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The American Petroleum Institution (API) is a national trade association that represents the oil and gas industry, with local chapters in oilfield regions throughout the United States. The organization includes more than 600 companies in an industry that employs more than 10.3 million people nationwide. As the end of 2018 draws nigh, The Roundup reached out to office holders with the MonDak chapter of API and asked for their insights on the petroleum industry in our current local economy. Terry...
Sidney has had a busy year of infrastructure improvement to utilities and highways, and there's likely more to come in 2019. The Roundup reached out to Rick Norby, the mayor of Sidney, to talk about past and present projects and what to expect over the course of the next year. Mayor Norby reported, "We did a water and sewer rate increase. We're heading into phase three in the lagoon project. We've bonded a little under nine million on phase two. Phase two was the initial building of the water...
McKenzie County voters will decide whether to approve or deny two requests designed to fund upcoming anticipated needs of the school district. Question one asks residents to approve a general obligation bond in an amount up to 35 million dollars, for the purpose of providing funds necessary to construct a new elementary school. It will raise millage an additional 13 mills, which is equal to $13 dollars on each thousand dollars of taxable valuation for the first taxable year. Question two asks...
The Roundup spoke to Marcia Hellandsaas, the McKenzie County Extension Agent, about how the local area celebrates the Christmas Season in their own unique way. Hellandsaas explained that McKenzie County residents typically celebrate the holiday with family, food and generosity-filled traditions. Hellandsaas explained, "We're a very generous community that remembers the people who struggle. We do have a pretty large population that struggles in the oil boom. In the Bakken, we always have people...
Matthew Johansen unseated incumbent sheriff of McKenzie County, Gary Schwartzenberger, and did so by a wide margin. With 2,496 votes accounting for 60.89 percent of the votes cast, Johansen's win amounted to an electoral landslide. Johansen had previously served as McKenzie County's interim sheriff. The Roundup spoke to Johansen after his victory about his campaign win and his plans for the future of the McKenzie County Sheriff's Department. Johansen explained that his immediate plans were more...
More than a hundred people gathered at the Rough Rider Center on Monday, October 22, to hear candidates for State Senate and State House of Representatives, McKenzie County Commissioner, and McKenzie County Sheriff. The Watford City event lasted two hours, as each candidate answered a series of questions designed to flesh out their thoughts and opinions about the issues. Beginning with introductory words from Titus Stenberg, who is the sportscaster for Watford City Wolves athletics, the event wa...
Matt Rosendale, candidate for the United States Senate, made a brief stop in Sidney on Wednesday, October 24. Meeting with supporters at the Meadowlark brewery, Rosendale encouraged voters to get in their early ballots or make sure to show up to the polls on Election Day. The Roundup spoke with Rosendale, who elaborated upon the controversies surrounding his campaign and his hopes for a victory on November 6. Rosendale told The Roundup, "The race is going great. I think that we're in a good...
Matthew Johansen is challenging incumbent Gary Schwartzenberger for McKenzie County Sheriff. Johansen, who was born in Grand Forks before moving to McKenzie County at five years of age, later moved away to Minnesota. After attending peace officer training in Devil's Lake, North Dakota, Johansen went on to serve law enforcement in McClusky, Sheridan, McLean, Emmons, Steel, and Trail Counties before eventually coming back to serve McKenzie County in 2007. Johansen spoke with The Roundup about his...
Four candidates are on the ballot for McKenzie County Commissioner. Two are incumbents, and two are challengers. All four spoke to the Roundup about their desire to serve McKenzie County as a commissioner. John Rolfsrud, who is vying for a commissioner position with McKenzie County, first spoke with the Roundup. Rolfsrud explained his background and experience that is pertinent to the position. “I’m a longtime McKenzie County resident. I was born here, and after college I went to work for a man...
Nortana Grain Company, founded in 1939, buys and sells numerous agricultural commodities and has a long-established presence in Eastern Montana. As a premier marketer for agricultural commodities, Nortana has its thumb on the pulse of the ag industry. The Roundup recently spoke with Nortana General Manager, Shane Keller, about this year's crop yields and prices. Keller has been with Nortana for about twelve years. Keller told the Roundup, "Yield-wise, the earlier crops that went in were really g...
McKenzie County has two options on the November ballot for County Recorder. Katie Paulson and Dori Sparby are both competing for the office, and The Roundup was able to speak with both candidates about their bid for McKenzie County Recorder. The Recorder's Office is capable of keeping all permanent land records in the county and indexing them so they can be researched by others. It also is responsible for recording marriage licenses, and it also keeps the discharge papers of those who've served...
Public Service Commission candidate, Randy Pinocci, recently visited Sidney in a campaign stop, soliciting votes and spreading his message of common sense regulation. Pinnoci, who has previously served as a representative to the state legislature for House District 19, is a Sun River native and winner of the 2018 Republican primary for PSC District One. He is challenging Democrat Doug Kaecher on the November 6 ballot. The Public Service Commission is a five-member board that is responsible for t...
Approximately 75 residents from McKenzie County gathered at the Watford City intermediate school media center to hear from candidates for local office. Hosted by the Watford City Area Chamber of Commerce, various candidates spoke to the crowd, answering questions and providing reasons to vote for them. Matt Gardner emceed the event and explained that the event was designed to be conversational and informative, urging the crowd to hold applause and be respectful to the candidates. Beginning with...
