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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Police file additional sex offense charges against former youth pastor State grants help arts groups reach out Murder, madness and the quest for Gold 10 things to know for Thursday Emergency services Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Police file additional sex offense charges against former youth pastor Emergency services Woman struck by car while running from police Arrest made in Klamath Falls murder Police recover stolen trailer, arrest suspect Politics and Elections Kent Bush: The keys to decoding the State of the Union address Oregon Legislature convenes, session starts Feb. 12 Councilman stirs online dust-up with anti-marijuana post Education Talent Elementary students learn to tinker Local elementary and middle school students qualify for state chess championships Unfair labor complaint against Medford School District resolved Arsonist attempts to burn down building at Jackson Elementary Not as ready as they should be Environment Bear cub headed to rehabbers in Idaho Grant will help restore 'legacy' oak habitat in Southern Oregon and Northern California New wandering wolf arrives in Southern Oregon OR-7 now officially the leader of his pack Ashland trails up for changes State News Mom says bills carries on daughter's legacy Records illegally released; 2 on leave Lawmaker: Pot candy OD shows need to go slowly Tests: Formaldehyde risk in some e-cigarette vapor State records show number of big marijuana farms has increased Nation - World Obituaries Mamie E. 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Murder, madness and the quest for Gold ... Our View: Public salaries move only upward ... Police file additional sex offense charges against former youth pastor ... Murder, madness and the quest for Gold ... Our View: Public salaries move only upward ... MEDFORD Gas prices dip below $2 Comment By Damian Mann Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted Jan. 19, 2015 @ 5:29 pm Updated Jan 20, 2015 at 11:57 AM By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted Jan. 19, 2015 @ 5:29 pm Updated Jan 20, 2015 at 11:57 AM --> What do you think? Have an opinion on this story? Send a letter to the editor at www.mailt... » Read more X What do you think? Have an opinion on this story? Send a letter to the editor at www.mailtribune.com/sendletter . » Social News Gas prices dropped below $2 a gallon Monday morning at some stations in the Medford area, giving local residents a little extra cash in their pockets. “I never thought I’d see this price again,” said Hugh Crawford, 69, of Central Point. “I’m tickled, but I think it’s going to go back up again.” Crawford and other motorists stopped at the Valero station on Highway 99 near Beall Lane in Medford, where regular was selling for $1.99 a gallon for cash customers. About a half-dozen stations in Medford had crossed below the $2 threshold as of Monday, according to GasBuddy.com. The average price for a gallon of regular in the Medford-Ashland area was listed as $2.21 Monday by AAA’s Fuel Gauge Report. Last year at this time, the price of regular was $3.38. The average price for regular in Oregon was $2.34. Marie Dodds, spokesman for AAA in Oregon and Idaho, said the last time prices were this low was in 2009, a year after they spiked to all-time highs of $4.38 a gallon in Medford. “The national average was below $2 a gallon in 2009,” she said. On Monday, the national average was $2.06, according to Fuel Gauge Report. According to AAA, 25 states posted prices below $2 a gallon. AAA predicts low gas prices will remain for a while, possibly staying below $3 for the remainder of 2015. Doddss said the low prices are an example of capitalism at work. “The oil companies are not doing it out of the kindness of their hearts,” she said. The Saudis have continued to maintain high production in the hopes that it will run some of the U.S. companies out of business, she said. The price of crude oil continues to trade below $50 a barrel, down from more than $100 last year. At the same time, several factors are at play in the oil market. The U.S., thanks to the fracking boom, is producing oil and natural gas at levels not seen for at least 30 years. Meanwhile, the gas mileage of American cars has gone up in recent years, resulting in less demand. Also, Americans are driving less, Dodds said. “It means we have more supply and less demand,” she said. Cheaper gas hasn’t translated into demand outstripping supply, even though the U.S. saw a record volume of travelers over the holiday period. “The vehicles are much more fuel efficient,” Dodds said. “They use a lot less gas.” At this point, it’s difficult to say whether the Saudi strategy of maintaining production to keep prices low has had an impact on U.S. oil producers, though there is evidence some companies are looking at cutting back jobs, Dodds said. She said it typically takes about two weeks from drops in the price of crude oil to be reflected at the pumps. Whatever the reason for the low prices, motorists couldn’t be happier as they filled up at half the cost of a year ago. “I’m happy,” said Sarah Cartwright, 20, of Central Point. “I’m just saving for college.” Joseph Henry, 46, of Central Point, said he was paying $20 a day to fuel his two vehicles that he uses for his construction business. With lower gas prices, he’s paying about $10. “I hope it keeps going lower,” he said. With his extra money, Henry said he plans to go fishing over the next two weeks during a bit of down time from his construction business. Even though he expects a little lull as subcontractors finish up work on an Ashland house, Henry has been busier than normal this winter as well, so the low pump prices are an extra bonus. “Usually, I never have work this time of year,” he said. Josh Hogue, a 38-year-old Jackson County resident, said he would be working for a liquefied natural gas company in Arizona right now except the price of oil products has cut the number of workers. “It was better at $4 a gallon,” he said. Still, he said he understands how lower gas prices help most local residents. “I think it’s great for the average guy,” Hogue said. Terry Parnell, manager of the Valero, said his customers welcome the sight of gas prices dropping and no sign they’re going to go back up. “Everybody’s saying, ‘Ah, I love it,’ ” he said. Parnell said he felt some pride about changing the sign at his station to $1.99 a gallon on Monday morning. “We’re making history,” he said. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 541-776-4476 or [email protected] . Follow him on www.twitter.com/reporterdm . Note: Marie Dodds' last name has been corrected from previous version. By Damian Mann Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted Jan. 19, 2015 @ 5:29 pm Updated Jan 20, 2015 at 11:57 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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