XWA lands in Williston

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2019 • 120th Year • Special Commemorative Edition • www.willistonherald.com

WILLISTON BASIN AIRPORT

The story of how we got from here...

ELIZABETH HACKENBURG • WILLISTON HERALD

Members of the media and the public watch the ceremonial groundbreaking at the Williston Basin International Airport on Monday, Oct. 10, 2016.

to here

JAMIE KELLY • WILLISTON HERALD

Williston and state officials celebrate the opening of Williston Basin International Airport with a ceremonial ribbon cutting.

A REPORTER WHO BUILT WILLISTON A LOOK BACK AT THE GO INSIDE WILLISTON’S

REMEMBERS GROWING BASIN INTERNATIONAL HISTORY OF SLOULIN NEW, STATE-OF-THE-ART
NEAR XWA’S SITE AIRPORT? FIELD AIRPORT
2 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2019 WILLISTON HERALD WILLISTON BASIN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT COMMEMORATIVE EDITION

Saying goodbye to Sloulin Field

The launch of Williston
Basin International Airport
means that Williston’s
airfield will be moving for
the first time in more than
70 years.
First known as the Williston
Municipal Aiport, since
1954, the airport has had
the name Sloulin Field in
honor of a pair of brothers
who fought and died during
World War II — Kermit and
Wesley Sloulin.
The new name was made
official with a ceremony
on Sept. 10, 1954 and five
days later, Frontier Airlines
launched regular service
from Williston.
The new airport still bears
the Sloulin name, with the
terminal called the Sloulin
Terminal.

HERALD ARCHIVES
ABOVE: The opening of Sloulin Field with regular air service meant more than just pas-
senger flights for Williston — it was also the start of regular airmail service. BELOW: The
first flight out of Williston included multiple packages from city businesses dispatched
out via airmail.
WILLISTON BASIN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT COMMEMORATIVE EDITION
News
XWA contractors
Action Equipment and
Scaffold
Adams Inc.
Advanced Engineering and
Environmental Services
All State Communications
Alliance Consulting
Alliiance
American General
Contractors, Inc. - Prime
Archetype Signmakers
Anderson Steel Erection &
Crane Service Inc.
Astro Engineering
Bald Eagle Erectors
Bartley Sales
BEK Consulting
Braun Intertec
Burns & McDonnell/Alliance
Consulting
Business Window Coverings
Carciofini
Cardon Global
Carstensen Contracting, Inc.
Central Door and Hardware
Inc.
Central Specialties, Inc.
City Wide Electric
Chrysalis Global Aviation
Clean Tech
Construction Supply
Denny’s Electric
Doyle Hughes Construction
Dakota Elevator
Dakota Fence
Dakota Refrigeration
Dormakaba
Dynamic Concrete Cutting
Fladeland Mechanical
Workers pour concrete on the runway at Williston Basin International Airport.
Floor to Ceiling
Fresh Look Painting
G & S Mechanical
Geargrid Corporation
Gleason Construction-Prime
GraTech Company, LLC
Grazzini Brothers
Grondahl Recreation Inc.
Haugom Window Coverings
Herzog Coatings
Herzog Roofing
IDX Los Angeles
IMS Masonry
Infax
Integrity Steel
Integrity Steel Supply
Interoffice
J&M Electric
J. M. Marschuetz
Construction Company
JE Dunn
John Bean Technologies
(JBT)
John's Refrigeration &
Electric, Inc. - Mechanical/
Electrical
Johnson Controls
Jones Caulking
Kadrmas, Lee & Jackson, Inc.
(KLJ)
Kendell Door and Hardware
KLE Construction, LLC
Klein Landscaping &
Irrigation
Landscape Elements
LS Drywall
Lundseth Plumbing &
Heating
Magic City Garage Door
WILLISTON HERALD THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2019 3
Magnum Contracting
Martin Construction, Inc.
McFarlane
Meyer Contracting, Inc. dba
Meyer Con, Inc.
MG McGrath
Miller Insulation
Mowbray and Son
MT Contracting
Muth Electric
National Coatings Inc.
Network Center
Incorporated
Northern Improvement
Company
Northern Technologies, LLC
Northland Glass and Glazing JAMIE KELLY • WILLISTON HERALD
Nova Fire Protection Gov. Doug Burgum speaks during the ribbon-cutting ceremony at Williston Basin
Otis Elevator International Airport.
Owner/City of Williston
Pro IT “As the mayor has said, these projects don’t happen overnight
Selid Mechanical
Selid Plumbing and Heating
and they don’t happen everyday. They don’t happen every
Sidney Millwork month, they don’t even happen every year. You’re going to
Strata Corporation
Sun Electric Inc. hear from the FAA representative today that’s here to talk about
Superior Crane how there hasn’t been one of these since 2011. So when you’re
Superior Iron
Thiel Bros Roofing doing something that’s remarkable, there’s lots of thanks to go
Tolar Manufacturing
Twin City Acoustics
around, but I want to make sure that today we offer thanks to
Ulteig Engineering all of those dedicated engineers, architects, the construction
Vitra
Warren Drapery workers. The people who have been out for the last three years
Wells Concrete since that groundbreaking to build this incredible facility and
Winn Construction
Woodside Industries let’s give all of them a tremendous round of applause. “
— Source: City of Williston Gov. Doug Burgum, XWA ribbon cutting, Oct. 4, 2019
MITCH MELBERG • WILLISTON HERALD MITCH MELBERG • WILLISTON HERALD
Workers build part of Sloulin Terminal at Williston Basin International Airport.
216894
4 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2019 WILLISTON HERALD WILLISTON BASIN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT COMMEMORATIVE EDITION

