2021 Review
The following are highlights from the previous year in the pages of the
Northern Plains Independent.
December
Colorful lighted displays were exhibited in Sherman Park Friday, Dec. 3, as part of the Wolf Point Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture’s annual Christmas Stroll. Hayrides through the community gave an opportunity to see the festive lights.
The Optimist Club of Wolf Point’s annual Christmas bazaar attracted shoppers of all ages to Wolf Point High School on Saturday, Dec. 4. Many vendors displayed their wares for purchase.
Nicole Miller Photography offered photos with Santa during the Wolf Point Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture’s annual Christmas Stroll Friday, Dec. 3.
Flying trips continue to steadily increase from Wolf Point as the year progresses. The number of enplanements from L.M. Clayton Airport has significantly improved compared to 2020. The number of enplanements out of Wolf Point during October was 280, which is a 35.9 percent increase from October 2020. Other monthly enplanements included 305 in May, 323 in June, 332 in July, 309 in August and 267 in September. The figure in July was a 34.4 percent increase compared to July 2020.
Aaron Kurokawa was approved as the new president of the Wolf Point Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture during a board meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 7. Kurokawa has agreed to serve in the position for one year, according to chamber officials.
The Roosevelt County Commissioners have agreed to participate in an opioid settlement arrangement with the state during their meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 14. County attorney Frank Piocos approached commissioners about the opportunity and he favored to opt- in for the settlement. According to a letter to Montana counties and cities from Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen, two proposed settlement agreements
were reached after years of negotiations. The settlement calls for distributors McKesson, Cardinal Health and AmerisourceBergen to pay up to $21 billion over 18 years and parent company Janssen to pay up to $5 billion over no more than nine years for a total of $26 billion.
After a long and successful stretch as Wolf Point High School’s head volleyball coach, Kim Hanks has resigned from that position. Her resignation was part of the agenda for the school board meeting held on Monday, Dec. 13.
The Roosevelt County Sheriff’s Office was awarded a $13,000 grant from the Montana Attorney General’s office grant to help the agency obtain and train a drug-detecting canine.
Longtime Wolf Point Police Chief Jeff Harada announced his retirement from the Wolf Point Police Department effective March 3.
Area airports receiving Federal Aviation Administration funding as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act included L.M. Clayton in Wolf Point with $159,000, Poplar Municipal with $110,000 and Big Sky Field in Culbertson with $110,000.
Local minimum wind chill reports as of Dec. 27 included -46 F in Poplar, -44 F at the Glasgow airport, -43 in Wolf Point and -31 F in Culbertson.
As of Sunday, Dec. 25, Roosevelt County only had five active cases of COVID-19 with only one current hospitalization. There have been 67 confirmed COVID-related deaths in the county.
