Local area to be featured nationally on travel show this month
Last summer, Darley Newman and her crew from the hit travel show Travels with Darley spent four days in and around Watford City documenting the sights, people, and activities of the area. That has since been turned into a full episode for national (and eventual international) distribution through public television. For North Dakota viewers, catch (or DVR) the show at 12:30pm on Wednesday, January 30, on Prairie Public's Lifelong Learning subchannel.

Further there will be a social and showing of the episode at Six Shooters Showhall in Watford City on Tuesday, January 29 from 5-6pm; and Wednesday, January 30 from 12-1pm. In the future, it will be available worldwide through Amazon Prime.
School bond passes

Area voters overwhelmingly said "yes" to plans for an additional elementary school as well as funding flexibility in the near term if school board officials deem more building needed in the future.

See more in this story from The Roundup: Watford City Voters Approve Funding for New School.
Economy at a glance

The Watford City | McKenzie County Economy at a glance has been updated for January 2019. Some of the updates include:

  • significant growth in taxable sales and purchases for 2018Q3;

  • 2018 totals for building permits, city sales tax, restaurant/lodging tax, and occupancy tax are all up for 2018 when compared to 2017.
Significant growth in local sales

Watford City and McKenzie County realized large increases in taxable sales and purchases according to the ND Tax Commissioners office. In 2018Q3 Watford City had a 49% increase and McKenzie County saw a 51% increase compared to the same quarter in 2017.
Job Fair coming in March

Employers and job seekers will once again be coming together at the NW North Dakota Semi-Annual Job Fair on March 27 held from 3-7pm at Watford City's Rough Rider Center. All industries are welcome.
Caribou Coffee coming to Cashwise

Coffee and hot drink lovers will have another option in Watford City once the Caribou Coffee is built out in the current Cashwise grocery store.

They are looking at being open to the public in February 2019. The store is locate d at 113 6th Avenue SE Watford City.
Foundation awards grants with boost from ConocoPhillips

The McKenzie County Community Foundation, which is a local endowment, recently announced grants for local organizations. ConocoPhillips stepped in and nearly doubled the total grants amount so that over $10,000 was awarded. Grantees include the Long X Arts Foundation, Watford City Police Foundation, First Lutheran-Community Thanksgiving Meal, Marketplace for Kids, McKenzie County Emergency Management, Arnegard Fire Department and the Pioneer Museum of McKenzie County.
Community to provide 100k+ meals for those in need

For the second year, Watford City will be a mobile site for the Feed my Starving Children organization. Over the course of March 15-16, over 500 volunteers are needed to help pack over 100,000 meals that will be distributed to those in need throughout the world. Volunteer signups will begin in late January, and financial donations to cover the cost of the food (a little over $20,000) are being accepted now. Click here for more info.
View past issues of the monthly update here.