(GERING, Neb.) -- The City of Gering notified residents yesterday that a water main break was causing discolored water. Hopefully that was rectified yesterday.

Multi-day severe weather chances here. According to the weather service in Cheyenne, chances for afternoon showers and thunderstorms will tick up a notch on Friday between 30 and 70 percent. In addition, a few isolated storms will have the potential to become strong to severe.

Primary hazards include lightning, gusty winds, isolated hail, and local heavy rainfall. Banner County completed containment lines on the graduation fire as well. They finished lines through the timber on both the northeast and southwest ends as well as mop up on hot spots on the interior.

They had one aerial drop of retardant from the seat plane. They will continue monitoring with one truck and a crew. And this is a serious matter.

Cattle producers are urged to be vigilant after a tick-borne parasite that affects cattle was detected in several Nebraska counties. The Asian longhorn tick, ALHT, is the primary carrier responsible for spreading the parasite. Although ALHT has not been found in Nebraska, cattle imported into the state have tested positive.

The tick has already become established in 26 other states. The best method of prevention is tick control and good management practices for your herd, including external parasite control, said state veterinarian Dr. Roger Dudley. If the disease is suspected, you should report it to your veterinarian immediately.

Panhandle Scanner covers news in the areas of police and crime, severe weather, fire and rescue, missing persons, and safety alerts, and that's another safety alert brought to you today by R&C Welding in Gering, Nebraska.

USDA LINK TO INFO

Asian longhorned ticks (Haemaphysalis longicornis) are invasive pests that pose a serious threat to livestock in the United States. They can form large infestations on one animal and spread diseases that impact both animals and people.

In November 2017, public health officials in Hunterdon County, NJ, reported the first detection of the Asian longhorned tick outside of a U.S. port of entry inspection site. It then spread to numerous Eastern States. Asian longhorned ticks aren't normally found in the Western Hemisphere.

APHIS provides updates to State agencies to inform planning, surveillance, outreach, control, and overall collaboration on the Asian longhorned tick.

What to Look For

Asian longhorned tick populations in the United States are parthenogenetic, meaning an individual female can lay eggs without mating, essentially cloning herself to create the next generation. This is one reason the Asian longhorned tick is a successful invader of new geographic regions.

• Unfed Asian longhorned ticks are light reddish-tan to dark reddish with brown, dark markings.
• Adult females are grey-green with yellowish markings and the size of a pea after feeding. Male ticks are rare.
• Other unfed stages of the tick are very small, about the size of a sesame seed, or even smaller.

For more details, view our pest alert (1004.99 KB) and story map about Asian longhorned ticks.

How To Prevent This Disease

Various strategies effectively mitigate tick populations on hosts and in the environment.

• Regular tick treatments should be effective against Asian longhorned ticks. Consult your veterinarian or agriculture extension agent about which products to use.
• Check your livestock for ticks regularly.
• Safely remove ticks from people and pets as quickly as possible. If you think you've found an Asian longhorned tick, seal it in a zip-top bag and give it to your veterinarian for identification.

• Habitat modifications can help prevent ticks on feedlots and pastures. This may include mowing grass, removing trees, reducing shade by thinning trees, understory removal, and placing mulch barriers.
• Apply acaricide using label instructions to tick habitats, such as woodland edges and grassy patches, during times when ticks are most actively seeking hosts. Although it varies by year, Asian longhorned ticks are generally active from March to November. Consult your State and local regulations for approved acaricides.

We do have some good news on the Ash Pole Fire in Dawes County. As of yesterday, it is 100% contained.

The fire burned 1,026 acres from the 16th of May to the 26th. It is now 100% contained. Speaking of Dawes County, the Nebraska Department of Transportation is set to begin work on Highway 20 and Chadron and to the west.

NDOT said in a release that the work will begin on two stretches of Highway 20 that reference Post Mile Marker 56 to 58, which is between Chadron and Whitney. You will see Simon Contractors doing asphalt paving, culvert extensions, sidewalks, flumes, grading, and seating. Those traveling on Highway 20 can expect to see lane restrictions, so please use caution.

The project is set to begin June 8th, with completion anticipated in November. Highway 20, road work, please be careful. LaGrange Fire responded to a mutual aid request from Banner County Fire in Nebraska. They were able to send two tenders, one tactical tender, four Type 6 trucks, and 11 firefighters to fight that fire in Banner County.

At 2:09 p.m., Banner County was dispatched to a rekindle on the Graduation Fire. They wrote, "A hotspot buried in the duff under some trees blew out from the high winds. It spread to the canyon directly west and north into the grass. Currently we’re estimating 105 acres with half that in timber. We’ve got a perimeter established and have trucks on night shift to monitor. Thank you to the neighboring departments for assistance and the local neighbors for help with a disc, water trucks,and food."

See more about that on our Facebook page at Panhandle Scanner.

Lots of coverage in our five main areas. Police and Crime, Fire and Rescue, Severe Weather, Missing Persons, and Safety Alerts. All on PanhandleScanner.com. Speaking of crime, don't forget that public record every Monday through Friday when available. For more daily news like this and more, visit our page at Panhandle Scanner on Facebook or our website at PanhandleScanner.com. Packed with resources.

Statistics have been released from the Nebraska Department of Transportation on fatality deaths for the month of April, 2026. NDOT reports that 11 fatalities occurred in 10 fatal crashes.

Only half wore seatbelts, 30% were unrestrained, and 20% were unknown. A striking 81.8% of the fatalities occurred in rural areas. Interestingly, zero on the interstate.

Highway and local routes saw the highest danger with 7 deaths on non-interstate highways, 4 on local roads, and 0 on I-80. One motorcyclist was among those killed. Data compiled through mid-May shows that Nebraska fatalities in January through April 2026 reached 65 total deaths across 58 fatal crashes.

This marks a slight improvement compared to previous years. The state recorded 68 fatalities during the same time frame last year and averaged 73 fatalities between 22 and 25. A slight improvement over the previous years.

Let's all do our best to be defensive drivers.

The Western Nebraska Pioneers open play tonight at Gering's Oregon Trail Park. The game begins at 6:35 p.m.

Meanwhile in court action, Dimitri Enriquez, the driver of the vehicle in that fatal beating of 15-year-old Wyatt Reeb, was seen in court this week. A plea deal has been reached for accessory to second-degree murder.

Ramon Enriquez and Corey Rotherham Jr. are still facing charges. The primary suspect in the case, Devante Castellaw, was sentenced to 55 years in prison, all stemming over accusations of a stolen car. Please anyone listening, parents or children, control your emotions.

For more positive news, catch our Elevate Your Day Morning podcast or our blog at diggingdeeper.net.

That's going to do it for today's scanner news.