2021 Review

The following are highlights from the previous year in the pages of the

Northern Plains Independent.

June

Wolf Point High School’s Class of 2021 looked forward to the future as commencement exercises were held in the school gym on Sunday, May 30.

There were 20 graduates along with many proud parents and grandparents in attendance during the Southside Elementary School’s preschool graduation ceremony on Wednesday, June 2.

A group of organizers and participants walked and drove across the Fort Peck Indian Reservation to raise awareness for suicide prevention June 5. The third annual Suicide Awareness Walk/Ride included stops in the communities of Frazer, Oswego, Wolf Point, Poplar, Brockton, Fort Kipp and Culbertson. Walkers were invited to gather at 8 a.m. at the western edge of the reservation.

Although the weather wasn’t ideal, a good crowd still attended the ninth annual Wolf Point Brewfest held at the rodeo grounds on Saturday, June 19.

A community partner of Montana State University Extension was recognized nationally for her outstanding support of Extension efforts. Carrie Schumacher, interim vice president for academic and vocational education at Fort Peck Community College and owner of BCS Consulting, was selected as a 2021 National Epsilon Sigma Phi Friend of Extension honoree. The award was presented in October at the national conference in Savannah, Ga.

July

Three outstanding young women took over the spotlight during the Miss Rodeo/Miss Teen Rodeo Wild Horse Stampede pageant held in Wolf Point on Wednesday, July 7. Tiara Whitmus, a 2021 graduate of Lustre High School, was crowned Miss Rodeo. Cierra Bireley earned runner-up honors. Whitmus took top honors in the speech division along with the poise and projection category. Birely placed first in horsemanship and interview divisions. Samantha Reed, a Wolf Point High School student, earned the

Miss Teen Rodeo title. She took first in horsemanship, speech, interview and poise and projection. The event is divided into four categories: horsemanship, appearance, speech, and poise and projection.

With the start of the school year fast approaching, Wolf Point school officials held public meetings to discuss a safe return from COVID 19 challenges. After one public meeting on July 13, the meeting on July 20 attracted additional community members to voice suggestions. Wolf Point Superintendent of Schools Loverty Erickson explained that one of the requirement of be ineligible for COVID-related funding is to have meaningful dialogue with community members.

With residents becoming more comfortable to traveling after COVID concerns, business was steadily improving for Cape Air for its Montana flights. After having 105,714 enplanements for Montana in January 2021, the figure increased to 109,823 for the month of February and 154,541 for the month of March. Enplanements in May were 174,503 in Montana for Cape Air.

Roosevelt County commissioners approved a resolution opposing the 30x30 programs during their meeting on Tuesday, July 20. The 30x30 program aims to set aside 30 percent of the nation’s land and water for conservation by 2030.