McKenzie County Farmer

08/26/2025

All are welcome to attend the 2nd annual Community Picnic in the Park!

08/02/2025

Watford City man pleads guilty to negligent homicide of Brianne Anderson

Patrice Bumstead
Farmer Editor

Hugo Hernandez Jr., pleaded guilty to the Class C Felony charge of negligent homicide for the 2023 shooting death of Brianne Anderson on Thursday, July 31.
He also pleaded guilty to the Class B Misdemeanor charge for discharge of a firearm within city limits.
The Farmer has covered this case since 32 year-old Brianne Anderson suffered a gunshot wound to her abdomen the evening of March 22, 2023. Anderson was life-flighted to a Minot hospital where surgeons attempted to save her life, however, their efforts were unsuccessful and she ultimately succumbed to her injuries the morning of March 23.
Facts of the Case
At approximately 11:42 p.m. March 22, 2023, dispatch received a call that Hernandez Jr., and Anderson sustained gunshot wounds at his residence in Watford City.
Upon entering the residence, law enforcement and first responders found Anderson lying on the kitchen floor. The bullet that hit her went through her abdomen/thoracic cavity and she was going into shock. Responders began life-saving measures immediately and found a 40-caliber bullet casing inside the hood of her shirt.
It was noted that Hernandez Jr. had sustained a superficial wound to the hand.
Eye-witness to the incident, Zachary King informed law enforcement that all three individuals were consuming alcohol at the time of the shooting. King told officers that Hernandez Jr. instructed him to go outside and wait for the ambulance while he began performing life-saving efforts to Anderson until medical personnel and law enforcement arrived.
Investigation & Apprehension
On April 16, 2024, the Northwest Judicial District issued a Warrant for the arrest of Hernandez Jr., following a 13-month investigation.
Hernandez Jr. was taken into custody on April 18, 2024, in Gillette, Wyo. On April 19, he appeared in the Sixth Circuit Court of Campbell County, State of Wyo., for a matter of extradition. During that hearing the judge explained that Hernandez Jr. was apprehended for a Fugitive Warrant from North Dakota. He waived his right to extradition and was transferred back to North Dakota on April 23, 2024.

For the full article, and the Victim Impact Statement story, download the Bakken Buzz App Today!

07/31/2025

BREAKING NEWS...
Earlier today, Hugo Hernandez Jr., pleaded guilty to the Class C Felony Charge of Negligent Homicide related to the March 2023 shooting death of Brianne Anderson.

Hernandez Jr., was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment at the North Dakota Department of corrections. He was ordered to serve two years of his sentence without the ability for early release.

The full story will be released once all the information is provided.

07/23/2025

CONVICTED MCKENZIE COUNTY S*X OFFENDER FACING NEW CHARGES

Editor’s Note: This story contains graphic content that may be disturbing to some readers. Discretion is advised.

20 year-old Kenneth Warren of Watford City, was charged with 20 new counts of Possession of certain materials prohibited on July 18, 2025.

Undercover Operation

According to documents filed with the Northwest Judicial District, the McKenzie County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) arrested Warren on Feb. 5, 2025, for attempting to lure a 12 year-old girl following an undercover operation.

Through that operation, Warren engaged in multiple conversations via social media with whom he believed to be a 12 year-old female. Warren informed the female that he wanted to engage in sexual acts.

During conversations, Warren described in detail certain sexual acts that he wanted to perform on what he believed to be the 12 year-old, and agreed to meet at a Watford City gas station where he was apprehended.

Upon interviewing Warren he admitted to law enforcement that he had the following social media accounts that he did not disclose to the sexual offender registry: Snapchat, Facebook and Telegram. He also admitted to using a “burner” phone that he believed to have over 400 CSAM (Child Sexual Abuse Material) files on. Warren told law enforcement that he used a service called “chatiw” to obtain the CSAM.

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07/23/2025

Perfect Day to stop by this Lemonade stand on Main Street!

07/18/2025

Come get some Lemonade and Cookies from A&A Lemonade Stand. They are on Main Street outside of the McKenzie County Farmer!!

07/17/2025

McKenzie Health hosted a Ribbon-Cutting event this afternoon at its new Pediatric Physical, Speech & Occupational Therapy Clinic.

Representatives from Chord Energy were honored for their sponsorship of, and support in the creation of the new Fun Factory Sensory Gym within the new clinic.

Look for the full story in next week's edition!

06/20/2025

06/02/2025

NEW DETAILS EMERGE ON OFFICER-INVOLVED SHOOTING

Patrice Bumstead
Farmer Editor

The McKenzie County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) has released new details surrounding the officer-involved shooting that occurred early this morning.

According to the MCSO statement issued around 2:30 p.m., deputies responded to a call at 12:52 a.m., of a suicidal male at a residence on Interstate Avenue N., in East Fairview. The reporting party stated there were other people present as well.

Upon arrival, deputies safely evacuated the other parties from the residence. The MCSO stated that deputies attempted to make contact with the male subject, later identified as 31 year-old Christopher Knels, through multiple means and were unsuccessful. The MCSO proceeded to contact the Williams County Sheriff's Office Negotiation Task Force to assist in de-escalation efforts. It was reported that the Negotiation Task Force was able to reach Knels via telephone.