FIRST-PERSON

Saying goodbye to the family farm

BY MITCH MELBERG
mmelberg@willistonherald.com
I was able to take part
in the Williston Basin
International Airport's
media day, gaining a
behind-the-scenes tour
of the new facility be-
fore operations open on
Thursday, Oct. 10.
The story of XWA is
a story I've been follow-
ing as a reporter since
my time at the Willis-
ton Herald began. I have
watched with great in-
terest as farmland has
given rise to what will
surely be one of Willis-
ton's most noted modern
marvels.
W h at m a ny don' t
know, however, is that I
grew up a stone's throw
from XWA's front door.
In fact, you can see my
former childhood home
from the terminal build-
ing itself, a nondescript
farmhouse less than a
mile down the road.
My family homestead-
ed that land, arriving on
the immigrant train at
the turn of the century.
The wagon they arrived
on sat near the garage
for as long as I can re-
member, with a hand-
c a r ve d pl aqu e f r om
Lawrence Poe, telling
the story of his family's
arrival.
My great aunt (how
many "great"s I can't
remember, but it was at
least a couple) taught
in the one-room school-
house that still sits in a
field near the airport, a
reminder of a long-gone
era that few residents
r ememb er. E ven s o,
some in town still recall
the name Maude Short,
the firecracker school-
teacher who greeted the
area's children as they
arrived for their lessons
each morning.
During my many vis-
its to the XWA site, I've
often thought back on
my t i me l iv i n g ju st
dow n t h at road a nd
how much the area has
changed since the air-
port began construction.
W here the termi-
nal building sits now,
I remember ridi ng
four-wheeler with my
b e st f r iend . Pl ay i n g
baseba l l i n t he f ield
with him and his lit-
tle brother, where now
a p ave d r o a d l e a d s
you to any number of
destinations.
Giant towers that will
now light the way for
planes to land stand
where I sp ent m a ny
summers hunting duck,
pheasant, partridge and
m a ny, m a ny pr a i r ie
dogs. I learned to drive
on a road that no longer
exists, but I can still see
so clearly in my mind.
The airport truly is
an amazing, and neces-
sary, feat for the City of
Williston.
Sloulin Field has not
been able to keep up
with the needs of the
area's travelers, so a
new airport only makes
sense. But while many
have applauded how
quickly the XWA proj-
ect came together and
the massive coordina-
tion efforts it took to
build the nation's first
new airport in nearly
a decade, I have silent-
ly mou r ned the loss
ABOVE: A farmhouse sits less than a mile from the new airport. The house sits atop the
original foundations built when the Poe family homesteaded the land at the tun of the
century. BELOW: A view from the entrance road to the Poe property shows the commer-
cial terminal for Williston Basin International Airport in the distance.
of land where I spent
many of what I consider
my best years.
Progress is inevita-
ble, and I'm certain-
ly not one to stand in
its way, but as I stood
looking out across the
fog covered f ields, I
couldn't help but feel a
nostalgic sadness for
days gone by.
T her e wa s a p ond
there that froze over in
the winter, where my
friend taught me to play
hockey.
Over there, a rock
pi le stood where we
spent an entire sum-
mer building a fort out
of scrap wood we had
found, desperately try-
ing to keep his younger
brother from getting in-
side. He and his broth-
er have both passed
n o w, l e a v i n g o n l y
the memories I have
MITCH MELBERG • WILLISTON HERALD
of them behind. watch one's childhood
W h i le I h ave c er - turn into a city's future.
tainly seen the chang- T his ai r por t wi l l be
es Williston has gone something that serves
t h r ou g h du r i n g my the community for de-
more t h a n 2 5 ye a rs cades to come, bringing
in the city, few have people to our area that
struck me as much as will hopefully enrich
watching the airport and expand our com-
being bui lt. None of munity into something
the buildings in town truly great.
that have changed, re- T he ju x t ap osition
modeled or fallen down of modern technology
held the memories that with rural countryside
those empty fields did. is truly unique to see,
It's an odd feeling to and I encourage anyone
who is able to visit XWA
to appreciate all the
work that has gone into
ensuring that our com-
munity is able to contin-
ue thriving.
But as you fly in or out
of that airport, or sim-
ply look across the prai-
rie from the terminal
window, take a moment
to reflect on how far we
have come. The people
who worked that land
you stand on are the
people that built this
city and made it great.
They taught the fu-
ture leaders that helped
stoke the fire that made
X WA p ossible. T hey
fought for our country
and returned to farm
the land, because it was
all they knew.
They built churches
and banks and every-
thing this city needed
in order to make this
airport a reality, de-
cades later. They may
not still be around to
see it, but I think it's
important to remember
and honor all of those
who came before us,
something the city has
vowed to do with the
new airport.
As a man called The
Doctor once said, "We
all change, when you
think about it. We’re
all different people all
through our lives. And
that’s okay. That’s good.
You gotta keep moving,
so long as you remem-
ber all the people that
you used to be."
Williston is chang-
ing, and that's a good
thing. So long as we re-
member what we used
to be.

