30 SEP 05: GAS. UP. NOW.
Well, well - could it be Georgia's Governor knew what he was doing all along? Some Columbus gas stations are reporting spot shortages, even before today's expected rush to fill up and save money. If your tank's already full, may I suggest spending the afternoon touring Phenix City....
Thursday's evening news reported all offshore oil refineries in the Gulf of Mexico now are shut down. That could mean less gas at area stations for a while -- and that "bumper car" stunt I had to use last weekend could become popular across Columbus.
The lowest-priced gas stations in Columbus sold regular unleaded at $2.69 a gallon Monday. When I checked around South Commons Thursday night, the price was $2.99 - and at that price, you don't even get a ride wristband discount to the Greater Columbus Fair.
We've warned you that the Georgia fuel tax suspension ends tonight. Prices went down 15 cents a gallon right after it began early in the month. Now the state's revenue commissioner says prices should NOT go up right away this weekend. What political office does HE plan to go after next year?
The Georgia revenue commissioner explains fuel taxes should NOT be imposed on gas purchased while taxes were suspended. Trouble is, we expected just the opposite four weeks ago - a price cut on gas purchased when fuel taxes were on. So please don't deny drivers their right to panic....
The Georgia revenue department advises gas stations can increase prices on fuel they buy next week, once the tax suspension ends. But if refineries in the Gulf of Mexico are closed, where will stations get that gas? Can managers hold an oil "drill-in" outside the state Capitol?
So given the current low gas price of $2.99 a gallon, we can safely guess the price will stand at $3.15 or higher a week from now. We'll know prices are bad if Summit stations suddenly change their names to "Valley."
Governor Sonny Perdue estimates the fuel tax suspension during September cost the state of Georgia 75 million dollars. We would go farther - and estimate his call to close schools for two days cost him 75,000 votes next year.
(Some of us are tempted to say the call to close schools also cost a life. But who really knows why that Shaw High School student was riding around Columbus at 1:45 a.m....)
E-MAIL UPDATE: They couldn't "Ask Mr. Foster," so they ask us:
You blogged about Reggie Foster from Sunny 100 last year. I'm guessing that station has changed format.
Do you know where she went? I ask because you seem to be all knowing about Columbus.
Thanks for the help.
Greg Hoffman
Thanks for the nice words, Greg - but believe me, I am NOT "all knowing" about Columbus. If I was, I'd know where all the single women are....
But anyway: Reggie Foster's name happened to come up the other day around some friends of mine. I'm told she had her baby, then moved to North Carolina. Apparently she couldn't work out a deal to do commercials for The Growing Room.
You don't have to give up on Reggie Foster completely. We searched online Thursday night, and found another one on the radio. In fact, he's a priest on Vatican Radio -- with a show called "The Latin Lover." We would have guessed Marc Anthony would host a program like this....
By the way, I don't think WGSY "Sunny 100" has changed its format at all. At least, I haven't heard anyone talk about making a big switch -- or even changing to "Totally 90's Weekends" instead of 80's.
Now other items big and small, as the end of September draws near:
+ The Greater Columbus Fair had a special night for hurricane survivors, letting them in the gate and on the rides free. Hopefully everyone else understood this -- and especially understood why few people wanted to ride the "Tornado."
+ An Opelika business owner told WRBL about an interesting survey conducted in Auburn last year. It showed 75 percent of Auburn University students didn't know Opelika exists! I guess geography isn't a popular major anymore....
(Instant Message to Jay Leno: If this gives you an idea for an Auburn version of "Jaywalking," I want at least a guest appearance on your show.)
+ Professional golf writers visited the Robert Trent Jones "Grand National" course in Lee County. The British writers must have been puzzled by this name - and asked each other where the horses and steeplechase track were.
+ A check of our blog hosting service showed Thursday's post was number 777. So where's my free roll of quarters to play games at Victoryland?
(BLOGGER'S NOTE: Daily blogging may diminish over the next couple of weeks, as we prepare for a fall vacation.)
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