Latest News
Experts say 5,000 new wells needed to secure leases
McKenzie County residents presently find themselves in a unique situation. Unique in the sense that nothing of this current magnitude of oil development has happened here before.
School Board wrestles with finding bus drivers
Finding and keeping school bus drivers has become a big problem for the McKenzie County Public School District No. 1. And it is a problem that, so far, the district hasn’t been able to solve.
Work begins to extend city’s water and sewer service
Early in the year it became evident to Watford City leaders and residents that the oil and gas industry was impacting the area in a major way, and that something needed to be done about it.
Started in 1979 by Jim and Jody Arthaud, Missouri Basin Well Service (MBI) has branched out from a single truck water transportation business in Belfield, N.D., to a huge oil industry business in five states, with offices in Belfield, Ross, and soon, Watford City.
Commissioners shave $7 million from budget
At the county commissioners meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 4, the McKenzie County Commissioners approved a $53.4 million budget for 2012, which is more than double the previous year’s budget of $24.4 million.
Police struggling with county’s dispatch, jail service
The Watford City Police Department’s frustration with the level of dispatch and jail service that it is receiving as part of the city’s contract with the McKenzie County Sheriff’s Dept. took center stage during the Watford City City Council’s meeting on Monday, Oct. 3.
City okays $6 million budget
Watford City taxpayers will see a 13 percent increase in their taxes to fund the city’s new 2012 budget. But considering that the city’s budget grew from $3,657,772 in 2011 to $6,028,746 in 2012, an overall tax hike for city taxpayers from $215,470 to $243,817 seems like a pretty good deal.
New home construction picking up as city’s population grows
A late spring gave John Dunlap, owner of Cascade Homes and the main developer of Veeder Estates, a run for his money. But with Phase One complete and seven homes almost ready for sale, Dunlap is feeling pretty good about where he is sitting.
City’s sales top $28 million in second quarter
n yet another positive indication that Watford City’s and McKenzie County’s economy is booming, the latest figures released by the North Dakota Tax Dept. shows that both the city and the county’s taxable sales grew by over 64 percent in the second quarter of 2011.
Threatening call sends hospital, clinic into “lockdown”
On the morning of Wednesday, Sept. 28, at 8:20 a.m. Rory Gravos, 34, of Alexander N.D., made a threatening call to the McKenzie County Hospital, resulting in both the hospital and clinic being secured and locked down for approximately 45 minutes.
Power Fuels to build housing for 1,000 people
“If you build it, they will come” has become the mantra for Mark Johnsrud, president of Power Fuels.
The Great Post Office Box Race
Local businesses have been hit hard by the increasing demands a rising population can bring. The Watford City Post Office is no different.
Arnegard Post Office closure meeting gets off to slow start
Arnegard area residents who felt strongly that the closing of their community’s post office will have a disastrous impact on their community and the delivery of their mail, patiently sat and waited last Wednesday morning to meet with postal service representatives.
Grassy Butte residents fight to keep their post office
Grassy Butte residents are boiling mad that their post office is one of 3,700 post offices in the United States that have been targeted for closure.
Well fire claims two
An oil well explosion on Wednesday, Sept. 14, claimed the lives of two workers, while two more are still in critical condition at Regions Hospital Burn Center in St. Paul, Minn.
School Board approves $8.3 million budget
The McKenzie County Public School District No. 1 school board gave its stamp of approval on a $8,3361,146 budget for the 2011-2012 school year.
Commissioners looking at $60 million budget
McKenzie County has big changes in store for the 2012 proposed budget.
Ground broken for new motel
After months of speculation and rumors, it is official. Watford City will have a new motel open by the spring of 2012.
Tough choices ahead for museum
A big piece of McKenzie County’s history is threatening to fall apart. But Alexander residents are struggling to keep it intact.