2021 Review
The following are highlights from the previous year in the pages of the
Northern Plains Independent.
October
After addressing residents in Circle during a swing of eastern Montana, Gov. Greg Gianforte discussed the meth problems that many cities including Wolf Point are encountering. Gianforte said the drug epidemic has been a top priority in his budget. His single largest new expenditure was $25 million into the HEART initiative that address addiction recovery and assistance for law enforcement. “It’s ripping our families and country apart,” Gianforte told the audience in Circle regarding drug issues.
Beginning Oct. 24, all local calls in Montana must be dialed with the 406 area code to connect.
The Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes was set to receive $422,694 in Department of Justice crime victims fund tribal set aside grants. U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., announced $4,756,073 for 11 Department of Justice and Department of Health and Human Services grants to provide support for domestic violence and child abuse victims on reservations across Montana. In addition, the Fort Peck Tribes were to receive $323,860 in Department of Justice Children’s Justice Act Partnerships for Indian Communities grants.
As the cases of COVID requiring hospitalizations continued to climb in Roosevelt County, the Food and Drug Administration has released information on booster shots for the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines.
The City of Wolf Point received notification that it was awarded $2 million through the American Rescue Plan Act Water and Sewer Minimum Allocation Grants. The grant was for the Wolf Point Wastewater System Improvement project.
A group of fifth-grade students learned more about nature during a visit to the Wolf Point High School’s new greenhouse on Tuesday, Oct. 19. A class from Northside Elementary School toured the greenhouse under the direction of agriculture teacher Martin Toavs. The teacher expected many other younger students to view the greenhouse throughout the school year.
With the goal of getting youth off on the right path, activities were held at Southside Elementary School for Red Ribbon Week. Joelle Page, school counselor, said one fun and Halloween-related event was making monsters to scare off any drugs. A Red Ribbon Week parade was conducted Wednesday, Oct. 27.
The Roosevelt County Library got people in the Halloween mood with a book tasting event on Thursday, Oct. 28. The fun included Carol Hackley reading a tale about a zombie cat to open up the activities. Janet Livingston, library director, then shared a story about a frog and deciding he wants to dress as for Halloween.
November
The inauguration ceremony for the 2021-2023 Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes executive board was held at the Greet the Dawn Au-
ditorium in Poplar Monday, Nov. 1. Floyd Azure won for chairman with 893 votes; Charlie Headdress, vice chairman, 920.
A domestic dispute resulted in the murder of two individuals and the suicide of another at a casino east of Bainville on Saturday, Nov. 6. Victims were Scot Panasuk, 63, of Bainville, and Jennifer Mann, 49, of Williston, N.D.
The Title VI Parent Committee elected its officers for the school year during a meeting held in the Wolf Point High School/Junior High library on Tuesday, Nov. 2. Patricia Payne was elected chair. Rob Manning was voted as vice chair. Cheri Nygard was selected secretary.
Veterans Day in Poplar was recognized with a flag-raising ceremony and other events on Thursday, Nov. 11. Gary Martell and Demiree Russell fought off extreme windy conditions to raise the American flag at Poplar’s Veterans Memorial during the morning. Volunteers raised the other seven flags located behind the American flag.
Amtrak officials were in Wolf Point on Monday, Nov. 15, to review the $4 million completed project at the train station. “We benefited the local economy directly by this construction project, now completed, which was funded by the federal appropriation to Amtrak to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act,” Marc Magliari, Amtrak media relations, said. Thanks of the work of Wolf Point High School students, there are now special tables located in the Wolf Point Elks Event Center. The tables, built by woodworking class members, are made from the high school’s old gym floor. Decals on the table read 1969-2016, which were the years of the gym floor’s existence. Elks Exalted Ruler Jeff Presser and Elks member Aaron Kurokawa approached teacher R.C. Page about the idea about a year ago. Work began mid-February 2021.
A record high temperature of 58 degrees was set at the National Weather Service in Glasgow Nov. 28. The high breaks the old record of 57 set in 1899. Wolf Point reported a high of 53 degrees at the airport.
