HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2005-09-07, Page 3Customers 'disgusted' by gas prices
Diesel vehicles becoming more popular as gas rises to $1.37 a litre
By Susan Hundertmark
Expositor Editor
While customers at
Seaforth gas stations see gas
prices, which peaked at $1.37
a litre last week, as "corporate
gouging," some consumers
are trading in their gas -
guzzlers for more efficient
vehicles.
"This is ridiculous. I'm just
disgusted," said John Scarrow,
of Seaforth on Saturday as he
filled up his van and several
tanks for an upcoming boat
trip.
Scarrow said he has a hard
time believing that Hurricane
Katrina in the southern U.S. is
the cause of the almost 40 -
cent price hike last week
when Canada produces the
gas used locally.
"We still have to go to work
so they've got us by the
throat. I almost can't afford to
go to work with these prices,"
he said.
Robert Preuss, of Mildmay,
who was filling up on his way
through Seaforth, said he's
worried how the prices will
affect Local farmers as they
harvest their crops this fall.
"It's going to cost more to
combine the beans and corn.
They're up against the wall,"
he said.
He added that the prices are
going to "put a damper" on
his vacation plans.
"It's corporate gouging, of
course. They're making huge
profits off of a disaster that's
hurt a lot of people when
they're still selling the product
that's in the ground," said a
woman filling up in Seaforth.
"The upside is that people
might use their petroleum
products more wisely," she
added.
Len Teatero, of Teatero
Motor Products, said sales of
diesel trucks, compact cars
and motorcycles were brisk
on Saturday.
"One guy who'd been
humming and hawing for the
last month over a motorcycle
came in and bought one today.
He said the reason was
yesterday's price - as soon as
it hit $1.36, he came in," said
Teatero.
He said more customers are
asking about diesel cars and
trucks since they're 20 to 30
per cent less expensive for
fuel.
"Diesel trucks are our bread
and butter and they'll sell
even better now," he said.
He added that diesel cars
are becoming more attractive
to buyers since they get 65 to
70 miles to the gallon but he
hasn't heard a lot of requests
yet for Hybrid cars or Smart
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Vehicles were still lining up
for fuel on Friday when
prices peaked at $1.37 a litre.
cars.
"They're still very
expensive," he said.
Teatero pointed out
however that customers who
buy gas -guzzling Hummers,
which he said are lucky to get
12 miles to the gallon, are not
changing their buying habits.
"They very seldom asked
for financing and when they
can afford to spend more than
$80,000 on a vehicle out of
their pocket, they don't care
about the price of gas," he
said.
However, he said he's
noticing a growing interest in
scooters, which get 75 miles
to the gallon.
Joanne Matthews, • of
Egmondville, bought a 49.7
cc scooter which she uses to
drive to her job in a
downtown store in Seaforth.
"I'd been wanting one for
two or three years because I
knew they were cheap on
gas," she said.
She bought her scooter in
March in the U.S. for $1,000
and has driven it in all
weather but snow. She said
she's also impressed that she
only needs a regular driver's
licence and house insurance to
drive it.
"I know I've saved quite a
bit of money with it. And, it's
very easy to operate. I think
my mother could ride on it
and she's 87," she said.
The scooter has room for
storage under the seat and
with a basket on the back,
Matthews can transport her
groceries on the scooter. Its
top speed is 35 miles per hour.
"It's all you need in town,"
she said.
Schoolyear begins
y
with labour p eace
Over 18,500 students throughout the Avon Maitland District
School Board wrapped up their summer vacations and headed
back to school Tuesday at 54 public elementary and secondary
schools.
The new school year began with labour peace as the public
board has contract agreements in place with all of its teacher
unions and a tentative contract agreement with its custodial and
maintenance staff.
All of the agreements do not expire until 2008.
Superintendent of Education Barry Wagner left the board at
the end of June to join the Thames Valley District School Board.
He has been replaced by Ted Doherty, former system
principal of student success, and previously principal at
Goderich District Collegiate Institute.
Doherty will hold the title of executive officer with
responsibility for school operations and student success.
Four more elementary schools have adopted the balanced
school day system, where the day is divided into three 100
minute learning segments with two 40 -minute nutrition breaks.
The addition of Blyth, Hullett, Wingham and East Wawanosh
Public Schools brings the total number of Avon Maitland
schools using the balanced school day to 14.
The other schools are Upper Thames in Mitchell, Sprucedale
in Shakespeare, North Easthope, Anne Hathaway in Stratford,
Milverton, Mornington, Grey, Huron Centennial in Brucefield,
Usborne Central and Zurich Public School.
Students at a number of schools across the district will begin
the year in newly -renovated surroundings:
As a result of funding made available by the province in the
Good Places to Learn Initiative, schools across the district were
on the receiving end of new roofs, windows, floors, electrical
upgrades, boilers and other infrastructure enhancements.
This ongoing program will continue throughout the next
couple of years as the board invests over $15 million into school
facility improvements.
Among events coming to the area in the new school year will
be three citizenship forums in September, October and
November and will involve over 240 community members from
across the district.
The forums will focus on developing the positive attributes on
which the board will build its citizenship initiatives in support of
the board's goal of developing positive citizenship qualities in
all students.
They wll1 take place on Thursday, Sept. 29, Thursday, Oct.
20, and Thursday, Nov. 24 from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at the Mitchell
Community Centre.
For a FREE ESTIMATE
call Jeff Wilson
1-866-266-5166
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