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Jonathon Shaide, 3, worked on his dribbling skills before a high school game.
After a year of discussion, the Richland Youth Hockey Association finalized plans for the interior of the Sidney hockey facility. In January the organization began advertising for bids from contractors. Plans included locker room, showers, coach's office, referee's dressing room with shower, storage, skate rental room and restrooms. The upper level included a commercial kitchen, dining/concession area, meeting room and restrooms.
Karen Olson Beenken became the new Sidney Chamber of Commerce president for 1998. Olson Beenken's goal for the year was increasing the Chamber's membership.
Sidney Fire Chief Gail Peterson stepped down from the position and firefighter Kelly Knaff became the next chief. Knaff's father, George, was Sidney's fire chief from 1961-1979.
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A new principal was found for Sidney High School in February. When long-time principal Jim Wood retired at the end of the school year, Daniel Farr replaced him. Farr was the principal of Three Forks Junior and Senior High School for four years. Prior to that he was Poplar High School's principal for five years. Before that he was a counselor and science teacher in Culbertson for five years.
A blizzard blew in on Feb. 25 and didn't let up for three days. It dumped 18-24 inches of snow in Sidney and surrounding areas. Schools closed early and remained closed until Monday. Major roads were closed for travel, except for emergency travel only. Savage firefighters located nine stranded motorists on the highway, five of which spent the night in the fire hall. The other four found shelter with savage residents. Two Canadian vacationers were stranded for almost three days in the blizzard described by a National Weather Service spokesman as "one of the worst on record" for the area.
Richland County declared a state of emergency in March after the late February blizzard. While some counties "routinely" declare a state of emergency in situations caused by blizzards, Richland County had never used the tactic.
The City of Sidney Tree Board held a "Plant a Tree" event for Arbor Day weekend April 24-25. Trees from the city's tree farm were transplanted to Sidney's new bike trail. The city purchased and planted 25 Canadian cherry trees along Central Avenue. To help raise the funds needed to plant the trees, the Sidney Herald-Leader chose the Arbor Day weekend for its annual community service project. The paper helped get the word out about the needed funds to accomplish planting the trees to keep Sidney as a garden spot of eastern Montana.
Lambert finished the school year without a superintendent. Duane Synoground left a resignation letter on his desk for the school board to find, following a May 1 school board meeting. Tynie Mader took over the job on July 1.
The Sidney City Council approved the building permit for Someplace Miniature Golf Course. Owners Bernie and Barb Connor planned on its opening in mid June.
Houses, businesses and the local saddle club were damaged in Culbertson due to a heavy rainstorm. Towns in Roosevelt County were hit with 4-6 inches of rain on the Fourth of July.
The hospital and parts of Sidney and Fairview changed to the Mid-Rivers Telephone Company in August.
Sidney Health Center announced plans for a senior assisted living housing call the Lodge at Lone Tree Creek.
The Sidney School Board elected to ban tobacco on all school property. The ban included fans using tobacco at football games or going outside for a smoke in the parking lot at basketball contests.
Judy Held, director of the Foundation for Community Care, and local churches made plans for a community chapel at the hospital in September.
Burlington Northern Railroad offered the Fairview Lift Bridge to the state of North Dakota historical society - the only lift bridge in the state. In addition to the bridge, supporters wanted North Dakota to accept the Cartwright Tunnel, located 300 feet east of the bridge - the only railroad tunnel in the state. The state was exploring the financial side of owning the bridge.
Sidney High School started its Trading Card program in October. Fifteen of the school's top achievers were featured on trading cards and passed out to Central Elementary School's fourth-graders. The high school students served as role models for the younger students by setting good examples. If the high school student makes a mistake, he or she had to face the young students and ask for their cards back.
Incumbent Richland County Sheriff Brad Baisch won a second term in November, beating his employee, Deputy J.D. Rankin. Mark Rehbein won the District 2 county commissioner seat with 45 percent of the vote.
The annual Holiday Tour of Homes, sponsored by Preceptor Omieron Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi, featured the homes of Michael and Theresa Stepp's, Steve and Annette Joslin and Marvin and Elaine Stedman.
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.
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