Panhandle Scanner News

The Pony Express rode through yesterday through Gering, Nebraska, and through several parts of the Panhandle. In fact, one of the riders called us from Bridgeport to confirm the transfer location. Michelle Hunter LaTowski was a rider from Scottsbluff, who did several different legs of the re-ride. Find pictures and video from the Pony Express on our page at Panhandle Scanner, and some interesting information, like did you know that the riders switch off every mile? That's why we see them riding like heck away from each stop, but every mile it's a fresh rider and horse, and that leapfrogging happens through all 1,966 miles of the trail.   And a special thanks to Nebraska, writes the National Pony Express. Did you know there are over 505 miles of the Pony Express in Nebraska alone? Special thanks to Nebraska ponies and riders.   And of course, local scanner traffic included the usual calls for motor vehicle accidents, traffic stops, and traffic complaints, but in Grand Island, police arrested Ignacio Contreras for threatening to kill five people with a stick. On Wednesday night, around 7 44 p.m., police received a call at West Phoenix Avenue for a man threatening to kill five people. Contreras was arrested for felony terroristic threats, misdemeanor third-degree assault, and five misdemeanor counts of disturbing the peace.    For these stories and more, be sure to follow us at Panhandle Scanner on Facebook. Also follow PanhandleScanner.com on the web for our full news page with various articles, not just the ones you see on Facebook.   Severe weather is predicted for Saturday, so just a heads up there. We'll have more on Panhandle Scanner, so be sure to follow us.    That's going to do it for today's scanner news.

Scanner traffic indicated a grass fire just around midnight, County Road 26, County Road S, Minatare. Several pages went out including a request for mutual aid from Scotts Bluff Rural Fire Protection District.   Speaking of fires, a lot of cities have made decisions on the fireworks ban for this year, although some cities and counties have not yet posted their decisions. Those we do know about that have said no, for sure, to fireworks this year are Crawford, Hemingford, Harrison, Gordon, Alliance, and Kimball. For sure, at this time, there may be more. Check our Facebook page to find out more as that list grows. Some cities and counties, like Rushville in Sheridan County, have not put out any information yet. We expect to see something from all of the counties very soon.   If you're a fan of the Pony Express, stay tuned to Panhandle Scanner for the exact time in which that rider and pony will be at the Scotts Bluff National Monument in Gearing. Anticipated arrival time is 4 p.m., but there is a GPS tracker live on the horse, and you can track them on their way. Visit our page at Panhandle Scanner and click the tab Resources for that Pony Express tracker.   The Gering City Band will be playing tonight as well at 7.30 p.m. in the Gering City Park. Be sure to go enjoy some relaxing music from the Gering City Band tonight at 7.30 p.m.   Two big events coming up July 17th and 18th, that's Tabor Days July 17th and 18th, and then July 18th, the Cheyenne County Fair begins. Lots on our calendar for the future, so stay tuned to Panhandle Scanner for more.

Well, the talk of the town is definitely the fireworks decisions. Those are really heating up the conversations. A lot of confusion has come between jurisdictions. Rural versus city limits. Statewide rules versus local rules. A fire ban versus a fireworks ban. So much confusion. Red flag warnings, fire bans, and fireworks bans.   What are the differences and how do they relate? Due to the recent confusion in the Scotts Bluff County Commissioner's meeting over whether or not they could actually vote to not allow fireworks has prompted a call to the governor's office. Local businesswoman Lindsey Lewis of Off the Water at Lake Minatare contacted the Governor's office along with Senator Brian Hardin's office about amending the current legislation to include fireworks in the verbiage. We're told through Lindsey that Commissioner Mike Blue, after evaluating the legislative process and the current legislation, stated that they were not actually allowed to vote against the fireworks.   That's why you saw three county commissioners overturning the ban. They claimed that without state legislation changing it would have been a or illegal for them to declare a ban. So much confusion and now it's our job to sort it out. We will be writing an article on Panhandle Scanner for each town and their decision in the Panhandle. In our own online poll, over 4,000 people have voted in the first 24 hours with 89 percent of the public believing that fireworks should be banned for 2026 in the Panhandle of Nebraska. Follow that news story on Panhandlescanner.com or our Facebook page by the same name.

(CRAWFORD, Neb.) -- There is some good news up north. Northwest Nebraska is thrilled to announce that Fort Robinson State Park is back open on a limited basis. All fort lodging and camping, the fort restaurant, the trailside museum, the history center and historical buildings, the post playhouse theater, historical tours and fishing at the ponds are all open. There is still active firefighting going on however. Please do not impede response vehicles, monitor conditions and road closures and respect road and trail signs.    (ALLIANCE, Neb.) -- If you haven't heard, there's been a third arrest in the Ebram Sifuentes murder case. Nebraska State Patrol investigators released additional information in the case that led to a third arrest. Last September, investigators arrested Tamara Bingham on multiple charges including first-degree murder related to the homicide of Ebram Sifuentes. He was found deceased in rural Box Butte County. Investigators also arrested Matthew Landreth as an accessory to a felony. Then on June 11th, investigators performed a search warrant at a location in rural Sheridan County and subsequently arrested Ruby Bingham, Tamara's mother, on charges of tampering with physical evidence, unlawful disposal of human remains and accessory to a felony.   (GERING, Neb.) -- In regional news, the Pony Express is off and on their way to Nebraska. Stay tuned for that route information and more on Panhandle Scanner. They should be at the Scotts Bluff National Monument on Thursday around 4 pm.   (EDWARDS AFB, Calif.) -- In national news, a U.S. Air Force B-52 bomber disintegrated into nothingness shortly after takeoff at Edwards Air Force Base in California yesterday. We along with others are finding it hard to believe that there was so little left of that airplane from the video available to the public. For that story and more, you can always visit our news page at panhandlescanner.com or our Facebook page by the same name.

I-80 travelers, please be advised that both eastbound and westbound lanes of Interstate 80 at Potter will be closed Tuesday, June 16th, for bridge work. Traffic in both directions will be diverted onto the on and off ramps at the Potter Interchange throughout the day. Motorists should expect delays. Please reduce speeds in the work zone and use caution while traveling through the area. That's the Potter Exchange on I-80, closed in both directions Tuesday all day. Detours will be provided.    The winner has been announced for our second quarter 2026 Favorite Local Small Business in the Panhandle. And would you look at that, from the small town of Hay Springs, Nebraska, we present your choice for the second quarter award. Congratulations to Farm to Family Cooperative, a small hometown citizen-owned grocery store in Hay Springs.    On Saturday, Lyman-Kiowa Fire Department responded to a fire at County Road 10 and County Road F. In fact, that's where the scanner call came from originally, but there were multiple fires along the highway there, suspected to be caused by a chain that was dragging and improperly attached. Please remember, in any trailering situation, to secure your chain and your hitch properly.   Around 7.52 p.m., scanner traffic indicated a manhunt for an individual in a wooded area near Bushnell. 23 minutes later, scanner traffic indicated one individual, 10-15, in custody or under arrest.    For all these stories and more, be sure to visit our page at Panhandle Scanner on Facebook or our website by the same name, Panhandlescanner.com. 

At 10 o'clock yesterday morning, Keith County was paged for two children in a raft that had gotten blown into Lake McConaughey between beach axis 13 and 14. Keystone-Lemoyne Fire, Ogallala Fire, Keith County Sheriff's Office, and Keith County EMS all responded. Keystone-Lemoyne Fire Department launched two marine craft and picked up both young men in the raft just southwest of Arthur Bay about the middle of the lake. They were both wearing life jackets and were very glad to see the rescue boat pull up. Both were exhausted and hypothermic.   We had a disturbing call come across scanner traffic yesterday afternoon in Alliance. Scanner traffic indicated a gunshot wound. And around that same time, eyewitnesses were reporting to us that several police vehicles were speeding down Mississippi Avenue. Eventually, they found the individual at 6th and Grand. And unfortunately, the self-inflicted wound was fatal. Our prayers for that situation in Alliance and for all mental health crisis.   Seems there have been quite a few mushroom busts lately. The drug known as psilocybin has been the talk of several departments lately. Lancaster County Sheriff's Deputy Houchin recently gave a press conference on the young man who took some illegally enhanced gummies and ended up in a coma for two days. He didn't say exactly what substance that was in the gummies, but it was likely psilocybin.   Recently, a Scottsbluff business was busted for selling illegal mushrooms. Read more about that story on our Facebook page at Panhandle Scanner or on our news page at PanhandleScanner.com.   And don't forget our brand new Morrill County Scanner page. If you're interested in news for Morrill County, Nebraska, be sure to follow it at Morrill County Scanner.

