Panhandle Scanner News

Yesterday, scanner traffic indicated a medical situation in the Lyman area. Trooper 300 from the Nebraska State Patrol had requested an ambulance to meet a patient traveling in a private vehicle on the road on the way to the hospital. The patient and the ambulance met up on South Morrill Road, where they were transferred and transported to Regional West Medical Center.    And speaking of Morrill, there was also a car fire in Morrill last evening. Scanner traffic indicated that the reporting party was complaining of emphysema and could not breathe, and the pickup was engulfed in flames. Much thanks to the local fire departments for their response.    Speaking of fire response, the Alliance Nebraska Fire Department is looking for a new fire chief. If you are experienced and have what it takes, apply with the City of Alliance to be the new fire chief.   Two major overnight weather stories, at least an F2, possibly an F3, tornado ripped through Wisconsin causing major damage, and a 7.1 earthquake in Japan has hundreds of people currently trapped inside of a mall, and fears are there will be many deaths.    For the best in breaking local news, follow PanhandleScanner.com or Panhandle Scanner on social media. And don't forget our public record, every Monday through Friday whenever available, now covering over 20 counties in the state of Nebraska.   Speaking of the state of Nebraska, Greater Nebraska Scanner is our scanner page that covers the entire state. Go follow it now, Greater Nebraska Scanner, part of the Panhandle Scanner News Network.

Well, yesterday must have been our day for hitchhiker alerts.   People listening to Panhandle Scanner Traffic may wonder why we put out an alert that there's a hitchhiker on the highway. These are for safety purposes. We're not trying to get anyone in trouble. In fact, hitchhiking is not illegal in Nebraska unless you're standing in the middle of the roadway, or if there's a city ordinance.    Hitchhikers are fairly common in Nebraska and Wyoming, and we had three last night. Always remember to use caution out on the roadways at night, especially looking for wildlife, livestock, and hitchhikers.   The Sunday Scanner News is out.   It's our weekly printable production. Looks and reads just like the Sunday paper, the Sunday Scanner, with several of those top stories that you heard about this past week, including the WNCC rooftop rescue, Mr. Moose cooling down in the canal, several scattered thunderstorms bringing rain, power outages, and fires, county fairs across Nebraska, a rattlesnake on Omaha Beach, the lettuce recall, several grass fires and car accidents, our ongoing Arthur's Pizza photo contest, a construction update from Torrington along with the pickleball court's notice, an upcoming fire apparatus training, a shout out to all of our newest business followers, and unfortunately, the horrific accident that happened last Thursday night that took the lives of two young people from Bayard, Nebraska. Our prayers and condolences continue for those families.   For all of these stories and more, check out our Sunday Scanner News, available now on Panhandlescanner.com or Panhandle Scanner on Facebook.   That's going to do it for today's Scanner News. Thanks again for listening, and may God bless.   I'm Brian Hale.

Watch out for the rattlesnake on Omaha Beach if you're out at Lake McConaughey. At 5 p.m. last night on July 23rd, there was a snake spotted. Pretty good size. Please be aware of your surroundings while enjoying the lake. They're out and this heat will have them looking for water and cool places as the summer continues.   Muhammad Ali once said, service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth. The Hershey Volunteer Fire Department posted that meaningful and timeless message yesterday as a reminder that the recent fires highlights the amazing communities we serve. If you want to give back, contact your local fire department.   There is a construction update in Torrington. The East D Street construction project is in its final stages and there will be some closure changes over the next few days. If you haven't driven through the area lately, East D Street is now open to East 28th Avenue, which provides an easy connection to Main Street.   The Chadron Area 9-1-1 lines were down yesterday. They have been restored after they learned that a fiber optic had been cut at an unknown location. The Mitchell Volunteer Fire Department recently posted that they responded to a grass fire on July 20th in the area of Murphy Road and Highway 29 north of Mitchell and Sioux County. It was likely started from a lightning strike as thunderstorms moved through the area. Luckily, the rain from those storms put out the fire before it could get very big. They did respond with eight trucks and multiple personnel.   The Alliance Fire Department project is complete. They wrote, "she's a beaut, Clark. After a six-month refurbishment project, we're happy to welcome number 342 home." Thank you to Frytech Inc. for all your hard work and taking our vision and making it a reality.

