$1.79 now considered cheap gas By Jeff Donaldson and Kelli DuFresne RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL March 19th, 2000 Now that regular unleaded gasoline has broken the $2-a-gallon mark at least one station in western Nevada, some drivers are searching to save pennies at the pumps.

It used to take one or two hours of pay to fill up the tank, said Tim Jordan of Fallon, who stopped Saturday at Sierra Sids in Sparks while in the area running errands. Now it takes three or four hours of pay

A month ago, Reno residents were paying an average $1.51 a gallon for unleaded, an American Automobile Association survey showed.

That was higher than much of the rest of the country at the time but looks like a bargain now that AAA reports Renos average at $1.86.

Two years ago in March, two gas stations in Reno and Carson City had lowered prices to 99 cents a gallon.

On Thursday, Sierra Sids decided to lower its price from $1.87 to $1.79, said Marcy Barba, vice president of the truck stop and casino. Clerks inside the store said business has been brisk since.

About 40 miles to the south, gas prices at Silver City RV Park north of Minden were attracting travelers and local residents.

Motorcyclist Kurt Davis of Carson City said he expects to see more bikes on the road if prices remain high.

With my 7.5-gallon tank, I can go from here to Las Vegas, he said.

Prices at the recreational-vehicle park in Douglas County, which has not enacted a 5-cent local gas tax that both Washoe County and Carson City have, are $1.77 for regular unleaded.

Washoe County and Carson City motorists pay gas taxes of more than 53 cents a gallon. Federal gas tax is 18.3 cents. State gas tax is 24.75 cents. Local taxes in Washoe County and Carson City are 10 cents a gallon.

http://www.rgj.com/news/stories/reno/953442439.html

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), March 19, 2000