We do have a few decisions that have been finalized for the fireworks this year. Many people are concerned about that due to the wildfires that are currently raging across Nebraska. But in City Council news, we do know four decisions have been made so far for local towns. Scottsbluff, Gearing, and Morrill have said yes to fireworks, and Potter has said no.   Please see our Facebook page or our news page for those exact times and dates. As you all know, that South Fork fire is raging near Crawford and Harrison. As of this morning, the fire is at 23,000 acres, per the perimeter uploaded to the National Interagency Fire Center.   Evacuations are in order for Fort Robinson State Park in Dawes County and the area west of Dodd Road and south of Cottonwood Road. Those are evacuation orders, with evacuation warnings set for residences south of Highway 20 to Four Mile Road in Sioux County and residents in the city of Crawford. You are under evacuation warning. Be ready to leave at any moment. Evacuees are directed to Chadron, Alliance, and Scotts Bluff. Find more about this story on panhandlescanner.com.    And look for our new Morrill County Scanner. Special thanks to Bridget Lehman for taking over the reins there. Look forward to more uncontrolled media coverage from Morrill County on Morrill County Scanner. Website coming soon. In the meantime, be sure to follow that Facebook page, Morrill County Scanner.    And don't forget our public record every Monday through Friday, when available. All on Panhandle Scanner.

A very busy day yesterday for Panhandle Scanner admins. So much activity that we've hired two new admins.   This is a big announcement for Morrill County. Starting today, you will see a new page on Facebook for Morrill County Scanner. And for more improved local weather and news coverage in the Scottsbluff and Gearing area, we've hired another local reporter.   Welcome to both Bridget and Cody and a big show of appreciation for our primary admin, Tim Mendez. Yesterday, Timothy was very busy tracking the South Fork Fire near Crawford. According to the Watch Duty app, the fire is just under 9,000 acres per the perimeter uploaded to the National Interagency Fire Center or NIFC.   The South Fork Fire has crossed Nebraska Highway 20 and is moving southeast. The highway is currently closed. US 20 between Main Street and Harrison and Nebraska 71 near Crawford is impassable per Nebraska 511.   US Forest Service and local volunteer fire departments began the initial attack on the South Fork Fire yesterday around 4 45 p.m. in the area of Soldier Creek Wilderness in the Nebraska National Forest Pine Ridge Ranger District. And don't forget our public record every Monday through Friday when available. And of course our Look Who's Hiring section and our community calendar all on panhandlescanner.com. For more fire coverage and the rest of our stories, please visit panhandlescanner.com or our Facebook page by the same name.  

Well, our big story overnight was the flooding that occurred north of Bayard on L62A. That's the link that goes from the North Bayard Junction to the Angora Hill Junction, a very vital roadway that is now closed due to major flooding last night.   We issued a flash flood warning at 8.09 p.m., but by just after 10 p.m., a major water rescue was underway on L-62A. According to the Bayard Fire Department, County Road 83 is also closed, as well as Roads 104 and 106 due to one or more bridges out. Many roads north of Highway 26, L-62A, and east of CR-73 are also impassable, or nearly so.   Stay tuned to Panhandle Scanner today for news on that reopening.   In other Scanner traffic, around 8.30 p.m., a two-vehicle accident was reported, with a family of three being transported to Regional West Medical Center with minor injuries.   In the 9 p.m. hour, Nebraska State Patrol and Kimball County Sheriff's Office had one female 10-15 after a 10-6 PC or probable cause search turned up code 3572. For those codes, check our website at panhandlescanner.com under Resources. Her vehicle was towed from the scene, and the Nebraska State Patrol transported one male 10-12, or non-arrested subject, also to the jail.   For all these stories and more, be sure to visit our news page every day at panhandlescanner.com, or our social media accounts by the same name.  

Let's take a look at today's scanner news brought to you by R&C Welding in Gering, Nebraska. I'm your host Brian Hale and here's a look at the last 24 hours.   We want to start off by issuing a fire weather warning again for the next two days at least. Please be aware of the fire dangers.   Finally a solution is in the works. We've known about this for a while and it still isn't a complete reality but you can help make it happen. Is there a need for a mental health services inpatient treatment center here in the Panhandle? We believe so and so do thousands of others. Well we have good news. The Sandhills Center for Hope is giving the community hope and is now taking donations. Please see their page Sandhills Center for Hope or our page at Panhandle Scanner for more information about this exciting development.   Good news for the dog that was lost in the fiery crash that killed one I-80 traveler last month. The owner reportedly let the dog out because he feared for his life and just days later people in the community helped make this reunification possible.   The dog that was lost in the fiery crash has been reunited with his family. Speaking of dogs in that dog murder case in Torrington, local news reports are indicating the Goshen County Sheriff's Office has had someone turn themselves in. However to this point we do not know of any arrests or charges that have been filed.   We've received some stunning weather photos from contributors on Panhandle Scanner motivating us to go ahead and hold a new photo contest. If you have storm photos, submit them to the current post on Panhandle Scanner under severe storm photo contest.

Last night was another weather watch evening with thunderstorms popping up in the northern panhandle of Nebraska. Western Dawes County, Northern Sioux County, and Northwestern Cherry County all received severe thunderstorm warnings and even a tornado warning in Cherry County.   Special thanks in recognition to our weather admin Timothy Mendez for that content. Be sure to stay tuned to Panhandle Scanner and other local sources for emergency alerts. From that storm up in Gordon, there were several pictures of flooding sent to us by Ange Madsen Gilchrist and her niece Ash Chapman. Thank you very much for the photos of the street flooding in Gordon.      At 5.30 pm, scanner traffic indicated a multiple vehicle accident with unknown injuries in Scotts Bluff at East 20th and First Avenue. Once responders were on scene, further traffic indicated it included four total vehicles. Only one female patient was experiencing pain and all others involved in the MVA refused medical treatment.    Nebraska State Patrol troopers were also busy last night, not only stopping vehicles that were suspect to violations, but also helping those who needed assistance. In one instance, a couple ran out of gas near Big Springs and a trooper assisted them there.   And many times troopers are heard cleaning up debris from the highways. Thank you to the Nebraska State Patrol for their dedication out there. Trooper 431 had one female 10-15 or under arrest yesterday around 4 pm for 10-47 or DUI. She was transported to Scotts Bluff County Jail and a 10-46 or tow truck was called out of Scottsbluff.    

Around 10 a.m., Trooper 346 had one male, 10-15, and headed to the Kimball County Jail. Charges included 5429 and 5406. You can find those codes on our website on Panhandle Scanner under Resources.   There was an incident in Gering around 19th Street after 1 p.m. yesterday with police and medical on standby staging at Christ the King Church. Further traffic indicated the suspect did not need any medical attention, and ambulances were canceled on scene. Stay tuned to our public record and Panhandle Scanner News today to see if we get any more on that event.    At 1.46 p.m., police were on scene at East Overland and 5th Avenue at the gas station for a female who had been assaulted. The initial report was one broken nose with loss of consciousness. One female was transported to Regional West Medical Center.    At 3.18 p.m., Trooper 346 conducted a 10-6 or PC search, or probable cause, on Highway 385, mile marker 39. Troopers had stopped a red Pontiac with 65 county plates, positive triple checks on both the male and female, and a slew of charges were read off, but no arrest was indicated.   And probably our most unusual call of the day, an inattentive driver barreled through some construction barrels and found himself stuck in fresh cement. You can find a picture on our Facebook page on that incident. That was around mile marker 20, Highway 26 in Scottsbluff around 5.30 p.m. No injuries were reported.  

Scanner Recap is back.   That's right, the Scanner Recap is a midnight to midnight look at the day's most significant calls, and we're bringing it back. Here's an example of what you might hear. By 1040, the 1040 was out the window.   Not a good start to your day when your 1040 or 420 goes out the window. That's the code for drugs. At 940 AM Mountain, a trooper from Nebraska State Patrol called in a traffic stop. Good news, the driver pulled over. Bad news, one of the two in the vehicle started chucking drugs out the window. Next thing we heard was that the trooper had one female 10-15, and that means in custody and on the way to jail in this case, the male was released at the scene.   An interesting call followed that one with a hitchhiker on Highway 385 near mile marker 90. That would be about two miles north of Angora. The caller reported that the male was jumping in front of traffic and flipping drivers off. Further information indicated that he was in his 30s wearing a blue hoodie and tan overalls and traveling northbound. A trooper caught up with him at mile marker 95 and provided him a ride. Traffic indicated that he was left out at mile marker 111 on Highway 385, and the trooper said he had quote no issues with him.   At 312 PM, dispatch received a call for an 11-year-old male who had been assaulted in Gering. Injuries were primarily scratches and bruises, and he was transported to Regional West Medical Center, arriving at 3:48 PM.    Morrill, Nebraska was the location of the next significant call with a man who was injured in an accident on the highway near the quick stop. He was transported to Regional West Medical Center. There was no further indication of how many vehicles were involved or the nature of the accident, call began with a man needing assistance who was involved in an accident on the highway near the gas station.   Meanwhile, another sexual assault arrest in Box Butte County.   Read more at diggingdeeper.net

