By Bill Vander WeeleSidney Herald

When there were only three contestants remain-ing at the Miss Montana program Saturday night, Sidney’s Sheridan Pope wasn’t the most confident of the three young women left.

Pope, who graduated from Sidney High School in 2010, knew she already earned this year’s program’s most photogenic award and the most outstanding talent honor, but she had been in the position of being one of the last young women stand-ing before.

Twice, in 2008 and 2009, Pope received first runner-up recognition at the Miss Montana’s Outstanding Teen program.

“I was a notorious run-ner-up,” Pope laughed on Monday. “I was thinking this was the make-or-break moment.”

This time, she was the one to win the top honor. She was crowned Miss Montana 2013. “I was speechless,” she told the Herald Monday about her reaction. “I was so confident in my perfor-mance, but a different judge on a different day and it can be a different outcome.”

She explained Saturday was a challenging day for her. After Miss Montana contestants were up late Friday night because of the Miss Outstanding Teen crowning, a loud and mas-sive thunderstorm hit the Glendive area. “I got about four hours of sleep,” Pope said.

Come Saturday night, she still wasn’t quite herself. She was extremely ner-vous before the top 10 was announced. “I literally felt I was going to throw up.” Later, her name was the first one called when the top

seven were introduced. “I was so relieved.”

Her attitude became even better during her tap dancing performance in the

talent segment. “I absolutely killed it,” Pope said. Her on-stage interview ques-tion was also a winner. She was asked if she met the

president, what would be the first thing she would ask him. After attending train-ing and lobbying for higher education efforts, it wasn’t a tough question at all for the Minnesota State University Moorhead student.

Pope said she would ask the president what he would do to unite Democrats and Republicans for an agree-ment on interest rates on subsidized college loans. She added education needs to be looked at as an invest-ment.

After the crowning, one of the judges told her that he never met a contestant with as much personality and as good of a sense of

humor that Pope possesses. The judge felt Pope has a good shot of doing well at the Miss America competi-tion. Pope credits coach Faith Schway, Minneapolis, for helping her take her per-sonality on stage and into interviews.

Since the pageant is scheduled for Sept. 10-15 in Atlantic City (the final night is broadcasted live on ABC), Pope will spend this summer preparing for the event. Through Montana officials, she is having her gown designed by Gregory Ellenburg, South Carolina, and her headshots taken by Jen Cady, Nashville, Tenn.

Although her dance rou-tine went over well at the state level, Pope is working with Cutting Edge Dance Studio owner Jen Nielson on a different selection. “We want to up my game more,” Pope said.

Starting this fall, she looks forward to visiting

Our newspaper carriers would like to say Thank You to our customers for the tips.

wednesdAYJune 19, 2013105th year, no. 49Sidney, Montanawww.sidneyherald.com75 Cents

Local man restores barn. Page 12A.

Serving ricHland county and tHe Surrounding area for 105 yearS

Bulletin BoardBenefit for allison

There will be a benefit for Allison Jensen, 8, starting at 3 p.m. Sunday at Sharbono Park in Fairview. Allison is the daughter of Shaun and Michelle Jensen, Fairview. There will be a lot of items to bid on such as Mary Kay, Scentsy, Pink Zebra, Spa Certs., massages, a signed guitar by Eric Church and signed NFL merchandise. All proceeds will go to her and her family for medical expenses.

‘i do’ programA cultural history of Mon-

tana weddings is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday at the MonDak Heritage Center. Martha Kohl, historian from the Montana Histori-cal Society, will make the presentation. Cost is $25 for members and $30 for non-members.

Sidney hosts the Town and Country Festival the day of the “I Do” program.

lone Tree archersThe Lone Tree Archers

will host the annual Henry Schwenke 3-D archery shoot from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sat-urday and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday at the Lone Tree Archery Range located eight miles east of Sidney.

Treasurer’s officeThe Richland County

office of the treasurer has a new location. The office is located on the second floor across the hall from its for-mer location. The office is located in the former clerk and recorder office and the assessor/appraiser will be located in

Happy birthdaysThe Sidney Herald wishes

happy birthday this week to friends Mary Lou Ault, Re-nee Erickson, Drey Lebsock, Nate Turner, Frank Swisse, Debi Robison, Loretta Starkey, Bonnie Panasuk, Trace Jones, Susan Olds, LeeAnn Strasheim, Jerry Watson, Terry Roth, Chel-sea Gatzke, Marylin Lingle, Adam Cayko, Jennifer Pond, Brandy DeMary, Bill Ackley, Kaleb Dasinger, Colleen Berndt-Peterson, Starre Fourstar, Sabrina Man-ning, Wendy Tasker, Katie Hardy, Daryn Wolfe, Hannah McPherson, Dan Sobolik, Jessica Price, Christina Ten-nant, Michelle Fisher, June Walsh, Bob Evenson, Ryann Thomas, Katie Staffan-son, Gwenie Thiel Nelson, Kristan Haugen, Tami Young, Dale Murray, Casey Ragle, Brennan Gorder, Emily Reynolds, Brian Man-ning, Marce Jensen, Melissa Sabin, Kathy Radovich, Liz Kleinke, Randi Taylor, Em-ily Niles, Duane Mitchell, Hunter Nice, Sandra Hard-ing, Barbara Dombrosky and Carol Miller.

deathselsie e. Carstens, 76nancy ruth Seitz, 67Carol O. Shannon, 75

elvina Vig, 79Page 3A

InsideAround Town .....2AClassifieds .......3-6BDeaths ...............3ADial an expert . .9A

Oil report .........11AOpinion ............10ASports . ..... . . .1-2B

By Bill Vander WeeleSidney Herald

Rick Haraldson, Sidney Health Center CEO, plans for more rooms to be avail-able down the road at Sidney Health Center Extended Care.

