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Social distancing is the physical separation of people in an effort to prevent the spread of disease in a community. It has been shown that social distancing in the early stages of an outbreak is effective in preventing or slowing the spread of communicable disease. While it may be tempting to treat school and work closures as a well-needed vacation, it is extremely important for Richland County residents to respect social distancing recommendations, and stay home as much as possible during this time. This means that families should limit...
Aside from everyone practicing social distancing as much as possible, Sidney Mayor Rick Norby, speaks about the importance of uniting, and going out of one's way to prop up our local businesses and check on neighbors during these trying times. "I understand people would rather stay home, but to order in from these restaurants that are currently shut down, to pickup takeout curbside service, I can't echo the importance of that enough. Right now, to me, shopping locally is the biggest part. Once...
The quarantine order signed 3/28 by State Health Officer Mylynn Tufte has been amended, removing the order for those who returned to ND in the last 14 days to quarantine and clarifying exempted workforce sectors. View the updated information here: https:https://www.health.nd.gov/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/travel-quarantine-orders?fbclid=IwAR0rjj5J1vrhBXT26INGzVk8dHIwYufG9_-PQgy7ejCkPTApTbtGYfYvGaw Who’s Affected All individuals traveling back to North Dakota from international locations and states in the U.S. that have been classified a...
Sidney, MT – Hospitals across the nation have been advised to plan for a patient surge based on the emerging cases of COVID-19 across the United States. Although there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Richland County as of March 23, the threat is real as Montana continues to see more confirmed cases by the day. To protect the health and safety of our community, Sidney Health Center implemented necessary precautions across the organization the week of March 15 including visitor r...
Montana residents who lose insurance due to the COVID-19 crisis are eligible for free assistance from a local non-profit agency, Montana Navigator. The agency receives federal funding to assist consumers with enrolling in Medicaid or in private health insurance through provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Most consumers sign up during the annual open enrollment period, but there are circumstances that trigger a special enrollment period. One of those circumstances is insurance loss due to a job loss. As an unprecedented number of...
The directive asks Montanans to stay home to maximum extent possible except for essential activities and temporarily restricts all nonessential businesses and operations Montana – Governor Steve Bullock today issued a Directive requiring Montanans to stay home and temporarily closes all nonessential businesses and operations to curtail the spread of COVID-19. The order, that went into effect at 12:01 a.m. on March 28, will buy time for health care workers on the frontlines and seeks to limit long term impacts to the state’s economy. “In consu...
Graveside services for Rew Johnson, infant son of Rulon and Crystal Johnson was held 1 p.m., Saturday, March 28, 2020 at Schafer Cemetery, Watford City, ND under the care of Fulkerson-Stevenson Funeral Home, Watford City, ND. Remembrances, condolences and pictures may be shared with the family at www.fulkersons.com. Rew was born on Friday evening, March 20, 2020 and passed away on Saturday, March 21, 2020, CHI St. Alexius Health, Williston, ND....
Sidney – Electronic applications are now available for two scholarship programs offered by the Foundation for Community Care for new and continuing college students in the 2020-2021 academic year. The first program offered by the Foundation Board of Directors is the annual Healthcare Scholarship program. Richland County and surrounding area residents pursuing an education in a healthcare field who intend to live and work in the area are encouraged to apply for funding. Applicants must have completed one year at a post-secondary university or c...
Williston, ND - The Northwest North Dakota Community Foundation (NWNDCF) has awarded $14,000 from the newly established NWNDCF Relief Fund to organizations responding to immediate needs in Williams, Divide, McKenzie, and Mountrail Counties as a result of COVID-19 and energy industry pressures. “We established the NWNDCF Relief Fund on Monday, with funds donated by local individuals, companies, and charitable organizations,” remarked Ward Koeser, President of the NWNDCF Board of Directors. “We felt very strongly that we needed to get funds...
Sidney – The Foundation for Community Care announces that healthcare grant applications are now available online. In June, the Foundation for Community Care’s volunteer Board of Directors will provide financial support for local healthcare. Each year the Foundation is able to offer grants by distributing a portion of the earnings from its Endowment Fund. Ensuring the Continuance & Quality of Local Healthcare Services is the mission of the Foundation for Community Care. “By continuing to provide community healthcare grants each year, we can a...
On March 20 at about 8:38 p.m. the Richland County Sheriff's Office received a report from a citizen of a missing Solar Panel digital speed sign located in Lambert, MT at Main Street and County Road 329. The citizen stated that on March 20 at about 3 p.m. they drove by Main St. and CR 329 and the sign was upright at that location. When they returned by the sign the same date at about 8 p.m. the sign was missing. Upon investigation of the missing sign it was found that the sign had been broke...
Dealing with the crisis of the Coronavirus, restaurant owners are working together and coming up with new ideas in order to survive while dealing with the current challenges. One example is the owners of Footers Restaurant, Jerry and Robin Watson. "We're trying to brainstorm different ideas back and forth," Jerry said of himself and other restaurant owners. "The Moms and Pops aren't trying to hide any secrets. We all want to come through this strong." Jerry noted that Jennifer Moore, owner of...