Before we tell you about all the storm activity, let's start off with that animal cruelty story out of Torrington.       On Friday afternoon, May 29th, two Rottweiler dogs were out of their yard, and instead of contacting local police to report it, an individual unloaded a shotgun on these two animals with no cause. According to the family, whoever did this brutally murdered these dogs and dumped their bodies in the river. According to them, the Sheriff's Department just wants to let this go and are not conducting any further investigations.   A Change.org petition has been initiated, and the family is seeking your help. The petition's goal is to get the attention and cooperation from the Goshen County Sheriff's Department on this animal cruelty case. Severe weather season has begun early this year for Panhandle Scanner and our storm chasing team.   PETITION >>> https://www.change.org/p/cooperation-and-investigation-from-goshen-county-sheriffs-dept-animal-cruelty   Tornadoes have spawned in several places in the Panhandle and across the state. Most of the tornadoes reported thus far this season have not done any damage. However, the St. Libory Tornado on May 17th, 2026 in Nebraska, destroyed two homes completely, affected another, and had trapped two individuals in their basement that had to be rescued.   Another round of severe weather is in store for southeast Wyoming and western Nebraska today, damaging winds, flash flooding, and an isolated tornado or two, or even hail, all possible. Strongest storms should occur between 2 and 8 p.m. Be weather aware and make sure you have multiple ways to get warnings, including Panhandle Alerts and Panhandle Scanner.    For these stories and more, always just visit our Facebook page or our website panhandlescanner.com. And of course, that public record every Monday through Friday when available.

It's time for Scanner News and I'm your host Brian Hale. Brought to you by R&C Welding in Gering Nebraska. Now in their 4th year of sponsorship.   And speaking of 4ths, the 4th of July could look a little different this year for Scotts Bluff County. Keep an eye out for Monday's County Commissioners meeting for a likely decision on the fireworks this year.    The Nebraska State Patrol is investigating two serious crashes that resulted in one fatality, several injuries, and multiple closures on Interstate 80 on Saturday.   The first crash occurred at approximately 3.30 on Saturday near mile marker 226, where a semi had stopped in the head-to-head construction zone near Cozad and was rear-ended by another semi. The collision caused the second semi to catch fire and block both directions of travel on I-80. Two occupants in the first semi were transported to the hospital in Cozad with non-life-threatening injuries and the driver of the second semi was not injured.   During response to that crash, a secondary crash occurred involving another semi and an RV. The driver of the semi and five occupants of the RV were transported to Lexington Regional Health Center with non-life-threatening injuries. Interstate 80 was closed for approximately 2 hours during the response to the first set of crashes.   Then, at 5.10 p.m. Mountain Time or 6.10 p.m. Central, NSP received a report of a multi-vehicle crash near Brule at mile marker 118. Preliminary investigation shows that a dust storm occurred in the area leading to a crash that involved 16 vehicles, several of which caught fire. One driver was pronounced deceased at the scene, and five others were transported to Ogallala Community Hospital with serious injuries, one considered to have life-threatening injuries.   The deceased driver has been identified as Stephen Wichman, 56, of Pocahontas, Iowa. Our prayers and condolences for everyone involved.    That's going to do it for today's Scanner News.

Pip: Welcome back to the Hale Multimedia feed, where the news is local and the stakes are real — sometimes literally measured in meals. Mara: Today we're covering a practical community resource guide from Panhandle Scanner: Free summer meal programs for kids across the Panhandle, with specific details for several local school districts. Pip: Let's start with who gets fed and where. Free Summer Meals: A Guide to Local Programs Mara: When school ends, some kids lose reliable access to lunch — and this post maps out exactly what's available locally to fill that gap through USDA-backed summer meal programs. Pip: The post lays out the access rule clearly: "any child ages 1–18 can access meals through participating summer meal sites, regardless of which school district they attend." Mara: That detail matters. Families aren't locked into their own district's program — they can go to whichever location is most convenient for them. The only catch is that some sites require registration in advance. Pip: So the barrier is low, but not zero — worth checking before you show up hungry. Mara: Gering Public Schools kicks off May 28th with meal pack pick-ups requiring registration, plus walk-in meals at Lincoln Elementary with no registration needed. Two options, different logistics. Pip: Scottsbluff runs four locations starting May 26th, and they've gone the extra mile by posting the full menu on the SBPS Child Nutrition Facebook page. Snacks run from nine to nine-thirty at three sites, and a Grab and Go pickup option launches June 22nd on Mondays and Thursdays — that one does require advance sign-up. Mara: Adults can participate too at Scottsbluff sites — meals are available for $5.75, snacks for $3.60. The post also notes participation is open regardless of race, color, national origin, gender, or disability. Pip: Minatare keeps it simple: no registration, no cost, May 26th through June 26th, Monday through Friday. Breakfast at seven-thirty, lunch at eleven-thirty, at Minatare Elementary on 7th Street. Mara: And Morrill Elementary runs through July 2nd — the longest window of the group — serving breakfast and lunch for kids one through eighteen. The district office number is listed for questions: 308-247-3414. Pip: Four districts, slightly different rules, same basic promise: kids eat. Mara: The national Summer Food Service Program information is available at the USDA website, and Nebraska-specific site locations were set to go live in the finder around May 26th once the state approves them. Pip: If you're in the Panhandle and wondering whether your neighborhood qualifies, that finder is the place to start. Mara: Real, local, actionable — that's what community coverage looks like when it's doing its job. Pip: More of the same next time. Don't miss it.

(SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb.) -- SkyWest Airlines, operating as United Express, is officially restoring the early morning flights out of Western Nebraska Regional Airport in Scotts Bluff this September. The upcoming schedule features a new 5.42 a.m. departure to Denver, along with that afternoon flight.   The current schedule will remain until after Labor Day, but travelers can start booking their round-trip flights immediately for their September trips and beyond. Scotts Bluff area residents will want to be aware of the road closure that's County Road 20 near Scotts Bluff, between Highway 92 and County Road 20. The road is closed because of road maintenance activities until June 10th.   In scanner-specific news, the Goshen County Scanner is online and is available under the Listen tab on panhandlescanner.com. Other scanner feeds that you can listen to directly by simply going to our mobile app, which is available through panhandlescanner.com, Dawes County Fire and EMS, Broadwater Volunteer Fire, Keith County Fire and EMS, and Hay Springs Fire, along with, our scanner feed, the Scotts Bluff County Public Safety feed, which includes the Nebraska State Patrol, Air Link, and Local Dispatch. We've also recently added the Laramie County Sheriff's Office, Cheyenne and Pine Bluffs Police Department, and the Wyoming Highway Patrol feed. Visit today by simply going to panhandlescanner.com on your cell phone.   If you have local news to report to us, the fastest and easiest way is to just shoot it to us through our Facebook page. If you don't have Facebook, that's okay. Simply call or text the number on panhandlescanner.com. 

(GERING, Neb.) -- The City of Gering notified residents yesterday that a water main break was causing discolored water. Hopefully that was rectified yesterday.   Multi-day severe weather chances here. According to the weather service in Cheyenne, chances for afternoon showers and thunderstorms will tick up a notch on Friday between 30 and 70 percent. In addition, a few isolated storms will have the potential to become strong to severe.   Primary hazards include lightning, gusty winds, isolated hail, and local heavy rainfall. Banner County completed containment lines on the graduation fire as well. They finished lines through the timber on both the northeast and southwest ends as well as mop up on hot spots on the interior.   They had one aerial drop of retardant from the seat plane. They will continue monitoring with one truck and a crew. And this is a serious matter.   Cattle producers are urged to be vigilant after a tick-borne parasite that affects cattle was detected in several Nebraska counties. The Asian longhorn tick, ALHT, is the primary carrier responsible for spreading the parasite. Although ALHT has not been found in Nebraska, cattle imported into the state have tested positive.   The tick has already become established in 26 other states. The best method of prevention is tick control and good management practices for your herd, including external parasite control, said state veterinarian Dr. Roger Dudley. If the disease is suspected, you should report it to your veterinarian immediately.   Panhandle Scanner covers news in the areas of police and crime, severe weather, fire and rescue, missing persons, and safety alerts, and that's another safety alert brought to you today by R&C Welding in Gering, Nebraska.   USDA LINK TO INFO   Asian longhorned ticks (Haemaphysalis longicornis) are invasive pests that pose a serious threat to livestock in the United States. They can form large infestations on one animal and spread diseases that impact both animals and people.   In November 2017, public health officials in Hunterdon County, NJ, reported the first detection of the Asian longhorned tick outside of a U.S. port of entry inspection site. It then spread to numerous Eastern States. Asian longhorned ticks aren't normally found in the Western Hemisphere.     APHIS provides updates to State agencies to inform planning, surveillance, outreach, control, and overall collaboration on the Asian longhorned tick.   What to Look For  Asian longhorned tick populations in the United States are parthenogenetic, meaning an individual female can lay eggs without mating, essentially cloning herself to create the next generation. This is one reason the Asian longhorned tick is a successful invader of new geographic regions. Unfed Asian longhorned ticks are light reddish-tan to dark reddish with brown, dark markings. Adult females are grey-green with yellowish markings and the size of a pea after feeding. Male ticks are rare. Other unfed stages of the tick are very small, about the size of a sesame seed, or even smaller. For more details, view our pest alert (1004.99 KB) and story map about Asian longhorned ticks.   How To Prevent This Disease Various strategies effectively mitigate tick populations on hosts and in the environment. Livestock Regular tick treatments should be effective against Asian longhorned ticks. Consult your veterinarian or agriculture extension agent about which products to use. Check your livestock for ticks regularly. Safely remove ticks from people and pets as quickly as possible. If you think you've found an Asian longhorned tick, seal it in a zip-top bag and give it to your veterinarian for identification. Environment Habitat modifications can help prevent ticks on feedlots and pastures. This may include mowing grass, removing trees, reducing shade by thinning trees, understory removal, and placing mulch barriers. Apply acaricide using label instructions to tick habitats, such as woodland edges and grassy patches, during times when ticks are most actively seeking hosts. Although it varies by year, Asian longhorned ticks are generally active from March to November. Consult your State and local regulations for approved acaricides.  

