Well, good news with the Morrill Fire update this morning. Firefighter hand crews are at work mopping up and cold trailing. Firefighters have been working the ground methodically on the Clear Creek Wildlife Management area to identify and extinguish any remaining heat sources that could threaten the line. The Clear Creek Management area was impacted during the fire's intense push to the east and south last week along with nearby Omaha Beach. The fire burned through an area of brush and cottonwood trees near the North Platte River. While the act of burning has stopped, the hard work of identifying and eliminating hotspots has been underway for the past few days. Crew members are working together, walking a grid, digging up any roots and stumps that show heat, and use water to extinguish the fire. They also use a method called cold trailing, in which a firefighter feels the soil or wood with the back of a hand to make sure the ground is cold and with no signs of remaining fire. Reports indicate that the Morrill Fire is now 98% contained.

You may remember us reporting on an accident that was a fatality near North Platte on I-80 last week on March 12th. We've received confirmation that it was a Scottsbluff man who was blessed and proud as the oldest member of Grace Chapel who has gone to be with the Lord after a distracted driver caused that fatal crash on the 12th. Our prayers and condolences to all the family and friends of Mr. Richard Nuss, 90 of Scottsbluff.

An important reminder, it is a state law now in Nebraska that you must move over when you see emergency vehicles. As always, please continue to yield to all emergency personnel.

Fire crews are not only out there in the wild, fighting fires, but they are also responding to local calls. Shortly before 1pm on March 16th, Scottsbluff Fire was dispatched to a possible structure fire in the 1300 block of East Overland. Engine 1 arrived on scene about 4 minutes after the initial page and observed a shed on fire next to a vacant trailer. Damages are estimated to be around $15,000 and no one was displaced as a result of the fire.

Dangerous fire conditions continue today through Saturday. A red flag warning is in effect Thursday for much of the Panhandle where critical fire weather conditions are expected. Afternoon highs in the upper 70s to mid 80s, humidity dropping near 10% and breezy west winds will create an environment where fires can easily start and spread. Avoid outdoor burning and use extreme caution with any potential ignition sources.

We're only into this 4 day stretch of record breaking warmth with new records already being set across the area. Scottsbluff hit a high of 83 yesterday to tie their 2017 record and Sidney broke their 2017 record of 79 degrees by hitting 81 yesterday.

Let's hope that our local Dairy Queen honors this. We are told it is free cone day. Today March 19th. Visit Dairy Queen Grill and Chill today to get your free cone. If it's true, tell them the scanner sent you. If it's not true, blame it on the internet.

According to other local news services circulating reports around the state, the Cottonwood Fire is at 78% containment and the Morrill Fire is now at 67% containment.

Do you know about Casa of Scotts Bluff County?

CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children. Yesterday, Casa of Scotts Bluff County had the honor of swearing in three incredible new Casa volunteers. We're all very grateful for their willingness to advocate for children in our community. This work truly changes lives. Casa wrote, we're looking forward to swearing in one more amazing volunteer very soon. Stay tuned.

Yesterday, Scanner traffic indicated a motor vehicle accident at South Beltline West and Avenue B in Scottsbluff. At least two patients were transported to Regional West Medical Center.

Don't forget about our Look Who's Hiring section on our webpage at PanhandleScanner.com. One of our favorite cooks in the Valley, Sharon at Memaw's Barnyard Eats, has an opening for a daytime dishwasher / kitchen support. Contact Sharon at Meimaw's today. If that position hasn't already been filled. Memaw's Barnyard Eats is located inside Sugar Valley Stockyards in Gering, Nebraska.

Do you love design? Have an eye for detail? Want a steady schedule with no weekends or late nights? Torrington Telegram is hiring a graphics designer. Create ads and promotional graphics for local businesses and special publications. Contact the Torrington Telegram today. Tell them you heard it on Scanner News.

Honey Butter Roasted Peacons Sweet Crunchy and Delicious. Find a recipe for those Honey Butter Roasted Peacons on our Facebook page at Panhandle Scanner.

Join the Mitchell FFA on Thursday, March 19th for their fourth annual Labor Silent Auction. Come to the Mitchell Event Center at the Fairgrounds to help support the Mitchell FFA in their trips to state, community events, and district events. Thank you to the community for supporting all the local FFA clubs. And more local community events on our community calendar at Pennhandle Scanner.

And speaking of Benefit auctions, Gordon Livestock Market is conducting a fire relief benefit auction on April 4th that will be at their sale barn at Gordon Livestock Market. All proceeds will go to help local ranchers affected by the fires. There's no donation too big or too small. Contact Gordon Livestock Market today to line up your auction items. They'll have internet bidding, Facebook Live, the Gordon Livestock Market Cafe, and more. Let's support our neighbors in every single way that we can. Ranchers helping ranchers.

And speaking of that fire now, it is reported to be over 572,000 acres and the first report of containment at 18%. For precipitation and rest for our firefighters. To follow all of the updates on the fire, you can visit our news page at panhandlescanner.com and click on fire and rescue.

It's March Madness time in the brackets are beginning to be formed for the NCAA tournament, but our Arthur's Pizza photo contest is already underway. And we're down to our Elite Eight. Check out Panhandle Scanner on Facebook for those amazing photos in our winter photo contest sponsored exclusively by Arthur's Pizza.

