Panhandle Scanner News

(ALLIANCE, Neb.) -- Do you know when to call 911 versus non-emergency lines? We posted a nice infographic from the Alliance Communication Center on our Facebook page because every situation is unique and it's not possible to cover every scenario in our community. The guidance is meant to provide general direction but not a comprehensive list. Check out that graphic on our Facebook page. Know when to call 911.
(KIMBALL, Neb.) -- In Kimball, folks may have noticed the news that the Chief of Police resigned. Chief Jose Ruiz is taking a job in Sidney. Find out more about that transition on our Facebook page or our news page at panhandlescanner.com.
(GERING, Neb.) -- Yesterday morning after 11 a.m. a big horn sheep was hit out at the Wildcat Hills Recreational Area. The trooper indicated the location was on Highway 71 and Old Stage Road. As always, we remind everyone to be careful of livestock and wildlife on the roadways.
(SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb.) -- On Tuesday night around 11 p.m. the Scottsbluff Police Department was dispatched to the 2100 block of Char Avenue in reference to a shots fired call. Upon arrival officers were able to speak with the two victims who reported a male had fired two rounds into a vehicle. The vehicle was occupied by a single occupant at the time. The suspect was named and located. Mario Albert Torres of Minatare was arrested on charges for use of a firearm to commit a felony. There were no injuries due to the gunfire.
(SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb.) -- And Nebraska State troopers had one male 10-15, or under arrest, after some 10-6 testing and a positive Triple III came up. This subject may have refused testing because they ended up at Regional West Medical Center for a blood draw and then on to the second destination of the Scotts Bluff County Jail.
 

(LAGRANGE, Wyo.) -- Scanner insiders witnessed a road blockage yesterday due to a major accident between a semi and a pickup on Highway 151 and County Road 61 in Wyoming near Lagrange. Fortunately, no one died in the accident and the road was closed for about one hour.
On midnight, Trooper 431 was around mile marker 18 on I-80 when Scanner traffic indicated that he had two males, 10-15, headed to Kimball County Jail, offense code 5435, which according to the Nebraska Statutes is DUI.
911 service was out in Torrington yesterday, but at 2am they reported that all services had been restored.
And down in Kimball County yesterday, an award was given. On January 6th, 2026, Kimball County first responders went above and beyond the call of duty.
Yesterday, the Life Saving Award was presented to a Kimball County Sheriff's Deputy and Dispatcher, Bushnell volunteer firefighters, and the Kimball EMS crew. We are all deeply grateful to have such dedicated and exceptional first responders serving Kimball County.
Last night was a decent night for Aurora Borealis photos if you were north of town or even in Henry, Nebraska. Check out those Northern Lights photos on our Facebook page at Panhandle Scanner. Today's featured photo by Troy Bryan.
And it's official, the 2026 Hot Air Balloon National Championships will once again be held in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. Mark your calendars for this year's dates August 10th through the 15th, 2026, for the Old West Balloon Festival here in Scottsbluff, Nebraska.
For these stories and more, visit our news page at panhandlescanner.com.

(SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb.) -- The day started out with a minor vehicle accident around 8 a.m. on West 23rd Street and Avenue D in Scottsbluff. No one was transported to the hospital.
Shortly thereafter, a grass fire was reported on Highway 29 in South B Road. That was reportedly one that may have gotten away from the ditch company.
Then at 4 pm on the West edge of Scottsbluff, we had a minor vehicle accident between two vehicles whose mirrors swiped each other and caused minor damage. State Patrol advised they exchange information in self-report.
At 6.45 p.m., Trooper 483 conducted a 10-6 P.C. or Probable Cause search. The driver did have a suspended license with a pickup order and was cited for 5437.  The search turned up negative for any contraband.
Trooper 253 kept busy last night, helping a broken down Jeep in Mitchell, near Hwy 29 and Hwy 26, before proceeding to South B Road to take care of five cows who had wandered out. The landowner could not be contacted, but the cows were returned to their field. Nice work, Trooper 253.
Trooper 401 was out with Kimball County last night, actually early this morning around 1 a.m. for a 10.15 or an arrest, under Citation 5435.
Then early this morning, County Road H, County Road 29, possible structure fire, County Road H, County Road 29, this morning around 2.50 a.m. We're praying for that situation in all of these that we hear over scanner traffic everyday on PanhandleScanner.com.

