A Paxton man is facing several felony charges after he allegedly fled from police in his vehicle.

At around 1:18 a.m., on October 8, North Platte Police officer observed a red 2004 Ford Focus make an improper turn near 4th and Jeffers Streets.

Investigator John Deal says the officer initiated a traffic stop near 9th and Jeffers Streets and the vehicle pulled over.

However, as the officer exited his vehicle, the suspect vehicle, driven by 26-year-old Kyle Bartlett, fled the scene and headed northbound on Jeffers Street.

A vehicle pursuit began and Bartlett allegedly turned westbound onto Rodeo Road. Due to the high rate of speed the vehicle was traveling at, the officer decided to terminate the pursuit.

Shortly after the pursuit was terminated, the officer came upon a vehicle in the ditch on the south side of Rodeo Road, in between Sherman and Jackson Streets.

Witnesses reported that the vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed when Bartlett lost control and slid into the oncoming lane of traffic, struck a pole, rolled and came to rest in the ditch.

Officers got a description of the suspect and located Bartlett, who matched the description, at Caseys on Rodeo Road and Buffalo Bill Avenue.

Deal says Bartlett had minor cuts on his body and officers determined that there was probable cause to place him under arrest.

Additionally, Deal says Bartlett smelled of alcohol and tested over the legal limit to drive when given a breath test.

Bartlett was transported to the Lincoln County Detention Center and jailed on charges of driving under the influence-4th offense, driving under suspension, leaving the scene of an accident, willful reckless driving, and driving under suspension.

Deal says the vehicle sustained about $5,000 dollars in damage, the damage to the light pole is estimated to be around $3,000.

 

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Halloween may still be weeks out, but Nebraska companies are already planning for winter holiday hiring.

It’s not too early to start applying for seasonal jobs, even if the peak holiday season is two months away. Those looking to make some extra holiday cash could find a mixed bag of opportunity: Some retailers are adding more seasonal workers, while others are pulling back.

At Omaha Steaks, seasonal hiring this year will jump 30 percent over last year.

But Nebraska Furniture Mart says it plans to hire 55 to 60 cashiers, warehouse workers and sales people, down from 100 people last year. Oriental Trading also says it would hire fewer seasonal workers, roughly 600 people this year, down from 1,000 people last year.

CAMARILLO, Calif. (AP) — The average price of a gallon of regular-grade gasoline fell 7 cents nationally over the past two weeks to $2.56.

Industry analyst Trilby Lundberg of the Lundberg Survey said Sunday that the drop comes as crude oil prices drop and flooded refineries on the hurricane-battered Gulf Coast return to operation.

Lundberg says she expects further price cuts as refiners make cheaper “winter grade” gasoline.

The current price is 27 cents above where it was a year ago.

Gas in San Francisco was the highest in the contiguous United States at an average of $3.11 a gallon. The lowest was in St. Louis at $2.20 a gallon.

The U.S. average diesel price is $2.76, down a penny from two weeks ago.