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Highlands Today

County's Gas Prices Vary - From $3.69 To $4.79 - A Gallon

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By BILL RETTEW

Highlands Today

Published: September 15, 2008

SEBRING - The price of gas varied widely in Highlands County Sunday afternoon.

Where you pulled over to fill the tank showed just how much effect Tropical Storm Ike and the oil companies had on your pocketbook.

The sign towering above the Citgo station at U.S. 98 and U.S. 27 listed unleaded gasoline for sale at almost $4.80 cents a gallon, while just a couple of miles away, the Citgo and Stop 'n Shop Food Stores, at U.S. 27 and Golfview Road, cost less than $3.70 a gallon.

So why the difference of more than a dollar a gallon?

A store employee at the U.S. 98 and U.S. 27 gas station said he didn't know why the store's gas prices were higher. He didn't give his name.

Lee Pearson, of Sebring, bought half a tank for his vintage VW Beetle at about $3.70 a gallon, and hoped he wouldn't need to use his bike to get to work.

"I'm worried; if there is this much trouble and prices go up on the day a tropical storm hits, then at the end of the week, will we not be able to buy gas at all to get to work?" asked Pearson.

Bill Driggers, of Sebring, blamed the price fluctuations on politics.

"Somebody's got a monopoly," said Driggers. "There's plenty in the reserve. The bottom line - it's probably price gouging."

The state has a phone number to report suspected price gouging. Call 1-800-HELP-FLA.

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