The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

U.S. 301

Gas prices fall in Zephyrhills, Dade City

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Gas prices have now dropped for six weeks in a row. And those prices could fall even lower yet, especially after the price of oil is at its lowest point since May 2013.

“Motorists should continue to see a discount at the pump,” said AAA spokesman Mark Jenkins, in a release. “High domestic oil supplies, a decrease in global demand, and the easing of geopolitical tensions in Libya and Iraq are keeping downward pressure on gasoline prices.”

Beginning Monday, refineries will no longer need to sell summer-blend gasoline, Jenkins said. Winter-blend is cheaper to produce, which will help push prices even lower in the coming months.

The price for a gallon of regular unleaded fuel in Florida was $3.32 on Sunday, compared to $3.36 a week ago. That’s down 16 cents a gallon from a year ago.

The price for a barrel of oil settled at $92.27 on Friday, down a little more than a dollar from the previous week. It’s at its cheapest level in four months.

The price drop came as the International Energy Agency decreased its 2015 oil demand forecast late last week, where it estimated that global demand will rise just 1.3 percent next year.

“The bottom fell out of oil prices this week,” Jenkins said. “U.S. domestic oil production is set to hit a 45-year high by next year. Barring a major weather event in the Gulf, or overseas geopolitical tensions, we should continue to see oil prices fall.”

In Zephyrhills, gas is cheaper than most other places in the county, with six gas stations checking in at $3.15. Yet, the Citgo at Gall Boulevard and Chancey Road reported prices of $3.34. Dade City saw a range of $3.15 at the RaceWay on U.S. 301 and McDonald Road, to $3.29 at a BP station at the U.S. 98 Bypass.

Four locations in Land O’ Lakes offered gas at $3.19 on Sunday, according to GasBuddy.com. They included the RaceTrac on Land O’ Lakes Boulevard near Lake Patience Road and on State Road 52 near Silver Palm Boulevard, as well as the Citgo station on Land O’ Lakes Boulevard near Lake Patience Road as well, and the Mobil station on State Road 52 near the Suncoast Parkway.

The most expensive reported was $3.30 at a Sunoco station on Land O’ Lakes Boulevard near Causeway Boulevard.

In Lutz, gas prices Sunday ranged from $3.21 at the Circle K on Van Dyke and Old Tobacco roads, to $3.39 at two Shell stations near Van Dyke.

Wesley Chapel prices were the lowest at Sam’s Club at State Road 56 near Bruce B. Downs Boulevard at $3.16, and reportedly the most expensive at a Shell station nearby, where gas sold for $3.29.

Gas higher for summer, but not for long term

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Drivers probably were not happy to see gas prices jumping up just ahead of the Labor Day holiday, as they typically do when demand is higher, but they should be happy that it was still the cheapest Labor Day weekend gas in four years.

More than 29.7 million families gassed yup for a road trip on the weekend, according to AAA, with average prices nearly 19 cents cheaper than last year in Florida.

“There’s no doubt that low gas prices helped convince many Americans, who were on the fence about traveling, to take a trip during the holiday weekend,” said Mark Jenkins, a AAA spokesman, in a release. “Prices may get even cheaper in the coming months.”

That will come because of a mixture of higher domestic production in the fall, and lower demand, Jenkins said. In fact, he is expecting to see gas prices fall to below $3 a gallon before the end of the year. However, things that could spoil that would be refinery outages, or a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico.

Barrels of oil were trading at $97.88 at the beginning of August, but finished the month at $93.86, helping to push the national average gasoline pieces down 9 cents. That included a 6-cent drop in Florida, as well as 8 cents in Georgia and 7 cents in Tennessee.

Right now, Florida is averaging $3.37 per gallon, 3 cents more than last week, but down a nickel from a month ago.

As of Monday, the cheapest gas in Land O’ Lakes, according to GasBuddy.com, was at the Mobil station at State Road 52 near the Suncoast Parkway, where regular unleaded was listed at $3.19. The most expensive was at a Shell station on the corner of State Roads 54 and 56, with a price of $3.37.

In Wesley Chapel, gas prices ranged from $3.18 at Sam’s Club on State Road 56 near Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, to $3.38 at a Shell station at State Road 54 and Oakley Boulevard. Lutz saw prices as low as $3.26 at a Sunoco in State Road 54 and Collier Parkway, and as high as $3.39 at the Shell station at Van Dyke Road and Lakeshore Drive.

The cheapest gas in Zephyrhills as of Monday was at the Marathon at Eiland Boulevard and Geiger Road at a cost of $3.25. The most expensive was reported at Citgo at Wire and Otis Allen roads at $3.40. Dade City gas prices ranged from $3.26 at the RaceWay at U.S. 301 and McDonald Road, to a cash price of $3.39 at the BP station on U.S. 98 Bypass and Church Street.

