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Sidney, Montana, is a great place to live, and not only because its ideal location allows people to enjoy every outdoor activity under the sun, or because it provides a safe community to raise a family.  Rather, the “Sunrise City” of Sidney, is a town that offers all of life’s simple pleasures plus much more.  It is a place that let’s you work, play, and make a difference without all of the rush that comes along with a big city; yet it is close enough to larger communities to still present a wide variety of attractions and excitement. 
 

Therefore, this information is for visitors and for people new to the community to read and learn about the MonDak Area.  The information ranges from Annual Events throughout the year to a local business guide, churches and schools, job opportunities, and even transportation options.  Click on the links below to for each section of information.
 

[Local Business Guide] [Job Opportunities] [Schools] [Annual Events] [Misc. Links] [Transportation]

LOCAL BUSINESS GUIDE

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JOB OPPORTUNITIES

NPARL employs over 50 scientists, technicians, and administration annually with an additional 20 summer students that are hired each year for 3-5 months ranging from May to September.  If you are interested in finding out about any openings that might be available to you check out NPARL's Career page or contact:
 

Mellissa Brockes - Location Administrative Officer

Ph: 1.406.433.9432   FAX: 1.406.433.9455

E-mail: mbrockes[at]sidney.ars.usda.gov   When e-mailing replace [at] with the @ symbol.

The City of Sidney and Richland County along with other places in the surrounding areas offer job opportunities as well with Sidney Sugars employing over 100 locals year around and more than 400 during the campaign season running from about September to February.  Sidney Health Center also accounts for employing a large majority of locals with over 300 doctors, nurses, certified assistants, and administration along with the Sidney Public School system which accounts for 100 employees made up of teachers and administration staff. 

Sidney's economy also includes two electrical companies: Lower Yellowstone REA and Montana-Dakota Utilities, Co., two telephone, cable TV, and internet service providers: Mid-Rivers Telephone Co-op and Bressen Communications and a local cabinetry shop known widely across the mid-west as Sidney Millwork Co. with roughly 50 permanent employees and additional hires throughout the year when times are extra busy.    Richland Leather has 15-20 employees year around along with other businesses such as Interstate Engineering, Blue Rock, Coke Gas Plant, KEYZ and POOL Well Service, and companies involved in the MonDak's oil drilling industry.

The other majority of employed workers in Sidney are distributed among four local banks, investment and insurance centers, a large grocer market with 50 plus workers and an additional two other grocery stores totaling another 20 employees, various retail shops with everything from clothing, gifts, furniture and home accessories to discount stores with a number of full and part-time staff, many construction related companies with one having over 70 workers along with additional hires during the warm weather months.  Last but not least, the community of Sidney is also supported by many small businesses as well as numerous restaurants.

So, Sidney and the surrounding area offers different job opportunities throughout the year for adults and teenagers alike.  For more information start by contacting the Sidney Job Service Workforce Center or the place of which you are interested in employment. 

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SCHOOLS

Eastern Montana is made up of many small towns and that in return makes for a number of schools throughout the area.  The Sidney Public School system (406.433.4080), however, is made up of Central Elementary School (406.433.5501) with roughly 500 kids in Kindergarten through fifth, Sidney Middle School (406.433.4050) with approximately 300 sixth through eighth graders, and Sidney High School (406.433.2330) with about 400 students ranging from Freshmen through Seniors. 

Located in the center of Sidney is also the Liberty Christian School, which is a private facility that teaches kids of all ages and has a yearly enrollment of about 25 students.  Out in the country there are an additional two schools, Brorson School (406.798.3361) with 20 kids and Rau School (406.482.1088) with around 50 kids, both of which teach elementary students from Kindergarten through sixth. 

The school year starts around the last week of August and ends the last week in May at all locations including the surrounding towns in Richland County such as Fairview & West Fairview, Lambert and Savage. 

For a complete list of all schools in the state of Montana there is the Montana K-12 Schools on the Web, Business Montana K-12 School, and also the Yahoo! School Directory.

For continuing education, the state of Montana has the following public and private colleges and universities:

For a complete listing of all public and private colleges and universities in the surrounding states as well as across the country check out this U.S. Universities by State Webpage and/or the University Source Website.

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ANNUAL EVENTS

The following is a monthly list of the major events that take place annually in Sidney. 

January

Kicking off the year during the second weekend in January is the annual MonDak Ag Days and Trade Show.  It's a two-day event for farmers, ranchers and even the whole family.  Entertainment includes livestock judging, various farming and ranching seminars along with tours, displays, and "Ag in the Classroom" for kids.  Then at the end of the second day (Saturday), a popular band or other entertainment from the area is featured at a closing banquet.

