Clark, 27, pleaded guilty on Feb. 17, to assault resulting in serious bodily injury as charged in a superseding information. Chief U.S. District Judge

The trial for Richard Lamar Rutledge of Culbertson is being pushed back again. In March, the trial was postponed from March to July. Rutledge is facing two counts of sexual intercourse without consent and two counts of incest. Since that postponement, Rutledge’s representation has changed. He no longer has public defenders, but instead his family is paying Mary Zemyan to serve as his attorney.

Tammy Jo Sievers, 58, of Richland was sentenced for possession of dangerous drugs, meth, in district court on Wednesday, June 16. She received a suspended sentence of four years and was fined $500. District judge David Cybulski said Sievers is a good prospect for rehabilitation. In a different court case on June 16, Timothy Patrick Johnson made not guilty pleas to three charges. The

( Publisher’s Note: The following blotter includes the activities of the Wolf Point police and fire department June 14-20. All those cited or arrested are presumed innocent.) Citations were issued to: June 14 Cheryl Fourstar, 26, female, 800 block of Fourth Avenue South, partner/family member assault, tribal court. June 15 John Laverdure, 61, male, Triangle Park, open container and public