One person reportedly died and another was seriously injured following a rollover crash early Saturday morning on Highway 71 north of Kimball. The crash reportedly occurred around 5 a.m. on October 3rd, approximately 10 miles north of town. A single vehicle reportedly rolled approximately seven times with two people inside. AirLink responded to the scene with a full trauma team requested for a 77-year-old male driver. Initial information indicated the driver may have experienced a seizure before the crash. Friends of the family report that 77-year-old Rufus Garza later died from his injuries sustained in the crash. His wife Cindy, also in the vehicle, remains in intensive care. The circumstances surrounding the crash and the identities of those involved have not been independently confirmed by Panhandle Scanner. This information comes through friends of family. Additional information was not immediately available. Our prayers for Scottsbluff, family, Rufus, and Cindy Garza.

And don't forget our public record every Monday through Friday when available. Information from more than 20 counties across the state of Nebraska, jail rosters most wanted, and much more. Just visit panhandlescanner.com and click on news.

For these stories and more, be sure to visit our news page at that website, panhandlescanner.com, or our Facebook page by the same name. And of course, our daily public record, Monday through Friday, whenever available.

Alliance has a new Fire Chief! The City of Alliance has hired Brad Schrum as its new Fire Chief, effective yesterday, October 1st. Schrum began his career with the Alliance Fire Department in 1979 as a firefighter EMT, and most recently served as Assistant Fire Chief. He has more than 48 years of experience with the department. Schrum also credited former Fire Chief Troy Shoemaker with establishing a strong foundation for training and maintaining the department's Insurance Services Office rating of a 3. Schrum will be formally recognized during the Alliance City Council meeting on October 6th at 5.30pm.

Did you know that Panhandle Scanner is on every major social media platform? That's right. You can find us on Facebook, but you can also find us on Twitter, or X, Threads, Instagram, and now TikTok. Find and follow Panhandle Scanner on TikTok. As well as all of our social media accounts, you can also find us in print. That's right, we are now providing a printable PDF, available each week for print. If you're interested in receiving a printed copy, or to subscribe by email, contact our page at Panhandle Scanner.

For these stories and more, be sure to visit our news page at that website, panhandlescanner.com, or our Facebook page by the same name. And of course, our daily public record, Monday through Friday, whenever available. That's going to do it for today's Scanner News.

R and C Welding's family company, American Mixer and Delivery, is proud to offer a unique opportunity for someone looking to take the next step in their career. Contact R and C Welding in Gering, Nebraska, or visit their page. And as always, you can find that on panhandlescanner.com on our news page.

A reminder from the Scottsbluff Fire Department and Police Department from the City on railroad crossing closures. Avenue B crossing will be opened early this morning, October 1st. The West 20th Street crossing will be closed tomorrow morning and open early Friday morning. The Avenue I crossing will be closed tomorrow morning and will open on the morning of Saturday, October 3rd. Sidewalks and pathways at the affected intersections will also be closed. Please pay attention, drive safely, and plan travels accordingly as closure schedules can change due to unforeseen circumstances. Detour routes will be posted.

Lots of rain in eastern Nebraska last night, potentially all-time record flooding, as several followers, as well as our primary admin, provided videos and photos of the incident last night. In one location near Domino's, Boss's Pizza, and McDonald's at 11th and Cornhusker Highway, flooding was so bad that the area was evacuated and several rescues were necessary. One person reported to us that they were evacuating an apartment complex by boat.

For these stories and more, be sure to visit our news page at that website, panhandlescanner.com, or our Facebook page by the same name. And of course, our daily public record, Monday through Friday, whenever available. That's going to do it for today's scanner news.

Speaking of R&C Welding, they are hiring right now and this is a very key position. RNC Welding's family company, American Mixer and Delivery, is proud to offer a unique opportunity for someone looking to take the next step in their career. Contact R&C Welding in Gering, Nebraska or visit their page. And as always, you can find that on panhandlescanner.com on our news page.

Funeral services will be held for Margaret Bulman Eckerberg at 10 a.m. on Saturday, October 3rd at Westway Christian Church, 1701 West 27th Street in Scottsbluff. Margaret was the beloved wife of Philip Eckerberg for 34 years. Together, they raised five children, four daughters and one son. She served as a school secretary at Gering High School, where she was loved and appreciated by students and staff. Saturday, 10 a.m., October 3rd at Westway Christian Church. Funeral services for Margaret Bulman Eckerberg.

And a special thank you to our courthouse reporter, Raul Fernandez, for filling up our news blog with several crime reports. If you're interested in crime news or court reports, Raul has them for you on Panhandle Scanner. Go to panhandlescanner.com, click on the News tab.

For these stories and more, be sure to visit our news page at that website, panhandlescanner.com, or our Facebook page by the same name. And of course, our daily public record, Monday through Friday, whenever 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 fifth year of sponsorship of Panhandle Scanner.

Speaking of R&C Welding, they are hiring right now, and this is a very key position.

R&C Welding's family company, American Mixer and Delivery, is proud to offer a unique opportunity for someone looking to take the next step in their career. They're looking for a loyal, full company-minded individual who wants more than simply a job. Contact R&C Welding in Gering, Nebraska, or visit their page. And as always, you can find that on Panhandlescanner.com on our news page.

