GAS LINES FORM AROUND LINCOLN -- AGAIN
Stations Again Running Low or Out of Fuel

By Jon Mayhew

LINCOLNTON -- For the second time in about two weeks, motorists spent their Wednesday afternoon and evening lined up at the gas pump.

And while stations across Lincoln County were running low on gas or even out of gas, the prices were remaining stable.

Some stations, like the Southern Convenience Store on Riverside Drive and the Shell station at the corner of East Main Street and General's Boulevard, were only allowing customers to purchase $10 worth of gas.

"It's so we don't run out of fuel," said a clerk at Southern Convenience.

Some residents took the gas lines and restriction in stride; others, however, weren't happy about either situation.

"I waited 30 minutes and can only get $10 of fuel," said one customer who didn't want to give his name. "It seems like a waste."

Another man said he drove from Gastonia to Lincolnton because many stations in Gaston were out of fuel.

"It's really bad there," he said, as he pumped gas at the Shell station on East Main Street and General's Boulevard.

Another woman, who lives in Lincolnton, said she drove to four different gas stations, eventually coming to the Shell station.

"The other stations I went to had longer lines," said the woman.

Still, other stations didn't have any traffic at their pumps. That's because the stations ran out of fuel.

Jessica Sandborne at the Raceway in Boger City said her station ran out of gas on Wednesday afternoon.

"We'll have another delivery around midnight Thursday," said Sandborne as she swept the parking lot.



Other stations, like the Petro Express, got a gas delivery after 1 a.m. Thursday. The clerk there said customers couldn't readily fuel up, however.

"My pumps are going to be down until at least 7 a.m.," said the clerk.

Gas lines in Lincoln were still formed at the Times Turn Around on East Main Street in Boger City but were dispersed by authorities around 10 p.m.

"We needed to get these folks to move on because the store needed to close," said one police officer. "Many people were understanding, though, even though they waited for at least 30 minutes."