(BANNER COUNTY, Neb.) -- Yesterday, another structure fire. There's a follow up on Tuesday's structure fire on West 19th Street in Scottsbluff on our Facebook page and on paenhandlescanner.com, but yesterday around 1.32 p.m. scanner traffic indicated a structure fire on Highway 88 West. Banner County Volunteer Fire Department was called out, Mutual Aid was requested from Gering Fire Department as well as Scottsbluff Rural Fire. The family reportedly lost everything and they're still looking for some things like coats, jackets, shoes, hair ties, anything possible. Please see our post on our Panhandle Scanner Facebook page on that structure fire on West 88.

(CHADRON, Neb.) -- Due to radio repeaters and the internet, we have a lot of listeners up in the Chadron area, and when we posted that the Chadron Pizza Hut was closing, the post went viral. According to the corporate website, Pizza Hut plans to close more stores in 2026.

(LINCOLN, Neb.) -- Nebraska Senator Terrell McKinney from the Omaha district is proposing the lowering of the voting age to 16, and in further state level action, Governor Jim Pillen signed an executive order requiring state agencies to review applicable laws, relevant rules and regulations regarding the use of synthetic THC in food beverages and other products intended for human consumption. In Nebraska synthetic is illegal and natural medical marijuana is legal, but the state legislators have failed to write the policies, creating an awful gray area for law enforcement around the state.

There's a missing juvenile report immediately this morning. Let's listen to that first.

10-59 10-74 missing juvenile. Scottsbluff, January 27th. Avery (Inaudible), female, 11, 5-0, 100 pounds, brown hair, brown eyes. Mother has child, whereabouts unknown. Child is to be returned father. Signed, Scottsbluff PD.

If you have any information about Avery's whereabouts, please contact police.

On Tuesday evening, scanner traffic indicated a call from an individual whose power was out and reported flames coming from inside his wall. That was several minutes before the actual call came out to the fire department that said, "possible structure fire on West 19th and Avenue H. East of that location, north side of the roadway. House full of smoke." Everyone got out, but the fire did serious damage. You can find that video on our Facebook page and a follow up report from the fire department as soon as that press release is issued.

Yesterday afternoon, a 10-44 or non-injury accident was reported involving an officer in Alliance. Scanner traffic indicated that an officer's vehicle was struck by another person's vehicle near 8th Street in Cheyenne. No injuries. Everyone is 10-4.

Last night around 6 p.m. Sheridan County deputies had one male 10-15 with offense codes 1073 and 1040, which according to the state of Nebraska offense code website is related to drugs.

Trooper 483 responded to a car versus deer accident last night around 620 p.m. between mile markers 70 and 71 on highway 20.

And we had your typical Cow Out on the highway on mile marker 31 on 87. Please watch for livestock and wildlife on the roadways.

(NEBRASKA) -- Over the weekend, the Nebraska State Patrol responded to a total of 234 motorist assist calls with 18 crash responses. From Friday to Sunday, troopers helped well over 200 people on the roads who needed assistance in the frigid conditions. Thank you, Nebraska State Patrol.

(PANHANDLE) -- Prizes are rolling out at Panhandle Scanner. Over 70% of the prize winners have been tracked down and the prizes have been delivered. There are still some out there we need to locate. If you won a prize during the 60 days of giveaways on Panhandle Scanner, please make sure you contact us, SBCOScanner at gmail.com. In total, 275 gifts were given away, valued over $10,000 during our third annual season of giving. Panhandle Scanner gave away 70 gifts, valued at over $1,500, with 40 of them delivered so far. More than 200 more gifts were given away by local donors and 90% of those have been picked up directly from the businesses. Remember if you won a prize from a business and have not picked it up, please contact them directly.

(MITCHELL, Neb.) -- The Mitchell Volunteer Fire Department put out their annual report. They were busy last year, responding to a total of 266 calls. Of the 266 calls, 206 of them required EMS to respond, 76 required fire, and they responded to 10 mutual aid calls. In addition to all the calls they respond to yearly, their members also spend countless hours training and completing other commitments with the Fire Department to best serve the community. Thank you, Mitchell Volunteer Fire Department!

When troopers aren't busy or active with traffic stops or other emergency situations, they take on the role of investigators, like 771 who was checking ice fishermen on Friday, while 769 was out with two hunters south of Henry, and 290 was assisting SBPD with a hit and run accident in Scottsbluff.