We do have some good news on the Ash Pole Fire in Dawes County. As of yesterday, it is 100% contained.   The fire burned 1,026 acres from the 16th of May to the 26th. It is now 100% contained. Speaking of Dawes County, the Nebraska Department of Transportation is set to begin work on Highway 20 and Chadron and to the west.   NDOT said in a release that the work will begin on two stretches of Highway 20 that reference Post Mile Marker 56 to 58, which is between Chadron and Whitney. You will see Simon Contractors doing asphalt paving, culvert extensions, sidewalks, flumes, grading, and seating. Those traveling on Highway 20 can expect to see lane restrictions, so please use caution.   The project is set to begin June 8th, with completion anticipated in November. Highway 20, road work, please be careful. LaGrange Fire responded to a mutual aid request from Banner County Fire in Nebraska. They were able to send two tenders, one tactical tender, four Type 6 trucks, and 11 firefighters to fight that fire in Banner County.    At 2:09 p.m., Banner County was dispatched to a rekindle on the Graduation Fire. They wrote, "A hotspot buried in the duff under some trees blew out from the high winds. It spread to the canyon directly west and north into the grass. Currently we’re estimating 105 acres with half that in timber. We’ve got a perimeter established and have trucks on night shift to monitor. Thank you to the neighboring departments for assistance and the local neighbors for help with a disc, water trucks,and food."    See more about that on our Facebook page at Panhandle Scanner.    Lots of coverage in our five main areas. Police and Crime, Fire and Rescue, Severe Weather, Missing Persons, and Safety Alerts. All on PanhandleScanner.com. Speaking of crime, don't forget that public record every Monday through Friday when available. For more daily news like this and more, visit our page at Panhandle Scanner on Facebook or our website at PanhandleScanner.com. Packed with resources.  

Statistics have been released from the Nebraska Department of Transportation on fatality deaths for the month of April, 2026. NDOT reports that 11 fatalities occurred in 10 fatal crashes.   Only half wore seatbelts, 30% were unrestrained, and 20% were unknown. A striking 81.8% of the fatalities occurred in rural areas. Interestingly, zero on the interstate.   Highway and local routes saw the highest danger with 7 deaths on non-interstate highways, 4 on local roads, and 0 on I-80. One motorcyclist was among those killed. Data compiled through mid-May shows that Nebraska fatalities in January through April 2026 reached 65 total deaths across 58 fatal crashes.   This marks a slight improvement compared to previous years. The state recorded 68 fatalities during the same time frame last year and averaged 73 fatalities between 22 and 25. A slight improvement over the previous years.   Let's all do our best to be defensive drivers.    The Western Nebraska Pioneers open play tonight at Gering's Oregon Trail Park. The game begins at 6:35 p.m.   Meanwhile in court action, Dimitri Enriquez, the driver of the vehicle in that fatal beating of 15-year-old Wyatt Reeb, was seen in court this week. A plea deal has been reached for accessory to second-degree murder.   Ramon Enriquez and Corey Rotherham Jr. are still facing charges. The primary suspect in the case, Devante Castellaw, was sentenced to 55 years in prison, all stemming over accusations of a stolen car. Please anyone listening, parents or children, control your emotions.   For more positive news, catch our Elevate Your Day Morning podcast or our blog at diggingdeeper.net.    That's going to do it for today's scanner news.

 A freak accident happened on Saturday.   Dog call shotgun. In Scottsbluff, a potentially deadly situation was luckily avoided on Saturday, just after noon on Avenue I when a shotgun was accidentally discharged by a dog. Dispatch reports a possible BB gun injury to a woman near the 2001 Avenue I address, that's the Scotts Bluff shortstop gas station.   Initial calls indicated the woman may have been shot with a BB gun. Further investigation determined it was actually a loaded shotgun that was accidentally discharged by a dog. Ambulances were cancelled on scene by Scottsbluff fire.   Injuries were minor and the patient was reportedly transported to Regional West Medical Center by family.    As a reminder, Nebraska State Statute 37-522, referencing Shotgun on Highway, Restrictions, Violation, and Penalty.    It shall be unlawful to have or carry, except as permitted by law, any shotgun having shells in either the chamber, receiver, or magazine in or on any vehicle on any highway.   Any person violating this section shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor and shall be fined at least $50. As a side note, the accidental shooting happened on a city street and not a highway. An investigation is ongoing.  

Pip and Mara discuss upcoming Vacation Bible School dates   Pip: Welcome back to the Hale Multimedia LLC corner of the internet, where summer is apparently a team sport. Mara: That's right — Panhandle Scanner has been tracking Vacation Bible School programs across the region, and there's a lot of ground to cover, from Scottsbluff to Sidney to Torrington. Pip: Let's start with who's running VBS, when, and what they're calling it this year. Mara: The question this segment answers is a practical one: if you're a family in the Nebraska Panhandle or nearby Wyoming looking for a Vacation Bible School this summer, where do you go and when? Pip: The post opens with an invitation before it gets into the listings themselves. Churches that want to be included are asked to reach out directly: "If your church is hosting a Vacation Bible School and would like to be on the list, please email [email protected] and / or message the Panhandle Scanner page." Mara: So this isn't a closed registry — it's a running, community-built list. That changes how you read it. The listings are there because churches actively submitted them, and more can still be added. Pip: And the list that's already there is substantial. It runs week by week from late May through late July, which is a longer window than you might expect. Mara: The earliest entries are the week of May 26th — First Baptist of Scottsbluff and Harvest Valley Church, both running May 26 through 29, with themes called Galaxy and The Illumination Station respectively. Then the calendar fills in fast. Pip: June 1st is the busiest week on the list, with six programs running simultaneously across the region — Harrisburg, Angora, Alliance, Immanuel Lutheran in Alliance, St. Agnes in Scottsbluff, and Cornerstone Fellowship in Bayard. Mara: The theme names alone are doing a lot of work here. Emerald Crossing shows up at Alliance Berean, Harrison Bible Church, Lifeway Church in Torrington, and Pleasant Point Community Church in Ellsworth. Rainforest Falls appears at both Central Church of Christ and Gering United Methodist. Later in July, Rusty's Junkyard VBS and Junkyard Redemption are running in the same week, at Bayard Community Bible Church and Zion Evangelical Scottsbluff. Pip: A junkyard-themed VBS is either inspired or a very committed bit, and honestly either answer is fine. Mara: The list also carries one important note at the bottom — Mitchell Berean's June 1 through 4 program has been postponed, so families planning around that one will need to watch for updates. Pip: The window runs all the way to late July, with Faith Lutheran in Gering, Calvary Memorial, and First Baptist Chadron rounding out the summer end of the calendar. Mara: There's something genuinely useful about a list like this — it's the kind of local coordination that's hard to find in one place. Pip: More listings may still be coming. Worth checking back.  

