Finger Lickin' Good: Watford City Ribfest

Image courtesy Pixabay

With the month of August quickly approaching, it means that another annual Watford City event is approaching, too. If you love BBQ, live music and classic cars, you will most definitely love The Best of the West Ribfest, which is on Friday, August 7!

The Ribfest will be located along Main Street in Downtown Watford City, and will take place from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Prime time will be between 5 and 9 p.m., which is when the ribs will be served. In addition to finger lickin' good ribs, sauces and all of the fixings, there will be food and concessions from many other local vendors. This event is family friendly, so bring the entire family down for games, bingo, and the ping pong drop!

The live entertainment at this year's event will likely have you dancing in the street! The performer lineup includes Jessie Veeder and Outlaw Sippin', Medora's Burning Hill Singers, Lonesome Willy, Gettin' Outta Dodge, and Kristi Goldade!

In between sets, check out the dozens of classic cars which will be on display. According to the McKenzie County Farmer, while the event typically has 20-30 cars, Ribfest organizers are hoping to have even more this year.

While all of the activities we have mentioned so far would quality as "spectator sports," you can actually get in on the action! Do you think your ribs have what it takes to be known as "the best of the west?" 5 p.m. is the hour of the rib showdown, and with prize money at stake, you won't want to lose! The first place winning team will take home $1,000! If you have your eyes on the prize, be sure to submit your team as soon as possible, as the number of teams is limited to 20. If you would like to register for the competition, click here to download a form.

The Glen at Hunters Run is proud to be a sponsor of this year's Ribfest! May the best ribs win and we hope to see you there on August 7!

Additional sources consulted:
Watford City Chamber of Commerce

Watford City Schools Adapt to Growing Numbers

Image courtesy Pixabay

The resident influx in Watford City for Bakken oil jobs is not made up of oil workers alone - it consists of oil workers' wives and children, as well. Although school is currently out for the summer, at the schools themselves, there is quite a lot of work happening behind the scenes in preparation for the 2015-2016 school year and beyond.

The McKenzie County Public School district in Watford City is comprised of Watford City Elementary School, which holds grades K-6, and Watford City High School. The 2015-2016 school year begins on Thursday, August 20 and the schools are preparing for record enrollment numbers this year. The elementary school has already procured two new modular buildings, which will provide four additional classrooms for students. This addition brings the total number of modular classrooms in the school to 10. Once the new Watford City High School is completed, the fourth and fifth graders will move into the former high school space. Until then, those two grades will use the modular spaces. Pre-registration days for the elementary school are currently taking place and regular enrollment ends August 5.

As is mentioned above, once the new high school is completed and students move into the new building, the elementary and junior high students will have more space. Construction on the new high school is moving along according to schedule, and should be finished by January 2016. School officials are hoping that the transition can occur in between fall and spring semesters in January. The new $50 million school will have upgrades including an auditorium for theater and fine arts programs, football fields and a track field. To view pictures on how the high school construction is progressing, as of July 18, click here.

Although the population increase in the Watford City and McKenzie County areas, these changes will also bring new opportunities and additional programs and facilities to Watford City youth. Until August 20 though, the kids can enjoy the parks, sleeping in, and everything else that summer in Watford City has to offer!

The Glen at Hunter's Run apartment homes are located less than a 10-minute drive away from Watford City schools.

July 4th Celebrations

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This Saturday, July 4th, the United States of America will celebrate its 239th birthday! While Watford City may be a small town, we still enjoy celebrating with our neighboring communities. With a long weekend ahead of us, we are ready to spend some quality time with our family and our community!

Just 8 miles west of your home at The Glen at Hunter's Run, our neighbors in the town on Arnegard are preparing for its July 4th celebration! The two-day celebration begins tomorrow evening, July 3, from 6-8 PM with hamburgers in the park. The festivities will continue on Saturday, beginning with a 5K walk/run at 9 AM in honor of resident Sherry Arnold. The run will be followed by crafts and a bouncy house for the kids in the park. The Independence Day parade will begin at 11 AM.

