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Published on Wednesday, July 3, 2002
in the Gainesville Sun
Fourth of July fireworks displays won't be the only places where long fuses will be needed this holiday weekend.
Patience will be a virtue as those shopping for their holiday barbecues find themselves in longer-than-normal grocery store lines, and motorists - taking advantage of what, for many, will be a four-day weekend - get caught up in heavy traffic.
Grocery store managers expect to do a brisk business heading into, and during, the long weekend as consumers load their carts with fried chicken, country-style barbecue ribs, baked beans, watermelons, beer and more.
Tom Bustetter, manager of the Winn-Dixie grocery store at 3503 SW Archer Road, projected sales will go up 15 percent this holiday weekend.
"It usually gets pretty busy here before the Fourth, and we'll probably get a rush the morning of the Fourth," said Bustetter.
The holiday rush also begins this afternoon on area highways.
Nearly 2 million Floridians will travel more than 50 miles this weekend, according to the AAA Auto Club South. Across the country, 36.7 million people will clog the nation's highways, a 1 percent increase over last year.
W.D. Williams, AAA manager in Gainesville, said although the increase is nothing out of the ordinary, it nevertheless indicates that "the nation has made some progress in pulling out of its economic slump.
"Traveling, all facets of it, were the hardest-hit industries," said Williams, referring to post-Sept. 11 attacks. "This is a very good sign for the economy."
The Florida Highway Patrol will add extra troopers this weekend in a "wolfpack," a roving patrol specifically looking for drunken drivers and other dangerous motorists, Trooper Mike Cagle said.
The FHP is suspending all office operations this week, so more officers can be on the roads, Cagle said.
Police presence
The Alachua County Sheriff's Office will have an additional 18 deputies on the job Wednesday and Thursday as part of its Operation Independence 2002 - geared toward the monitoring of a variety of potential problems, according to Deputy Craig Thompson.
The complaints deputies get most around the Fourth include loud parties, illegal fireworks and drunken driving, Thompson said.
"If you're going to be out and about, be careful," he said. "If you're going to a party and you plan on drinking, please plan on having a designated driver."
The Gainesville Police Department won't add extra patrols, but has instructed officers to keep an eye out for drunken driving, GPD Cpl. Keith Kameg said.
The Alachua Police Department will add extra officers and police Explorers to deal with traffic, Maj. Clovis Watson said.
Hotel business
But while roadways will be busier than usual, the Fourth is one of the slowest times for area hotels.
Out of the 165 rooms available at the Holiday Inn on 1250 W. University Ave., fewer than half as of Tuesday evening were booked for the festive weekend.
"We're usually busier than this, but summers are slow because students leave town," night manager Carol Ellis said.
At Comfort Inn of Gainesville, 2435 SW 13th St., more than half the rooms available for stay were full Tuesday.
But desk clerk Toriano Caffie said he does not expect a stampede of guests to fill the rest of the hotel.
"It's usually dead here around this time," said Caffie, comparing the number overload of guests the hotel receives during football season and spring graduation at the University of Florida.
Lower gas prices
In any case, holiday weekend travelers will be in for a bit of a pleasant surprise - lower gas prices.
In light of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries' June 26 decision to keep prices steady for the next three months, Florida's statewide average for regular unleaded gas is at $1.41 per gallon, 16 cents below last year's average at this time.
In Gainesville, regular unleaded fuel is at $1.44 per gallon, while mid-grade and premium gas is priced at about $1.60 per gallon - all of which reflect an estimated 10- to 20-cent drop from last year's prices, according to AAA Auto Club South reports.
"They still seem kind of high," said Fayardcq Joseph, pumping premium fuel at $1.65 per gallon Tuesday evening outside the Shell gas station on 34th Street and Archer Road. "I don't see much of a difference."
Williams said the price slash also comes in response to increased consumer demand for fuel during the summer traveling season.
"This is all good news for the people who are going to be traveling this summer," Williams said. "Historically, Gainesville's prices are above the average, one of the highest in the state along with West Palm."
At $1.49 per gallon for regular unleaded fuel, West Palm Beach and Boca Raton are currently the priciest areas in the state.
Pensacola has the lowest fuel prices, with regular unleaded at $1.35 per gallon.
Hot temperatures
Travelers will have hot temperatures to contend with on their journey, with a high near 90 today and a 40 percent chance of rain today and night. Lows will drop to about 70, according to the National Weather Service.
There is a 50 percent chance of rain Thursday with highs near 90 and lows near 70 again, with similar weather through the weekend.