In your story about gas prices rising in the area (March 16), I find it laughable that Mr. McNeill asserts that gas prices in Moore County are anywhere close to being lower than surrounding counties.

Perhaps he was referring to folks that do not leave Moore County, because all one has to do is drive to the Hess station at the intersection of N.C. 211 and N.C. 220 to see significantly lower prices. Or they can go to Fayetteville and see the prices at any of the stations along Highway 401, or they can go to Sanford and see the prices along U.S. 1. Then Rockingham.

In other words, any county surrounding Moore County has lower prices. And don’t think the people visiting this area during the U.S. Open won’t figure it out in no time. They will stop and fill up before getting here, or wait until they leave — generating even more revenue for the surrounding counties during an event that should bring our local economy a lot of money.

Sad, but true.

John Bigger

Southern Pines