McKenzie County Sheriff, Gary Schwartzenberger, has a new endorsement. Joe Arpaio, the prominent and controversial former sheriff of Maricopa County, Arizona, has written a letter encouraging McKenzie County voters to reelect Schwartzenberger. Arpaio, as a political figure, is a polemical lightning rod, having received accolades from some and condemnation from others during his 24-year tenure as sheriff in the Phoenix area. Nicknamed, "America's Toughest Sheriff," Arpaio first made headlines for...
The Lower Yellowstone Irrigation Project, which diverts water from the Yellowstone River to nearby thirsty farms along the river that need irrigation to grow profitable crops, is made possible by the Intake Diversion Dam. That dam, located between Glendive and Sidney, Montana, sits beneath the water and is designed to raise the water level, pushing water into the canal system. The dam has been under legal attack by Defenders of Wildlife, an environmentalist organization headquartered in...
Senator Jon Tester sent his Chief of Staff, Aaron Murphy, to Sidney on August 9 for a brief meeting and tour of the Sidney Sugar Plant. Murphy was received by Sidney Sugars General Manager, David Garland, and other employees of the factory who expressed their sentiments of thanks to Senator Tester and spoke of their concerns regarding the sugar industry. While gathered for the brief discussion at the plant, Murphy began by explaining, "I don't know the process very well. I know the smell in the...
The McKenzie County Department of Emergency Management helped to organize a barbeque event for those adversely affected by the tornado that touched down and destroyed much of the Prairie View RV Park in Watford City, North Dakota. The event was not only meant as a gesture of care and compassion but also helped put emergency management personnel, volunteers and supporters in direct contact with those who need recovery assistance. According to Jappe, there were probably 300 lots on the ground at...
Among the many fairgoers at the annual Richland County Fair was Doug Kaercher, the Havre native who is running for Public Service Commissioner in District I. Kaercher, who has served as the Havre Finance Director and Clerk, an administrative law judge for the State Tax Appeal Board, a Hill County Commissioner and as a Havre City Councilman, spoke with The Roundup about his aspirations for the Public Service Commission. Explaining his role as an administrative law judge, Kaecher said, "When you...
Most regular attendees at the Richland County Fair are well aware of the longstanding Co-op Day tradition. On this day, local co-ops sponsor a free treat for fairgoers, which includes root beer floats and frozen orange push-ups. Horizon Resources is one of the corporate Co-op participants who sponsor the treats at the Richland County Fair. Other corporate sponsors include Richland Federal Credit Union, Mid-Rivers Communications, CHS Farmer's Elevator, Nortana Grain Co. and Lower Yellowstone Rura...
This story was updated with more information about relief funds on Wednesday, July 18. More than two-dozen people were injured, and a seven day-old baby was killed, when a tornado tore through Watford City on Tuesday, July 10. The tornado, which reached speeds of 127 miles per hour, according to meteorologist John Paul Martin of the National Weather Service, destroyed more than one hundred structures and damaged vehicles and property throughout the city. Hitting just a few minutes after...
Two Richland County commissioners will be traveling to Washington D.C. to meet with President Trump’s office in regards to important state, regional, and county needs. The Roundup spoke with commissioners Duane Mitchell and Shane Gorder, about their upcoming July 18 and 19 meeting in Washington and what they hope to accomplish. Duane Mitchell explained why the two commissioners were attending the event, saying, “We were invited by the president to come for Montana Day, something the adm...
The Bakken Conference and Expo will be held Monday, July 16-Wednesday, July 18 at the Rough Rider Center in Watford City. The event will focus on oil and gas production in the Williston Basin and the various investment strategies and innovations that will be useful in the industry in coming months and years. The conference and expo will feature industry regulators, company CEOs, completion engineers and other petroleum professionals that will lend their expertise and ideas to those with...
More than two-dozen people were injured, and a seven day-old baby was killed, when a tornado tore through Watford City on Tuesday, July 10. The tornado, which reached speeds of 127 miles per hour, according to meteorologist John Paul Martin of the National Weather Service, destroyed more than one hundred structures and damaged vehicles and property throughout the city. Hitting just a few minutes after midnight, the tornado touched down at the Prairie View RV park where it hurt up to 28...
The Job Service Employer Committee recently helped to host an opportunity for local employers and community professionals to learn about the problem of sex and labor trafficking in the Richland County area. The Roundup spoke with Paula Eberling, who is the Director for the Seventh Judicial Victim Witness Program and is a crime victim advocate. Speaking of the Job Service Employer Committee (abbreviated as JSEC), Eberling explained, "JSEC is a non-profit group that tries to address issues with...
The Montana Farm Bureau hosted the Young Farmers and Ranchers Ag Tour on June 1-2 in the Richland County area. Taking a tour of local points of agricultural significance, a group from around the region learned more about local food and natural resource production and consumption. The Roundup spoke to the Montana Farm Bureau Director of Membership Relations, Sue Ann Streufert, who also serves as the Young Farmer and Rancher Coordinator, about the importance of the event. Streufert said, "The...
