Frustration in the South as a Gasoline Shortage Drags On

ATLANTA


…Radio stations let callers fume about the shortage over the airwaves. Fights have been reported at many gas stations. And a community college system in Asheville, N.C., closed temporarily last week after many students stopped driving to class.

In Douglas County, Ga., the police issued a request for motorists to stop calling 911 for help finding open gas stations. A county spokeswoman said the calls could interfere with the ability to handle emergencies.

In Atlanta, where sprawl forces lengthy commutes, drivers shook their heads in disbelief over around-the-block lines at stations, $4-per-gallon prices and the prospect of two more weeks of problems.