Welcome and congratulations to our two newest exclusive sponsors on Panhandle Scanner!   Probably the toughest name to spell and remember downtown, but the best Ladies Boutique around. It's JeDoubleN's Boutique and Tanning. That's right, J-E-N-N. She has two N's in her name. Her name is JeNN, JeDoubleN's Boutique in Tanning. And also, welcome to Oregon Trail Plumbing. Thank you again to those two great businesses help making Panhandle Scanner possible for the community.    What is an exclusive sponsor, you ask? Well, that's a really good question. Becoming an exclusive sponsor is like becoming king in your category of business. No other business gets to be advertised for the entire year on our platform if you secure one of our exclusive sponsorships. The very best way to get in front of a huge crowd and squeeze out your competition. It's pricey, but well worth it. Welcome again to Oregon Trail Plumbing and Heating and JeDoubleN's Boutique and Tanning.    Last night, Scanner traffic indicated in Gering near Ponderosa Drive, a third party from Colorado had requested a welfare check on her sister in reference to the statements that she made. The female was barricaded in the basement and possibly armed. No further traffic was heard on that incident, so stay tuned today to Panhandle Scanner for a follow-up on that story.    With the drought conditions in Nebraska, any amount of rainfall could cause flash flooding due to the hardness of the ground. Avoid low-lying areas and do not drive through flooded roads.   Don't forget that 17th and D closure in Gering, the intersection of 17th and D Streets.    That's going to do it for today's Scanner News. Thanks again for listening and may God bless.   I'm Brian Hale.

As a follow-up to yesterday's early morning breaking story from WNCC, on Tuesday morning at approximately 3:42 am, the Scotts Bluff Police Department was dispatched to WNCC as security had located a subject attempting to gain access to parked vehicles. Scottsbluff officers arrived on scene and located a subject wearing a mask and carrying a backpack. The subject said he was going to shoot and kill officers and continued telling officers to shoot him. The male ran from officers and was able to climb onto the roof of the Auto-tech building.    Scottsbluff Police determined the male subject to be in a mental health crisis.   The male then laid down on the roof and refused to comply with officer commands. During the live event, Panhandle Scanner obtained a live streamed video from the subject himself. In the video, he complained that he wasn't getting the help that he needed, and he was making demands to see his kids and get something to eat and drink.   After several hours, the situation was resolved peacefully, and the subject is currently getting the help that he needed. For full details on the story and who it was, visit our news page at Panhandlescanner.com. Our continued prayers for that situation.   There was also some police activity on the EWC campus in Torrington, but don't be alarmed. What started yesterday will continue today as the Torrington Police Department is hosting a regional training event at Eastern Wyoming College focused on law enforcement response to active threat incidents. So yesterday and today, there is a significant law enforcement presence at EWC. Please be aware that this is a training event.   For all these stories and more, be sure to visit our Panhandle Scanner Facebook page and our news page at Panhandlescanner.com. That's going to do it for today's news.

Well, there's a situation ongoing right now this morning at WNCC where an individual is on the roof of a building demanding to see his kids and to get something to eat and to drink. We'll have more on the situation today on Panhandle Scanner, so stay tuned.   Yesterday evening, a storm rolled through. Most of the panhandle got some pretty decent rain. Over an inch in some parts.   Yesterday morning around 6:40 am, there was a report of a trike bike accident that occurred at the intersection of West 3rd and Highway 385 near the Maverick Station in Alliance. Our prayers for that three-wheeled motorcycle accident in Alliance.    Around 6:23 pm, scanner traffic indicated a robbery in progress. The location was County Road 26 and Highway 26. That's a rural area. The suspects had left the scene, two Hispanic males, one 6 feet, 250 pounds, the other one 5 feet, 8 inches, 160 pounds. If you know anything about this robbery from County Road 26 yesterday, please notify your local authorities.   If you'd like to get some news from more than just the panhandle, we also have Greater Nebraska Scanner, where you'll find that AR-15 road rage incident in York County, Nebraska. A Connecticut man is under arrest for terroristic threats and other charges after a witness says he threatened him with an automatic rifle. For those familiar with weapons, there is no automatic civilian weapon. Therefore, that press release from York County should have read semi-automatic. For these stories and more across the state, follow our Greater Nebraska Scanner.   And of course, for everything in the panhandle, visit panhandlescanner.com or follow us on Facebook.

It's been hot. We all know that.   Trooper Kleich with the Nebraska State Patrol spotted a moose in the canal near Scottbluff yesterday. He is just cooling down, evidently, from the heat wave that continues to batter the region. If you don't have to be outside in these extreme temperatures, we remind you to stay indoors and stay hydrated.   Also, watch out for livestock and wildlife on the roads, as always. Scanner traffic indicated a car vs deer accident on mile marker 15, Highway 92, Sunday night around 10:30.    There is an important lettuce recall that we want to make you aware of. Taylor Farms has initiated a recall of all iceberg lettuce from Central Mexico, which includes Marketside brands, sold at Walmart. That's a lettuce recall for iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms.    Youth crime seems to be on the rise. Not only were seven teenagers arrested in the recent SWAT operation in Scott's Bluff, Geary, and Bayard. Yesterday, two teens shot each other in Rapid City, South Dakota, where both youth ended up hospitalized and in custody.    The Sunday Scanner News is out. It's our weekly printable publication of all the week's top stories. Over 20 of them, including some important road closures around Gearing, coverage on that SWAT operation, the cannabis smash and grab, Lake Minotaur possible drowning, coverage of both Heritage Days and Minotaur's Tabor Days, as well as a charming story called Tatum's Triumphant Return. All in the Sunday Scanner, our newspaper-like format, recapping the week's top stories. Check it all out on Panhandle Scanner on Facebook or panhandlescanner.com.

