Panhandle Scanner News

Unfortunately, natural disasters, and especially hailstorms, can make several people in the community a target. Well, the storms certainly cause damage all throughout the Panhandle, and we feel our job at Panhandle Scanner is to help the community. Over the years, we have acquired major sponsors in several different categories that can be trusted and called upon in emergencies like this. 

First of all...

A lot of excitement over the weekend for possible inclement weather, but thankfully, no tornadoes in Nebraska, at least not in our immediate panhandle. A tornado did touch down, however, in Wyoming, with a video captured by a local sheriff that made it onto national news. It was in a rural area, and there was no damage reported. 

The panhandle is certainly in a drought. A drought like this, according ...

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 informatio...

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 hav...

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 c...

(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. ...

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, ...

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 ...

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 thos...

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 sho...

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 Ro...

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 ...

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 ...

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 attentio...

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 tr...

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 ...

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 investigatin...

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.

(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 ...