The Sidney Police Department is happy to announce that Lieutenant Ruiz and Officer Reeves have now been officially sworn in to duty. You may remember Chief Ruiz was in Kimball Nebraska as the police chief and suddenly resigned for the position in Sidney. With over 20 years of law enforcement experience, Lieutenant Ruiz is a powerhouse of knowledge. Congratulations to both law enforcement officers on their new positions.

Speaking of officers, you may remember the Mitchell Police Officer that was placed on administrative leave during the investigation on a shooting he was involved in. After shooting a suspect in the face, Mitchell Officer Logan Weiss was recently reinstated and is back to work. In fact, the public minutes at the city of Minatare show him being hired as a part-time officer there. He'll be in the cage Saturday night as he seeks revenge in a title match in Mitchell at LCS 36 Out Cold. Will he recapture the title, or will he remain defeated?

The Panhandle Humane Society is asking for your help. They recently took in 11 puppies with ringworm and they are working their hardest to get them back to health. There is a list of items and things that you can help with listed on our Facebook page in that share from Panhandle Humane Society.

William Frederick Cody was born on this day February 26th, 1846. Rodeos have been a big part of Nebraska since 1882 when the man known as Buffalo Bill organized the old glory blowout in North Platte with steer roping, horse racing, and bronc riding. Buffalo Bill may be gone, but rodeos live on.

On Monday at approximately 3:40 in the afternoon the Mitchell Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to a report of a small grass fire on Highway 26 just east of town. Crews determined the cause was a car driving by that had an entire wheel assembly detached from the vehicle and rolled into the drive vegetation. The assembly was extremely hot and started the road ditch on fire. Fire was quickly contained and extinguished. Mitchell Volunteer Fire Department responded with two trucks and seven personnel.

Lots of events going on at this time of the year including that pancake feed in Oshkosh. That's for the Oshkosh Nebraska Volunteer Fire Department 5-7pm Saturday night at the auditorium.

And don't forget to get out and vote. We support candidates that believe in transparency and accountability and we feel that Ricky Trevino for Morrill County Sheriff is a great candidate for the job. This will be the first Sheriff election in Morrill County in almost 16 years in its right around the corner.

Don't forget about the rare planetary alignment on February 28th. Look up into the sky to see the planets all lined up from Earth's viewpoint.

And a couple of good theater events to catch. The Christian movie "I Can Only Imagine 2" is now showing at the Nile Theatre through March 5th. And the Midwest Theatre in Scottsbluff is going to be a fun place to be on Friday night, if you're a Beatles fan. Performed by Nebraska based brothers Billy, Matthew and Ryan, this dynamic performance lets you decide the entire set list. That's a Beatles interactive experience called Yesterday and Today. Friday at the Midwest.

Our calendar of events is free online and our Look Who's Hiring section as well. Catch that and our daily news at PanhandleScanner.com.

Also, our cover photo comes from a story out of Omaha where a sinkhole swallowed up two vehicles on Pacific Street at 67th in Omaha Tuesday afternoon.

https://www.3newsnow.com/news/local-news/breaking-sinkhole-swallows-vehicles-blocks-traffic-on-pacific-st

Speaking of Gering, several things going on there, first of all, a longtime friend and a gentleman that I actually traded baseball cards with years ago passed away recently. We would like to offer our prayers and condolences for the family and friends of Fred Lockwood, a local businessman and leader for many years his name lives on in the community.

Also in Gering, be aware of some power outages scheduled for today, starting at 10:30 am this morning on Country Club Road. Check our Facebook page for those exact addresses, but be aware of that power outage today.

On Sunday night around 6:30 pm there was a serious motor vehicle accident with an unconscious lady who was extricated and unresponsive lying on the ground on West Overland and Avenue I. We are happy to report there were no fatalities in that accident.

We hear that there is a rare planetary alignment happening on February 28th. Seven worlds, one sky. On this night, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune will appear aligned across our horizon. They are not perfectly lined up in space, but from Earth's perspective, they will form a breathtaking visual alignment. This is more than an astronomical event. It's a moment. Check it out. February 28th, look up into the night times sky and see if you can spot the seven planets lining up.

So is something big happening because the planets are lining up? Maybe it's that fight night in Mitchell. LCS 36, Out Cold. If you're a fight fan, you don't want to miss it. Find this event and more on our free community calendar and don't forget our free Look Who's Hiring section as well.

Well, let's start off with some positive news. How about a happy birthday?

Happy 89th birthday to Nebraska football legendary coach and Nebraska Congressman Tom Osborne. Born February 23, 1937 in Hastings, Nebraska, Osborne's impact goes far beyond the football field shaping generations of Huskers and leaving a legacy that still defines the state today. Help us all say happy birthday to coach Tom Osborne.

You obviously know that we do the news, but we also have two sections on our news page that are really helpful to the community. We have a Look Who's Hiring section that is free to any employers who wish to post, as well as a Community Calendar. Again, that is also free. If you have either a hiring post or a calendar announcement, please feel free to tag @PanhandleScanner or send it to us directly at sbcoscanner@gmail.com.

As usual, over the weekend, Scanner traffic indicated a lot of different incidents, including arrests, traffic stops with citations and just warnings, probable cause searches, a structure fire and several motor vehicle accidents.

Last evening, one particular motor vehicle accident occurred around West Overland and Avenue I in Scottsbluff. Initially reported by bystanders as a fatality accident, we're praying that that was not the case. We'll have more details on that accident today on Panhandle Scanner.

If you'd like to listen to Scanner traffic and hear the incidents as they take place, you can do so by simply visiting our website at panhandlescanner.com and click on listen.