February

In the middle of winter, hundreds of people, mainly ranchers and their families come from all around Eastern Montana and Western North Dakota to check out the Best of the West Beef Showcase.  Located on Main street in the heart of downtown Sidney, ranchers are able to shop for breeding stock amongst over 100 pens set side by side and extending all the way down the street as far as any eye can see.  Stores and restaurants throughout town put on sales and specials to keep everyone busy, as well as a trade show and arts and craft show so that everyone finds something of interest.  This is a new annual event in Sidney, but is sure to keep going for years to come. 

March

"Hold onto your hats" during the middle of March for a one night only annual dinner theatre event put on by a non-profit organization known widely across the state as The Vigilante Theatre Company from Bozeman, Montana.  Each year the event is held at the Triangle Night Club located one mile outside of Sidney and each year the theatre company puts on a different production.  Various ones in the past have ranged from a classic murder mystery to a humorous musical with the 2004 production being a musical mystery combination titled "Water Bingo" as seen on the advertising poster at right.  It's a night full of live entertainment along with a hearty Montana-style meal!

April

Bulls-R-Us is action packed with one bull ride after another and you get to enjoy it all indoors at the Richland Ranger Hockey Dome.  The cowboys do their best to hang on for those eight excruciating seconds, while the clowns/bull fighters wait for their turn at center stage to entertain spectators with their quick thinking techniques and fancy foot work.  Bulls-R-Us is a fantastic event that gives you everything you would see at a national bull riding competition plus more like the kids' stick horse competition!

May

Round up your children this month and head to the Sidney Public Library to enjoy the "River of Times" Story Telling Festival, where author(s) come to read and autograph their books for area kids.  Various years other famous people in the area have also participated such as acoustic musician, Bill Rossiter, shown in the photo at right.  It is a once-a-year event that is important for children of all ages should attend in order to help them discover or continue to discover the joy of reading and learning.  It's also a good opportunity to introduce the kids to the Public Library and for them to meet the librarians. 

June

In the middle of June, Sidney puts on the annual Heritage Day featuring a long-time family from the area.  Starting off the day is the Great Pet Drive with kids parading their pets in downtown Sidney.  Immediately following is the big Heritage Day Parade where everyone is either involved or comes to watch.  Even NPARL participates annually by banding together their Sweep Net Drill Team.  After working up an appetite everyone heads to Veterans Memorial Park located on East Main street to dig into a free lunch.  A gathering that no one wants to miss!  The Heritage Family of the Year is then introduced to the crowd during a program that takes place on the stage of the pavilion, which is also located in the park.  Then "LET THE GAMES BEGIN!"  Everyone is welcome to participate in activities such as volleyball, croquet, baseball/softball, horseshoes, a gunny sack race and watermelon eating contest.  The entertainment continues until it's time to walk just across the street to the Middle School Auditorium for the Miss Northeastern Montana Scholarship Pageant. 

Another special event this month that has been popular for almost 10 years now is the Footlights and Greece Paint Youth Theatre Retreat.  About 20 kids from around the area come together in Sidney for a week to learn all about the art of theatre.  Then on the final day of the theatre camp, all of the kids put on the production that they spent all week working hard to produce.  It's a fantastic opportunity for youngsters to learn not only about acting, but skills in working with their peers and building confidence along with speaking in front of and presenting themselves to small and large groups.

Lastly, CALLING ALL RUNNERS!!!  By this time, Spring has definitely sprung in the MonDak area and it's time to think about your health this month.  Sidney Health Center puts on an annual Fun Run event with a 5K and 10 K race and provides t-shirts along with packets of information for all participants. 

July

In Sidney, start out celebrating your 4th of July on the 3rd at Veteran's Memorial Park.  Gather around for a free will donation dinner in the park to support the Jaycee's who proudly put on a spectacular public fireworks show every year at the golf course.

Also in July is the annual Sunrise Festival of the Arts, where people not only come from all around Montana, but also North and South Dakota, and Wyoming.  Here people come to display and/or sell their artwork under brightly colored canopies, sample a wide variety of cultural foods, walk among the over seventy quilts on display by the local Piece Makers Quilt Guild, and enjoy ALL of the entertainment that takes place on stage with live acts switching every half hour all day.  It's an affair for the whole family and takes place in the center of town at the Veteran's Memorial Park!  It's free to attend, but you must buy a button (for only a couple dollars) if you want to be entered in the over 50 prize drawings.  The fun isn't over just yet though, because that night is the "Shakespeare in the Park" play put on by a group of people all the way from the western end of the state in Bozeman, MT.  The Sidney stop is one of several held across the state during the Bozeman based troupe's summer tour.

