Fire is frightening, and Nebraska is on fire again. A great resource to track all those wildfires is the WatchDuty app. You can access that straight from our website at panhandlescanner.com, under the Resources tab. That is a truly incredible service, and they are asking for donations for support. That's the WatchDuty app. Please support it. It's the best wildfire coverage anywhere.

Please continue to pray for our firemen and women who are out there on the front lines, and all of those involved in these Nebraska wildfires.

But wildfires aren't the only things that are burning in Nebraska.

Three structure fires happened in the last 24 hours. In Alliance, a 24-year-old male suffered third-degree burns to his face, neck, shoulders, back, torso, and bilateral arms. The man was transported to the burn center via helicopter. That happened Wednesday evening around 8 p.m.

And then later, at around 10:20, all area fire departments were paged out to the Lake Alice area, when scanner traffic indicated station coverage needed and mutual aid requested for an ongoing structure fire at Lake Alice. Unfortunately, that home was a total loss.

And then just after midnight, scanner traffic indicated mutual aid requested for a Bayard fire. And unfortunately, Peggy, Chelsea and Isabelle Nuss' home was a total loss. They are in immediate need of clothing and shoes. The Bayard Senior Center is the drop-off spot. Please see our post for a list of needs on Panhandle Scanner, under the post Bayard Mutual Aid Requested.

So many fires, and our prayers for everyone.

Please use caution, and thank you to the volunteers from our local fire departments.

(SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb.) -- Yesterday, just after noon, scanner traffic indicated a pedestrian versus vehicle accident around 20th Street for a 52-year-old female hit by a car. Fortunately, no major injuries were reported. You can find the audio of that call in the comments on our Facebook page.

(LAKE ALICE, Neb.) -- Around 8 p.m., Scotts Bluff Rural Fire District was dispatched to a structure fire on County Road C, north of Scottsbluff. All occupants were confirmed out of the home. The structure was fully involved upon arrival. Mutual aid was then requested from Gearing Fire, Minatare-Malbeta Fire, Bayard Fire, and Banner County Fire for pumpers, tankers, and Type 6. Dry and windy conditions caused this structure fire to spread rapidly, also causing a grass fire. The structure, contents, and vehicles were a total loss. The State Fire Marshal's Office deemed the cause undetermined. All units cleared the scene six hours later at 2 a.m.

Thunderstorms rolled through the area last night, but brought more lightning than rain.

Multiple fires started overnight across the Panhandle, with major coverage being provided by the WatchDuty app. To our knowledge, there are currently three fires burning, the Sandy Fire, the Grizzly Bear Fire, and the Ash Pole Fire in Sioux and Dawes Counties. Yesterday morning, we mentioned the Red Flag Warning, and we ask everyone to please continue to heed all warnings.

Dangerous fire conditions will remain throughout the day. For these stories and more, and all the coverage on the overnight traffic, please visit our website at panhandlescanner.com, or our Facebook page by the same name. You can access that WatchDuty app via our Resources tab on our website.

A missing person to tell you about to start off the day. A young lady from the North Platte, Gothenburg area is missing and is reported to have possibly been seen in the Scotts Bluff area. Ellie Anna Newbrey, last seen May 10th, 17 years old, brown hair, green eyes, missing from Gothenburg. They found her car in North Platte, and she may be with a gentleman named Ryan Chessmore. If you have any information, please contact the number on the poster on our Facebook page or your local police department.

Last night was a big night for some local candidates seeking support.

Here are a few of the results that we have seen coming in so far. The Big Three, Pete Ricketts, Jim Pillen, and Adrian Smith all held large leads in their respective races, whereas some of the races could be much closer, like the one for Republican Secretary of State between Bob Evnen and Scott Peterson. That one's too close to call, early this morning.

In some local races for Republican County Commissioner District 1, Michael Blue was victorious over Lisa Betz-Marquez. In another race we were watching closely, Sheriff Milo Cardenas of Morrill County holds onto his spot to retain his sheriff position. He was victorious over candidate Ricky Trevino.