It is National EMS Week and we want to thank you to all the EMS professionals who rush towards danger, work tirelessly, and care for our community when it needs you the most. Thank you to all EMS personnel.   The Village of Lyman will be hosting pet vaccinations, including horses, June 4th from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Village Shop. Small and large animal pet vaccinations, June 4th, 4 to 6 p.m. in Lyman.    Vacation Bible School time. Yes, that's right, the VBS schedules are out and we have compiled a list for everyone, along with the help of our friends here at KCMI Radio. We've created a printed list as well as a graphic that you can find on our Facebook page. That's all the VBSs in the area this summer. If we've left yours out, please be sure to add it and we'll get it on the list. For all resources like this, you can find them on our website at panhandlescanner.com under the Resources tab.    We also had another larger rattlesnake photo sent to us, taken of a live rattlesnake that was found on a country road near Lake Minatare. They're everywhere, please be careful. It's their environment, let's watch out for them.    Maybe you don't know about our morning show, the Elevate Your Day with Andy and Brian. Every morning at 9 a.m., find a link to that on our streaming media website, diggingdeepertv.com. Just click on Live Podcast.    And of course, you can always listen to Scanner Traffic by visiting that website at panhandlescanner.com. Just click on Listen. Now including Goshen County, Wyoming.

We hope you fared well overnight with that freeze warning that we had. Our thermometer said temperatures reached 32 degrees overnight, and that freeze warning should expire around 10 a.m. this morning. Our high today should be around 59 degrees.    And there's some road construction that is going to begin May 27th in the Kimball and Cheyenne County areas. Work will begin on I-80 weather permitting on the 27th on Interstate 80 from mile marker 22 to mile marker 47.    A three vehicle accident occurred yesterday around 16th Street and Highway 26 in Mitchell, Nebraska. An individual involved in the accident wrote in the comments that if any of my friends see this, we're fine. Home safe and sound. Yes, it would be right at the north end of our street. That was from Julie Kimsey-Lane.  Glad to know that she's okay.    Late last night, mile marker 73, Highway 87 on the Larrabee Creek Bridge. Airbag deployment. Two female occupants complaining of chest pain after a car versus deer accident. Rushville Sheriff's Department responded, along with the Fire Department and the Nebraska State Patrol. That was around 10.53 p.m.    Please be aware of your surroundings as we get closer to the summer. With the dry conditions, snakes are moving and pose a potential threat, especially for those living in the country. According to a longtime Skinner follower, a baby rattlesnake was found in her mom's basement utility room. She walked past him five times before seeing him. He was coiled but not old enough to rattle a warning. The location of this particular critter was on Sugar Factory Road in Scotts Bluff County, but they could literally be anywhere in western Nebraska or eastern Wyoming as we get closer to the summer. Please be aware of your surroundings.    

Storms and wildfires dominated the headlines over the weekend, and some very strange weather indeed, with temperatures in the 80s in the last few days, and now we're looking at 40 today. And that comes with a freeze watch. Overnight lows could dip down to 30.   We have a couple of statewide stories.    One is a missing juvenile in Hitchcock County. Shelby Wiley, 17-year-old female, was last seen in Trenton, Nebraska, wearing a black hoodie, black shorts, and white Nike shoes. She's known to hang out mostly in McCook, Nebraska. So please, if you have seen this missing juvenile, Shelby Wiley, please contact authorities.   Several well-known storm chasers were in the area in Nebraska over the weekend. According to the Howard County Emergency Manager, at least two homes near St. Libory, Nebraska, were leveled after a tornado ripped through the county on Sunday. At least one other home sustained significant damage.   Emergency Fire and EMS crews shared a message on social media, reminding everyone, "we appreciate everyone's concern, but power lines are down, and there's a lot of debris in the area impacted by the tornado. We ask that bystanders please put safety first, and be considerate of those affected, and stay away for now."    Jayden Pappenheim, whose video and photos were used by NPR and others, wrote, Significant tornado damage north of St. Libori, Nebraska, where one home in particular is completely swept clean and a four-wheeler tossed a considerable distance. You can catch that video on our Facebook page or our news page at Panhandle Scanner. Preliminary reports indicate there was no loss of life in this tornado.    Cover photo by Storm Chaser Adam Lucio   For our breaking news coverage, be sure to follow our page at Panhandle Scanner, or panhandlescanner.com. 

Fire is frightening, and Nebraska is on fire again. A great resource to track all those wildfires is the WatchDuty app. You can access that straight from our website at panhandlescanner.com, under the Resources tab. That is a truly incredible service, and they are asking for donations for support. That's the WatchDuty app. Please support it. It's the best wildfire coverage anywhere.    Please continue to pray for our firemen and women who are out there on the front lines, and all of those involved in these Nebraska wildfires.    But wildfires aren't the only things that are burning in Nebraska.    Three structure fires happened in the last 24 hours. In Alliance, a 24-year-old male suffered third-degree burns to his face, neck, shoulders, back, torso, and bilateral arms. The man was transported to the burn center via helicopter. That happened Wednesday evening around 8 p.m.    And then later, at around 10:20, all area fire departments were paged out to the Lake Alice area, when scanner traffic indicated station coverage needed and mutual aid requested for an ongoing structure fire at Lake Alice. Unfortunately, that home was a total loss.   And then just after midnight, scanner traffic indicated mutual aid requested for a Bayard fire. And unfortunately, Peggy, Chelsea and Isabelle Nuss' home was a total loss. They are in immediate need of clothing and shoes. The Bayard Senior Center is the drop-off spot. Please see our post for a list of needs on Panhandle Scanner, under the post Bayard Mutual Aid Requested.    So many fires, and our prayers for everyone.   Please use caution, and thank you to the volunteers from our local fire departments. 

(SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb.) -- Yesterday, just after noon, scanner traffic indicated a pedestrian versus vehicle accident around 20th Street for a 52-year-old female hit by a car. Fortunately, no major injuries were reported. You can find the audio of that call in the comments on our Facebook page.    (LAKE ALICE, Neb.) -- Around 8 p.m., Scotts Bluff Rural Fire District was dispatched to a structure fire on County Road C, north of Scottsbluff. All occupants were confirmed out of the home. The structure was fully involved upon arrival. Mutual aid was then requested from Gearing Fire, Minatare-Malbeta Fire, Bayard Fire, and Banner County Fire for pumpers, tankers, and Type 6. Dry and windy conditions caused this structure fire to spread rapidly, also causing a grass fire. The structure, contents, and vehicles were a total loss. The State Fire Marshal's Office deemed the cause undetermined. All units cleared the scene six hours later at 2 a.m.    Thunderstorms rolled through the area last night, but brought more lightning than rain.   Multiple fires started overnight across the Panhandle, with major coverage being provided by the WatchDuty app. To our knowledge, there are currently three fires burning, the Sandy Fire, the Grizzly Bear Fire, and the Ash Pole Fire in Sioux and Dawes Counties. Yesterday morning, we mentioned the Red Flag Warning, and we ask everyone to please continue to heed all warnings.   Dangerous fire conditions will remain throughout the day. For these stories and more, and all the coverage on the overnight traffic, please visit our website at panhandlescanner.com, or our Facebook page by the same name. You can access that WatchDuty app via our Resources tab on our website.

A missing person to tell you about to start off the day. A young lady from the North Platte, Gothenburg area is missing and is reported to have possibly been seen in the Scotts Bluff area. Ellie Anna Newbrey, last seen May 10th, 17 years old, brown hair, green eyes, missing from Gothenburg. They found her car in North Platte, and she may be with a gentleman named Ryan Chessmore. If you have any information, please contact the number on the poster on our Facebook page or your local police department.   Last night was a big night for some local candidates seeking support.   Here are a few of the results that we have seen coming in so far. The Big Three, Pete Ricketts, Jim Pillen, and Adrian Smith all held large leads in their respective races, whereas some of the races could be much closer, like the one for Republican Secretary of State between Bob Evnen and Scott Peterson. That one's too close to call, early this morning.   In some local races for Republican County Commissioner District 1, Michael Blue was victorious over Lisa Betz-Marquez. In another race we were watching closely, Sheriff Milo Cardenas of Morrill County holds onto his spot to retain his sheriff position. He was victorious over candidate Ricky Trevino.   Statewide Results : https://countyelectionresults.nebraska.gov/mobile.aspx   We look forward to seeing what Ricky has planned for the future. And in a race for the new Mitchell mayorship, Sean Hopkins and Stephen Lacy were neck and neck with both moving on to the general election. For all these results, see our page at panhandlescanner.com or our Facebook page by the same name.

Well, yesterday was another one of those days of foolish antics by criminals who don't understand the implications of their actions. The scary thing is, some of these calls may be coming from computers.   On Monday, May 11th, a coordinated series of hoax bomb threats and swatting calls targeted schools across several U.S. states. While Tennessee and Nebraska saw significant statewide disruptions, Ohio and Texas also reported incidents. In Tennessee, nine schools were affected, and in Nebraska, Alliance and North Platte high schools were placed on secure status while other districts also reported a hold or heightened security as a precautionary measure due to the widespread nature of the calls.   At 11:14 a.m., scanner traffic indicated this...    North Platte, 5.   Go ahead.    Requesting 10-89 at 1540 Box Butte Avenue. Possible shooter on the way, possibly 15 people about five minutes out from the north side of the high school. Also possible bomb.    10-4, I'll be en route.   10-4.   Just a correction on the 10-20, it's 1450 Box Butte Avenue, 1450, it's the High School.    10-4.   The Nebraska Information Analysis Center, or NIAC, worked with the FBI to trace the origins of these calls, which often uses voiceover technology to mask the caller's location. Residents and students are encouraged to report any suspicious activity or social media threats through the Safe2Help Nebraska portal. We'll put a link to that on our website under resources on panhandlescanner.com.

