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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 28, 2015)
10 Wednesday, January 28, 2015 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon Opening on City’s parks board Gas prices slide toward $2/gallon Drivers in the U.S. are paying the lowest average gas prices in nearly six years, and the national average is likely to slide below $2 per gallon before the end of the month, the Automobile Association of America (AAA) reports. Last week, the national average slipped six cents to $2.05 per gallon. The Oregon average fell nine cents to $2.23 a gallon. “Both averages are at their lowest prices since April 2009,” says AAA Oregon/ Idaho Public Affairs Director Marie Dodds. “AAA expects the national average to remain below $3 per gallon in 2015, barring any major fluctuations in the global price of crude oil.” Pump prices are directly connected to the global price of crude oil, with crude costs accounting for more than half of the price of gasoline. Like pump prices, crude-oil prices have also posted multi-year lows due to global supply outpacing demand, which has kept downward pressure on the price of crude and ulti- mately meant hefty discounts in retail gasoline for U.S. drivers. Since June 2014, West Texas Intermediate crude has lost more than half of its value, falling from $107 to below $50 per barrel. The national average has dropped a record 117 con- secutive days, for a total a savings of $1.29 per gallon during this stretch. Oregon’s average has declined for 56 days in a row, falling 82 cents during this time. Drivers in 25 states are paying averages below $2 per gallon; up 18 from one week ago. For the second week in a row the midcon- tinent region features the nation’s least expensive states for retail gasoline, led by: Missouri ($1.76) and Oklahoma ($1.80). Hawaii ($3.31) remains the only state with an average above $3 per gallon, and is joined by Alaska ($2.82) and New York ($2.50) as the nation’s only states posting averages at or above $2.50 per gallon. Drivers in 48 states, includ- ing Oregon, and Washington, D.C. are saving more than $1 per gallon compared to a year ago, while only the nation’s most expensive markets Hawaii (-69 cents) and Alaska (-83 cents) are outside of this trend. The steepest declines are in Illinois (-$1.37) and Michigan (-$1.36). While increased seasonal demand and maintenance at refineries may result in a Dr. Thomas R. Rheuben General, Cosmetic, Implant and Family Dentistry ~ Celebrating 20 years Serving Sisters ~ 541-549-0109 | 304 W. Adams Ave. | Sisters photo by Jim coRnelius Sisters drivers are taking advantage of low prices at the pump. typical 30- to 50-cent increase in pump prices this spring, a major global price recovery is unlikely to be the horizon, absent any major market disruptions or geopolitical events. These sustained lower prices would be a result of projected shifts in the balance between global oil supply and demand. This shift has been keyed by increased crude oil produc- tion in the United States and Canada and was accelerated by OPEC’s decision this fall to sustain production levels despite declines in the price of crude by electing to allow the market to self-regulate. By not continuing its traditional role as a market stabilizer and adjusting production to sus- tain higher prices, OPEC has put pressure on high-cost oil- production countries such as the United States and Canada. Both countries are reportedly starting to respond by easing domestic production forecasts and trimming operations and administrative costs. Crude prices are less than half of what they were six months ago, and sustained low prices will also con- tinue to test the resiliency of countries that rely on oil revenue to fund government services. The City of Sisters is accepting applications for one “out-of-city-limits” volunteer to serve on the Sisters City Parks Advisory Board to fill a recently vacated position for a term ending on August 1. The board advises the Sisters City Council on mat- ters pertaining to the acqui- sition, development, main- tenance and preservation of public parks, trails and open-space areas. The City Parks Advisory Board typi- cally meets once a month and consists of seven members appointed by the mayor, with the consent of the Council. Applications can be found on the City website at www. ci.sisters.or.us or at Sisters City Hall, 520 E. Cascade Ave. Applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. on Friday, February 20. For more information contact the com- munity development director, Pauline Hardie, at 541-323- 5208 or at phardie@ci.sisters. or.us. Experts estimate that 1 in 10 children will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday. DARKNESS TO LIGHT “Stewards of Children” Help Prevent Child Abuse in Sisters FREE Interactive training program provides participants with 5 steps to better protect children from sexual abuse, gives tools for recognizing the signs of sexual abuse, responding to suspicions, and gives simple ways to minimize opportunities for abuse in our community. CRAB FEED Sat., Feb. 7 All-you-can-eat buffet... crab, oysters, spaghetti & meatballs, pasta Alfredo, g garlic bread & red p potatoes. Begins at 5 p.m., call for reservations... 541-549-3663 Thursday, February 12, 2015 • 5:30-8:30 p.m. Sisters High School 1700 McKinney Butte Rd., Sisters Free through a generous grant provided to KIDS Center. Food and childcare are also provided! RSVP by Monday, February 2 for this training and for childcare. Call Kim Bohme at 541-306-6062.