 

Traveling? Labor Day gas prices expected at 4-year low

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When gas prices will start to climb again, no one knows. And while there may be a slight increase in time for the high-demand season of Labor Day weekend, AAA says expect those prices to be the lowest they’ve been in four years.

“Record-high oil production is keeping downward pressure on gas prices,” said AAA spokesman Mark Jenkins, in a release. “The bottom fell out again on oil prices last week, which should lead to another week of discounts at the pump despite rising demand, as 29.7 million Americans plan to take a road trip for Labor Day weekend.”

The price for a barrel of oil dropped $3.70 last week to $93.65 — its cheapest since January. Refineries are producing the most petroleum for this time of year since 1989, AAA said, primarily because of the shale boom, which has boosted oil production in the United States by 64 percent in the past five years.

Gas prices in Florida were at $3.34 on Sunday, down nearly 2 cents from the week before, and 15 cents lower than what they were a month ago. Prices also are 22 cents cheaper than Labor Day weekend last year.

Of the southern states AAA reviews in its report, Tennessee and the cheapest gas at $3.21 a gallon, down a penny from the week before, and 18 cents lower than Labor Day 2013.

The cheapest gallon of gas in the Land O’ Lakes area, according to GasBuddy.com, is at the RaceTrac on State Road 52 and Silver Palm Boulevard, where prices were reported late Sunday night at $3.11. The Shell station at the corner of State Road 54 and State Road 56 had the highest prices in the area at $3.37.

In Wesley Chapel, Sam’s Club on State Road 56 near Bruce B. Downs Boulevard had the cheapest gas at $3.14, with the Shell station at State Road 54 and Oakley Boulevard reporting $3.39.

In Lutz, the Chevron and Sunoco stations on State Road 54 and Collier Parkway both reported $3.18 Sunday night, while the most expensive was found at the Shell station at Van Dyke Road and Lakeshore Drive at $3.39.

Gas in Zephyrhills still remains a little pricier than other parts of the county, with GasBuddy’s lowest reported price at the Marathon station on the corner of Eiland Boulevard and Geiger Road where it cost $3.25 per gallon. The Citgo at County Road 54 and 20th Street was the most expensive at $3.34.

Dade City was a little cheaper, with $3.17 reported at the Clark station near the corner of U.S. 301 and Long Avenue. The most expensive was $3.31 at the Chevron station on the corner of Fort King Road and Clinton Avenue.

Why do gas prices seem to rise the more east one travels in Pasco County? Read all about it in this week’s print edition of The Laker/Lutz News, available Aug. 27.

World in chaos, but gas prices still dropping

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Gas prices are inching closer and closer to a milestone it hasn’t reached in nearly four years: Sell of less than $3 per gallon.

The decline in the cost of a gallon go gas continued last week, with Florida’s average dropping another 2 cents to $3.35 on Sunday, according to a new report from AAA – The Auto Club Group. In fact, gas prices in some metropolitan markets in the south have actually fallen below $3.20, which some stations not far from Tampa International Airport actually dipping below $3.10 as well.

That drop has taken place despite the turmoil happening overseas, said AAA spokesman Mark Jenkins.

“Motorists are reaping the benefits of booming domestic oil production, which has provided the cheapest gas prices for August in years,” he said, in a release. “The price of oil declined slightly last week, so gas prices could skip even more this week.”

Tensions between Russia and Ukraine continue, as well as some unrest in Libya. Yet, nothing overseas has disrupted oil distribution, Jenkins said. The price of a barrel of oil dropped 30 cents to $97.35, suggesting there is still more room for gas costs to drop.

Nationally, gas has averaged $3.46 a gallon, down  2 cents from a week ago. Florida gas is down 16 cents from a year ago, and 18 cents from just a month ago.

Gas prices in Land O’ Lakes on Sunday were reported as low as $3.15 at the Hess station on State Road 52 and U.S. 41, according to GasBuddy. The most expensive there was reported in the Shell station on State Road 54 and State Road 56, where prices checked in at $3.39 late Sunday night.

Prices were at $3.16 in some parts of Wesley Chapel and New Tampa, including the Sam’s Club on State Road 56 near Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, as well as the Kangaroo station at 14611 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. The most expensive in that area, according to GasBuddy, was the Shell station at County Road 54 and Oakley Boulevard.

In Lutz, prices were anywhere from $3.18 like at both a Chevron and Sunoco station at State Road 54 and Collier Parkway, and $3.39 at the Shell station at North Dale Mabry Highway and Van Dyke Road.

The cheapest gas in Zephyrhills was $3.28 at a Sunoco station at Gall Boulevard and Geiger Road, with the most expensive reported at Cumberland Farms at State Road 39 and U.S. 301, at $3.36.