Statewide Results : https://countyelectionresults.nebraska.gov/mobile.aspx

We look forward to seeing what Ricky has planned for the future. And in a race for the new Mitchell mayorship, Sean Hopkins and Stephen Lacy were neck and neck with both moving on to the general election. For all these results, see our page at panhandlescanner.com or our Facebook page by the same name.

Well, yesterday was another one of those days of foolish antics by criminals who don't understand the implications of their actions. The scary thing is, some of these calls may be coming from computers.

On Monday, May 11th, a coordinated series of hoax bomb threats and swatting calls targeted schools across several U.S. states. While Tennessee and Nebraska saw significant statewide disruptions, Ohio and Texas also reported incidents. In Tennessee, nine schools were affected, and in Nebraska, Alliance and North Platte high schools were placed on secure status while other districts also reported a hold or heightened security as a precautionary measure due to the widespread nature of the calls.

At 11:14 a.m., scanner traffic indicated this...

North Platte, 5.

Go ahead.

Requesting 10-89 at 1540 Box Butte Avenue. Possible shooter on the way, possibly 15 people about five minutes out from the north side of the high school. Also possible bomb.

10-4, I'll be en route.

10-4.

Just a correction on the 10-20, it's 1450 Box Butte Avenue, 1450, it's the High School.

10-4.

The Nebraska Information Analysis Center, or NIAC, worked with the FBI to trace the origins of these calls, which often uses voiceover technology to mask the caller's location. Residents and students are encouraged to report any suspicious activity or social media threats through the Safe2Help Nebraska portal. We'll put a link to that on our website under resources on panhandlescanner.com.

More red flag warnings today. Please use caution when burning, and obey all burn bans when in place.

During Police Week, we remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. Thank you to all law enforcement officers, past and present, for your commitment to protecting and serving others. Your dedication does not go unnoticed.

Our very own Elevate Your Day morning show sponsor, High Plains Market, is having a grand opening and expansion celebration this coming Saturday, May 16th, High Plains Market, 27th and Avenue B. Grand opening this Saturday.

If you like movies and appreciate the historic Nile Theater, they're needing some help. They recently had a server go down and are looking for replacement costs. If you can help, contact the Nile Theater or see the posts on our Facebook page. They are currently in a fundraising effort to replace that server. Donations can be made through the non-profit Oregon Trail Community Foundation.

The Western Nebraska Pioneers are gearing up for another season, and they made the news lately when their bus was vandalized looked like a hit and run had occurred. If you know anything about who hit the Western Nebraska Pioneers bus, please report it.

Oregon Trail Days is hiring. With all of the upcoming summer excitement and activities at Oregon Trail Days, they're looking for some extra help. Contact Oregon Trail Days if you're looking to help.

And early this morning, just before we went on the air, a rollover occurred on S Road, about a half mile north of Henry, involving a F-350 flatbed dually pickup on its side in the ditch. No injuries reported.

To listen to live scanner traffic, visit our website at panhandlescanner.com and click on listen. That's going to do it for today's scanner news.

Thanks again for listening, and may God bless. I'm Brian Hale.

Well, we just got a newsflash here from Horizon Music Fest that today is the day that fans have been waiting for. The headliner is dropping today. Make sure you watch our page today to find out who that headliner will be.

The Nile Theater has been entertaining area audiences for over 85 years now. Now that we're in the digital age, computers are a necessity, and their movie server has died. In order to continue to show family-friendly movies at great prices, they are asking for the public's help. The server at the Nile Theater is no longer functioning. The replacement cost will be between $5,000 and $10,000. Donations to the Friends of the Nile Theater can be made through the Oregon Trail Community Foundation directly by check or online with Zephy. Find that link in our article, Nile Theater Seeks Community Support.