More red flag warnings today. Please use caution when burning, and obey all burn bans when in place.   During Police Week, we remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. Thank you to all law enforcement officers, past and present, for your commitment to protecting and serving others. Your dedication does not go unnoticed.   Our very own Elevate Your Day morning show sponsor, High Plains Market, is having a grand opening and expansion celebration this coming Saturday, May 16th, High Plains Market, 27th and Avenue B. Grand opening this Saturday.    If you like movies and appreciate the historic Nile Theater, they're needing some help. They recently had a server go down and are looking for replacement costs. If you can help, contact the Nile Theater or see the posts on our Facebook page. They are currently in a fundraising effort to replace that server. Donations can be made through the non-profit Oregon Trail Community Foundation.   The Western Nebraska Pioneers are gearing up for another season, and they made the news lately when their bus was vandalized looked like a hit and run had occurred. If you know anything about who hit the Western Nebraska Pioneers bus, please report it.    Oregon Trail Days is hiring. With all of the upcoming summer excitement and activities at Oregon Trail Days, they're looking for some extra help. Contact Oregon Trail Days if you're looking to help.   And early this morning, just before we went on the air, a rollover occurred on S Road, about a half mile north of Henry, involving a F-350 flatbed dually pickup on its side in the ditch. No injuries reported.   To listen to live scanner traffic, visit our website at panhandlescanner.com and click on listen. That's going to do it for today's scanner news.   Thanks again for listening, and may God bless. I'm Brian Hale.

Well, we just got a newsflash here from Horizon Music Fest that today is the day that fans have been waiting for. The headliner is dropping today. Make sure you watch our page today to find out who that headliner will be.    The Nile Theater has been entertaining area audiences for over 85 years now. Now that we're in the digital age, computers are a necessity, and their movie server has died. In order to continue to show family-friendly movies at great prices, they are asking for the public's help. The server at the Nile Theater is no longer functioning. The replacement cost will be between $5,000 and $10,000. Donations to the Friends of the Nile Theater can be made through the Oregon Trail Community Foundation directly by check or online with Zephy. Find that link in our article, Nile Theater Seeks Community Support.   There's a series of cyber attacks that we want to make you aware of. It is affecting educational institutions across Nebraska, and now we have heard across the country. Multiple schools and universities that utilize Canvas, a software program for managing homework, grades, and other sensitive information, has fallen victim to hacking.   Shiny Hunters is a group demanding a ransom and threatening to leak all compromised data if their demands are not met. Individuals affected by this breach are encouraged to share their experiences in the comments below our post as this situation continues to unfold in the educational sector. Find that post on the Notice of Cyber Attack, on our Facebook page at Panhandle Scanner, or on our news page at Panhandlescanner.com. Follow our page for more breaking news throughout the day.

It's Public Service Recognition Week, and today we're honoring our police departments. Patrolling our streets, supporting our community, protecting, serving, building relationships, courage, dedication, and a whole lot of heart.   Day in and day out, these officers are always ready to step in when it matters most. Our hats off to public servants this week, especially our police departments. May is Mental Health Awareness Month.   Did you know that research shows that autistic individuals have rates of death by suicide that are nearly three times higher than the general population? These risks do not represent individual weakness. They reflect gaps in understanding and in systems not built with care for neurodivergent minds. That's why America Foundation for Suicide Prevention's work matters.   Look for that resource on our Facebook page at Panhandle Scanner, from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Congratulations to a long-time customer and friend of ours, Mr. Mike Nuss, on his induction to the Nebraska Auctioneer's Association Hall of Fame. Sugar Valley Stockyards recently wrote that it's been a privilege to have Mike as a colleague, friend, and auctioneer at Sugar Valley Stockyards.   Also, congratulations to Don Helberg on his induction to the Hall of Fame. Helberg and Nuss, Auction and Realty, a website we had for almost 20 years. Congratulations to both gentlemen on their induction to the Hall of Fame.    May 9th is the day for the Annual Letter Carriers Food Drive! Stock up so that you can help the local food pantries with your donation. Leave the food by your mailbox on Saturday morning.   The Cirrus House, Inc Annual Block Party is approaching quickly!       For more good news like this, follow Panhandle Scanner on Facebook, or visit our website at PanhandleScanner.com. And don't forget our public record every Monday through Friday, covering several counties throughout Nebraska. 

(GERING, Neb.) -- The Nebraska Court of Appeals has upheld a lower court decision to try Corey Rotherham as an adult. Rotherham, now 17, was 16 at the time of the incident and had requested his case to be moved to juvenile court.   Both the trial court and appeals court agreed that the case should remain in adult criminal court. Rotherham is charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and use of a weapon to commit a felony. The charges stem from the stabbing death of 15-year-old Wyatt Reeb in Scottsbluff, Nebraska.   Devante Castellaw, identified as the person who carried out the stabbing, has already been convicted and is serving 55 years to life in prison.    What happens next?   Rotherham's case will continue to adult court. A pre-trial hearing is scheduled for May 20.   Trying a minor as an adult can significantly increase potential penalties and changes how the case is handled. Appeals courts typically defer to lower courts unless there is a clear error, so this decision suggests the judges found the original reasoning legally sound.   Craig Wayne Boyd. You may recall that the country artist won season seven's season finale of NBC's The Voice.   Craig will take the stage May 8 for a special benefit concert right here in Scottsbluff, supporting families impacted by recent panhandle fires. The event commemorates the theater's 80th anniversary, where if you remember, was built from the ashes of the old Egyptian theater. All funds will go to the Oregon Trail Community Foundation to help families rebuild after these devastating fires.   The concert begins at 7 p.m. and tickets are available through the Midwest Theater. Craig Wayne Boyd Friday night at the Midwest Theater.   In Banner County, the sheriff's department is reminding folks of the current road construction going on.   "There are 2 areas of road construction in Banner County. Both on Highway 71 about mm 45 & mm 43. Both areas go down to single lane each direction and the speed limit in the work zones is 60 mph. Reminder speeding fines are doubled in work zones when workers are present. Give the workers a break and slow down for them."     That's going to do it for today's Scanner News.  

Everybody's anticipating this winter-like snowstorm that's supposed to hit between now and Wednesday. We are experiencing some moisture this morning which is good news. However, no snow accumulation at this time. According to the National Weather Service, between 2 and 6 inches of snow accumulation is expected in Nebraska and Kimball County and in Laramie County in Wyoming. Plan on slushy and slick road conditions. The hazardous conditions could impact the commutes on Tuesday morning and evening, so make travel plans accordingly.    The wintery weather has caused some cancellations. One coming out of Baird, they announced that due to the forecast, the junior high track meet has been moved. Baird will be unable to attend moral this year, but will attend the middle school meet in Scott's Bluff hosted by Gering on Thursday, May 7. No track meet today.   And we have some road closures to tell you about over in Wyoming. I-80 is closed in both directions between Cheyenne and Laramie. Closure began around 2.05 am and an estimated opening time is unknown.   Last evening, scanner traffic indicated a rollover with multiple patients. An airlink was asked to go on standby. Highway 385. Further traffic indicated all patients were out of the vehicle and had only minor injuries. Airlink was then cancelled. We heard one trooper say that he has one female 1015 or in custody. With no other traffic between calls, this may pertain to this incident or it may not. Remember, it's scanner traffic and nothing is final until the investigation is complete. In any case, please pray for everyone involved and we are thankful for the medical services that we have available to us in the Panhandle and beyond.

On Friday night, scanner traffic indicated a horrific car crash that required Airlink. The location was Lusk, Wyoming and the report was a T-bone accident with a semi. Our prayers and condolences go to the families of the three souls that were lost in the accident. Our prayers for the one woman who did survive and was transported to regional West Medical Center.   Well, the U.S. National Weather Service says that a cold front will arrive today and winter-like weather may make a comeback. Snow is expected Monday afternoon and evening and will mix to rain into Tuesday. Accumulating snow is possible for portions of the area, with rumors of a couple of inches of accumulation in some places.   Saturday was an exciting day at the Aalic Trek stop for the annual Cinco de Mayo celebration. Event organizers and others reported a great turnout and lots of fun. There was an outstanding car show, 70 plus vendors, food trucks, a kids' zone and live music all day. Hope you enjoyed it. That was the annual Cinco de Mayo celebration.   Lots of different scanner traffic incidents over the weekend including traffic stops, traffic complaints and unfortunately, on a national level, a mass shooting last night in Edmond, Oklahoma. Scanner traffic indicated that a party was reportedly taking place at Lake Arcadia with preliminary reports of at least 10 victims. The victims are reportedly juveniles and teenagers, both male and female. Our thoughts and prayers remain for all of those involved.   On a local level, we want to remind you about the new resources you can find on PanhandleScanner.com. Go there today and click on the resources tab and check it out.