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WILLISTON BASIN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT COMMEMORATIVE EDITION WILLISTON HERALD THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2019 5

News

‘The people’s airport’

JAMIE KELLY • WILLISTON HERALD

Williston Mayor Howard Klug, flanked by community
members, cuts a ceremonial ribbon during Community
Day at Williston Basin International Airport.

MITCH MELBERG • WILLISTON HERALD

A steel beam signed by community members is prepared for installation. The beam was one of the final structural
pieces of Sloulin Terminal at Williston Basin International Airport.

JAMIE KELLY • WILLISTON HERALD

Hundreds of community members turned out to cele-
brate the opening of Williston Basin International Airport.
They partook in free food, tours of the new building and a
race on the runway.

JAMIE KELLY • WILLISTON HERALD

JAMIE KELLY • WILLISTON HERALD Members of the Williston High School cross country team
Louisa Kendall, 4, reaches for a paper airplane that commemorates the opening of Williston Basin International pose for a photo before practicing on the runway at
Airport. Louisa and her family were among the hundreds of people who turned out for XWA Community Day. Williston Basin International Airport.

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6 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2019 WILLISTON HERALD WILLISTON BASIN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT COMMEMORATIVE EDITION

MITCH MELBERG • WILLISTON

HERALD
LEFT: Community members
stand in line to sign a steel
beam that was used as
part of the structure of the
terminal of Williston Basin
International Airport.
BELOW: A photo taken in
December 2018 captures
the structure of Sloulin
Terminal at Williston Basin
International Airport taking
shape.
MITCH MELBERG • WILLISTON
HERALD
ABOVE: A worker on a lift
works on the steel fram of
Sloulin Terminal at Williston
Basin Internationa Airport.
RIGHT: In order to create
runways and taxiways, mas-
sive amounts of dirt had to
be moved.

