Gary White, owner of G&L Conoco, told Optimists the other day that the words "gas shortage" are not scare words, they're the real thing and Nebraska Citians had better prepare to accept them.
Gary told of incidences in which outof-town motorists came into his station and asked whether they could buy a full tank of gasoline.
That sounds kind of strange, but to the fuel people, they've been expecting it. Gary says the shortage will be felt in Nebraska City in two weeks to a month.
Optimists asked him a number of questions as to the cause. Gary backed up a few months and recalled the fuel oil shortage at Nebraska City's schools. He explained that the producers put the emphasis on that fuel and as a result, cutback on gasoline production. It was just a matter of time.
When will it end? Gary says he doesn't know the answer. But he said this winter will tell the tale.
Meanwhile, it's nearing vacation time and Gary says he intends to take his family on a vacation but he's not going to let the fuel gauge get below the half mark.
There is one other thing motorists can look forward to — gas prices are going up.
Family Circle printed an article in the May issue about gasoline that should be of interest at this gas shortage time.
The magazine said that all gasolines are the same and you're money-wise to buy your gas at the station that has the lowest price.
The lowest price may be at stations that just pump gas and sell pop or have a gas jockey manning several pumps at a do-it-yourself station.
That's all fine and good but what happens when you want the windshield washed or the oil changed? You better stick with your favorite station, the article concluded, which gets back to the elementary story. We're talking about SERVICE stations. And, if you've been going to your favorite service station regularly, you better stay with him. He's planning on supplying you during the shortage.
Well, we don't anticipate any trouble in you getting all the gas you need for the Arbor Day weekend in Nebraska City. The town has rolled out the red carpet and there are a lot of things going on that you want to take in.
The chautauqua Saturday night was billed as a great show and as this is written, we're confident the volunteers behind the scenes are looking forward to a special night.
That was scheduled at Senior High auditorium.
Wildwood will be open during the weekend and Stanwood Portnoy, Omaha, will be there to give demonstrations.
Mr. Portnoy has spent a lot of time in Nebraska City, not as a wood carver, but as a master carver in another field — Nebraska Outerwear products.
Ed Hunter can tell you all about Mr. Portnoy. It is his company that built the new Nebraska Outerwear factory in the industrial tract.
Then on Sunday morning, you can enjoy breakfast with the pilots and passengers at Grundman airport at the Jaycee fly-in.
Sam Deaver said meals will be free to pilots and passengers beginning at 7 a.m., and for us drivers there is a $1 charge. I don't know too much about airplanes, but I still have my beginner's pilot log and a lot of memories. I envy pilots and enjoy the fly-ins.
The special luncheon for the visiting dignitaries will be at the Elks this year. Governor Exon will be at the luncheon along with singer-entertainer Gordon MacRae.
The parade will be on Central Avenue and the program will follow that on the east portico of Arbor Lodge mansion, home of J. Sterling Morton, the Arbor Day founder.
Ed Ernst and his Arbor Day committee have allowed two hours on the program to include the National Arbor Day awards presentations. There will be over a dozen awards to be presented for the first time.
It will be a lengthy program, but worthwhile. Mr. MacRae and Mrs. Frank Morrison will also be on the program.
So you can see, there's a lot going on . . . not as much as the Centennial last year, but certainly a compliment to the community and the many people who have volunteered so many hours to direct such a fine celebration.
The National Safety Council says there's nothing greater than riding a bicycle, but cycling brings safety problems. The council estimates 900 people will be killed this year in bicycle-automobile accidents and that there will be one million bicycle-related accidents this year.
That sounds almost as bad as the Nebraska booklet on motorcycle laws. Motorcyclists are injured in nine out of 10 accidents in which they are involved.
The Safety Council says bicycle riding enthusiasts should use common sense safety precautions, keeping bikes off busy highways, riding single file, obeying all traffic laws, keeping both hands on the handlebars and leaving stunt riding and racing for those in the open areas that are free of traffic.
Nebraska City has a bicycle license law and the Safety Council recommends bike owners keep a copy of the serial number at home. Thieves take anything — why they take a kid's bike is beyond me, but they do.
We poured a concrete slab in the backyard the other day and wondered how we were going to get the job done before the concrete set up.
We worried needlessly — our neighbors, the Fred Wusks and the Fred Bakers and the kids all pitched in and it turned into a fun job.
Harold Gress whose nice home is on my old garden spot, slipped over a day later and by the time I got home the next day, he had already been working for some time on erecting the lawn mower building.
Harold was seriously injured a few years ago when his plane crashed while coyote hunting near Dunbar. He still has a hard time getting around, but trying to get him to lean on that cane and stop fooling around with the nuts and bolts job was about like trying to keep the harvest crew away from the dinner table.
It gets a little breezy Up on the North 40, but we sure have fine neighbors who share their energies.
P.S. Ruth Jacobson, I'm sorry I didn't stay longer the other day when I was talking with Jerry. I didn't know you were serving up a tray of goodies rat smack dab from the oven.