Local motorists race to beat rising fuel costs
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
MASON — Linda Bussell waited in line about 15 minutes before the gas station attendant approached her sport utility vehicle.
The Swifty Service Station at 613 Reading Road in Mason bustled as customers desperate for "cheap" gas lined Reading Road and Fifth Avenue Tuesday, May 13.
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Cars line Fifth Avenue at Main Street in downtown Mason for Swifty gas before prices rise Tuesday afternoon, May 13.
Cars line on Main Street in downtown Mason for Swifty gas before prices rise Tuesday afternoon, May 13.Customers detoured from fueling stations on Mason-Montgomery Road — where gas was $3.95 a gallon — and patiently waited for Swifty's $3.69 unleaded fuel.
The four-pump service station had at least 15 cars in line to be fueled at a time, with vehicles being added to the line before or after vehicles left.
"I have a Mobile card at UDF, but I came here," said Bussell, a Mason resident. Swifty gives its customers five cents off each gallon of gas purchased with cash.
Her daughter had purchased gas at the United Dairy Farmers station on Mason-Montgomery Road minutes before, and went home to warn her parents gas prices were rising.
Bussell said soaring gas prices hurt all consumers.
"What about these people on (public) assistance? And that little rebate check they're giving us, that ain't gonna help nobody," she said.
Sharon Bowling, of Mason, may beef up her morning exercise routine. She lives about two miles from her job with Mason City Schools and said, "I'm going to start walking, I think, if things don't get better."
Swifty employee Dwayne Powell couldn't keep track of how many cars he'd serviced Tuesday afternoon.
"I got here at noon, hoping to finish up a little paperwork," he said. There was a big change in plans once he drove up to the station.
The price of gas rose from $3.66 to $3.95 a gallon at UDF, said Shannon Plummer, an assistant manager at the Mason-Montgomery Road station. The station gets a few hours' notice as to when gas will go up, she said.
"We really don't get a whole lot of warning beforehand. If I'd known last night..." She trailed off, upset with herself for not purchasing the station's gas Monday, May 12.
UDF was one of the last stations to change its prices between 10 - 11 a.m. on May 13.
"Maybe our new president can do something," said Bussell.
Contact this reporter at (513) 696-4541 or dwilson@coxohio.com.
