Published: October 10, 2008 11:18 pm      

Residents fill up tanks as gas prices drop below $3

BLUEFIELD, Va. — Gasoline prices hovering above and even dropping below the $3 a gallon mark were easing financial strains somewhat for area residents who hoped that the cost of fueling their vehicles keeps going down.

According to Friday’s edition of the AAA Daily Fuel Gauge, the West Virginia’s price for regular gas was $3.38 a gallon while Virginia’s average dropped to $3.30.

Prices in Mercer County and in Tazewell County, Va., dipped below statewide averages. In Princeton, the price reached as low as $3.19 a gallon. Stations in Bluefield, Va., had prices as low as $2.98 a gallon, and at least one Tazewell, Va., store reported selling gasoline for $2.96 a gallon.

Area consumers said the new prices offered some relief for their budgets.

“It’s better than it was,” said Rebecca Vancamp of Athens.

“It’s much better than it was,” added her coworker, Tina Via. “But I live around Wytheville, so it’s much lower there. It’s about 10 to 15 cents cheaper a gallon.”

The lower cost of gas was welcomed, but more would help, some consumers said.

“If it just went down a little lower,” said Mark Tedder of the Spanishburg area. “If it got down to $2 or $2.50, it would be great. That would really help the economy. Three dollars a gallon doesn’t sound like a lot, but it adds up fast if you drive a lot.”

Cheaper gas prices was good news, but other improvement would be welcomed, too, consumers said.

“It would really great if the (stock) market went up,” said Jim Milam of Bluefield.

One Mercer County resident said less expensive travel would allow her to resume some regular trips she had cut back.

“I would go to Beckley to see my stepdaughter at least once a week, but now that’s once a month,” said Mary Ramsey of Princeton. “Now I only go places that I have to go to. If I don’t have to go, I don’t. I know I’d go see my stepdaughter more often.”

— Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@bdtonline.com