Be sure to come to the event hungry, because starting at noon in the park, there will be a barbecue and pies for sale! Paula Slow will be providing the live entertainment as visitors enjoy the weather and BBQ!

At 1 PM, there will be a ceremony to honor Sherry Arnold. Arnold was a math teacher for 18 years, and after battling cancer for six years, she was able to defeat the disease! The ceremony will honor her life after cancer and her accomplishments. Other afternoon events include softball, street hockey and a tractor pull.

At dusk comes the main event - fireworks! What would an Independence Day celebration be without watching fireworks dazzle the skies over North Dakota?

To gain admission to the event, guests must purchase a $2 at First International Bank & Trust, CornerStone Bank, Short Stop and Charlie's. Food and drink will be available throughout the day. This event is family friendly!

What are you big plans for the upcoming holiday weekend? Whether it's spending time at home grilling or baking, enjoying the outdoors with your family or attending the events in Arnegard, we want to know! Share you plans with The Glen at Hunter's Run on our Facebook and Twitter pages! Have a safe and happy holiday weekend filled with friends, family and fireworks!

Sources consulted:
McKenzie County Farmer
McKenzie County Tourism

Law Enforcement Center Construction Begins

As the population in Watford City continues to climb, city leaders have taken steps to ensure that the growing population of Watford City citizens stays safe. With construction on the new Watford City High School, and conference and events center currently underway, on June 2 our city added another large-scale construction project to its list. Ground has officially been broken on the construction of a new, 93,000 sq. ft. law enforcement center.

According to the McKenzie County Farmer, new facility will house 129 inmates and office space for local law enforcement agencies, including the McKenzie County Sheriff's office, the Watford City Police Department, North Dakota Highway Patrol, and the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Currently, Watford City only has the capacity to house 12 inmates, and has been shipping inmates to other facilities if the beds have been filled. The current facility is located adjacent to the courthouse, and the overflow of inmates have been transferred to facilities as far away as Fargo. If needed, the property has the ability to expand the number of beds up to 200.

As the number of beds increases with the completion of the law enforcement center, so too will the number of officers. According to Grand Forks Herald, McKenzie County plans to expand its police force to include 25 deputies and 19 police officers. To put the numbers into perspective, McKenzie County Highway Patrol, which had only one deputy a decade ago, now has six deputies.

The project, which will cost $57 mil, will be funded by a loan from the Bank of North Dakota, and will be repaid with the McKenzie County's oil revenue. The site of the new law enforcement center is at the corner of 12 Street and 11th Avenue, Southeast, near the Watford City Municipal Airport.

As our population at The Glen at Hunter's Run continues to grow, too, the new law enforcement center is a welcome addition to Watford City. Share your thoughts about the new facility on The Glen at Hunter's Run Facebook and Twitter pages.

Additional sources consulted:

Bakken.com

Events Center Groundbreaking

Watford City took a huge step toward adjusting to its growing population in the past week by breaking ground on a new events center. Although planning for the events center has been in the works for the past 3 years, the execution stage has officially begun!

The new space will be 224,000 square feet, and will house two ice rinks, a basketball court, two practice courts, areas for hockey and turf sports, gymnastics space, a six-lane lap swimming pool, a recreation pool with a water slide, convention area and auditorium. The convention space will be able to accommodate up to 1,000 people, while the auditorium can host up to 3,000 guests. In addition, the center will also house classrooms for the Watford City branch of University of Mary.

Why build the center now? Watford City has simply outgrown many of its existing facilities due to its rising population. The events center will be used by the new Watford City High School, which is currently under construction.  In fact, the events center will directly connect to the new high school, which plans to use the facility for athletic team practices and physical education classes.

Funding for the $83 million project has mainly been footed by Watford City taxpayers, who voted to approve a 1.5% sales tax increase. According to a report shared by the McKenzie County Farmer, Watford City saw one of the biggest increases in taxable sales in 2014, with an increase of 39.44%. However, the city views this center as a worthwhile investment, hoping that once completed, the center will be able to host out-of-town events. In turn, the city's tourism will increase and so will local business.

