Few would like to admit it, but the history of the modern world is written largely in oil.  From the Allied victory in World War II to the never-ending struggles in the Middle East, the quest for crude oil can be found at the center of it all.  You may not have read about it in your history textbooks, but trust me - oil has always been there lurking as the story behind the story.  And if you read between the lines, you'll find it everywhere you look. Dark and gooey, it is the single common thread that binds the world as we know it.  Contrary to popular belief, the oil story didn't begin anywhere near a Texas oilman...  See Entire Story.

Billionaire oilman Harold Hamm told North Dakota bankers in Bismarck on Thursday that government estimates of recoverable oil in the Bakken and Three Forks formations are conservative.  The chief executive of the Continental Resources oil company says the formations in North Dakota and Montana hold about 20 billion barrels of recoverable crude.  But the U.S. Geological Survey doesn't agree with Hamm's numbers. The agency released a study in 2008 that estimated up to 4.3 billion barrels of oil can be recovered in the Bakken.  USGS geologist Rich Pollastro says the agency hasn't seen enough data to amend its estimate.  See Entire Story.

Hamm Calls for Lower Extraction Taxes.

The House Energy and Natural Resources Committee heard a bill recently that would establish oil fracturing as "an acceptable recovery process in this state."  House Bill 1216 essentially gives a thumbs up to hydraulic fracturing, which is more commonly called fracking and consists of pushing water and other chemicals into crevices deep under ground to push oil to the surface.  See Entire Story.

Fox Business 

Shawn Wenko

The graph below represents Williston's average annual wage history as compared to the statewide average. The dip you see between 09/10 is a result of the industry slow down last year. But, we can guarantee that the trend will continue upward when the current report is released by the Job Service ND.  Click Here to See the Year End Williston Workforce Activity Report. 
 

Top left to right: Terri Pemberton, Bruno Leme Durtra, Claudia Silva, Mike Kraft, Kevin Reardon.  Bottom left to right: Arian Bortoli, Joao Biscardi, Mariana Santos, Dev Zubke.

Many Williston businesses are looking for new ways to meet their workforce needs.  A trend that is becoming more and more popular is hiring college students from abroad.  One of the most recent participants is Economart - a locally owned and operated grocery store.  Owner Mike Kraft says his store was able to avoid any labor shortage problems until about five months ago - that's when the situation changed.  "We were struggling.  It was impacting our ability to distribute the food as efficiently as we would like," he says.  Kraft turned to his Human Resource Manager for help.  "Terri (Pemberton) went scouting and she came up with a formula for us to extract these students from Brazil," he says.  Pemberton began working with the United Work and Travel program in October and by early December she had 24 college students from Brazil working at Economart.  See Entire Story.

USDA Rural Development State Director Jasper Schneider announced that Brutger Equities, Inc. (BEI) received a $4.7 million loan guarantee for the construction of a new Holiday Inn hotel in Williston. The hotel will consist of 88 rooms, 17 of which will be suites.  Amenities will include a large pool and spa facility, meeting room, party room, exercise room, signature breakfast area, and outdoor sport court.   Keeping the local market in mind, the hotel will be designed with a spacious two story lobby, large rooms, full size closets and some extended stay rooms.  Construction is expected to begin in May and be completed in January 2012.  See Entire Story.

Airplane travelers who utilize the Sidney-Richland Airport may soon be flying Gulfstream International Airlines instead of Great Lakes Airlines.  Recently, representatives of the seven Montana Essential Air Service Task Force voted 6-1 in favor of Gulfstream. The seven cities served in Montana are Sidney, Glendive, Glasgow, Havre, Lewistown, Wolf Point and Miles City.  See Entire Story. 

The North Dakota Aeronautics Commission recently reported that Sloulin Field International Airport recorded 15,897 boardings in 2010.  This was a 41 percent increase over the 11,229 boardings recorded in 2009.  Airport Manager Steven Kjergaard said the airport has been very busy, mainly due to regional oil activity.  "We've been averaging 1,300 to 1,500 per month for enplanements," said Kjergaard. Kjergaard said these numbers don't include private planes that frequent the airport.  See Entire Story.

The team at the new Express Care Clinic includes, from left, Antonio Carbonell, M.D., Kayla Truckner, CNA/Receptionist and Lyle Rasmussen, LPN.

The new Express Care Clinic at Mercy Medical Center is now open.  The Express Care Clinic will treat patients who can't wait to make an appointment with their primary care physician but don't have severe enough symptoms for the emergency room.  Dr. Antonio Carbonell brings 45 years of health care experience and a desire to help people to the new clinic.  He says, "My goal is to educate people to manage themselves so they visit the emergency room less and less."  See Entire Story.

Rec Management

Go to Davidson Park in Williston, N.D., and you will find a host of new embellishments that cater to kids and tennis enthusiasts alike.  In 2010, Williston Community Builders raised more than $500,000 through grants, local businesses and individual donations, and by selling sponsorships of pieces of equipment, to build the new playground and a new sprayground, which will open in spring 2011. The grand opening of the playground was held in July 2010, with the total for the two projects estimated to cost around $660,000.  To boot, new and newly renovated tennis courts now adorn Davidson Park at the Tom & Shirley Davidson Tennis Complex. Additional tennis courts were needed due to an increase in use.  See Entire Story.

The Saskatchewan South East Enterprise Region (SSEER) housing initiative has just completed a survey of Estevan businesses in conjunction with the Estevan and District Board of Tourism, Trade & Commerce.  "The results are quite dramatic" according to Edie Spagrud, CEO of SSEER. "While it was certainly well known that the housing shortage is hurting a lot of area businesses, Estevan survey results show the extent of that shortage is even more serious than we expected."  One in five businesses has found it necessary to invest in housing to accommodate employees. "That is pretty serious when you consider that these employers are not in the real estate business," said Spagrud.  See Entire Story.

Dickinson Press

He knew he was meant for radio.  And, after an absence, he is back.  "Wild" Bill Palanuk, a radio personality that frequented the Dickinson airwaves, has debuted "The MonDak Oilfield Review."  The short-form radio program airs in North Dakota and Montana markets.  The program is three and a half minutes long, with one minute devoted to sponsorship messages, according to a news release.  The content will feature a county-by-county rig count, rig activity as well as comments from pertinent oil industry newsmakers.  See Entire Story.