First Things First -- Expand The Golf Course In The Heart Of The Bakken -- June 17, 2016

From The Williston Wire.

Watford City golf course:

The Watford City City Council has agreed to provide $1 million from the City Infrastructure Fund over the next two years to help fund a $4.5 million expansion at the Fox Hills Golf Course.

The newly formed Watford City Community Builders (WCCB) will cover the remainder of the costs. The WCCB plans to take out a $1.5 million loan and an additional $2 million loan to purchase the 38 acres of land that the city owns next to the golf course.

"The golf course board is pledging revenues from the course's operations toward paying back the $1 million loan," said David Johnson, golf board vice president and member of WCCB.

Dickinson affordable housing:

Low income housing was a major need in the Bakken during the oil boom. But in the current oil drilling slowdown, which has left many apartments at low occupancy, one company believes it is still a necessary option. Housing Solutions LLC, a Missoula, Mont.-based company, has broken ground on Northern Place, a $5.8 million, 36-unit affordable housing complex comprised of two- and three-bedroom units. 

Alex Burkhalter, founder of Housing Solutions, said the company has been eyeing the location because of its proximity to the Dickinson Middle School.

Dakota Access Pipeline:

Grocer Todd Mulske in Linton says he's having trouble keeping steaks in the cooler and potato chips on the shelf. He owns the Linton Food Center and like everyone in the area, he has been noticing the new people in town: welders, excavators and pipeline workers of all stripes.

Many show up in the store at about 5 to 6 p.m., looking for something to throw on the grill for supper and pack in the lunchbox for the next day's work. "Right now, we're trying to keep up," Mulske said. "The store's been crazy."

That's a good kind of crazy in his opinion, to have hundreds of workers with the Dakota Access Pipeline living in the area, shopping at local stores like his and filling rental units.

Linton, ND (65 road-miles southeast of Bismarck, on State Highway 83, on the east side of the river; about 10 miles directly north of Lawrence Welk's home)

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A Note For The Granddaughters

Scottish Hip-Hop

This brings back fond memories, 2011 - 2014.

Years ago the US Air Force sent me to northern England, near the Scottish borders. I was assigned to a small military installation; I was there off and on for four years. Of my thirty years in the Air Force, this installation became my favorite and a second home those years. My closest male friend was Derek. He had a Scottish brogue; it was wonderful, as it is in this commercial:


At the time, I had never drunk Scotch, or if I had, it was minimal and by exception. One evening around Christmas time he invited me over to taste several different Scotches. I could never "get into" Scotch at that time. About a year ago, I decided to finally "figure out" Scotch. Several books later, and several tastings later, I now understand Scotch .. at least to the extent I am satisfied.