There's a series of cyber attacks that we want to make you aware of. It is affecting educational institutions across Nebraska, and now we have heard across the country. Multiple schools and universities that utilize Canvas, a software program for managing homework, grades, and other sensitive information, has fallen victim to hacking.

Shiny Hunters is a group demanding a ransom and threatening to leak all compromised data if their demands are not met. Individuals affected by this breach are encouraged to share their experiences in the comments below our post as this situation continues to unfold in the educational sector. Find that post on the Notice of Cyber Attack, on our Facebook page at Panhandle Scanner, or on our news page at Panhandlescanner.com. Follow our page for more breaking news throughout the day.

It's Public Service Recognition Week, and today we're honoring our police departments. Patrolling our streets, supporting our community, protecting, serving, building relationships, courage, dedication, and a whole lot of heart.

Day in and day out, these officers are always ready to step in when it matters most. Our hats off to public servants this week, especially our police departments. May is Mental Health Awareness Month.

Did you know that research shows that autistic individuals have rates of death by suicide that are nearly three times higher than the general population? These risks do not represent individual weakness. They reflect gaps in understanding and in systems not built with care for neurodivergent minds. That's why America Foundation for Suicide Prevention's work matters.

Look for that resource on our Facebook page at Panhandle Scanner, from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Congratulations to a long-time customer and friend of ours, Mr. Mike Nuss, on his induction to the Nebraska Auctioneer's Association Hall of Fame. Sugar Valley Stockyards recently wrote that it's been a privilege to have Mike as a colleague, friend, and auctioneer at Sugar Valley Stockyards.

Also, congratulations to Don Helberg on his induction to the Hall of Fame. Helberg and Nuss, Auction and Realty, a website we had for almost 20 years. Congratulations to both gentlemen on their induction to the Hall of Fame.

May 9th is the day for the Annual Letter Carriers Food Drive! Stock up so that you can help the local food pantries with your donation. Leave the food by your mailbox on Saturday morning.

The Cirrus House, Inc Annual Block Party is approaching quickly!

For more good news like this, follow Panhandle Scanner on Facebook, or visit our website at PanhandleScanner.com. And don't forget our public record every Monday through Friday, covering several counties throughout Nebraska.

(GERING, Neb.) -- The Nebraska Court of Appeals has upheld a lower court decision to try Corey Rotherham as an adult. Rotherham, now 17, was 16 at the time of the incident and had requested his case to be moved to juvenile court.

Both the trial court and appeals court agreed that the case should remain in adult criminal court. Rotherham is charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and use of a weapon to commit a felony. The charges stem from the stabbing death of 15-year-old Wyatt Reeb in Scottsbluff, Nebraska.

Devante Castellaw, identified as the person who carried out the stabbing, has already been convicted and is serving 55 years to life in prison.

What happens next?

Rotherham's case will continue to adult court. A pre-trial hearing is scheduled for May 20.

Trying a minor as an adult can significantly increase potential penalties and changes how the case is handled. Appeals courts typically defer to lower courts unless there is a clear error, so this decision suggests the judges found the original reasoning legally sound.

Craig Wayne Boyd. You may recall that the country artist won season seven's season finale of NBC's The Voice.

Craig will take the stage May 8 for a special benefit concert right here in Scottsbluff, supporting families impacted by recent panhandle fires. The event commemorates the theater's 80th anniversary, where if you remember, was built from the ashes of the old Egyptian theater. All funds will go to the Oregon Trail Community Foundation to help families rebuild after these devastating fires.

The concert begins at 7 p.m. and tickets are available through the Midwest Theater. Craig Wayne Boyd Friday night at the Midwest Theater.

In Banner County, the sheriff's department is reminding folks of the current road construction going on.

"There are 2 areas of road construction in Banner County. Both on Highway 71 about mm 45 & mm 43. Both areas go down to single lane each direction and the speed limit in the work zones is 60 mph. Reminder speeding fines are doubled in work zones when workers are present. Give the workers a break and slow down for them."

That's going to do it for today's Scanner News.