Consumers fuming over fuel price hikes

As the price for a barrel of oil tumbled to below the $100 mark, Tiffany R. DeParasis cried foul.

The city resident wasn't seeing any of the return at the gasoline pumps.

Overnight, gasoline prices rose a few more cents even as the price for crude oil dropped to $94 per barrel.

"I don't understand," she said. "The price for oil is going down and we're still paying quite a bit."

The price for regular blend gasoline at Heller's on Lycoming Creek Road in Old Lycoming Township was $3.61 per gallon, six cents below the statewide average of $3.67.

Denise Jett, 48, filled up her car and suggested it was wrong for consumers to continue to be hit in the wallet when the cost for oil imports dropped.

Her husband, Kenneth, 47, reached by telephone later, placed blame on the continuing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, which he claimed were draining the national economy, and the impact of Hurricane Ike slamming the Texas and Louisiana shores and damaging refineries and fuel delivery systems.

City resident Bob Orso suggested the price increases at the pumps were caused by a lack of alternative fuels and unending need to drive.

"Truthfully," Orso said, "consumers bring it on themselves."

Bob Capone, who lives near Montoursville, was at a loss for any quick or easy answers.

"Our government regulates everything," he said. "It subsidizes farmers, regulates electricity and not too long ago regulated airlines and phone service, but we can't control fuel prices."

Capone said he is willing to use alternative fuels whenever cars are able to run on biofuels and ethanol and are mass-produced at prices affordable to Americans, but he doesn't see that happening soon.

He blamed the Washington, D.C., mentality and politicians who seem to be out-of-touch with the common man.

"When was the last time money came out of their pockets to fill their vehicles with gasoline, put food on the table and take themselves or their children to hospitals?" he asked.

Fran Cowles, 67, of Loyalsock Township agreed.

"We're paying for politicians to ride in airplanes and can't afford to ride in our cars," she said.

Becky James, 39, of Lock Haven said she is disabled due to an operation and suffers sciatic nerve pain. She must travel three times a month to Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, 90 minutes away, and is considering asking for help through social service agencies.

It's also getting frightening for city resident and single mother Lisa Keller, 37, who said for her to complete her weekly routine requires a real juggling act.

"It's either put gasoline in the car, get my father's medicine or put food on the table," she said.