Dade City was a lot better, at least for anyone willing to travel north toward Hernando County. The Shell station at Cortez Boulevard and U.S. 301 was selling gas at $3.19, according to GasBuddy, while the most costly was at a Citgo at Lock and 21st streets, where regular gas was selling for $3.49 Sunday.

 

Vandalism blocks opening of new Zephyrhills restaurant

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A successful restaurant near the Florida State Fairgrounds wants to expand into Zephyrhills, but nearly $40,000 in much-needed repair work on the new location could kill the deal.

The Zephyrhills City Council, meeting as the Community Redevelopment Agency, could approve a measure that would give Michael and Laura Andrews a chance to open a Smokehouse B-B-Q & Grill at 5740 Seventh St.

The Andrews want to take over the space formerly occupied by Pancho Villa’s Mexican Restaurant, and purchased the 36-year-old building for $95,000, according to county property records. The property sold in 2003 for $250,000, and was being sold as part of a short sale, according to a June letter from Rebecca Gaddis, a vice president at San Antonio Citizens Federal Credit Union.

The Andrews tried to get a Small Business Administration loan to help cover the purchase cost of the building and complete the major repairs, but the the condition of the building made that impossible, Gaddis said.

“The down payment, closing costs and required repairs will exhaust the available capital the Andrews currently have,” Gaddis said in her letter. “The opening of Smokehouse B-B-Q & Grill Inc., would be delayed, while the furniture and needed equipment to operate the business are purchased over time. ”

Gaddis added the restaurant could create 25 to 30 new jobs for Zephyrhills, and remove a vacant storefront from the city’s downtown.

Smokehouse B-B-Q was started in 2004 on U.S. 301, one mile north of Interstate 4 in Tampa, Gaddis said. Although revenue has steadily increased over the past few years, the Andrews felt they had reached their capacity at their current location, and wanted to add a second one.

The CRA is set to meet Aug. 11 at 5:30 p.m., at Zephyrhills City Hall, 5335 Eighth St.

Gas prices starting to stabilize despite declines

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The winning streak for gas customers has now continued into its 40th consecutive day as the price for a gallon of regular unleaded continues to drop in Florida.

But with oil prices finally starting to stabilize, it might not be long before those prices halt their free fall.

The price of oil dropped just 23 cents last week, compared to more than $4 the week before, according to a new report from AAA’s The Auto Club Group. That put the price of barrel at $97.65, which would suggest that gas prices should stabilize, too. But that hasn’t been happening.

“Prices are falling at about a half-cent a day, and aren’t showing signs of slowing down,” said AAA spokesman Mark Jenkins, in a release. “It’s unusual to see prices steadily decline in the late summer months, but increases in domestic oil supply are helping to offset fluctuations in demand during the busy summer travel season.

The average price for a gallon of regular gasoline in Florida was $3.37 Sunday, down from $3.41 a week ago, and $3.58 a month ago. It’s also well below the $3.54 Floridians were paying on average at the gas pump during this time in 2013.

The national average continues to drop as well, settling in at $3.48 compared to $3.50 just a week ago. That’s from a cost of $3.64 in July.

Gas prices late Sunday ranged from $3.19 at the Hess station on the corner of U.S. 41 and State Road 52 to $3.39 at the Shell station near the intersection of State Road 54 and State Road 56 in the Land O’ Lakes area, according to GasBuddy.com.

The Sam’s Club on State Road 56 near Bruce B. Downs Boulevard was the cheapest in the Wesley Chapel area at $3.18, while a Mobil station on County Road 54 near Oakley Boulevard checked in at $3.41. Gas in Lutz was slightly higher with $3.20 reported at the Citgo on U.S. 41 and Crenshaw Lake Road, with the high of $3.49 at the Shell station on North Dale Mabry Highway near Van Dyke Road.

East Pasco County continues to have some of the highest gas prices. Zephyrhills reported $3.29 at a Marathon station on the corner of Eiland Boulevard and Geiger Road, while the 7-Eleven in downtown Zephyrhills was selling gas at $3.38.

Dade City was even higher, the Shell station at Cortez Boulevard and U.S. 301 charging $3.26 on the low end Sunday, while a BP station on the U.S. 98 Bypass offered gas at $3.41.

 

Gas prices hit 4-year low

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Does the cost of gas seem cheaper than usual? It should, because drivers haven’t experienced prices like these since 2010.

Back then, gas was $2.74 per gallon, according to AAA. Within a year, it would jump nearly 80 cents, and climb even higher in 2011.

Yet, the national average of $3.50 set over the weekend not only is 3 cents cheaper than last week, but the lowest it’s been since those prices started to climb in August 2010.

“Typically, gasoline prices fluctuate in July and August, but for the most part, prices have steadily declined,” said AAA spokesman Mark Jenkins, in a release. “Oil prices decreased dramatically this week, so there’s no reason gas prices should go up any time soon. In fact, if these conditions continue, prices could eventually slip below $3 a gallon by the end of the year.”

