Cheap gas in radio stunt causes both grins and grimaces

Cleveland Plain

Not an April Fool’s joke, but this article in the Cleveland Plain Dealer does provide a glimpse of what people’s reactions might be to shortages in the near future.

Cheap gas in radio stunt causes both grins and grimaces in Avon

Friday, April 01, 2005
Carl Matzelle
Plain Dealer Reporter

Avon — Anita Baker was one of the first drivers to fill up with 96-cent gasoline, and her grin was a mile long.

But the traffic backup on Interstate 90 was even longer.

A radio station promotion Thursday afternoon at the Circle K Marathon on Chester Road snarled traffic, frustrated police and angered people trying to get to work or home.

Joe Sexstella, a landscaper, said he probably burned a half-tank of gas sitting in traffic while waiting to get to his job at Parker Hannifin in Avon.

“This is ridiculous,” Sexstella said. “What if there was a real emergency happening?”

Baker was happier. Baker, who works at Ford Motor Co. in Brook Park, waited two hours to get gas. “I went to work two hours early this morning so I could be here,” she said.

Joevondra Lynch of Elyria drove from her doctor’s appointment with 6-week-old son Davon for the bargain. “We’ll never see prices this low again,” she said.

The promotion was sponsored from 4 to 5 p.m. by WAKS (Kiss) FM/96.5 — thus the price. The station paid the difference between 96 cents per gallon and the regular price, $2.19. When it was over, Circle K had pumped 1,900 gallons of gas into 422 cars, manager Karen Walker said.

Avon Police Lt. Larry Fischbach was one of four officers on duty directing traffic. Police responded to at least three fender-benders.

“We knew there would be some problems, especially at this intersection, which is a traffic nightmare at rush hour to begin with,” Fischbach said.

One of the last drivers to fill up was Sherry Bartram of Lakewood. But it wasn’t easy.

Bartram’s car ran out of gas and had to be pushed to the pump.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
cmatzelle -at- plaind.com, 800-767-2821

Cleveland Plain