Nebraska's largest wildfire in history is now over a half a million acres. On Thursday, March 12, an electrical pole snapped after succumbing to 70 mile an hour plus winds on a farm in Morrill County. Over a half a million acres are charred and yes, one day this land will be even better once it's healed. But until that time, our neighbors, friends, and even strangers who feed us are suffering. Several agencies around the Panhandle have set up tax deductible funds for those able to donate financially to the recovery effort. Local agencies in the Panhandle that we recommend, Oregon Trail Community Foundation, the United Way, and Nebraska Sandhills Rancher Fire Relief set up through Gordon Livestock.

We've set up a special fire relief page on our website at panhandlescanner.com.

One question we have for everyone in the area, if this were a war and the enemy was threatening you or your neighbors, lives, and property, what would you do?

We thank everyone for their prayers and their donations. And for those who are willing to join the fight, contact your local fire department today and join the fight in this largest fire in the history of our state. A list of fire departments and all the fire information about the Morrill Fire and others in Nebraska can be found on our website at panhandlescanner.com. Just look for the fire relief page.

We ask for your prayers for all of the farmers, ranchers, the brave and tireless firefighters, emergency response personnel, and everyone involved in this devastating emergency.

We cannot start today's news without thanking the area volunteer firefighters and emergency response personnel all over the Panhandle and beyond.

The state of Nebraska was on fire last night.

With too many individual stories to report, please see our news page at PanhandleScanner.com or our Facebook page by the same name. There is an important message posted at the top of our page from the Bridgeport Fire Department. The Bridgeport Fire Hall is open this morning for donations that everyone was asking about, including the need for Tylenol, Ibuprofen, baby wipes, eye drops, Chapstick, water, Gatorade, snacks, chips and sandwich fixins. That's what they could use if you fill inclined to help out by supporting the firefighters, take those items to the Bridgeport Fire Hall today.

Before the fire started, wind was causing severe damage around the valley, a shed blew over and struck a man causing an injury, and a hotel roof in Sidney was coming apart. While trampolines were slamming into the sides of people's houses, if it hadn't been for the devastating, fast-moving fires, the wind would have been the biggest story of the day.

But it didn't even come close.

In fact, there was a fatality crash on I-80 as well yesterday morning. In a minivan, rear ended a jeep causing it to go off the road with the driver succumbing to their injuries. The person in the suspect vehicle was arrested and charged initially with vehicular homicide. There must have been mitigating circumstances to levy that charge from the get-go. Typically, an accident that causes a death would be involuntary manslaughter. Stay tuned for more on this fatality on I-80 in the North Platte area.

We want to take a moment to congratulate Wyobraska Veterinary Services' Kodie Woodral and Dr. Danielle Becker!

On October 27th they were driving down Highway 26 on the way to their next farm call when they came across a serious wreck. As they got closer they realized there were no emergency responders on seeing yet and instinct told them to stop and help. The patient was already purple in color and showing signs of shock.

He had life threatening wounds and was bleeding heavily. They immediately placed a tourniquet to control the bleeding and stayed with him until EMS arrived. Once the regional EMS team got there they began working to stabilize the patient while also extracting him from the vehicle which took nearly 30 minutes. Because of the fast response and teamwork from everyone involved the patient went on to make a remarkable recovery.

Recently Regional West EMS honored Danielle and Kodie with the Emergency Intervention Commendation Award recognizing individuals who provide meaningful care before EMS arrives. Kodie and Danielle said they were both very surprised and honored to learn that they were the first recipients of this award. They continued saying that they were honored to be in the right place at the right time. Sometimes helping just means stopping and doing what you can.

Congratulations again to Danielle and Kodie of Wyobraska Veterinary Services.

Speaking of first responders, Regional West ultrasound technologist Michaela Gasseling and AirLink Flight nurse Mickey Votruba recently attended a career fair hosted by Hemingford Public Schools. Over 400 students from six schools had a chance to visit with area employers and colleges.

Panhandle Scanner News is a community driven news service. If you have information, please follow our page and send us any news that you might have.

Be sure to visit PanhandleScanner.com for these stories and more!

Yesterday around 10 a.m., a call came in for a semi who had struck a tree.

North Platte, 468.

36 on 26 go ahead.

Can you being enroute to mile marker 8 on 26, 8 on 26, a semi took out a tree on the roadway, tried to keep going. RP stopped him. Now the cattle are trying to get out of his semi, he's got some damage.

10-4, if you want to see if Scotts Bluff County can handle this cattle crossing at 36, I'll be enroute.

10-4.

We're going to have tree debris all over the roadway in the middle of Morrill.

10-4, 11:09. (cst)

Eastbound lanes of highway 26 were closed down while the Nebraska Department of Transportation cleared the roadway.

On Monday at approximately 2:45 in the afternoon, the Scottsbluff Rural Fire Protection District was dispatched to assist in neighboring department with the pasture on fire.

Early this morning around 3 a.m., a call came in for a person who had been run over.

In Scottsbluff, 1722 East 20th Street, it'll be Route 26 Mart, for unknown injuries, looks like somebody ran over somebody.

Law enforcement, officers on scene canceled the response and no further traffic was heard.

To listen to scanner traffic, you can always visit PanhandleScanner.com and click on listen, or you can download any police scanner app from your favorite app store and look for Scott's Bluff County. Easiest way to follow though is just visit PanhandleScanner.com.

And don't forget our public record every Monday through Friday when available. It's all on PanhandleScanner.com.