Well unfortunately it was a day filled with several car accidents around the panhandle, at least four that we know of, but fortunately no fatal or serious injuries to our knowledge. Let's take a look.

First, at 5.37 a.m. there was a single vehicle accident near the bridge on the expressway in Scottsbluff, that's Highway 71, mile marker 61. One female transported to regional west. Then at 8.05 a.m. on west 36th and Avenue I, an MVA was reported at 10.45 which is injury accident, but regional 2 had a patient refusal on that one. Then at 8.46, mile marker 176, highway 27th, an iPhone alert came in. It was an MVA rollover with one patient transported to Box Butte General Hospital. And before we get to that last accident, we have a little humor break here.

Trooper 248 and others were out around mile marker 62 on highway 30 westbound chasing four pot belly pigs, making sure that they didn't get onto the highway. They did finally capture two of those four bacon makers, with two others still running north of highway 30. Please watch out if you're in that area.

And finally, at 4:30 there was a two vehicle accident on Hhighway 26 westbound, that's a 10-.45 or injury accident aroundCounty Road 12. Airlink went on standby in case there was need for transport and blood began to be arranged for, but in the end, it was minor injuries only.

A really busy day was traffic on Panhandle Scanner. To listen yourself, just go to PanhandleScanner.com and click on listen.

Everyone's talking about the weather and that's expected. Certainly a change from yesterday's high of 51 degrees to today's high of only around 18 degrees with negative wind chill factors happening right now. Feels like negative 7 as we wake up. So far the list for closures is short with Hemingford public schools closing and the following schools all with a late start. Chadron public schools, Chadron State College, Garden County, Morrill Public Schools, Sioux County and Western Nebraska Community College in Alliance. Find those closings and late starts on our weather page on panhandlescander.com which will take you directly to the closings on KCMI's web page. Courtesy of the weather threat, weather widget.

Wildfires continue in Oklahoma and closer to home in the northern panhandle in Brown County. A fire in Brown County has burned an estimated 800 acres and stretches about 5 miles. Officials say a power line may have sparked it. Courtesy of Brown County Sheriff's Office.

Congratulations to Jasmine Garcia and Liz Menke. Jasmine won the Class A state title and Liz took home the Class B state title in Nebraska and girls wrestling. Jasmine is from Scottsbluff High School and Liz is from Bridgeport. Congratulations to you, ladies.

How about some scanner humor from Back the Blue?

If a child refuses to take a nap, are they guilty of resisting arrest?

And don't forget our community calendar and our Look Who's Hiring sections on panhandlescander.com. Those sections are free so please submit your events or your hiring notices to us through the page or the email listed on Panhandle Scanner.

(SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb.) -- Yesterday was a miserable day for folks in the Panhandle. Today our highs should hit in the 50's, but snow is expected overnight.

(BAYARD, Neb.) -- Early this morning, a house fire was reported in Bayard around the 300 block of First Avenue. We received word that all individuals were out of the house safely and we ask everyone to please pray for everyone involved. Find a follow up on our Facebook page later today.

(GERING, Neb.) -- The City of Gering has announced a road closure for 5 Rocks Road from M Street to Kimball Avenue. The closure is likely to last for approximately 3 days. That's Five Rocks Road from M Street to Kimball Avenue, likely closed now through Friday.

(SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb.) -- Shortly after 1.30 pm on Monday, the Scotts Bluff Fire Department was paged out for a report of power lines down at 27th Street in the Business Center area. While in route, dispatch also advised units that there was a tree on fire as a result of the downed lines. Upon arrival, it was discovered that the service mast had come detached from the building along with a meter box due to the high winds. There were smoldering leaves that were extinguished which were near the gas meter. Due to the damage, the businesses were advised they would not have power until repairs were made. This was a good reminder whether commercial or residential that dead vegetation poses a significant fire risk when you mix it with an ignition source and wind. Please keep dead vegetation cleaned up especially around your home or business, roofs and gutters and near power lines. Find this story and an annual report from the Scotts Bluff Fire Department that they presented to the City Council last night on our Facebook page at Panhandle Scanner.

(SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb.) -- A particularly dangerous situation, or PDS, which is a red flag warning, remains in effect for portions of the Panhandle in much of western, southwest, central, and north-central Nebraska, as the majority of the state is in extreme fire danger today. That high wind warning also remains in effect.

(MORRILL COUNTY, Neb.) -- We learned today that Ricky Trevino, who's running for a Morrill County Sheriff, and yours truly, have something in common. Recently, Coach Joe Lentz passed away, and Ricky writes, There's zero chance I would be in the position I am today without you, Coach. Thank you for always believing in me. Go Steelers! We all remember Coach Joe Lentz from Bayard, Nebraska, once a teacher at Minatare High School, where I attended. A great teacher, a great man, a great leader, and a great friend. Rest in peace, Joe Lentz.

(SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb.) -- And some news from our scanner traffic;. Early this morning out on County Road 26 at a rural address, a 36-year-old female reported a gash on her arm and bruises, possibly from a 10-34 or altercation. The female was walking on Highway 26, when she was found two miles east of there, by ambulance services. She was taken to Regional West Medical Center, and no further traffic was heard on this incident.

(DEUEL COUNTY, Neb.) -- In another unfortunate incident, a high-speed chase occurred two nights ago, that started in Nebraska around mile marker 110 on I-80, and ended up at the spur in Colorado on I-76. Unfortunately, the driver was deceased from the crash, after troopers had lost visual with the vehicle. Prayers and condolences for everyone involved in that situation.