Gas Prices Nearing $4 Cause Residents To Brake On Memorial Day Travel Plans
Posted
Jennifer Peryam-jperyam@timesuniononline.com
Memorial Day weekend is more than a week away, but rising gas prices will keep many area residents off the road.
North Manchester resident Beth Wimmer filled up her gas tank with unleaded gas Wednesday afternoon at Lassus gas station on U.S. 30 where a gallon of unleaded gas was $3.95.
She said her family normally travels to Decatur to visit her sister on Memorial Day weekend, but high gas prices will force her family to stay home this year.Wimmer, who is employed as a home health aide, said she travels around Kosciusko County to take care of people with medical conditions during the week.
"By the time I drive for my job all day, it puts a strain on money to travel with my family," Wimmer said.
Matt Bowling, assistant manager for Lassus, Fort Wayne, who was working for Warsaw's Lassus manager while he was on vacation, said the price for a gallon of unleaded gas was $3.79 and jumped to $3.95 Tuesday afternoon. Other gas stations reported the same jump on Tuesday.
High gas prices were experienced by drivers at other local gas stations.
Dennis Hart, Bourbon, filled up his truck Wednesday afternoon at Owen's Fuel Center on Center Street where unleaded gas was $3.94 a gallon. Hart watched as the numbers on the fuel screen climbed to $90 for 23 gallons of unleaded gasoline.
Hart owns two horses he usually takes to competitions on Memorial Day weekend in Kokomo and Muncie. He said he will not make it to the races this year because of the gas prices.
"I should have the horses pull me around instead of driving my truck with these high gas prices," Hart joked.
A gallon of unleaded gas at the Shell station on Detroit Street was $3.95 a gallon Wednesday afternoon.
Shell station manager Loretta Dunn said the increased gas prices will affect the way the gas station will complete its maintenance this summer. The gas station normally hires a landscaping business to mow the gas station's lawn, but will have the station's maintenance employees mow the grass this summer.
Don Chambers, a South Bend resident, who was in Warsaw installing an air conditioner, filled up his gas tank Wednesday afternoon at Gas America on Detroit Street. The price for a gallon of unleaded fuel was $3.89 Tuesday afternoon.
He said gasoline prices in Warsaw are similar to South Bend. He paid $70 to fill his truck with 18 gallons of unleaded gas at Gas America.
"My family will spend more time at our home this summer and consider taking bike trips," Chambers said.
Warsaw resident Ed Cotton filled up his vehicle Wednesday afternoon at Murphy USA, where unleaded gas also was $3.89 per gallon.
Cotton said he and his wife will visit relatives in Fort Wayne over Memorial Day weekend, but may not take a vacation this summer due to high gas prices.