As the city looks toward the future, so does The Glen at Hunters Run. Our one to three bedroom apartments offer the space you need for a young or small family. We are located just a 7-minute drive away from Watford City High School and downtown Watford City. Once the events center is complete you will be within just a short distance, while still enjoying a peaceful home environment!

Are you looking forward to the new events center? Share your thoughts with us on The Glen at Hunter's Run Facebook and Twitter pages!

Additional sources consulted:
McKenzieCounty.net
The Bismarck Tribune
The Dickinson Press

Planning Your Memorial Day Weekend

With a weather forecast of temperatures in the upper 60s and low 70s for Memorial Day weekend, it just may finally be beginning to feel like spring! What better way to celebrate the long weekend than by spending time outdoors? If you are without holiday weekend plans, we have some ideas to help you unofficially kick off the spring/summer!

Play in the Park
Your apartment home at The Glen at Hunter's Run is just steps away from Jacobson Park, so gather the kids or your friends for an afternoon outdoors! The park has a playground, picnic area, outdoor grilling area, basketball court and restrooms. Pack up some hot dogs, hamburgers and other picnic fixings for a family-friendly day!

Hit the Green
Dust off the golf clubs and head to the Watford City Municipal Golf Course! Enjoy this beautiful 9-hole course with spectacular clubhouse views! The course pars are 72 for men and 73 for women. Golf cart and club rental is available. You may even want to walk to the golf course from The Glen at Hunter's Run - that's how close it is!

Play Ball
Remember heading to the local ball field with your friends as a kid or playing softball with work colleagues? Relive those good old days! Grab your bat and ball, and play a game of baseball at American Legion Baseball Field on 3rd Street. Celebrate this American holiday with America's favorite past time!

Go for a Ride
Take a trip to Theodore Roosevelt National Park, one of North Dakota's treasures. You can walk, bike or horseback ride along the trails, or pack a picnic lunch and enjoy the scenic views!

Take a Drive
If you frequently go to the North Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park when you visit, consider driving to a different entrance to see new views, or visit the Elkhorn Ranch! Or just drive around with the windows down and see where the day takes you! The Glen at Hunter's Run is located close to Highway 85 if you feel like taking a cruise!

What are your plans for Memorial Day weekend? Share your event ideas and plans with us on The Glen at Hunter's Run's Facebook and Twitter page! Happy Memorial Day! Thank you to all who serve and have served our country!

Badlands Gravel Battle

Did you know that May is National Bike Month? If you are an avid cyclist, you certainly will not want to miss the upcoming Badlands Gravel Battle bike race. This 120-mile race through the Maah Daah Hey Trail takes place over Memorial Day weekend. Not an expert cyclist? That's okay! The event takes place very close to The Glen at Hunter's Run apartment homes, through Theodore Roosevelt National Park, so you could always cheer on the participants from the alongside the race route!

The race begins at the Theodore Roosevelt Park's Medora entrance, approximately 90 minutes away from Watford City, with a 10-mile neutral roll-out. This race can be a challenging one, as it's an "off-road" type of race. Covering a distance of 120 miles, the race route loops through the Maah Daah Hey Trail and across the Missouri River, through North Dakota's rugged terrain.

If you decide to participate in the race, there are a couple of events to celebrate your dedication and success! Before the race, during packet pickup, there will be a social event where riders can get their bikes looked over and pick up any last minute equipment. Once you have finished the race, not only will there be refreshments to replenish you, but there will also be an awards ceremony to honor the top finishing riders.

If you want to support the cyclists without participating in the race itself, the event requires many volunteers to help with the preparation and execution of the race. All volunteers will receive an official race T-shirt as a "thank you" gift. All you'll need to bring is a positive attitude! Volunteers are needed for a variety of tasks, from cleaning the trails to riding the trails on horseback during the race to aid cyclists. To find out more information about volunteer opportunities, click here.

By participating in this race, not only will you get to enjoy North Dakota's stunning scenery, but you will get to challenge your cycling ability!

Have you ever participated in this type of off-road race? Do you plan to ride in the Badlands Gravel Battle? Share your thoughts with us on The Glen at Hunter's Run Facebook and Twitter pages! Good luck!

Sources consulted:
North Dakota Legendary
Experience Land