(CHEYENNE COUNTY, Neb.) -- On Friday, scanner traffic also indicated two males talking about going on a booze cruise at a party and who were traveling, possibly 10-47, or drunk driving with an infant in the vehicle in their 2014 Chevy Cruz, westbound on Link 17J. It was unknown if they turned towards Sidney or Bridgeport, and no further traffic was heard on this incident. We're hoping that means they made it home safely. A reminder, please, never drink and drive, especially with children in the vehicle.

(SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb.) -- On Saturday, a rollover accident was reported on County Road 19 in Experiment Farm Road, single occupant who was up and out of the vehicle and called his boss to report the accident before calling 911. The patient refused transport to the hospital.

(SIDNEY, Neb) -- It is with heavy hearts that the Sidney Police Department and the Cheyenne County Sheriff's Office are reporting that the body of Kara Bancroft-Westman, the woman who was missing from Sidney, was discovered at approximately 11 am on January 25th. If you have any information about this case, please contact the Sidney Police Department or the Cheyenne County Sheriff's Office. Our prayers and deepest condolences go out to the family and loved ones during this time. For more missing cases, visit PanhandleScanner.com and click on Missing under the News tab.

Photo used in cover art is from the U.S. Department of War, showing the National Guard helping in response to the recent storms.

Hello and welcome to this special report from Panhandle Scanner via breaking news from the Nebraska State Patrol involving a local former jailer here in Scotts Bluff County. We'll be back with that story right after this.

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At 11:30 Thursday morning, Trooper #321 had a Colorado temporary plated black Audi and ran the registration on that.

3-2-1. 10-39 Colorado temp, just advise Colorado 8097 654, 8097 654. Should return to a black Audi 2026. North Platte, 3-2-1. Go ahead. That was Chris Schlosser, Chris Schlosser.

Scanner traffic indicated that there was a 10-35 or warrant for a local individual.

3-2-1. Do you have a copy of that 10-35? No. No.

And after a short discussion about the warrant, or 10-35, there was one male 10-15 headed to Scotts Bluff County Jail.

5-2-4 North Platte. 5-2-4. 1 male 10-15. 12:15. Scotts Bluff County Detention Center. 12:31. 5-2-4 North Platte. 5-2-4. I'll be 10-8 from the scene, or from that E. 29th address, and then Scotts Bluff County Detention Center with 3-2-1. 12:32. 3-2-1. (Inaudible codes) then 4-9-1-0.

According to the Nebraska State website, 4910 is fugitive from justice. One fugitive removed from the street!

Editors Note;

Back in October of 2025, the defendant resigned from the Scotts Bluff County Detention Center after the sexual abuse allegations came to light. According to witnesses and affidavits, sexual activity among staff and even inmates has been evident for several years. This isn't the first time they have come under fire; and we have not hesitated to report on it before.

(SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb.) -- The big news, of course, is the upcoming weather. Please heed all cautions as well as making sure that your emergency kits are stocked and ready to go. It is brutally cold out there this morning at just a few degrees above zero but it feels like -11. As you're waking up it should be warming up a tiny bit, but not by much. So stay warm today and thank you for listening to Panhandle Scanner News and this station.

(SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb.) -- Early this morning a runaway juvenile bulletin was issued by the Scottsbluff Police Department. "10-59, runaway juvenile Scottsbluff Marissa Marilyn Flores, white female, 5 foot 3, 115 pounds, brown hair, brown eyes, wearing red hoodies, blue jeans, white tennis shoes, piercing on the eyebrow, face tattoo on hand. Signed Scottsbluff PD 2:33 am."

(SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb.) -- Also early this morning just after midnight there was a call for an overdose 29 year old male code blue on 4th Avenue in Scottsbluff. Medics arrived on scene and determined it was a fentanyl overdose and that CPR had been administered before they'd gotten there. Nasal Narcan was administered and the patient was then alert and oriented on the way to the hospital. Great work by our first responders!

(CHADRON, Neb.) -- Trooper #171 had a traffic stop around mile marker 150 on Highway 385 with a Texas plated vehicle. Scanner traffic indicated there was 10-6 testing and soon there was a 10-46, or tow truck, on its way and one male 10-15, or under arrest, headed to Dawes County Jail.

Photo : The gummies photo used was in reference to the follow up story on the jail employee that was arrested in Falls City, Nebraska.

You can find that story on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17bPicBVVj/ or our news website ... https://diggingdeeper.net/2026/01/03/jail-employee-arrested/

(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.