By Steve Steiner
Managing editor
editor@elkintribune.com


Unlike neighboring communities, it appears that as of Thursday, Elkin gas stations had plenty of gas. However, unconfirmed rumors were that some gas stations, notably in Boonville, were said to be out of regular unleaded.

For the most part, drivers pulling up to gas stations in and around Elkin seemed unconcerned.

"I imagine it's coming," said David Hopkins. "But not yet. Come Friday, though, anything can happen."

Hopkins was busy filling a portable gasoline canister. That gas, he said, was for his lawn mower.

Throughout Elkin, drivers did not appear to be in a panic. A number of gas pumps had no or little traffic late Thursday afternoon. It was a far cry from reports of incidents taking place in Charlotte and Hickory. In Charlotte, there were several incidents reported in which fights had broken out. In Hickory, regular unleaded was selling for $3.99 gallon at most stations. A few stations advertised $3.84 per gallon. Regardless the cost, drivers experienced long lines, even at neighborhood gas stations. It was reported that almost every station in Asheville had run out of gas.

For gas/convenience store operators, there didn't appear to be any problem at the moment.

"So far, we haven't had any problem (getting gas from our distributor)," said Brenda Blackburn of Frank and Bo's Convenience Store on North Bridge Street.

An employee at one of the Hess gas stations did say that it had run out of gas earlier in the week, but that a recent delivery left it with a plentiful supply.

A number of drivers expressed skepticism that the shortage was actual and not an attempt to boost prices once more.

"I haven't seen any line, so I don't know what all the hoopla's all about," said Robin Holton. "Now, as for what I'm paying per gallon of gas ..."

Easley responds

Gov. Easley on Thursday issued the following update and statement concerning gasoline shipments to North Carolina.

"Officials with Colonial Pipeline have advised us that a major shipment of fuel is now arriving in Spartanburg, with a large amount of the product destined for hard-hit areas in western North Carolina. An even larger shipment is expected to arrive in Charlotte tomorrow afternoon. Pipeline officials tell us that the gasoline supply in terminals serving Charlotte and western North Carolina should be close to normal when those shipments are complete. Additional shipments in the pipeline destined for the Triad and Triangle area and eastern North Carolina, including the Selma terminal, are also expected to arrive today and tomorrow.

"Until these terminals are filled, I have requested and several oil companies have agreed to release additional supplies from Tennessee and Wilmington to provide a bridge until the pipeline supplies are normalized. I also want to thank Congressman Heath Shuler for his help in getting additional fuel from east Tennessee sent to western North Carolina," he said.