The 93-bed nursing home has been condensed to using 51 rooms because of a short-age of nursing labor for the facility.

Haraldson, speaking to the Sidney Kiwanis Club last week, noted that Extended Care featured 65 full-time employees two years ago. Now, there are only 42 full-time employees.

Officials plan CNA classes to hopefully increase the number of employees.

“It’s a concern and some-thing we’re trying to work on,” Haraldson said.

But he noted he would much rather tell a family there’s not enough staff to admit a family member at this time, than to have

residents who aren’t being properly cared for at the facility.

“The nursing home is not closing,” Haraldson stressed.

As far as the rest of Sidney Health Center, Haraldson says the hospital is pleased about the return of Dr. Kes-sler and officials keep work-ing on recruitment efforts regarding other needs such as another OB/GYN physi-cian.

With the announcement of Dr. Ben-Youssef ’s retire-ment at the end of July, an additional orthopedic physician is needed. Harald-son noted improvements to Sidney Health Center as well as other parts of the com-munity such as Sidney High School are big benefits when it comes to recruiting.

The walk-in clinic, since opening in January, has been greatly utilized. The clinic is experiencing an average of 20 patients per day and up to as many as 30 in a day. Haraldson says the clinic has helped decrease the volume in the emergency room, plus the clinic is cheaper for patients.

He hopes HealthWorks, which has been closed due to a sewer pipe break, will reopen in a couple of weeks. Adjustments will be made to memberships.

Financially, bad debt has increased from just over a million dollars in 2011 to now up to $3 million for this fiscal year. “A big part of it is not being able to track down people,” Haraldson said. “It has impacted us quite a bit.”

The hospital has started to request up-front collections more often. The hospital can’t deny care to emergency room patients but can for elective care cases.

But while some hospitals look toward partnerships with larger facilities, Sidney Health Center is able to maintain its independence. “Because the community stays behind the organiza-tion, it makes the need for partnerships much less,” Haraldson said.

Miss Montana winnerSidney’s Pope to represent the state as title holder

Sidney Healthcenter remainsstable despitechallenges

‘The nursing home is

not closing.’

rick HaralsonSidney Health center ceo

SuBmitted

sheridan Pope is crowned Miss Montana 2013 by Miss Montana 2012 Alexis Wineman in Glendive saturday night.

SuBmitted

the new Miss Montana poses for photos.

‘i was thinking this

was the make-or-break

moment.’

Sheridan Popemiss montana

See Winner, Page 12a

By Bill Vander WeeleSidney Herald

The defense team for Michael Spell, who is one of two men charged with deliberate kidnapping and homicide of Sidney teacher Sherry Arnold, is using survey results in its effort to change the venue of the trial.

The law firm of Avignone, Banick and Williams, based in Bozeman, requested a change of venue from the Seventh Judicial District Court in Richland County to the 18th Judicial District in Gallatin County (Bozeman) or “other suitable venue.”

Grounds for the request are Spell’s “fundamental constitutional rights to a trial by a fair and impartial jury.”

A survey conducted by Dr. Richard Seltzer, political science professor at Howard University, is being utilized in the request to show that an impartial jury isn’t possible in Richland County.

Survey results show that 97.5 percent of respondents in the Seventh Judicial District have heard about the case. Of those, 79 percent felt Spell is guilty. The survey was conducted from April 15 to May 2.

“This case involves such extreme circumstances that an impartial jury cannot be seated in light of the pretrial publicity,” the document reads.

The petition mentions the coverage provided by the Sidney Herald and KTVQ-TV. The document states the Herald covered the case with its hard copy and online. From January 2012 to January 2013, there were at least 119 articles referring to the case.

The document also mentions com-ments made by readers on the Herald’s website. When a story was online regarding two individuals were being

questioned on Jan. 13, 2012, comments included “hang all that are involved from the nearest tree,” “A little Old West justice might just discourage oth-ers from trying something again” and “Set bond at $10. I will pay it. The rope costs $9.99, and I paid with a $20.”

KTVQ-TV, meanwhile, had 152 matches regarding the case on its website.

The document also notes that two Richland County commissioners provided comment before the Montana House Judiciary Committee on House Bill 370 on Feb. 14. The commissioners spoke in support of retaining the death penalty.

According to the document, one com-missioner testified, “it would be a blow

to the community if the death penalty was reversed.”

The petition also mentioned Sidney would be a challenging location for a trial because of air travel limitations for expert witnesses and a shortage of hotel rooms.

Prosecutors have until Aug. 31 to file opposition to the motion. Richland County attorney Mike Weber said he will file a motion in opposition. He wasn’t surprised a motion to change venue for Spell was filed.

A four-week trial is scheduled for Spell with a final pre-trial hearing set for Dec. 16 at 2 p.m. The first day of the trial, which could be by a jury, is set for 9 a.m. Jan. 6, 2014.

Change of venue requested in Spell case

louiSa BarBer | Sidney Herald

Richland County attorney Mike Weber, center, visits with the defendants’ lawyers after the omnibus hearings in January.