New heights

TUSCUMBIA - Chanting "make our future last, down with gas," residents of SunBridge Care and Rehabilitation protested gasoline prices, which topped $3 a gallon in the Shoals on Thursday.

"These gas prices are terrible," SunBridge resident Dusty Davis said as she waved a protest sign. "I have family in New Orleans who can't afford to come visit because gas prices are so high. It's just terrible."

Gas prices at many convenience stores around the Shoals rose more than a dime a gallon Thursday. For the first time since 2005, regular gasoline is selling for $3 a gallon or more throughout the area.

Numerous SunBridge residents expressed sadness that out-of-town relatives are now hard-pressed to afford a visit.

The protest at the SunBridge facility in Tuscumbia was part of a National Nursing Home Week observance. As residents searched for something to protest to commemorate the era of the 1960s, gasoline prices were the choice, said Wendell Greanleaf, an activities assistant. "It's so sad to see these residents who want to see their families but their family members cannot afford the gas to come see them."

The residents are not alone in feeling the pain of high gasoline prices. Misty Davison notified her supervisors Thursday that she is

leaving her job as an activities assistant, citing the cost of driving more than 70 miles each way from her home in Morris Chapel, Tenn.

"It's cost me about $90 a week for gas just to come to work. Half my check is going for gas," Davison said.

She hopes to find a job closer to her home.

As he filled a gas can at a Florence convenience store Thursday, Doug Hartley said rising gasoline prices are taking a toll on his lawn care business.

"I'm doing my best not to raise my customers' prices. But if gas prices don't come down, I'll have to raise my prices," Hartley said.

The high cost of gasoline has already forced Hartley to forego hiring helpers for the summer grass cutting season. By doing all the work himself, he hopes to avoid increasing his prices.

"These high gas prices are affecting everything," Hartley said.

As he filled his vehicle with regular gas at $3 a gallon on Thursday, Gerald Pigg, of Florence, said he cannot understand how gas prices can jump 10 cents or more in a single day. "It always goes up a dime in a single lick and comes down a penny or two at a time."

An Internet-based call for a gasoline boycott Tuesday that was aimed at forcing oil companies to reduce gasoline prices apparently failed to reach its objective. Motorists were encouraged to avoid purchasing gas Tuesday to show unity for lower prices.

Oil company officials have blamed the increasing prices on problems at refineries that are causing the demand for gasoline to exceed the supply.

Clay Ingram, spokesman for AAA Alabama said equipment breakdowns have reduced the gasoline output of several refineries. He does not believe, however, the $3 a gallon and higher prices for gasoline are warranted.

"There's really no clear cut reason for these runaway gas prices," Ingram said. "The national average retail price for gasoline is setting new records every day."

Some analysts have predicted gasoline will hit $4 per gallon this summer. Ingram does not foresee prices in Alabama going that high.

"I don't see any reason for us to get anywhere close to $4. Then again, I don't see any reason for gas to be selling to $3 a gallon based on what wholesale gasoline futures and crude oil are trading for," Ingram said.

Ted Kavich, chief of the Waterloo Volunteer Fire Department, said rising fuel prices are causing many emergency agencies to delay plans to purchase new equipment. "When we are spending more money on fuel, we have less money to spend elsewhere."

He said volunteers for emergency agencies are also feeling the pinch of the high prices. "When a volunteer makes a fire call or responds to a medical call or other emergency, the money for their gas comes out of their own billfold. These high fuel prices are really driving up the cost of being a volunteer."

Shoals oil distributor Glenn Tatum said motorists should call federal officials and urge them to intervene in the gasoline price runup. "What the American people ought to do is call the president and ask him to bring down gas prices."

The prices Tatum's company pays for fuel jumped 14 cents per gallon Wednesday night and were expected to rise another eight cents Thursday night.

"We've cut back on our profit trying to hold off on passing all of these increases on to the customers," Tatum said. "These service stations are having it really tough. They're not making any money. It's the fat cat oil companies who run the refineries that's making all the money."

Dennis Sherer can be reached at 740-5746 or dennis.sherer@timesdaily.com.