Latest News
Tobacco Gardens Resort reopens
Tobacco Gardens Resort has been a long standing part of McKenzie County, but for the past several years the cafe and concessions have been without an owner leaving patrons without any services.
Wellness Center to move to new location
Living in a rural community has a lot of great advantages, but there are some things that most rural communities just can’t offer, like affordable and quality wellness opportunities.
New law could boost state’s oil activity
Oil production in North Dakota has dropped from a rig count high of 98 to a rig count of 38 as of Friday, May 1, 2009. The main cause for the drop in rigs is the drop in the price of oil.
Bomb squad called to McKenzie County
Things aren’t always what they seem, but in this day and age it seems that anything is possible. But could there really have been a pipe bomb in the Badlands? Yes, there could have, which is what brought the Minot Police Department Bomb Squad to Watford City on April 29, 2009.
Developer plans new housing units for Watford
The shortage of new homes within the city limits of Watford City may be coming to an end if a Montana developer has his way.
Spring seeding off to a slow start
Timing, that’s what spring planting is all about.
Taking care of Mother Earth
Earth Day was a great opportunity for area teachers to give their students a hands-on lesson in community service.
Battle against mosquitoes already underway
After a year of learning, the City of Watford City is ready for this year’s mosquito season. In fact, the fight against mosquitoes is going into its third week in Watford City.
Moose pays surprise visit to Watford City
Nobody can say Watford City is a boring town, especially when it comes to wildlife. It’s common to see deer, rabbits, pheasants and even the occasional turkey roaming around town, but seeing a moose on your way to school, now that is something different even for Watford City.
The McKenzie County Community Coalition’s (MC3) 2nd Town Hall Meeting addressing underage drinking and substance abuse resulted in new action ideas despite a low turnout.
Oilfield slowdown being felt
nyone working in the oil field will tell you that with their work comes busy times and slow times. And right now, McKenzie County is experiencing one of those slow times. Spring is traditionally a slow time for oil field work because of road restrictions.
Spring temps bring thoughts of field, yard work
Although it was a little late arriving, it seems that spring is finally here, and that means it’s time to get to work both in the field and in your yard.
Prices, legislation impact County’s oil tax revenue
A drop in oil prices and change in legislation could mean less oil tax revenue for McKenzie County and the potential for higher property taxes.
Town Hall Meeting to discuss underage drinking
Underage drinking is a big problem in McKenzie County and the McKenzie County Community Coalition (MC3) wants your help in resolving this problem.
Last curtain call for Dinner Theatre?
The 2009 Dinner Theatre production of WipeOut was the last curtain call for Chuck Simpson and his dinner theatre dream team. Simpson began directing theatre productions including the Dinner Theatre in 1983 with his first Watford City High School Production, ‘Bye Bye Birdie.’
Answering the call for assistance
After a brief fight with flooding from Cherry Creek and the Little Missouri River, it seems that the worst is over in McKenzie County. But that isn’t the case everywhere. Other counties in the state are cleaning up from major spring flooding and worrying about what is yet to come. One Watford City resident has decided that while she can’t help sandbag or clean up after the waters recede, she can still do something to help.
A Blast from the Past with Badlands Gymnastics
f you're ready for a blast from the past and some great entertainment, you won't want to miss the 21st annual Badlands Gymnastics Club's Night of Stars, which will be held at 6 p.m. on April 3 in the Watford City High School Gymnasium. Gymnasts will perform to music from the '70s, '80s and '90s as they showcase their talents in the final performance of the year. This year's show is entitled 'Blast from the Past' and as a special addition, former gymnasts will be showcased during the show.
After three decades, Nordeng retires
After more than three decades at the Watford City Post Office, Phyllis Nordeng has decided it's time to move on to a new chapter in her life. "I've been with the Post Office for 33 years," says Nordeng. "I'm retiring, but not really. I'm ready for a change of pace, but it'll be a while before I'm ready to shut down for good." Nordeng's last day as the Watford City Postmaster was Tuesday, March 31, 2009.
Cold and wet makes calving difficult
Spring is often looked at as a time of renewal. As the snow melts new life can be seen all around, from the fresh green grass and budding flowers to newborn livestock. If you ask a cattle rancher what they think of spring, you are much more likely to hear them say work not renewal. In North Dakota springtime isn't always a pleasant time, weather-wise, which can drastically increase your workload if you raise cattle. Springtime weather in North Dakota often means below freezing temperatures, flooding, and of course, there is always the potential of spring blizzards.
