Savage school officials decided to end the football co-op with Lambert in January. The two schools started the co-op in 1989, and the team was called the Lambert-Savage Furies. Savage's school enrollment was able to continue to play eight-man football. Lambert's enrollment had them looking at six-man football.

Sidney native and lifelong resident was named publisher/editor of the Sidney Herald-Leader. Libby Berndt started her new duties Feb. 1. Publisher/editor Rick Schneider accepted a similar position in Arizona.

Fairview mourned the loss of longtime resident Budd Starr in February. Starr was well-known for helping Fairview's kids. An explosion destroyed HB & R Oil building in March. Jay Reed an employee escaped with no injuries. The explosion was cause by a propane leak.

The Lalonde Hotel, a Sidney landmark for 50 years, was torn down in early March. An electrical fire severely damaged the hotel April 1, 1999. Since that time the hotel remained unrepaired and unoccupied. County and city officials were concern the fire-damaged structure was a public health risk. An agreement was reached with owner Duane Leidholt, Miles City, to remove the building. Leidholt hired a construction company to tear down the hotel. The city and county supplied trucks to remove the refuge and take it to the landfill. Once the building was removed the county took over the land.

Rayna Prewitt was ranked sixth in the Women's Professional Rodeo Association due in part to a strong performance at the Houston, Texas rodeo, placing fourth in the average.

The Sidney Herald started publishing the Homespun page with Deniece Schwab in March.

Leslie Messer was hired as Richland Economic Development's new executive director in April.

Dr. Jimmie Ashcraft closed his office after 25 years in the community.

The Sidney Country Club held a grand opening of its new 18-hole golf course on May 5 and 6.

City Councilman Bret Smelser filed for mayoral election.

Sidney hosted the Montana High School Rodeo Finals in June. The event brought 250-300 contestants and 750-1,000 total visitors to town for a week.

Cartwright, N.D., celebrated its Centennial in July.

Rodeo Task Force received news from the MHSRA that Sidney put on a great rodeo and would host the state finals in 2002 and 2003. One official commented that it took Sidney one year to run a rodeo as well as it took other places three years to accomplish.

Representatives of the local VFW Post asked the Sidney City Council to consider changing the name of Central Park. They wanted the name changed to Veterans Memorial Park.

The Williston Basin celebrated 50 years in the oil business in August.

The Sidney pool was packed with participants and fans at the state swim meet.

Terrorists attack New York and Washington on Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001. Several Richland County residents were in New York when it happened, but no county lives were lost. Many people including Sidney Herald's advertising representative Linda Steinbeisser had travel plans changed due to closed airports after the attack. Steinbeisser was in Phoenix at the time and had to rent a car to return home.

Sidney was selected "Capitol for a Day" on Oct. 17. Gov. Judy Martz and Lt. Gov Karl Ohs were in Sidney for the day's activities.

Montana High School Association member decided the 2002-2003-basketball season for both girls and boys would be played in the winter, and the district basketball tournaments played at the same time. The divisional and state tournaments would be played on separate weekends. Volleyball was moved to the fall season.

Bret Smelser defeated Charles Cummings in the mayoral race by a margin of 771-359 in November.

Rayna Prewitt qualified for the National Finals Rodeo and competed in the weeklong rodeo at Las Vegas in December. Prewitt finished 13th at the NFR.

Footnote: Information provided by the MonDak Heritage Center's archives. Previous years can be found on the Herald Web site www.sidneyherald.com/herald_facts