Bismarck, ND – Gov. Doug Burgum has expanded business closures in North Dakota to help slow the spread of the novel coronavirus and protect public health, while also suspending payment of unemployment taxes to allow employers to focus on their businesses and employees during the COVID-19 crisis. Burgum offered his sympathies after the first confirmed death of a North Dakota resident due to COVID-19. The death occurred in a man in his 90s from Cass County who had underlying health conditions and acquired COVID-19 through community spread, m...
During the coronavirus pandemic, Red Rock dealerships are making customer health and safety a top priority. In an effort to combat the virus, Red Rock dealerships are using Dead Zone Ozone Disinfectants to sanitize vehicles. Currently, there is at least one ozone disinfectant machine at each Red Rock dealership location, which includes Red Rock Auto in Watford City and Red Rock Ford in Williston and Dickinson, North Dakota. As soon as the coronavirus pandemic broke out, Adam Nelson, Red Rock...
After four decades of breeding and testing, The Land Institute, Salina, KS, has introduced its first commercial grain, a trademarked variety called Kernza. Kernza is in the early stages of commercialization and has been bred intensively for increased seed yield and size for the past 15 years. Dr. Clair Keene, NDSU Williston Research Extension Center Area Extension Specialist/Cropping System, has been conducting research on Kernza for the past two years. "I currently have a variety trial at the...
Bozeman – USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) county offices are open in Montana by phone appointment only until further notice, and FSA staff are available to continue helping agricultural producers with program signups, loan servicing and other important actions. Additionally, FSA is relaxing the loan-making process and adding flexibilities for servicing direct and guaranteed loans to provide credit to producers in need. FSA Service Centers are open for business by phone appointment only. While our program delivery staff will continue to com...
A statement from Montana Farm Bureau and the Montana Agribusiness Association For the next two weeks and likely longer, steps are being taken throughout Montana to minimize the spread of the Coronavirus. Schools, government offices, and businesses have closed or reduced hours of operation. Meetings and events have been cancelled or limited in size of attendance. People are encouraged to minimize outside interaction (“social distancing”) as much as possible Agricultural operations are no different. While many are secluded, other people come to...
BOZEMAN – Research conducted at one of Montana State University’s agricultural research centers was patented in January after the discovery of a group of unique fungi that may lead to strides in combating wheat stem sawfly and Hessian fly, two of the most prominent wheat-targeting pests in the U.S. Gadi V.P. Reddy, who was the superintendent of MSU’s Western Triangle Agricultural Research Center in Conrad and is now a research leader for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Southern Insect Management Research Unit in Mississippi, helped to isol...
American Farm Bureau has released its first assessment of the impact on farmers and ranchers in the wake of the national mitigation efforts to combat COVID-19. In a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, AFBF President Zippy Duvall pledged that “America’s farmers and ranchers will be with you every step of the way, doing all that we can to help you win this fight and to ensure the health, safety and prosperity of all America.” USDA invited Farm Bureau to convey agricultural issues or concerns arising as the pandemic mitigation effor...
BOZEMAN - A group of individuals and organizations from across Montana, led by Montana State University Extension, are collaborating to provide resources and solutions for farmers and ranchers under stress. "We know from various research that there is a high level of stress in life, specifically among farmers and ranchers in rural areas like Montana," said Michelle Grocke, MSU Extension health and wellness specialist and MSU Department of Health and Human Development assistant professor. A...
Bozeman – Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue has announced the acceptance of more than 3.4 million acres in the general Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) signup recently completed, the first general signup enrollments since 2016. County offices will begin notifying producers with accepted offers no later than April 3. Through CRP, farmers and ranchers receive an annual rental payment for establishing long-term, resource-conserving plant species, such as approved grasses or trees, to control soil erosion, improve water quality and enhance wildl...
Even Ler homesteaded in what is now rural Savage in 1910 marking the beginning of more than a century of family farming, carried on now by grandsons, Matt and David Ler. Born and raised in Norway, Even Ler chased adventure to America in 1907, and made his way toward Montana. Enticed by free land to be had under Homestead Act, Even was granted a certificate of register for the south half of Section 10, Township 20, north of Range 57, on June 22, 1910. The deed was later finalized in 1916. Shortly after arriving in Montana, Even set up a...
The Montana Department of Revenue is warning all Montanans to watch out for scams related to the recently announced federal stimulus package. With recent news of direct payments to Americans based on their 2018 or 2019 tax information, scammers are already contacting individuals, and especially tax preparers, by phone, email, and text, trying to solicit personal, financial and tax information that can be used for identity theft and financial fraud. “It’s tragic that even during a national crisis, criminals are taking advantage of fear and unc...
MONTANA – Governor Steve Bullock today directed that travelers arriving from another state or country to Montana for non-work-related purposes undergo a 14-day self-quarantine. The Directive follows the governor's prior travel advisory and last week's Stay at Home Directive. "While we love our visitors, we would ask that you not come visit while Montanans are watching out for one another by staying at home," said Governor Bullock. "This is important not only to protect our health care system, b...