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WILLISTON BASIN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT COMMEMORATIVE EDITION WILLISTON HERALD THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2019 7

News

Ads from the past

In the days leading up to the dedication of Sloulin Field, businesses from around Williston
ran ads to celebrate the arrival of regular air service to and from the city. Here are just a
few of those ads.
8 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2019 WILLISTON HERALD WILLISTON BASIN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT COMMEMORATIVE EDITION

The view from above

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE CITY OF WILLISTON

Aerial views of the site of Williston Basin International air-
port show the layout of the 1,600 acre site as well as the
progress of construction.

Congratulations
XWA Williston Basin International Airport

Sales • Rental • Service • Parts

4419 W. Front Street, Williston, ND
www.goironhide.com
210193
WILLISTON BASIN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT COMMEMORATIVE EDITION WILLISTON HERALD THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2019 9

News

Celebrating XWA

JAMIE KELLY • WILLISTON HERALD

ABOVE: Williston Mayor
Howard Klug speaks at
a ribbon cutting cere-
mony at Williston Basin
International Airport. TOP
RIGHT: Gov. Doug Burgum
greets former Williston
Mayor Ward Koeser.
MIDDLE RIGHT: People
stand on the second-floor
balcony. RIGHT: Members
of the Williston Police
Department’s Color Guard
process the flag to the back
of the crowd during a rib-
bon-cutting ceremony.

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10 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2019 WILLISTON HERALD WILLISTON BASIN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT COMMEMORATIVE EDITION

•
XWA fast facts
Over 85 miles of wire/cable have been installed in the
building.

• The structure of the terminal is made up of 100 tons of

steel and 400 tons of rebar.

• Over 7,000 CY of concrete were used in the foundation,

retaining walls and slabs.

• Thickness/height of the foundation: basement walls 2’

4” thick and 18’ tall. The overall building is 50’ tall.

• 32,000 square feet of terrazzo flooring was used

(approximately 1/3 of the building).

• United and Delta, who currently service the Williston

region, have agreed to each replace one 50-seat
aircraft with larger planes to accommodate additional
travelers.

• United will have a 76-seat ERJ-175 and Delta Airlines

will have a 70-seat CRJ-700. Both aircrafts will also
feature a first-class section for an enhanced in-flight
experience. Photos courtesy of the City of Williston
— Source: City of Williston Aerial views of the Wiliston Basin International Airport site show construction progress.
WILLISTON BASIN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT COMMEMORATIVE EDITION WILLISTON HERALD THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2019 11

News

A peek inside

JAMIE KELLY • WILLISTON HERALD

One of the features brought up during community tours JAMIE KELLY • WILLISTON HERALD
is that the new airport will have the only two escalators in Community members relax in lounge chairs in the gate area of Williston Basin International Airport. The airport,
Williston. which features four gates, includes multiple seating options and a full restaurant and bar.

JAMIE KELLY • WILLISTON HERALD

JAMIE KELLY • WILLISTON HERALD The new terminal building is about 100,000 square feet, which is almost 10 times larger
Sloulin Terminal at Williston Basin International Airport features multiple gates, passen- than the terminal at Sloulin Field.
ger jet bridges and a bar and restaurant.

115 2nd Ave West, Williston

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12 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2019 WILLISTON HERALD WILLISTON BASIN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT COMMEMORATIVE EDITION

“This is probably the most exciting

moment that I’ve had in the last 15 years
that I’ve been privileged to represent
the city of Williston on a lot of different
projects. The future of Williston...this is a big
part of it.”
Williston Mayor Howard Klug

JAMIE KELLY • WILLISTON HERALD

JAMIE KELLY • WILLISTON HERALD Williston Airport Director Anthony Dudas leads a tour
Williston Mayor Howard Klug speaks during a media tour of the new Williston Basin International Airport on during a media preview of Williston Basin International
Thursday, Oct. 3. Airport.

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l a t i o ns XWA AIRPORT!
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re excited
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nity!

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Wi l l i s t o n
BasilnAirport 1007 Main St. W
illi ston, ND 58801

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WILLISTON BASIN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT COMMEMORATIVE EDITION WILLISTON HERALD THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2019 13

News

Under Construction

214149

LOCAL BORN IN THE BASIN • 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE

We welcome the XWA Airport!

