Here are some of the letters from the students in Kelli White’s gifted language arts enrichment class at South Effingham Middle School. The Herald is running the letters, from sixth, seventh and eighth graders, in installments.

Hurricane no reason for increase in gas price 
Dear Editors,

Gas prices are at a ridiculous high.  I saw a station a few days ago that had the price at $4.39 a gallon.  Something needs to be done about this immediately. Recently, prices rose very high because of a hurricane that hit the refineries in Texas. I think that is just an excuse because we don’t even get enough of our gas from Texas for it to matter.  Even if the prices were to go up, there is no reason for the increase to be nearly one dollar.

I think oil should be drilled from Alaska. The reason they don’t want to drill it there is because they want to “preserve the wildlife.” But if something isn’t done about gas prices soon, there will be no more wildlife. If people have to spend all of their money on gas, no money can be put forth to wildlife conservation.

Sincerely,
Cody Parker
Guyton

Panic increases price
Dear Editors,

Gas prices these days are out of control.  They keep rising higher and higher. These days we pay four or more dollars for just one gallon of gas. It almost makes you want to walk or ride a bike everywhere—either that or take buses, trains, or subways.

Gas prices, they get higher by the year. Last year, we thought three dollars and fifty cents was a lot, but this year it’s up to an outrageous four dollars and fifty cents. Those gas companies sure are milking it, being able to change the gas prices. Gas prices wouldn’t go up so fast if people didn’t panic when they hear that a tropical storm or hurricane is coming.

Sincerely,
Ryan Burke
SEMS student
Guyton

Alternatives to cars

Dear Editors,

Gas prices have been soaring. Prices for barrels of gas have hit an all-time high — $130 for a barrel of gas. Some gas stations are even running out of gas. We need to find out why we do not have a lot of gas and find a solution.

People may even retire their vehicles all together and just ride bicycles around all of the time. Bicycles may become more popular as gas prices rise. Gas prices are balancing out right now but are still up to four dollars a gallon.

Sincerely,
Victoria Fox
SEMS student

Boycott one way to bring down gas prices 

Dear Editors,

Gas prices are way too high. Gas costs over $4 in some places. I know this sounds opinionated but we should boycott getting gas until gas prices come down. Instead of driving, we should ride bikes or if in an emergency, we should car pool. It sounds extreme but I think it could work. The gas companies’ excuse is hurricane season.

If we boycott gas, then prices will lower or gas companies will go out of business. We shouldn’t have to pay insane prices, or be played like dummies. Our slavery to gas companies will end. Gas companies are getting rich while we are suffering. Either we boycott or we suffer. If one city boycotts, then another will hear about it and then they will. Eventually it will grow to an entire region. Then the entire state will join in sooner or later.

Finally, the entire nation of the United States will begin to act. It would be the beginning of the end of our recession. Think about it.

Sincerely,
Cole Schoonover
SEMS student