Good morning, Williston.

Kota Ray Dam will reopen on Friday, May 23 with improved campsites, a youth pedal park and a new lakeside lawn-chair amphitheater, and reservations for camping will begin online on May 19 at 8:30 a.m. Blacktail Dam will start mid-May construction for walking trails, upgraded comfort stations and group campsites and will remain open in a limited capacity during upgrades—visitors can still use the boat ramp as signage directs route changes.

Crews are cleaning up a train derailment near Churchs Ferry after 11 grain cars left the track last Wednesday—by Monday five of the cars were upright and BNSF will have the main track operational sometime this week.

Local coffee company MoJo Roast in Westhope launched its Porcupine Creek Gold blend to honor Fred Hurt, known as Dakota Fred.

The company sends $5 from every bag sold to the Mike Rowe Foundation to help fund trade scholarships, and the blend is available only on its website.

Volunteers are preparing for the annual Rendezvous at Fort Union Trading Post in June despite cuts in National Park Service staffing due to federal funding issues — the five-day event will attract about 3,000 visitors and feature living historians demonstrating 1800s trades.

The Williston Education Association is sponsoring a school board candidate forum Monday, May 19 at 7 p.m. in the Bakken Auditorium — seven candidates will run for open positions.

No new measles cases were reported over the weekend in Williams County and the number of quarantined students has been revised to about 150 due to corrections in immunization records.

Middle and high school students will return on May 22 while quarantined seniors will attend graduation with the school ending on May 23.

Williston Marathon

11:30 AM – 7:00 PM — Williston Basin International Airport — Registration fees apply — Experience the first premiere endurance event at the Williston Marathon.