Living in McKenzie County

Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Grand Opening!

In the latest Living in Mckenzie County episode, Doug Bolken hosts Brock White with the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation and Gretchen Stenehjem with the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library to preview Medora's major July 4th opening and America 250 celebrations. Alongside a detailed look at the new presidential library, they outline the programming taking place all week from July 2–5, including the July 4 ribbon cutting and a 1,776-drone light show. Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library: www.trlibrary.com/tickets [https://www.trlibrary.com/tickets] Medora's America 250 Celebration: www.medora.com/america250 [https://www.medora.com/america250] 00:00 Welcome and Introductions 01:07 Library Vision and Design 04:11 Medora Year Round 05:46 Medora Upgrades 07:51 New Trolley Service 08:39 July Fourth Festival Plans 12:28 National Park and Trails 15:07 Library Tickets 16:58 Western North Dakota Experience 18:12 Medora Amenities and Attractions 19:59 America 250 20:50 Theodore Roosevelt Expressway Update 22:28 Theodore Roosevelt National Park 25:35 Inside the TR Library 27:23 Grand Opening

Helping Your Business Thrive During Small Business Month

In this episode of the Living in McKenzie County podcast, host Meghan Taunton, McKenzie County Economic Development Director, welcomes Cyrena Weeks (Tri-County Regional Development Council), Keith Olson (Small Business Development Center), and Susan Granrud (Job Service Workforce Center) to preview Small Business Month and explain regional resources for entrepreneurs and employers. They discuss western North Dakota's dynamic business culture, business startup challenges, and how SBDC provides no-cost advising on plans, cash flow, and lender readiness. The group also explores practical uses and cautions around AI in small business, highlights workforce support, and reviews financing options such as revolving loan funds and Bank of North Dakota's Flex PACE interest buydown. Tri-County Regional Development Council: https://tricountyrdc.com [https://tricountyrdc.com] Small Business Development Center: https://willistonstate.edu/about/Community/Small-Business-Development-Center [https://willistonstate.edu/about/Community/Small-Business-Development-Center] Job Service Workforce Center: https://www.jobsnd.com/job-seeker/workforce-centers/williston [https://www.jobsnd.com/job-seeker/workforce-centers/williston] 00:00 Welcome 00:46 Introductions 02:37 Business Culture Today 04:15 Where to Start 05:24 Small Business Development Center 08:57 AI in Small Business 13:39 Practical uses of AI 18:01 Beyond Oil and Gas 20:12 Outsourcing 22:50 Training and Funding Programs 25:39 Gap Financing Options 26:09 Flex PACE Interest Buydown 27:23 Grant Myths and Reality 28:43 Personal vs Business Credit 29:51 Bank of North Dakota 32:20 What Regional Councils Do 34:28 Grants and Programs 38:55 SBDC Funding and Structure 40:02 Business Needs 43:05 Bowling Alley in McKenzie County 46:51 Workforce Center Services 49:53 Rural Health Transformation Program 51:50 Wrap-Up

WCHS Students: The Programs & Initiatives Shaping Our Next Generation of Leaders

Season 2, Episode 17 of the Living in McKenzie County Podcast features Watford City High School students as they share their experiences in leadership, Student Council, and community involvement. They also promote the annual Cultural Fair, which will take place on Wednesday, April 22, 2026 from 3–6 p.m. in the Rough Rider Center arena. The students discuss how the event showcases the community's growing diversity through 22 food booths, community booths, and live entertainment, along with the extensive planning, grants, food ordering, and volunteer coordination behind the scenes. The conversation also highlights the Christmas lights on Main Street, the Buddy Program, National Honor Society outreach, and homecoming planning. Additionally we get to hear from the seniors about graduation and their post-graduation plans. 00:00 Welcome 01:26 Introductions 09:18 Why the cultural fair matters 11:45 Cultural fair stories and food 18:17 Behind the scenes planning 25:00 Cultural Fair time and place 26:39 Exchange students at the fair 28:03 Light Up Main Street origin 32:47 Seniors future plans 40:54 Graduation 46:03 Ambassadors Program 49:18 Buddy Program impact 53:10 Serving across generations 58:03 Homecoming week 59:36 WCHS mentors 01:08:36 Teachers And school board thanks 01:20:00 Final gratitudes

