Conference held in Billings. ….

Conference held in Billings. Area students winning state titles included Makena Hauge, Kennedy Ereth, Aleah Johnson and Cian Logan.

4. Roosevelt Medical Center announced the addition of Dr. William Anderson to its medical staff team following the retirement of Dr. Don Helland.

5. The Montana Supreme Court has agreed to hear an appeal in Culbertson’s Legion Park case. Access to the park has been blocked by Knudsen Family Limited Partnership, preventing use by Scouting groups and the public.

April

1. Eastern Montana and North Dakota were hit by a blizzard that resulted in the closing of many highways and schools throughout the area. On April 12, the blizzard-like conditions forced the Departments of Transportation for both Montana and North Dakota to close Interstate 94 from Billings to Jamestown, N.D., a 513-mile stretch. Closer to home, Richland County closed all of its highways due to the weather on April 13.

2. The Culbertson Town Council approved a water rate increase at the regular meeting April 11. Council members approved an increase of $3 to users’ base rate and approximately 57 cents per 1,000 gallons used.

3. Visiting Sheridan, Roosevelt, and Richland counties, Gov. Greg Gianforte met with apprentices, employees and business owners helping drive Montana’s economic growth and strengthen their communities on April 22. Traveling to Roosevelt County next, the governor met with the owner of Froid Grocery, a local grocery store, to hear how her small business found a way to serve more local customers and expand operations during the pandemic.

4. Culbertson High School hosted prom from 8 p.m. to midnight at the old armory building, despite wind, rain and snow that knocked down power lines throughout the region. Turnout was strong, with attendees and family members braving the weather. After-prom activities were canceled. James Kirkaldie and Autumn Bergum were crowned king and queen 5. Culbertson Schools welcomed Glen Disque with the Montana Department of Labor & Industry. According to Wendy Becker, Disque’s focus was to bring resources to the students about the opportunities available through Montana Registered Apprenticeship.

May

1. Ian Walker was re-elected to the Culbertson School Board during the election on Tuesday, May 3. Walker received 122 votes in the election. Shadd Cullinan had 82 votes.

2. Candidates for Roosevelt County sheriff discussed their desire to decrease crime including drug use in the county during a forum sponsored by this newspaper and the Wolf Point Elks Lodge on May 5.

3. Culbertson’s graduation class of 2022 that included 21 students wasn’t exactly equally divided between boys and girls. After all, the number featured 17 boys and only four girls. Valedictorian Autumn Bergum said she wouldn’t have the class be any other way.

4. The Froid School Board decided to stay with a fiveday school week at least for the next school year.

Superintendent Janessa Parenteau said the board unanimously voted to keep the five-day school week.

5. U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., announced the news that Amtrak will restore daily service to the Empire Builder line across northern Montana beginning May 23.

June

1. Roosevelt County residents voted in favor of establishing local option excise taxes for both medical and non-medical marijuana during the primary election on Tuesday, June 7. Adding a 3 percent special local option tax on non-medical marijuana sold in the county passed by a margin of 1,161 to 363.

2. In Roosevelt County’s sheriff’s primary election, incumbent Jason Frederick led the way with 857 votes. Brent Nygard was second with 411 votes and will face Frederick in the general election.

3. The Roosevelt County commissioners approved the hiring of a new sheriff office’s deputy. William Charbonneau was hired with a start day of June 1. He will be stationed in Froid. Commissioner Gordon Oelkers said there will now be two deputies stationed in Froid and one stationed in Bainville.

4. Roosevelt County commissioners discussed a pay increase for non-elected officials during their meeting on June 20. Commissioner Duane Nygaard proposed a pay increase of 2.75 percent. Commissioner Gary Macdonald seconded the motion. Nygaard said that he feels that commissioners need to work on a new wage scale so that there’s not as large of a pay difference between new employees and more experienced employees. 5. Four area high school students had the opportunity to take part in the youth tour of Washington, D.C. Students Carolyne Christoffersen of Froid, Kaylee Olson of Froid and Kash Ator of Medicine Lake each were sponsored by Sheridan Electric Cooperative. Drae Nelson of Bainville was sponsored Lower Yellowstone Rural Electric Cooperative.

July

1. Although it’s far from a boom, Roosevelt County has experienced a lift from increased oil activity during the last several months. Taxes from oil production for the quarter that ended in September 2021 resulted in a payment of $681,000 for the county. “It’s the highest it’s been since 2019,” Commissioner Gordon Oelkers said.

2. The Culbertson School District received a $10,000 donation from the Culbertson Booster Club. Athletic uniforms will be purchased with the funds raised during a summer basketball tournament.

3. Bainville’s entire community pitched in to have a fantastic Heritage America celebration that started Friday, July 1, and ended on Sunday, July 3. The year marked the centennial anniversary of Bainville’s first graduation class.

4. With additional revenue coming in through oil revenue, the Culbertson School Board discussed different projects during its June meeting. The increased price of oil has resulted in $300,000 available for projects.

5. A ribbon cutting and grand opening was hosted at Culbertson’s new auto parts store, Auto Value Parts, located inside Hi-Line Service & Hydraulics’ location at 603 6th St East on the north side of US Highway 2.

August

1. The Montana Supreme Court upheld a lower court decision sustaining an easement to a 40-acre park in Culbertson. The ruling resolves a long-standing dispute with Knudsen Family Limited Partnership, the Town of Culbertson and American Legion Post No. 81 over access to the area.

2. Froid High School student Kaylee Olson earned grand champion steer honors with her steer Renaldo during the Roosevelt County Fair.

3. The Roosevelt County commissioners approved a request from the health department to begin using electronic health records and billing software. The Roosevelt County Health Department plans to use the CureMD program.

4. A dedicated group of Montana educators are becoming “history missionaries” as part of the Teacher Leaders in Montana History program. One of the teachers is Bainville fifth-grade teacher April Wills.

5. A 30-acre fire was put out east/northeast of Sugar Top Hill near Culbertson on Aug. 13. The alarm was raised around 3 p.m. with the Roosevelt County Fair wrapping up nearby. To be continued next week.