An interesting case happened up in Grant County in Nebraska and the Panhandle in Hyannis, where a traffic stop for speeding on Highway 2 near Ashby led to charges against two occupants after deputies said marijuana residue was found on them. According to Grant County Sheriff's Office news release, deputies conducted a traffic stop on September 26 after observing a vehicle speeding on Highway 2. The vehicle did not stop immediately and continued for approximately two miles before coming to a halt. When deputies contacted the occupants, they observed marijuana residue on them, establishing probable cause to search the vehicle, according to the Sheriff's Office. During the questioning, the occupants told deputies that marijuana had been thrown from the vehicle as they were being pulled over.

Unfortunately, the wind had blown it back in.

Both occupants were charged in connection with the incident. The Sheriff offered a reminder to motorists, do not throw marijuana or anything else from a moving vehicle, particularly at highway speeds.

For all these stories and more, including several new articles from our courthouse reporter, visit Panhandlescanner.com or our Facebook page by the same name.

The Scottsbluff County Communications Center sent out an urgent message yesterday that the phone lines were down. That included all of their administrative lines as well as 911 service in Scotts Bluff County, but don't worry, 911 service is still available thanks to Cheyenne County Dispatch.

Continue to call 911 if needed, and your call will be rerouted. Residents may recall early on July 15, 2026, SWAT activities were reported in Scotts Bluff and Morrill Counties, focusing on high-profile criminals with felony warrants. Operations occurred in Scottsbluff, Baird, and Gering, led by local sheriffs.

In the end, seven were arrested, all ages 15 to 19. The 19-year-old Scottsbluff man, Rochne Gukeisen, is facing multiple felony firearm charges after law enforcement allegedly uncovered social media photos showing him with a handgun equipped with a device that can convert it to a fully automatic weapon. Under federal law, it is illegal to modify a handgun in such a manner. Some very interesting comments on the Second Amendment can be found under our post on Panhandles Sanner's Facebook page. There is a debate on whether or not weapon modifications are an infringement on the Second Amendment. Court records show Gukeisen pled not guilty to both counts during his initial appearance, and he appeared for a bond review hearing on the 25th in Scottsbluff County District Court. A pretrial is scheduled for October 21 at 1 p.m. For all these stories and more, including several new articles from our Courthouse Reporter, visit Panhandlescanner.com or our Facebook page by the same name.

Five puppies found in a box in a Mitchell alley have prompted questions from community members about where the animals came from and how they came to be abandoned. The Panhandle Humane Society of Scottsbluff said the puppies were found in an alley near 16th Street and are now in the shelter's care.

The organization asked anyone with information about the puppies or their owner to contact the shelter or to come in between 1 and 4 p.m. The original post generated numerous comments from community members expressing concern for the puppies and asking whether the animals had been abandoned or neglected. Some commenters questioned whether the puppy's mother could also be at risk. In response, the Humane Society said Mitchell police brought the puppies to the shelter overnight and that staff had discussed the circumstances with officers.

The shelter said it cannot legally keep animals on an abuse or neglect hold unless an officer places them on such a hold. The Humane Society also explained that if an owner comes forward, the person would be contacted by police and the puppies would remain in the shelter's custody. Several community members offered support, including donations of food and other supplies, while others expressed interest in adopting the puppies.

Anyone with information about these abandoned puppies, or if you're looking to adopt, please contact the Panhandle Humane Society, Local Area Code 308-635-0922. You can find a picture of those puppies on our Facebook page at Panhandle Scanner. For all these stories and more, including several new articles from our Courthouse Reporter, visit Panhandlescanner.com or our Facebook page by the same name.

In rural Scottsbluff, neighbors along the Seip Canal Road and County Road 25 reported multiple motocross bikes last night driving in the Tri-State Canal ditch. We all like to have fun, but if you're a motocross rider, stay out of the ditches.

Our court reporter, Raul Fernandez, has been busy at the courthouse. In one case we just posted, Wing scores a meth arrest. A Terrytown man was arrested for selling multiple controlled purchases of methamphetamine from a Gearing motel room.

And our report on the DUI driver who was confused using sign language to say, I'm drunk, and blew twice the legal limit. Juan Castro Zelaya, 44, was jailed for 30 days after a DUI arrest with a blood alcohol content of 0.177 and no valid driver's license. And a DUI for a driver with a rollover who tried to claim that he was swerving to miss a deer.

A 19-year-old man pled no contest to a DUI and reckless driving after the rollover crash happened near Henry recently. Price G. Harpstreith pled no contest and was found guilty of driving under the influence of a blood alcohol concentration of 0.15 or higher. On September 20th, deputies found a Wyoming-plated GMC Sierra pickup resting on its roof off the southwest side of the roadway on Highway 26. No injuries were reported among Harpstreith or his four teenage passengers. Deputies noted tire marks and other physical evidence indicating rapid acceleration and a spin out while attempting a sharp turn onto the highway. Sentencing is scheduled for October 26 at 215 in room 1 of Scotts Bluff County Court.