According to the MCSO statement, during the incident, Knels exited the residence and began pointing a firearm in the immediate direction of law enforcement. A MCSO deputy fired shots striking Knels several times before he retreated back into the residence.

Deputies made entry into the residence, located Knels and immediately began providing medical aid until EMS arrived on scene. Knels was transported by ambulance to Sidney Health Center where he was pronounced deceased.

A firearm was located and recovered in close proximity to Knels. The incident is under an independent investigation by the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation to ensure full transparency and accountability. The deputy involved remains on paid administrative assignment pending the outcome of the investigation.

"We are deeply saddened by the events that unfolded this morning, resulting in the loss of life. This is a tragic situation for everyone involved... our thoughts are with the family of the deceased, as well as our deputies and the community," MCSO stated.

06/02/2025

Officer involved shooting
June 2, 2025
Patrice Bumstead, Farmer Editor

The McKenzie County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) reported that an officer-involved shooting occurred this morning after deputies responded to a call at approximately 12:52 a.m.

The MCSO has requested assistance from the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

The deputy involved in the shooting has been placed on paid administrative leave per agency policy, pending the outcome of the investigation.



No other details have been provided, The Farmer has reached out to the MCSO and will provide updates as they become available.

05/20/2025

Wolves baseball brings home a win

By Danielle Brothers
Special to The Farmer

Watford City 16, Sidney 6
Paco Baldenegro collected three hits in four at bats, as the Wolves defeated Sidney 16-6 last Tuesday. Baldenegro singled in the second inning, singled in the first inning, and singled in the fourth inning.
The Wolves scored nine runs in the fifth inning on the way to victory. Braylen Tolbert singled, scoring one run; an error scored one run. Hunter Cowan singled, scoring one run, a dropped third strike scored one run. Harper Moberg singled, scoring one run, a steal of home scored one run, and another steal at home scored one run.

The Wolves opened the scoring in the bottom of the first with three singles.

The Wolves extended their early lead with three runs in the bottom of the second thanks to RBI singles by Carter Branstrom and Baldenegro.
Landon Ledahl led things off on the mound for the Wolves. He surrendered two hits and two runs (zero earned) over three innings, striking out three and walking one. Blake Johnson stepped on the mound first for Sidney. The pitcher surrendered 13 hits and 15 runs (12 earned) over four innings, striking out five and walking four. Cowan appeared in relief for the Wolves.

The Wolves accumulated 15 hits in the game. Branstrom, Moberg, and Leahy each collected multiple hits for the Wolves. Baldenegro, Moberg, Trysten Devries, and Leahy each stole multiple bases for the Wolves. The Wolves ran wild on the base paths, piling up 15 stolen bases for the game.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
WC 3 3 0 1 9 X X 16 15 5
SDNY 0 0 2 3 1 X X 6 3 5

wolves-baseball-brings-home-a-win
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05/20/2025

Wolves Boys Track sends four to State Meet

Guest Columnist: David Gumke

2025 Boys Region Track Results
It was a great day for the Wolves. We saw many improvements in times and marks. The guys rose to the occasion and were ready to compete.

Xavier McGorman got us started off by placing fourth in the high jump with a clearance of 6’0”, which qualified him for the state meet next week. At the region meet you can still qualify by mark or time and can also qualify by placing in the top six. I am very excited for Xavier. He is a very good high jumper and works hard on his technique.

The 4x800 relay got our day on the track off to a good start by placing seventh and running a very good time in the event. The team of Kyle Best, Jeremiah Velasquez, Judah Mitchell, and Dehico Bocanegra Tovar all ran personal best splits in the race to get us to within ten seconds of state qualifying by time and about six seconds of qualifying by placing. I was very proud of how they stepped up and didn’t hold anything back in that race.

James Odenbach placed 8th in the pole vault with a new PR of 12’0”. He was able to attempt the qualifying mark of 12’6”, but didn’t quite get it. He has improved his personal best by six inches in each of the last three meets.

Thaydan Arnold came close in the discus, missing qualifying by two feet one inch with his throw of 142’11”.

Dehico Bocanegra Tovar had an unbelievable day running on the track. He set new personal bests in both the 1600 and 800, improving his standing for the state meet next week. He placed sixth in the 800 while breaking two minutes with a time of 1:59.40. He also ran very good legs on both relays he was on, nearly qualifying both of those.

The 4x400 relay team of Kyle Best, James Odenbach, Judah Mitchell, and Dehico Bocanegra Tovar were heartbroken as they missed qualifying by time by about twenty-nine hundredths of a second.

The boys team placed tenth in the WDA out of 12 teams. Our state qualifiers include: Dehico Bocanegra Tovar in the 800-, 1600-, and 3200-meter races; Thaydan Arnold in the shot put; Xavier McGorman in the high jump; and Chase Cutshall in the long jump.

The state meet runs Thursday through Saturday May 22-24 at the Bismarck Community Bowl on the BSC Campus.

wolves-boys-track-sends-four-to-state-meet
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