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.

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.