Of course, there are always events that can get in the way of such an occurrence, like refinery outages, spikes in oil prices, and merely the threat of a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico, Jenkins said.

The price of a barrel of oil dropped $4.21 in just a week to $97.88 — the biggest weekly decline in seven months, and the lowest since February. Refineries are running at record levels, and there is more than enough gasoline in the market, which has helped bring down prices despite multiple overseas conflicts, AAA said.

Florida’s gas is at $3.41, down a nickel from last week, and at its lowest point since February. Just a month ago, gas in the state was at $3.61. Last year at this time, drivers were paying $3.58 at the pump on average.

As of last Sunday, gas prices in the Land O’ Lakes and Lutz area ranged from $3.21 to $3.49, according to GasBuddy.com, with the cheapest found at Lutz Petroleum on U.S. 41. The cheapest gas in the Wesley Chapel and New Tampa area was $3.22 at Sam’s Club on Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, with high prices around $3.47.

In the Zephyrhills area, gas cost between $3.37 and $3.42, the cheapest found at the Marathon station on Eiland Boulevard. However, drivers willing to go a little further for cheaper gas could find it at $3.31 at the Shell station on the corner of Cortez Boulevard and U.S. 301.

 

Local bank helping kids get ready for school

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The start of school is just weeks away, and First National Bank of Pasco is collecting supplies to help students be prepared with its fifth annual Stuff the Backpack Drive.

Through Aug. 4, the bank is collecting a number of different supplies to distribute to kids in Pasco County schools. They include pencils, pens, scissors, index cards, notebooks, folders, paper, glue sticks, colored pencils, liquid soap, Ziploc bags, crayons, tissues, highlighters, erasers, pencil boxes, backpacks and rulers.

The banks also will accept monetary donations, which will be used to purchase additional supplies.

Donations will be accepted at all three of the bank’s branches, including 13315 U.S. 301 in Dade City, as well as 37215 State Road 54 and 4518 Gall Blvd., both in Zephyrhills.

Classes start Aug. 18 in the county’s public schools.

Elevated toll road no more: FDOT rejects project

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It was on life support as early as last week, but now the Florida Department of Transportation says an unsolicited proposal from a private group of companies wanting to build an elevated toll road along the State Road 54/56 corridor is now officially dead.

“The department was unable to reach an agreement with International Infrastructure Partners LLC on a framework of financing and various design concepts for the corridor that would be acceptable to all parties and address the concerns of the local community,” FDOT secretary Ananth Prasad, said in a release. “In absence of this framework, advancing this project would not make any sense.”

Pasco Fiasco, a group of home and business owners along that 33-mile corridor who opposed the project, celebrated the decision, and said they are postponing a planned rally at Sunlake High School next week that was intended to build even more opposition to the project. Organizers told The Laker/Lutz News last week that they could still hold the rally either way, because a similar public project could be pushed forward as part of the county’s long-range transportation plan.

While FDOT and Pasco County officials have said future growth will require some sort of expansion of the corridor that connects Zephyrhills at U.S. 301 and New Port Richey at U.S. 19, the plan to build the elevated toll road came unsolicited last year by a construction group known for similar projects around the world.

The project itself had been chipped away over the last few months, as public sentiment against it grew — including from Pasco commissioners Henry Wilson and Jack Mariano. However, it went into a tailspin last week when Prasad admitted that discussions on how the project would be built started to fall apart when the developers, who at this point said they would raise the estimated $2.2 billion construction cost privately, started asking for public money to help fund it.

FDOT continues to work on other projects in the area as part of its five-year plan, Prasad said, including the widening of State Road 54 from the Suncoast Parkway to U.S. 41, as well as from Curley Road to Morris Bridge Road. It also will continue work toward starting the new State Road 56 leg from Meadow Point Boulevard to U.S. 301.

Altman officially files for school board re-election

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The District 1 seat for the Pasco County School Board finally has a candidate … and it’s the incumbent, Allen Altman.

Altman, whose district includes primarily schools in eastern Pasco County — including Zephyrhills, Wesley Chapel and Pasco high schools — made his re-election campaign official Wednesday.

Three school board seats are up for grabs this election cycle, with Cynthia Armstrong the lone candidate for her District 3 seat, and Marc Yacht challenging Steve Luikart for his district on the west side of the county.

Altman ran unopposed four years ago, raising $22,000. He originally won the seat in 2006, beating Cathi Compton and Willie Broner Jr., out-raising both $112,000 to $36,000.

Altman is an agent with Pasco County Farm Bureau Insurance, which maintains a local office at U.S. 301 in Dade City.

Candidates have until June 20 to qualify.