(MITCHELL, Neb.) -- On Friday evening, Scanner Traffic indicated Mitchell Police Department requesting assistance from the Nebraska State Patrol in a pursuit on Experiment Farm Road. Originally, Mitchell PD was trying to conduct a traffic stop, and the suspect took off towards Wyoming. The Nebraska State Patrol Special Investigations team is investigating the shooting that involved both Mitchell Police Department and Scotts Bluff County Sheriff's Department. No officers were injured, and there is no threat to the public. More information will be released when possible.
(TERRYTOWN, Neb.) -- Saturday afternoon, traffic indicated a structure fire in Terrytown on South Street. Just after 3.30 pm, Scottsbluff Rural Fire was dispatched to a structure fire on South Street. Upon arrival, smoke was showing from the underside of the trailer, according to the Scottsbluff Rural Fire Protection District, and mutual aid was requested from Gering Fire to help accomplish the task. The trailer home was a total loss, there were no injuries. The cause of the fire was deemed electrical in nature.
(BANNER COUNTY, Neb.) -- The wind continued to blow through the weekend, and on Sunday, around 10:15 am, the Banner County Volunteer Fire Department was notified of a grass fire, 9 miles west of Highway 71 on Highway 88, and 1 mile north. Due to the high winds and potential for spreading, mutual aid was requested from Lyman, Kiowa, LaGrange Fire, and Scottsbluff Rural Fire. The fire was determined to be sparks from a downed power line. Seventy-six acres of grass were burned, as well as a quarter mile of fence.
(BOX BUTTE COUNTY, Neb.) -- And did you hear about the trooper fighting with a subject? Well, broken-scanner traffic under windy conditions on Friday indicated a trooper possibly fighting with a subject who had drugs in their mouth. After reviewing traffic, we did indeed have a trooper successfully preventing a suspect from swallowing methamphetamine that was found parked on the side of the road since 4 am. In the end, we had one subject 10-15, or under arrest.

(SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb.) — Weekly recap including a warrant served, a missing person report, a car accident, a pursuit that ended in an officer involved shooting, and responses to high winds and fire incidents.
For more details and a link to all original stories… https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1HYhHctPXd/

First of all around 9 a.m. we had one male 10-15 headed to the Cheyenne County Jail. Evidently it was some sort of company vehicle because the trooper said that the company would be sending over another driver.
And just a short time later before noon, trooper 194 conducted a 10-6 PC or probable cause search, 3566 was located but not in a quantifiable amount. The driver was given a warning for speeding.
And just afternoon we started getting several reports of fires breaking out throughout the panhandle. The first one came right afternoon, several fires near the Hunt Dairy Road and Highway 92 area. And then later in the afternoon a series of calls including electrical lines being down. Around 3:54, experiment farm road in highway 71 just to the north of there, a grass fire caused by an electrical line that was hit, according to scanner traffic. And at 5:53 in Mitchell, County Road B, downed power line sparking, one minute later 20 Michael Street downed power line, six minutes later Carter Canyon Road, county road 18, power lines across the road, vehicles stuck. And then just 5 minutes later, power lines over the road but not on the road, County Road J and county road 6 and Lyman. Not to mention, power outages all over the area due to the high winds.
And just before midnight, trooper 290 had a traffic stop at 21st Avenue in East Overland in Scottsbluff and conducted a probable cause search. It wasn't long and trooper 290 reported that he had one female driver headed to regional West Medical Center for a blood draw and then on to Scotts Bluff County Jail with a slew of offense codes.

On Highway 71, mile marker 73 around 5.50 pm last night, a Chevy Silverado struck a cow in the roadway and Trooper 290 responded. The pickup was drivable and the cow was not in the roadway.
Yesterday, we reported two disturbing the peace or noise complaint calls at 1413 E17 Street in Scottsbluff. At one particular apartment, two calls, one at 4am and one at 5 am. And then last night at 9:45 pm, that same address came up. Female needing transported to the hospital. Anxiety attack, possible heart attack. Our prayers for that situation.
Trooper 148 conducted a 10-6 PC or probable cause search and notified dispatch that Code 3566 was located and that there would be 3506 times 2. For a list of Nebraska offense codes like 3566 and 3506, check out our website at PanhandleScanner.com and type in offense codes. And to listen to scanner traffic, visit our website and click on the listen button. These stories and more every day on PanhandleScanner.com.

