Montana had to vote on changing girls' basketball to a winter activity and girls' volleyball to a fall sport. The change was voted on at the Montana High School Association's annual meeting. It had failed in the past. But the threat of a lawsuit could force the issue if the resolution wasn't passed.

Area oil field company layoffs were on the rise because of low oil prices. The oil field economy was the worst seen in 19 years.

The Sidney Country Club members voted in January in favor of a proposal to increase the golf course from nine holes to 18 holes. The Montana Senate approved a bill on a speed limit in February. The bill provided for a maximum speed of 75 miles per hour day and night for both cars and trucks on Montana's interstate highways. On two-lane roads the speed limit was set at 70 during the day and 65 at night for cars and 60 and 55 for trucks.

New owner Taunya Rau purchased Shari's clothing store from Shari Whitney on Feb. 1.

The Sidney School Board announced the resignation of Elementary Principal Charles Cummings in March. Cummings was principal at Central Elementary School since 1975. He took on the dual principal role for Central and West Side in 1997.

One quarter of the Lalonde Hotel was destroyed by fire early morning March 31. The rest of the building sustained considerable smoke and water damage.

Sidney Oil said its farewell after 52 years of service, Bill Harper, owner, sold the business to Cross Petroleum on April 1.

Bulls-R-Us, a bull-riding competition and a special registered Angus bull sale, was held at the Richland Rangers hockey building. Organizers Al and Hank Franzen planned the weekend as a tribute to the ag industry, a vital part of our economy. The Northern Bull Riding Assocation sanctioned the event.

Greg Miller and Janel Swank bought the old Dutch Mill building and made plans to open a convenience store on the site across from the golf course.

Moo Juice Dairy and Mike Degn were awarded a $50,000 grant from Montana's agriculture department in May to develop a business plan to identify and resolve government permitting and regulatory requirements.

The Sidney Chamber held its first annual Heritage Day June 19 with the Dave and Ethel Albin family selected the Heritage Day Family. The event filled the void in early summer created when Western Days was moved to April for the Bulls-R-Us event.

The Methodist church in Sidney celebrated its 100th anniversary. Church member Glayde Yoder also celebrated his 100th birthday on July 5.

After 36 years of teaching Fairview youngsters, Ken Babcock retired from teaching. Babcock arrived in Fairview in 1963 as a fifth-grade teacher and after three years switched to junior high history.

Three new principals greeted Sidney students in August. Longtime Sidney Middle School Principal Bill Nankivel took over similar duties at Central Elementary. Gary Arnold was the new Middle School principal, and Dr. Robert McKenna was the new principal at West Side Elementary School.

The Tree House, located at Pella Lutheran Church, an after school program for children in grades kindergarten through sixth grade, was in its second year.

The future of the Fairview bridge suffered a setback when area officials were told that North Dakota wasn't interested in taking ownership of the historical bridge, sighting the upkeep and safety too costly for the state to handle.

Sidney Health Center Hospice staff held its first Camp Mend-a-Heart for children at the Scout Cabin in September.

By October the city had no news from Duane Leidholt, the Miles City-based owner, on plans for the damaged Lalonde Hotel.

A threatening note in a boys' restroom at the Sidney Middle School caused officials to close the campus for several weeks. Additional measures included searching music cases, lunch bags and gym bags. Students were encouraged to carry clear book bags, lunch and gym bags.

A Fairview High School student brought a loaded .22 caliber pistol to school. Other students aware of it (the gun) and took it from the student, then escorted the student to the school office.

Sidney sophomore Nadia Ben-Youssef received a national award in November from the Caring Institute. The award was in recognition of people who demonstrated extraordinary compassion and caring and becoming role models for society. Ben-Youssef published four books of poetry and donated the proceeds to children's charities.

The Lower Yellowstone Chapter of A.B.A.T.E. (American Bikers Aiming Towards Education) held a toy drive in Sidney and Fairview for area children in December.

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