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214163

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Auto Insurance
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Fax: 701-572-3231
1601 9th Avenue NW
Williston, ND 58801
Mon-Fri 9:00am to 5:00pm
Evenings & Saturday by Appt.

Congratulations
XWA
Welcome to
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214174
14 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2019 WILLISTON HERALD
Hometown connection
Williston native to be one of first pilots flying into XWA on Oct. 10
BY MITCH MELBERG
mmelberg@willistonherald.com
W hen the Williston
Basin International Air-
port opens on Oct. 10,
one of the first flights to
land will have a home-
town connection in the
form of Elliott Monson,
a pilot and Williston na-
tive working for Delta
Connection.
The airport is sched-
u led to begin opera-
tions on Thursday, Oct.
10, with the first flight
coming from Denver on
United Airlines some
time in the morning.
About an hour later,
5am-10pm Monday-Saturday and 5am-9pm Sundays
3117 2nd Street West | Williston ND
Call Ahead: 701-774-1811
WILLISTON BASIN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT COMMEMORATIVE EDITION
Monson will be landing schedule in order to fly issues f lying into the
the first Delta flight at the first Delta Connec- old one.”
XWA. Monson is captain tion flight into there on “Wi l l i ston wi l l a l-
of the first Delta Con- October 10. It’s the first ways be home,” he said.
nection flight coming in Delta Connection flight “I’m excited that my
to XWA. into there, and it’s the f light training started
Monson grew up in first Delta Connection there and then fast for-
Williston with parents flight out of there, from ward to now, I’m oper-
Janette and Greg and my understanding.” ating commercial jets
a number of siblings, Mon son h a s f low n into there. I think it’s a
graduating from Willis- SUBMITTED PHOTO into Sloulin Field sev- unique experience, it’s
ton High School in 2006. Captain Elliott Monson, a Williston native, is flying the eral times during his definitely an exciting
F rom there, Monson first Delta Connection flight into the new Williston Basin time as a pilot, and said experience to be able
was part of the f light International Airport on Oct. 10. that he knew firsthand to be part of it. I think
training school offered that Williston was in it’s neat, being that I’m
at Williston State Col- solo flight from Willis- the runway at Sloulin need of a new airport. a hometown boy, to be
lege through the Uni- ton, flying from Sloulin Field,” Monson told the “Out with the old, in able to operate one of
versity of North Dakota, Field in the fall of 2006 Williston Herald, “So with the new!” he said. the first f lights into
and was part of the final as par t of his f light when I heard this new “I’ve always told people this new airport. I’m
class of the program. training. airport would be open- that we need (a new air- excited, I’ve heard great
Monson f lew his first “ I f i r s t s olo e d on ing, I tried to adjust my port), we had so many things about it.”
SKY’S T H E L I M I T
SALE
SA L E 1 0 / 1 0 - 1 0 / 2 0
UV Go
Aviation Gin 4 pk
$ $
19.99 9.99
Big Sky Spiked Ace Beer
Seltzer Variety Pineapple
12 pk 6 pk
$ $
15.99 8.99
Colorado
High
Skyy Vodka Vodka
1.75 L
$ $
21.99 21.99
North Clear
Star Night
Merlot Riesling
$ $
36.99 9.99
105 26th St E
The Coldest Beer
in Town
217571
215882
EVENTS:
OCTOBER 12th 4pm-7pm
Moonlight Madness
(31% OFF
Halloween decor)
NOVEMBER 2nd 9am-6pm
Holiday Open House
NOVEMBER 16th 10am-4pm
Home for the Holidays
Tour
Stop by Elite Designz to get your spook on!
34 24th St. W. • 701-609-5153
Hours: M-S 10-6 • Sun 11-4
217442
WILLISTON BASIN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT COMMEMORATIVE EDITION WILLISTON HERALD THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2019 15

News

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16 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2019 WILLISTON HERALD WILLISTON BASIN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT COMMEMORATIVE EDITION

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE CITY OF WILLISTON

Aerial views show the site of Williston Basin International Airport, including the rear of the Sloulin Terminal Building. One of the upgrades the new airport offers is that it will
have three passenger jet bridges to assist with boarding.

Welcome to
Williston XWA
INTEGRATED.
RELIABLE.
217598

DIVERSIFIED.