Panhandle Scanner News for January 14, 2026
(SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb.) -- Yesterday morning around 9 a.m., there was a motor vehicle accident at Bomgaar's that was Highway 26 in East Overland in Scotts Bluff. One male was reportedly trapped and in the end there was one 70-year-old male transported to regional West with minor injuries. Partial trauma team was declared though due to the criteria. Follow-up traffic indicated another female was also transported to the hospital.
Yesterday had made it difficult for dispatchers around the panhandle. Cheyenne County was helping out Scotts Bluff County as 911 lines were down, so several calls were transferred throughout the day.
A theft was reported in Baird where a person called in and said their wallet had fallen out of their car and another car came by and picked it up and sped off. They caught the license plate number and follow-up traffic indicated a physical fight at that location a short time later. Both Morrill County and Nebraska State Patrol responded to this incident.
Around 7:10 p.m. yesterday there was a wrong way driver on Highway 26 around mile marker 9 heading west in the eastbound lanes. It was a white Buick. Thank you to those who call in those wrong way drivers.
Trooper 431 assisted Mitchell PD on a PC search at around 8 20 p.m. last night resulting in one male 10-15, or under arrest.
And early this morning there were several noise complaints coming from 1413 E 17 Street. One around 4 a.m. and another one at 5 a.m. Please be respectful of your neighbors in apartment complexes.
Photo by Troy Bryan, Nebraska Panhandle Weather Alerts & Road Conditions

(SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb.) -- On Monday just after 4pm, Scottsbluff police officers responded to the area of Highway 26 and East 27th Street in reference to an injury accident. The investigation determined that the 2016 Grey Toyota Compass driven by Wyatt Hooten, age 27 of Scottsbluff was traveling Eastbound on Highway 26 when a 2006 Gold Kia Sedona driven by Errol Amey, age 43 of Colorado, was traveling Westbound on Highway 26 and did not yield the right away, turning in front of the Compass causing the vehicles to collide. The Scottsbluff man was transported to Regional West Medical Center for Treatment of Injuries. Errol Amey was cited and released for a failure to yield the right away. Both vehicles were disabled and towed from the scene. Highway 26 was closed for approximately 30 minutes.
(SIDNEY, Neb.) -- A little farther down the road on mile marker 53 an I-80 Westbound Trooper 245 spotted a Kansas vehicle that was 10-75 or possibly stolen. The trooper initiated a traffic stop and had two detained while the vehicle was cleared and a Triple-I check was conducted revealing extensive positive results on both suspects. A 10-46 or tow truck was requested out of Sidney while Trooper 245 took one male to Cheyenne County Jail and Trooper 346 assisted with one female 10-15, or under arrest, also headed to the jail with a quick stop at the vet to drop off the dog. In the end we had one grey Nissan Altima from Kansas recovered.
(POTTER, Neb.) -- On Monday afternoon, two grass fires along Highway 30 were put out quickly thanks to the fast response by 11 Potter Volunteer Fire Department members.
In other traffic, there was a 10-29 check, yesterday morning on a 380 handgun that was cleared.
For more stories like these, or to listen to live scanner traffic, visit panhandlescanner.com

On Friday morning, scanner traffic indicated troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol out with the Alliance Police Department and the Box Butte County Sheriff's Office to serve a warrant at a residence in the Alliance. The arrest warrant was served on Derek Reyes of Alliance for charges including first degree sexual assault and strangulation. He was the subject of a recent sexual assault investigation involving a juvenile victim. Reyes is also a registered sex offender. Due to the nature of the case and the involvement of a juvenile victim, no further details will be released at this time.
Late Friday night after midnight, the Nebraska State Patrol stopped a driver for a suspected drunk driving, or 10-47. It was a Wyoming plated Gold GMC Envoy, a after a 10-6 search, this female was taken to jail for a slew of charges including both drugs and alcohol.
On Sunday, the Morrill County Sheriff's Office was requesting help from the Nebraska State Patrol at an address on First Avenue in Baird, pertaining to a repo. 10-89, or assistance, was requested for a male who was verbally disturbed.
Around 4:20 in the afternoon, scanner traffic indicated a search for a transient near the Pink Palace in McGrew. The transient was described as having on purple leggings and a purple jacket with a pink beanie and a gray backpack. No further traffic was heard on this call. You never know what you're going to hear over scanner traffic.