County residents seek ways to cope with $3 gasoline
By BARRY HALVORSON news@leader-news.com

L-N Photo Illustration Money To Burn? As gasoline prices soar in the wake of record crude oil prices, Wharton County residents are changing habits and vehicles in order to cope with the rapidly escalating cost of fuel.

As gas prices burst through the $3 per gallon barrier once again at a number of local service stations and convenience stores selling fuel, some area residents are starting to have to rethink their driving habits.

El Campo resident Freddie Escobar was filling up his Dodge Caravan at the pump while his wife waited in the driver's seat.

"I work in Wharton and I've been having my wife drive me to work and then pick me up," he said. "My vehicle is a 1984 Chevy pickup with a large four barrel engine and if we're going to eat at these gas prices, it has to stay parked."

He added if prices get much higher, he'll have to consider finding more fuel efficient transportation.

"If it gets worse, I'll have to look at getting a motorcycle."

In addition to changing his daily commute, Escobar added it has also changed his weekend plans.

"When we don't have any chores to do, my wife and I like to take off on driving trips to places like the Hill County," he said. "Now we have to stay home and watch TV just so we can save some money."

Wharton resident Herman Johnson also has altered his travel plans due to the price at the pump. A Wharton County Precinct 1 employee, Johnson spends his off time traveling the rodeo circuit - at least that's what he's done up until now.

"It's affecting me, sure," he said as he filled up his pickup. "I used to go to rodeos and stuff like that. It's ridiculous."

Van Vleck resident Kristi Champion was filling up in Wharton before returning home Thursday morning. Among her methods of dealing with the gas price issue to is always leave a little room in the tank of her Suburban.

"I never put more than $40 in at a time," she said. "With the way prices fluctuate up and down, you don't want to fill up and then see it cheaper the next day. But I don't think the prices are ever going to go down that much."

And with a college age son now driving, Champion said each increase in fuel costs is felt by the family.

"The more drivers in the family the more you see it," she said. "A lot of our budget goes just for gas. I haven't figured it up because I'm scared what the percentage really would be."

And while she tries to eliminate unnecessary trips to the store or combine errands, Champion added fuel prices won't eliminate all of the family's travels.

"Life is short and we are not promised a tomorrow," she said. "So I am not going to let gas prices keep me from making memories with my family and friends. I can cut back somewhere else."

While Champion was heading out of town to return home, Wharton's Star Mendoza was heading out of town to her job in Sugar Land.

She started filling her gas tank before looking at the price. When she did realize the price at the pump, it demanded a double take.

"It's a little scary the way prices are going up," she said. "It seems like only a couple of years ago, it was just getting over $2."

She said the increased price has her considering looking for employment closer to home, but added she didn't want to give up her current job.

"I graduated from high school last year and got a raise when I took the new job so right now I'm breaking even. But this is kind of that job before a job and I like my situation so I'll commute for now."

El Campo resident Kirk Furch said he finds the latest price high "a bit outrageous" based on reports Shell Oil is reporting $1 billion in profits. So he scouts around to find the best prices.

"My personal car is a Grand Cherokee, but right now I'm not planning on trading it in on something more fuel efficient because I just finished paying it off a few months ago."

The manager of the Valero station on Boling Highway, Michael Forbes said he's seen customers decide against filling up.

"Most of the people who have commented on it said they find the latest increase disappointing," Forbes said. "And I've seen people drive up, take one look and then a second look and get back in their car drive way without getting any gas."

Like many other stations in the area, Forbes said his location will start requiring either credit card payments or cash payments in advance. He said it's something he doesn't enjoy forcing on his customers, but is something he's got to do.

"I know our customers don't like it," he said. "They're used to waving at the customer service representative (cashier) and having the pump turned on. But because of problems with drive offs, our corporate offices are requiring pre-payment. If one of our people don't get prepayment and there is a drive off, they'll force me to fire the CSR and I don't want to have to do that."

Wharton's Fernando Hernandez sees things from both sides of the pump as one of the gas cashiers at the Wharton H-E-B.

"Most of the people ask me what's going on and if the prices are going higher," he said. "And I really don't have an answer for them."

Hernandez, who drives a Chevrolet pickup, said he's made changes in the way he drives as well.

"No more crusin'," he said. "On weekends, I've always liked to drive around and see what's going on in town. But with the price of gas, you just can't do that anymore. I'm planning taking some vacation time soon and so I'll probably do some driving then so I'm doing less now so I can afford it."