It's time for Scanner News, and I'm your host, Brian Hale, brought to you by RNC Welding in Gering, Nebraska.  Another swatting incident took place in the Panhandle yesterday. This one, Gering High School was the target. A series of this type of calls is happening nationwide, with selected Walmarts being targeted recently, and now schools. On Thursday the 30th, at approximately 12:32 PM, the Scotts Bluff County Communications Center received a call on a non-emergent phone line indicating there was a threat at Gering High School. Officers from the Gering Police Department and deputies from the Scotts Bluff County Sheriff's Office responded. School officials placed the building on lockdown out of abundance of caution. Law enforcement entered the building and were able to clear it without incident. The investigation revealed that this incident was a swatting call, and there was no threat to any students, staff, or visitors at the school. Swatting incidents are intended to elicit a large emergency response and disrupt the functions of the targeted location. If you have any information related to this incident, we ask that you contact the Gearing Police Department.  Very busy night over scanner traffic. Early this morning, there was a two vehicle accident with injuries, as well as several traffic complaints and fire calls. There was even a call for a vehicle versus pedestrian accident near East 27th Street and First Avenue near Pioneer Park in Scottsbluff. Scanner traffic indicated a 14-year-old female was hit by a car. We continue to ask people to please respect speed limits and school zones and the safety of our children. Please use an abundance of caution in school zones.  With all of the recent power outages, we installed a new tab on our website listing all of the local power companies and their outage maps. Look for it today under resources. That's panhandlescanner.com.  That's going to do it for today's scanner news. Thanks again for listening and may God bless. I'm Brian Hale.

No school today for Hay Springs. Due to 14 staff members and numerous students being sick, Hay Springs Schools is canceling school for today, April 30th. The elementary fourth and fifth grade music concert scheduled for today will be rescheduled. Boys golf will compete pending health of the team and coach. The school wrote that they apologize for any inconvenience that this cancellation will cause and continued that unfortunately they will not have adequate staff to run the school and they're hoping that this will allow staff and students time to rest and recuperate. No school for Hay Springs today.     Scanner traffic indicated that the Harrison Nebraska Volunteer Fire Dept. called for mutual aid in rural Harrison for a 14 yr old female who had a horse fall on her. Regional 3 went enroute immediately and a request for Air Link at Regional West was made.  The patient was initially transported via ground ambulance by Mitchell Volunteer Fire Department, then transferred to Regional 3 for final transport.       There was a bomb threat yesterday at the Sidney Walmart. Sidney Police Department and multiple agencies responded to a high priority threat at the Walmart Super Center in Sidney at approximately 2.17 p.m. yesterday. A caller contacted the store claiming that an incendiary device was placed throughout the building and that an individual was armed with an AR-15 on his way to the store.  The call has been determined to be a swatting incident, a dangerous hoax intended to trigger a large-scale emergency response. Walmart has confirmed that this appears to be part of a nationwide series of similar hoax calls. Sidney Walmart remained closed for the remainder of the day but reopened this morning at 6 a.m.     Last night's scanner traffic indicated horses out on highway 71 and highway 88. As of 2 a.m. the owners had not been located yet and the horses were still running free. Thank you to those who do report things to the Nebraska State Patrol using *55. Troopers were able to get a description but canceled the pursuit because they observed no actual violations other than running free.       Follow Panhandle Scanner on Facebook https://facebook.com/panhandlescanner      

Let's start off with some crime news today. Lots of cases to report from around the panhandle. Let's start off in Alliance in Box Butte County. Thomas Wiendell, 74, pled no contest to a Class 3A felony charge of 3rd degree sexual assault of a child. Wiendell was originally charged with three different counts. Two other counts were plea bargained down.   You may remember the ATV or UTV crash on Highway 71 last weekend where scanner traffic indicated a rollover accident occurred near the Banner County / Scotts Bluff County line in the Wildcat Hills. Until now we had not learned the fate of the man due to the seriousness of the crash. Panhandle scanner has learned that the man is in critical condition still and still needs our prayers.   On Tuesday morning a large swath of Chimney Rock Public Power District's patrons were without power. To find our original post on that visit Panhandle scanner on Facebook where you'll find the outage map and a link to that site where you can check your area anytime there's a power outage. In fact there have been so many power outages lately we have added a tab on our website under PanhandleScanner.com under the resources tab.   The National Association of Letter Carriers Annual Food Drive is set for May 9th, 2026. Scottsbluff and Gering City Letter Carriers will be collecting non-perishable food donations to stock our local food pantries. Any amount will help. You will see more about this event as we draw closer. They supplied us with a photo this year. Let's pick out our favorite mail carrier and tell them how much you appreciate them! Be ready to set that food out, May 9th.   Be sure to visit PanhandleScanner.com for more resources like Nebraska 10 Codes, Mile Markers, the Panhandle Alert System, Tornado Shelters and more. That's PanhandleScanner.com. And of course don't forget our public record every Monday through Friday when available. That's PanhandleScanner.com or on social media on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Threads and others. 

Back in 2009, Hale Multimedia set up a free public broadcast to five feet so that every individual in the world could listen to the scanner without buying an expensive piece of equipment. Just visit any police scanner app in your favorite app store. Just search for Scotts Bluff County Public Safety. Or go directly to PanhandleScanner.com, where you can listen anytime.   Now let's take a listen to some of that traffic.   Drinking and driving do not mix. A drunk altercation back on the 15th of April turns deadly. Scanner traffic indicated an incident at Bridgeport State Lake where Nebraska State Patrol and Morrill County deputies were called to an incident at the Bridgeport State Recreation Area near Rec Road.   "North Platte, 483."   "483"   "10-89 is 10-18. The only information is if the female jumped out of a moving vehicle. All she could give me is on Recreation Road."   Originally unable to locate the victim while going 1018 or lights and sirens, they eventually located 53-year-old Maria Lewis, who was found with a critical head injury. Court records indicate that Jason Parker of Bridgeport was driving the RV and was arrested for DUI. And then after asking me in the practical home, 641, the practical home, 641, then you can meet the victim of your male child out of. Parker originally stated that Lewis had jumped from the vehicle. After a short investigation, the male was transported to the jail.   "The female was transported by 10-55 (ambulance). Also, they have a male 10-15, reference 10-47 (DUI)."   "Midnight thirty-one."

On Saturday, a serious ATV rollover accident occurred around 11:00 am near the Scotts Bluff, Banner County line on Highway 71, south of Gering. Airlink at Regional West was unable to fly due to weather, and one male was transported via ground ambulance to Regional West Medical Center. We ask that everyone please pray for this very serious situation.   Then on Saturday night, local Scanner traffic in Gordon reported a two vehicle accident around mile marker 102 on Highway 20 between Gordon and Clinton. One male ejected with life flight requested. Extrication needed for the 42-year-old female, she was transported by EMS. And again, we ask for everyone to please pray for everyone involved. And thank you to the Gordon Volunteer Fire Department and anyone else you responded.   In crime news, Jerry Gorasek of Scotts Bluff and Rosa Gamboa both took plea deals after getting caught with 59 grams of methamphetamine, and a 45-year-old Terrytown man was arrested last summer in a July assault that left his victim hospitalized. Bernard Little Spotted Horse was back in court for sentencing last week, as well as the ousted Morrill County Assessor, Rose Nelson.   For all of our court cases, check our public record each Monday through Friday when available.

Tornado totals are in so far, only one tornado warning in Nebraska thus far in the season. And we are last on the list. Thankfully, with Illinois leading the way at 131 warnings issued so far this season. Wisconsin, surprisingly, and Missouri round out the top three. Our special tornado tracking reports make sure you follow Panhandle Scanner on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter and frequently visit our news page at PanhandleScanner.com.   We have a new service! We are now periodically producing full overnight traffic in a time lapse format. That means you can listen to the entire night of scanner traffic in a matter of 30 minutes or less. We've stripped out all the personal details as far as medical information goes but you will hear details on some of the police calls. The new podcast is called Scanner Traffic and it's available on all podcast networks including Spotify, Apple, iTunes, iHeart and more. Scanner traffic by Hail Multimedia and Panhandle Scanner. Find it on our homepage at PanhandleScanner.com.   And don't forget about one of our most popular services across the state of Nebraska and that's the only published Nebraska public record. Available on PanhandleScanner.com.