Well, there's a weekend heat advisory again. Please remember to stay hydrated and indoors or in the shade whenever possible as temperatures could reach 100 degrees.   One exception, be sure to come out for the Minatare Tabor Days celebration tonight and tomorrow. Have no fear, the Broken Spoke Bar and Grill has air conditioning. The event kicks off tonight at 8pm with live entertainment.       Last night, scanner traffic indicated a situation around the 800 block of Main Street in Bayard. One user reported that it was a false report and that there was no need for an alarm.    We hear a variety of calls over scanner traffic.   One yesterday included a report of a hitchhiker walking westbound on Highway 92 and County Road 32. We always advise folks of those walkers to be sure that they look out for them as they're traveling.    Followers reported that a drone was lost in the Northfield Park area. They were asking for help in trying to locate it. If you find a black drone in the Northfield Park area of Gering, Nebraska, please contact our page at Panhandle Scanner.    There was a situation in Frank Park in Scottsbluff yesterday. We received several reports from multiple parents upset about what occurred, which included reports of a male described as white, slender and bald head, possibly late 30s, attacking teenagers that were in a vehicle parked near Frank Park. We'll have more on that as that story develops.    And there's a search party for a missing dog in Bridgeport, Nebraska. Tatum is six months old. He got out in Bridgeport between H and I streets. He's a Border Collie Red Heeler Mix, nicknamed Tatum Nuggets. There's a search party and a reward for this missing dog in Bridgeport. See our post on Panhandle Scanner.

Gering, Scottsbluff, Bayard, those were the three cities that were hit. Early on July 15th, SWAT activities were reported in those three cities, in Scotts Bluff and Morrill Counties.   Panhandle Scanner News Team was in close contact with authorities that executed high-profile warrants in Scottsbluff, Bayard, and Gering in the early morning hours of July 15th. Media personnel, Cody Thomas with the Nebraska State Patrol, tells Panhandle Scanner that Sheriff Mark Overman and Sheriff Brown with Scottsbluff County Sheriff's Office took the lead on this warrant execution assignment. Following multiple months of investigation by W.I.N.G. and partner agencies, law enforcement served multiple search and arrest warrants beginning in the early morning hours.   Due to the nature of the crimes and weapons involved, the warrants were served by the Scotts Bluff County SWAT Team, the Nebraska State Patrol SWAT Team, and the U.S. Marshals Metro Fugitive Task Force. All warrants were served without incident. The Scottsbluff and Gering Police Departments, Scottsbluff County Sheriff's Office, and the Nebraska State Patrol, including the Air Wing, Homeland Security Investigators Agents, and Regional West Ambulance Service, also provided personnel for this key operation.   Two adults, Preston Torres-Islas, age 18, and Rochne Gukeisen, age 19, were charged with possession of a machine gun. Five juveniles were arrested, three aged 17, one 15, and one 16. All are in custody.   Dangerous drugs, automatic weapons, and out-of-control youth.    Thank you to the agencies that carried out this operation, keeping our community safe. And don't forget our public record every day for more crime news.

We are thankful to the sponsors and to this radio station, which is not only heard on their flagship station in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, licensed out of Terrytown, but KCMI Radio is also heard in Sidney on 93.5 FM and in Rushville at 99.1. And you can also listen to KCMI on the web, streaming on their website through Live 365 Radio and also on TuneIn.   Speaking of that Sidney area, the Potter Volunteer Fire Department is holding a CPR class where registration for that ends today. That class is July 19th. For more information about that CPR class, contact the Potter Volunteer Fire Department.    A traffic stop on I-80 was initiated when troopers noticed a vehicle matching a Bolo or Be On The Lookout issued from Illinois. Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol working with the United States Marshal Service have arrested three people just outside of Kimball, including a person wanted for attempted homicide in Illinois.    So what do you think? Should daylight savings time be permanent and stop all this changing clocks back and forth? Well, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill making time change permanent, but the bill has to pass the Senate. The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Sunshine Protection Act in a bipartisan 308 to 117 vote. The bill must pass the Senate and be signed by the president to become law. Though President Donald Trump has indicated support, the bill faces immediate headwinds in the Senate due to ongoing disagreements about whether permanent standard time or permanent daylight savings time is safer for winter commutes.    Find that post and lots of local opinions on our Facebook page at Panhandle Scanner.   As we were going on the air this morning, we received word of multiple SWAT incidents throughout the panhandle. Stay tuned to Panhandle Scanner throughout the day.