In the 50th episode of the “Living in McKenzie County Podcast,” host Vawnita Best visits with representatives from Watford City High School to talk about Homecoming Week taking place October 5-11, 2026. Joined by Student Council co-advisor Amy Polivka and a group of student leaders from Watford City High School, the episode dives into the […]
The September 2026 Economy at a Glance is now available. Some notable data includes: McKenzie County unemployment rate has ticked down to 2.2% in July from 2.6% in June, which follows the state trend Although Watford City sales tax distributions are down about 9% from August 2025 to August 2026, Alexander city sales tax distribution […]
In the latest episode of the Living in McKenzie County Podcast, Vawnita Best visits with the McKenzie County NDSU Extension Office to hear about 4-H and the services they offer . With guests Ryan Odenbach, Shantell Dukart, and Kim Neprash, the episode dives into the vital support the office provides to the local community. […]
In the latest episode of the Living in McKenzie County podcast, host Vawnita Best chats with Robin Arndt, Sara Fitzpatrick, and Justin Johnsrud about the Watford City Parks and Recreation District: just in time for its 100-year celebration. Robin, who’s been with the park district for over 30 years, shares a bit about the district’s […]
The August 2026 Economy at a Glance is now available. Some notable data includes: Oil production in McKenzie County continues to decline for the third consecutive month with production decreasing by more than 1.4 million barrels from May to June 2026 While 50 fewer permits have been issued through the end of July 2026 compared […]
In the latest episode of the Living in McKenzie County Podcast, host Vawnita Best takes a look at the power of community in Watford City in a discussion with Irene Sealy, Director of the McKenzie County Public Library, and Kat Hartel and Emily Brown with Bakken MomCo. As families gear up for the school year, […]
In the latest episode of the Living in McKenzie County Podcast, host Vawnita Best chats with Tim Fjeldahl and Mitch Lunde about the exciting developments within the Wolf Pack Booster Club. As the freshly appointed athletic director for Watford City High School and Middle School, Mitch shares insights alongside Tim, the enthusiastic Booster Club […]
The July 2026 Economy at a Glance is now available. Some notable data includes: Year to Date permit values are up significantly in 2026 compared to 2025 for both Watford City and McKenzie County permits Watford City hotel occupancy rate increased by 10 percentage points from 49.2% in May 2026 to 59.2% in June 2026 Census data […]
In the latest episode of the Living in McKenzie County Podcast, Vawnita Best sits down with Mary Fish-Gumke, Jessica Hollenbeck, and Stefanie Russell to dive into all the exciting happenings around Watford City. The Chamber’s big focus is on the upcoming 2026 Ribfest on August 14th, a staple event that promises fun, community spirit, […]
In the latest episode of the Living in McKenzie County podcast, host Vawnita Best gathers a panel of community leaders to dive into the history and resilience of McKenzie County. Featuring Tim Taylor, Steve Stenehjem, and Neal Shipman, this episode takes listeners on a journey from the early days of homesteading through the booms and […]
