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Oil boom brings influx of people to Eastern MT

Posted: Feb 21, 2012 8:38 PM by Amanda Venegas (KTVQ News)
Updated: Feb 22, 2012 6:53 AM

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BILLINGS- The alleged kidnapping and killing of Sherry Arnold has rocked the small town of Sidney and the crime has jolted concerns about the need for more law enforcement.

The crime has many people feeling weary of their safety and realizing that Sidney is not the same place it once was. The town has experienced an influx in population and traffic of people from across the country going to and from the oil fields.

A study by the Montana Department of Transportation department showed in 2011 more than 11,400 semis, trucks and vehicles traveled through the Truck Route in Sidney every day. That's an increase of almost 4,000 vehicles in one year.

Sidney's Police Chief says he has eleven officers patrolling the town and has seen an increase in crime.

Sidney mayor Bret Smelser recently spoke with Montana's News Station about the crime. He expressed frustration at not having the financial resources to get more law enforcement.

"This is just a wakeup call for everybody out there that seems to think we are all swimming in oil money when we are not. The cities and towns don't have anything and yet we are receiving all these impacts. We've just received the most severe impact of the oil boom that we could have and that was the death of Sherry," said Sidney Mayor Bret Smelser.

Sidney's population is expected to double over the next five years.

Topics: sidney, bakken book, sherry arnold, jobs

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