Signs of Spring: Golf Season & Sign Updates in Watford City

In this episode of the Living in McKenzie County Podcast, host Vawnita Best is joined by City of Watford City staff including Tony Carmichael of Fox Hills Golf Course, Chief Wellen of the Watford City Police Department, and City Planner Jake Walters. Walters shares updates on the long-planned Monument Sign project at three entrances to town, the new Main Street median sign cabinets and checkout process, and key changes to the city's updated sign ordinance, including limits on right-of-way and off-premise signage. Chief Wellen discusses the Keith Braddock memorial highway and roadway dedication, upcoming memorial ride plans, spring safety reminders, and the May 4–8 Pick Up the Patch cleanup. Carmichael outlines golf course opening preparations, youth golf growth, major tournaments and leagues, sponsorship support, and course maintenance improvements ahead of the April 14 opening of the course. City of Watford City Latest News: https://cityofwatfordcity.gov/news/ [https://cityofwatfordcity.gov/news/] Junior Golf Leagues and Events: https://foxhillsgc.com/golf-instructions/junior-golf [https://foxhillsgc.com/golf-instructions/junior-golf] 00:00 Welcome 01:02 Introductions 04:12 Monument Sign Project 07:57 Braddock Memorial Dedication 11:24 Golf Season and Events 21:47 Summer Safety Tips 24:10 Pick Up the Patch Cleanup 27:22 Main Street Sign Cabinets 33:10 New Sign Ordinances 40:25 Sign Rules Made Simple 41:48 Youth Golf Focus 46:54 Golf Programs Registration 52:18 Course Crew Shoutouts 59:33 Golf Course Opening Day 01:01:37 Foxhole Returns 01:04:42 Police Shoutouts 01:06:41 Police Conference 01:09:28 Planning Team Thanks

Meet the Long X Development Team

In this bonus episode of the Living in McKenzie County the Long X Development team explains how their shared work supports Watford City and all of McKenzie County. Team members include City of Watford City Community & Business Development Director Vawnita Best, Tourism Attractions and Promotions Lead Doug Bolken, Long X Arts Foundation Director Jesse Veeder Scofield, Technology and Communications Specialist Cauy HarteI, Administrative Assistant to Community Development Jess Hunt, McKenzie County Economic Development Director Meghan Taunton, and Marketing and Communications Coordinator Hope Felli, with a shoutout to Regional Director for the Small Business Development Center at Williston State College Keith Olson. They discuss the evolution of economic and community development, tourism's role in workforce attraction, storytelling initiatives like "Faces of the Patch," community orientations, new resident connections, local events resources, and preparing for the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library opening July 4. 00:00 Welcome 00:50 Meet The Team 01:41 Keith 03:15 Doug 04:00 Jessie 06:31 Cauy 08:02 Jess 09:38 Meghan 12:21 Hope 15:00 What Economic Development Does 17:04 Tourism as an Economic Driver 24:40 Outdoor Recreation And Events 30:55 Employee Recruitment 33:31 Arts, Culture, And Belonging 37:46 Community Alignment In Action 42:37 Small Business Development Center 45:12 Community Orientation 46:15 Chess Club Origin Story 47:52 Role of Economic Development 50:10 Moving to Watford 53:59 Rough Rider Fund Opportunity 57:18 Sharing our Boomtown Story 59:03 Faces of the Patch Series 01:03:50 Brand Kit and Tagline 01:06:20 2035 Comprehensive Plan 01:12:34 Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library 01:16:21 2025 Year in Review Report 01:18:42 In Closing Development Team Year in Review: https://econdev.mckenziecounty.net/wp-content/uploads/Development-Loft-2025-Year-in-Review.pdf [https://econdev.mckenziecounty.net/wp-content/uploads/Development-Loft-2025-Year-in-Review.pdf] Rough Rider Fund: https://cityofwatfordcity.gov/roughrider-fund [https://cityofwatfordcity.gov/roughrider-fund] McKenzie County 2035 Comprehensive Plan: https://mckenziecounty2035.com [https://mckenziecounty2035.com] Living in McKenzie County Magazine: https://econdev.mckenziecounty.net/living-in-mckenzie-county [https://econdev.mckenziecounty.net/living-in-mckenzie-county] Area Events: https://watfordcityevents.com [https://watfordcityevents.com]