Possible war contributes to increased gas prices for local residents, students and daily drivers

Local motorists have places to go and people to see. Now they have to come up with more money to pay – for a gallon of gas. Gasoline prices in Carbondale climbed roughly 8 cents per gallon since last week.

Despite the recent week’s price hike, local citizens are still consuming as much gas and driving just as many miles as they did before the increase, according to area gas-station managers.

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Most local gas stations priced a gallon of gas close to $1.63 Wednesday, which was two cents above the day’s national average. The average price last February was 53 cents lower at $1.10 per gallon.

Paul Wilson, manager of the Carbondale Citgo on West Main, said the price raise is beyond his control. He explained that his gas prices are set by his company, which bases its decision on a number of factors, such as competitors’ prices and the cost of crude oil. The threat of a future war in Iraq also drives up the price, he said.

“A lot of people think that I’m the one bringing the prices up, but I’ve got to work just like everybody else,” Wilson said.

Despite the recent price hike, Sheri Senn, manager of the Veach Short Stop on East Walnut, said that more expensive gas doesn’t keep the customers away.

“Americans will keep going where they need to go. It doesn’t matter if there’s a war going on or not,” Senn said.

One such American, a Carbondale man who likes to go by ‘G.W.,’ commutes back and forth from his job in Marion in an old pickup truck.

G.W. said the higher prices hurt his pocketbook and that his job does not earn him enough money to easily buy a new truck that is better on gas. The 42-mile round trip usually costs him $60 per week, but this week he has spent $72 to drive the same mileage.

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GW thought the gas prices were a result of the looming possible war in Iraq, and expressed his displeasure with how it affects his day-to-day life.

“I don’t feel it’s right. We’re Americans – it’s in their country. What business do we have over there?” G.W. said.

According to the Energy Information Administration, Americans’ personal vehicles burn 115 billion gallons of gasoline per year. That annual figure stays roughly the same, despite fluctuations in market value.

Another local motorist, Richard Carlsley, a senior in cinema, commutes around town and makes a trip to Oak Brook every other weekend to work on a film project. He said the high cost of the film had already put him in a bad financial situation, and the extra expense of gas has made things more difficult for him.

“I’ve got this film that’s already cost me nine grand, and now I’ve gotta spend an extra 10, 15 bucks a trip,” Carlsley said.

Reporter Brendan Collier can be reached at [email protected]