The big news this morning are the wildfires that are raging across Nebraska again this morning. Last night, the town of Whitman, Nebraska was evacuated due to the wildfires. We have made several posts on our Penhandle Scanner Facebook page covering the fire, including maps and acreages burned with information provided by the WatchDuty app. According to the WatchDuty app, there are currently 10 fires actively burning in Nebraska, the largest one being the Andrews Fire near Valentine, consuming 2,500 acres thus far.  There are currently three fires burning in Cherry County, as well as fires in Grant County, Hooker County, McPherson County, Arthur County and Custer County. Overnight in Grant County, the town of Whitman was evacuated, with a shelter point being listed as the county courthouse in Hyannis. Highway 2 was originally closed but was reopened per radio traffic because there was no immediate fire concern regarding the highway. For all the fire coverage, see our Panhandle Scanner website or Facebook page with frequent updates from the WatchDuty app. Our prayers for everyone involved, especially our first responders and those in the way of danger.   Again, for updates, visit panhandlescanner.com.   And don't forget about our public record every Monday through Friday when available.

Well things are getting a little squirrely out there with all of the power outages around the Panhandle. In fact, on the 21st at approximately 7.13 am, County Road 17 and Highway 92 was the 10-20 or location of said suspect, a squirrel, who caused a power outage that occurred recently.   On Tuesday, Scottsbluff Rural Fire was dispatched to a fire in a ditch on County Road 17 south of Highway 92. The fire was started by a deadly combination of a squirrel and a transformer. Thank you to Roosevelt Public Power District for their quick response and getting the power issue resolved very quickly.   In other scanner traffic, there was a smoke check in an apartment complex on 10th Street in Gering.   Speaking of power outages, Torrington also experienced a power outage yesterday morning and the City of Gering has frequent power outages. Our hope is that we can get our infrastructure secured and stabilized.   Also in Chappell, scanner traffic indicated that officers were responding to a high 10-73, or intoxicated pedestrian, with multiple firearms nearby. Troopers responded and the situation was de-escalated with verbal warnings given to all and one 10-12, or subject, given a ride home.   Yesterday in Morrill, scanner traffic indicated an active carbon monoxide alarm. This would be a good time to remind everyone to please check your detectors regularly. For any questions in regards to smoke or carbon monoxide detectors, please contact your local fire department. 

It's time for Scanner News and I'm your host Brian Hale. Brought to you by R&C Welding in Garing, Nebraska. Now in their fourth year of sponsorship.   With a lack of bad news over scanner traffic in the last 24 hours, we're happy to bring you some good news. This is a positive message from Sandhills Center for Hope.   Make today a good day and never forget how far you've come, everything you've gotten through, all the times you have been pushed on even when you felt you couldn't. All the mornings you got out of bed no matter how hard it was, all the times you wanted to give up but you got through another day, never forget how much strength you have developed along the way.   Don't forget about the fire danger warning again today. Conditions are ripe for wildfires with a red flag warning in effect for the panhandle, relative humidity values of 10-30% and southerly wind gusts of 15-25 mph. Use caution with fire at all times.   This week the Nebraska Department of Transportation and agencies across the country are celebrating National Work Zone Awareness Week, highlighting the importance of safe driving near work zones. Remember to slow down, pay attention and keep the phone down so everyone can make it home safe. Last week we celebrated the importance of our 911 dispatchers and this week it's our construction zone workers.   Torrington Wyoming experienced a power outage this morning as of 5:55 am the power has been restored to areas north of the river according to the Torrington Police Department and the city there and that it is due to an issue with the power supplier WAPA and is affecting the city of Torrington and surrounding areas. Follow our news page at Panhandle Scanner or our Facebook page by the same name for updates on that power outage in Torrington.   That's going to do it for today's scanner news. Thanks again for listening and may God bless. I'm Brian Hale.

In Alliance around 1 a.m. on Saturday night, Alliance Police Department had one male under suspicion of DUI and after some testing and 4130 located, we had one male 10-15, headed to the Box Butte County Jail.   And around 2:40 a.m., Trooper 290 ran a Triple I Check, which came up positive and also had conducted a search of the vehicle and that also resulted in one male 10-15 with 4130 located after medical clearance at RWMC.   Around 4 p.m. on Sunday, a Nebraska State Trooper was flagged down for a driver that was possibly 10-47 or DUI. After locating the vehicle and conducting the testing, Trooper 130 and 346 worked in tandem with Trooper 346 taking one male 10-15 or under arrest to the Cheyenne County Jail. And again, during that PC search, both 4130 and 3556 were located. For these offense codes, see our Penhandle Scanner website under resources.   Around 7:20 p.m. last night, there was a medical call at the Scotts Bluff County Detention Center for a 46 year old male who was unconscious with blood coming out of his mouth. He was transported to Regional West Medical Center with a potential head injury and loss of consciousness. He was taken in Trauma 1.   And in partial traffic, an unusual call came across around 6:38 a.m. for an individual who was being held against his will by his grandmother.  Follow Panhandle Scanner for a follow up on that this morning, if anything becomes of it.   To listen to scanner traffic, visit panhandlescanner.com and click on listen. You don't have to buy an expensive scanner to hear the feed. Made possible by Hale Multimedia. Streaming by Broadcastify.  

Early yesterday morning a vehicle accident, which was a semi-versus car accident, occurred on Highway 92. Scanner traffic indicated no major injuries.     Around 6:40 pm on Wednesday, Scottsbluff Fire was dispatched to an apartment complex with smoke showing on West 19th Street in Scottsbluff.  Crews actively searched for the cause and several hours into the incident, fire started showing from underneath and apartments floor from the basement in a void space that was only accessible from a small tunnel in the basement. Crews were able to extinguish the fire and very little property damage occurred. Thirteen residents were displaced for the night. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.     In Alliance, the Box Butte County Sheriff's Office arrested Marilyn D. Wilcox in connection to an investigation into sexual assault of a minor.     On Wednesday, the Scottsbluff Police Department received a call from the Omaha Police Department requesting assistance in serving for arrest warrants on a suspect. Omaha Police advised they had an active warrant for Benjamin Jordan Peterson, 43. They suspected he was staying at a hotel in Scottsbluff. Officers located the suspect vehicle at a hotel and made contact. Peterson was taken into custody and transported to the Scotts Bluff County Detention Center without incident. The warrants were for sexual assault on a child less than 12 years of age, sexual assault on a child first degree, sexual assault on a child third degree, and incest under 18 years of age.     Sometimes it's hard to say it, but we must remind everyone that all suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Nebraska State Patrol troopers were once again busy on the highways last night. Multiple traffic stops on an area highways with one on Hwy 385 resulting in an arrest of a local man.   Remember all parties are innocent and tell proven guilty in a court of law.   [SCANNER TRAFFIC]   And you can listen to that scanner traffic anytime courtesy of Hale Multimedia streaming by Broadcastify, just visit panhandlescanner.com and click on listen.   In other local news we want to remind people about the vaccination and microchip clinic at the carpenter center this weekend. That's on Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Terrytown Carpenter Center. That's put on by the Panhandle Humane Society of Scottsbluff. You'll never know how valuable that microchip is until you lose a pet, and then it's a lifesaver. Go get your pets protected! That's the microchip and vaccination clinic April 18th from 10 to 2 in Terrytown on Saturday.   In other news... Former Offender Arrested for Child Sexual Assault (ALLIANCE, Neb.) -- The Box Butte County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest of Marlyn D. Wilcox in connection with an investigation into the sexual assault of a minor.

Well today we're going to take a look at some overnight scanner traffic.   Broadcastify, the company behind all of the internet feeds that make it possible for you to listen to a scanner without owning one, has undergone a recent major upgrade.   In reviewing scanner traffic overnight, there were several arrests. Trooper 346 had a 1015 or suspect in custody taken to the Kimball County Sheriff's Office around noon on Tuesday. That stemmed from a traffic stop on a blue Honda Odyssey out of Oregon. In another call, Trooper 239 had one subject 10-15 or under arrest for multiple charges including 5405, 5404 and 5437. Learn more about 10 codes, Offense codes and Triple III checks on our Panhandle scanner website.  239 took the arrested party to Morrill County Jail around 9pm last night.   Then shortly after just a few minutes later in Sidney, a K-9 was requested for an individual who had multiple positives on a Triple III check. Trooper 130 reported that he would be 10-6 testing, but the subject had different ideas, so the trooper decided to take him to the hospital for a chemical test, which he also refused, earning himself a ticket straight to jail.   And yet another call, Trooper 235 requested Triple III checks on some passengers and those came up positive as well.   Lots of police action on the highways last night.   One possible concerning medical call came from Mitchell for an unresponsive older female after a possible altercation. After the scene was secured, ambulances were able to treat the patient on Experiment Farm Rroad and transport her to Regional West Medical Center under a partial trauma team designation due to the positive loss of conciousness.