August

Every year at the end of July and beginning of August the Richland County Fair & Rodeo takes place at the fair grounds in Sidney.  There are dozens of carnival rides for kids starting on a Wednesday night and going through the end of the fair on a Saturday night.  A PRCA Rodeo takes place on both Thursday and Friday night and a popular country music star also comes to perform two shows, which is held on Saturday night.  There is also other things to enjoy during the daytime such as the much talked about food in the food court, 4-H exhibits and livestock judging, along with craft projects made by elementary school kids, adult projects like quilts, scrapbooks, photography, food judging contests, dozens of commercial exhibits, and the unique seed art that is very popular and famously represents the entire MonDak area!  It's literally an event for everyone and is even referred to as Eastern Montana's Showcase event!

The month of August isn't over yet though because there is also the action-packed Jaycee's Demolition Derby with sponsored cars bumping and ramming each other in metal twisting action. 

Also in August is one of the many golf tournaments with this widely known as the Foundation for Community Care Benefit Golf Tournament.  It's an important fundraiser for the Foundation who's main goal is to support healthcare in the Richland County communities.  There is breakfast, lunch and supper provided to all players, hole giveaways and prizes for everyone along with a $10,000 hold-in-one prize and four $100 savings bonds all donated by Podiatrist Dr. Michael Lapan of Sidney.  Anyone who likes golf is sure to enjoy the event and it's for a good cause.

Lastly, take note if basketball is your game because Sidney also has a couple basketball tournaments throughout the summer including the MDU 3-on-3 Shoot Out held in August.  Kids from 4th & 5th grade all the way up to adults are welcomed to participate.  It's a whole day of fun and games for the entire family or for you and your friends and colleagues!

September

The opening days of hunting season are just around the corner and what better way to get everyone on target than to attend the annual Lone Tree Gun Show.  It's bigger and better every year with hunting enthusiasts coming from all around the area to see what's new in the sport of hunting.

November

Wine?  Food?  What more could you want?  It's the annual Wine and Food Festival at the beginning of November in Sidney.  You'll wonder if it's a holiday you've never heard of once you walk in and discover the array of conversation, laughter, and foods (provided by participating restaurants) in which they are all secretly competing for the People's Choice Award.  Champagne, chardonnay or non-alcoholic drinks, along with the amazing art work up on display for people to admire is an exciting part because a silent auction is also taking place for each piece.  Also up for auction is the original quick draw artwork done by three local artists on stage during the event and the funds raised go to supporting health care in the area.  Those attending will receive a commemorative wine glass made up for each year.  So, at the end of the evening you'll be feeling ready for the upcoming holidays!

December

On the Friday after Thanksgiving, Sidney starts off the holiday shopping season with the Christmas Stroll and Parade of Lights.  There is a new theme every year for the parade as well as for the businesses who decorate their shops and stay open later than usual.  Kids attending the Parade of Lights can see Santa in the parade, visit with him afterwards and even get their picture taken.

Also, during the first Sunday in December the MonDak Heritage Center puts on the annual Ethnic Christmas Celebration, which features a different culture each year and includes the associated food, music and customs.  Elementary schools kids do artwork to be displayed at the event and you'll also see a Christmas tree contest to be on display all month along with some scheduled times of entertainment.

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MISC. LINKS

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TRANSPORTATION

The Richland Municipal Airport is conveniently located one mile from downtown Sidney, just past the Richland County Fair Grounds, and next to the Sidney Country Club.  It has multiple runways, all of which were part of a complete resurfacing project that took place July and August 2003.  The airport accommodates commercials planes such as Montana's primary carrier, Big Sky Airlines, as well as private planes owned by individuals.

Other airports nearby are Sloulin Field International Airport located one hour away in Williston, North Dakota, and Billings Logan International Airport in Billings, Montana, which is the largest and busiest airport in all of Montana.  There are one hour flights running daily from Sidney to Billings on Big Sky Airlines or you can reach Logan International in four hours by car.  Either way you look at it, Logan International can help you get anywhere in the world with their wide range of national and international commercial carriers like America West Express, Delta Airlines, Northwest Airlines, and United Airlines along with the regional carriers of Big Sky Airlines, Horizon Air and Skywest Airlines.  Also located nearby is the Minot International Airport in Minot, North Dakota, which is only a three hours away by car or the Bismarck Municipal Airport in Bismarck, North Dakota, which accommodates the larger commercial airliners in the area along with Billings Logan.

Other transportation options include Amtrak, which has a stations in Wolf Point, MT, and Williston, ND, both of which are merely an hour drive away.  Lastly, the Greyhound stops in Glendive, Montana, which is also only one hour from Sidney.

Additional information in all categories concerning transportation in Montana can be found at the Montana Department of Transportation website.

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