By By Lydia Grimes – Features writer
Gas prices are steadily climbing across the country, reaching a national average of $2.05 per gallon of regular gas on Friday.
According to the Web site www.alabamagasprices.com, the lowest recorded gas price in the state Friday was in Tuscaloosa on Buttermilk Road, where regular gas was $1.89 a gallon. The highest was reported in Athens, where one station is selling regular gasoline at $2.15 a gallon.
In Brewton, gas prices are hitting middle of the road with the cost of regular gas nearing $2 a gallon. Residents in Brewton, as well as owners and managers of gas stations, say they are a little unclear as to why the gas prices keep rising.
Passing through Brewton from Florida and heading to Madison, Ala., one consumer realized purchasing gas is inevitable. Travel is a necessity these days.
Gas station owners are sick over the rising prices and bear no control over the climbing prices.
Greer Horton is the owner of Horton Texaco and Endzone. He's just as baffled about the rising prices as the rest of the country.
Doreen Hadley, owner of C &D on St. Nicholas, has the same sentiments as Horton.
When gas prices are on the rise, driving off before paying becomes rampant in some areas. In order to deter stealing gas, a lot of gas stations are implementing a pay before you pump rule.
While no reports of driving off before paying have been reported in the Brewton area, local law enforcement officials are aware of those kinds of situations.
But despite the climbing gas prices, one particular resident knows he will continue to purchase gas.
It's all because of the price of oil, according to Dr. Peter Clark, associate professor of chemical and biological engineering at the University of Alabama, and a petroleum expert.