Warm temps bring flooding
Flooding along Cherry Creek last Sunday left area businesses and home owners scrambling to protect their property, belongings and animals from rapidly rising water. "The heat over the weekend and the accumulations of snow over the winter coupled with ice jams caused Cherry Creek to spill over its banks," says Jerry Samuelson, McKenzie County emergency manager. "The result was local flooding in and around Watford City."
Dinner theater brings laughs with beach musical comedy
Tired of the winter snowflakes and cold? Are you ready for some exciting and fun beach action? If so, you'll enjoy this year's Watford City High School Masque and Gavel Club's dinner theater. The high school thespians have been working hard to get this year's performance just right. After all, it's difficult to get into the beach mood when the ground is covered with snow. On March 26, 27 and 28 in the Watford City High School Gym, the Masque and Gavel Club will be presenting the musical 'Wipeout' during their dinner theater production.
School Board approves calendar
The McKenzie County Public School District No. 1 school board gave its stamp of approval to a new calendar for the 2009-2010 school year during its regular meeting on Wednesday, March 11. Under the new calendar, Watford City classes will begin on Thursday, Aug. 27 with the last day of school set for Wednesday, May 26. Watford City High School will hold its graduation ceremonies on Sunday, May 30.
Plans underway for special 2009 Relay For Life
With snow piled high and temperatures just beginning to climb above freezing, it's difficult to imagine the Watford City Tourist Park filled with tents, fundraising booths and enthusiastic walkers. But in just 2-1/2 months that will be the scene as the Rugged West Relay For Life kicks off its eighth annual Relay Night on May 29, 2009.
Alexander rancher sues Zenergy Inc. over salt water spill
After three years of uncertainty and cleanup, Alexander rancher Linda Monson has decided to sue Oklahoma-based Zenergy Inc. over a pipeline that spilled salt water onto her property and into Charbonneau Creek in January 2006. For as long as anyone can remember springs have fed into Charbonneau Creek west of Alexander. That fresh water has been the source of water for cattle ranchers in that part of McKenzie County as well as an important tributary to the Yellowstone River. However, after a ruptured pipeline spilt nearly 950,000 gallons of highly concentrated salt water onto the land things have not been the same.
Meetings planned on grassland travel management plan
Watford City will be one of three sites where the U.S. Forest Service will be taking public comment on a new travel management plan that the agency is developing for the Little Missouri National Grasslands. The purpose of this proposal is to identify and designate a system of roads and trails on the Little Missouri National Grassland that the general public is invited to use for wheeled motor vehicle travel. "Wheeled motor vehicle" includes all types of cars, trucks, pickups, motorcycles, and All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs).
A salute to everyday heroes
What comes to mind when you think of heroes? Is it Superman, your family doctor, local law enforcement, a coach, or are they all heroes in your mind? To the members of the Watford City Figure Skating Club (WCFSC) they're all heroes, and in an effort to salute heroes, big and small, the WCFSC is presenting Everyday Heroes, a salute to the heroes among us.
Influenza hits McKenzie County
If you didn't get your flu vaccine this fall, you might want to get it now. Flu season is here and McKenzie County has not been spared. Influenza, or "flu," is an infection of the nose, throat, and lungs that can affect millions of people every year. It is highly contagious and occurs mainly in the late fall, winter, or early spring.
Oil exploration slows as oil price falls
Exploration companies operating in the Bakken oil field are clearly slowing their activity, but most are hopeful for a turnaround in the near future. A number of companies released their 4th quarter earnings reports in recent days, laying out their strategies for riding out low oil prices.
It's not uncommon to hear about the oil field slowing down because of low oil prices, but is price the only factor affecting the current slowing of the oil field? As oil hovers around $40 per barrel there are 54 wells being drilled in North Dakota as of Monday, March, 2, 2009 with eight of those rigs located in McKenzie County. That is down from 90 rigs statewide and 22 in McKenzie County on Oct. 27, 2008 when oil was at $62 per barrel. While oil prices remain a big factor in how busy the oil field is, right now weather is also playing a big factor in the amount of activity.
Moving to a new community or adding to your family can be a stressful time, especially when you are in need of a new house and there aren't any available. McKenzie County residents and those wishing to relocate too McKenzie County know all to well the difficulties involved with a housing shortage. Western North Dakota including McKenzie County has been fighting with an ongoing housing shortage for more than a year, with no end in sight.