Local News
Gas prices lower in surrounding areas
By David Lazenby
davidl@cullmantimes.com
Frugal motorists traveling this weekend may want to wait to fill up their tanks.
Lower petroleum prices can be found in Huntsville, Decatur, Laceys Springs, Priceville and Hartselle, according to a Web site that tracks national gas prices, www. GasBuddy.com.
The Internet site stated at least one station in these north Alabama communities have the lowest priced gas in the state — $3.79 per gallon of unleaded fuel.
According to the Web site, gas was available Wednesday for this price at select Kangaroo, Jet-Pep, RaceWay and Wavaho stations.
However, going out of town does not guarantee motorists will spend less on fuel; Several Huntsville and Decatur gas stations were selling gas on Tuesday for as much as $3.99, according to the Web site.
The Web site reported prices in Birmingham range from $3.80 a gallon to $4.09 — the national average price according to a recent Associated Press story.
The story reported the average price for regular gas purchased in Alabama is $3.94 per gallon — $1.10 more than the price this time last year.
Regular unleaded gas sold in Cullman ranges in price from $3.87 to $3.99 — the price at several Cullman gas stations.
One of the most expensive places to buy gas in the state is Auburn.
According to www.GasBuddy.com, four stations in the southeastern Alabama college town sell gas for $4.09 per gallon.
Richard Saba, an Auburn University associate professor of economics, said variables that determine gas prices include proximity to interstate highways and convenience
“I think a lot of it has to do with the traffic. Here in Auburn when you get close to the university, prices go up,” Saba said. “If you get on the interstate prices they are higher,” he said.
For those who choose to fill up in Cullman County, part of their cost will be used to pay for paving, repairing, maintaining and resurfacing county roads.
Cullman County Administrator Gary Teichmiller authored a report on revenue from the 1-cent per gallon county gasoline tax that state the county’s revenue from the tax in fiscal year 2006 was $73,630.
Teichmiller said current figures indicate this income is going down because although most are spending more money at the pumps, they are buying fewer gallons of gas.
County roads, as well as bridges, also benefit from a local sales tax which contributes $100,008 each year toward that effort.
Saba said the prices Americans are currently paying for fuel is significantly lower than the cost in many industrialized nations.
“They’re still a quite a bit lower than other parts of the world,” he said about the prices, noting motorists in Britain pay about $10 per gallon.
- Local News
-
-
Scheduled power outage Sunday
Six city intersections will be without power due to electrical maintenance Sunday, so city police are urging local drivers to be cautious.
-
Fugitive alleged child molester found
A Cullman County man who has been on the run since he was accused of molesting a child in 2006, was found in Mississippi Tuesday.
-
Man arrested for impersonating deputy
A local man who allegedly impersonated a Cullman County Sheriff’s deputy was arrested by a real one Thursday.
-
Possible homicide in Fairview
Cullman County Sheriff’s deputies are investigating a possible homicide, which occurred in Fairview Friday.
-
Residents tour local farm, industries
The Cullman County Farm-City committee held their annual tour Thursday and toured Birmingham Fastener, Tinney Farms and the Cullman Stockyard.
-
Veterans Day celebration starts Saturday morning
A city and county-wide Veteran’s Day celebration will be Saturday morning at 8 a.m. with Civil War re-enactors a Depot Park. Events will continue throughout the day at the Festhalle Market Platz.
-
Hanceville police recover active meth lab, stolen property in home
Two Hanceville men are behind bars after police allegedly recovered a working meth lab and about $20,000 worth of stolen property Wednesday from a local residence.
-
City: Water meets all standards
As far as Cullman city officials are concerned, they provide some of the highest-quality water in the area.
-
Sumiton fugitive returned to Cullman to face charges
A Sumiton man who eluded about 50 area law enforcement officers during an April manhunt, only to be arrested in Walker County in July, was recently returned to Cullman County to face charges.
-
Cleaning up
Nearly half a dozen workers have spent time at Cullman Memory Gardens this week, mowing and trimming a cemetery that has largely been neglected the past year.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Scheduled power outage Sunday
