Viewer's Voice

By: Allan Hoffman/Eyewitness News 9 | WNCT
Published: June 13, 2008

It has been a dramatic month in the east. Not only have we had to deal with gas prices shooting up pennies every day, but we've also had to deal with a fire that has spread smoke across most of our area.

And that has our viewers upset in this week’s Viewer’s Voice.

When FEMA denied North Carolina's request for help with the cost of the Hyde county wildfires, one viewer got angry.

They wrote, “We spend billions fighting a war for those who won't help themselves. We apply for aid to fight a devastating wildfire, effecting our entire state and are turned down!! What kind of idiots are running FEMA?? Go after them 9 On Your Side.”

But others, like Edward said, “It's too easy to blame FEMA for a lack of response. I haven't heard or seen anything from the Governor regarding this. Let's face it, a fire burning in a sparsely populated region with no homes being burned down in a politically marginal state doesn't warrant the help."

Well, the fact is, Governor Easley has requested money from FEMA. Twice.

Another big story is the cost of gasoline. A lot of you, of course, are very upset about paying nearly 4 dollars a gallon for unleaded.

We got this response from Mindi in Stokes, “You reported on the 6:00 news that the cheapest gas in the area was $3.89 in Kinston. The new Country Mart in Stokes and the Stokes Mart are both at $3.87 and have been for some time. I could not believe the gas prices when I was in Greenville over the weekend. Most were $3.99.”

Well Mindi, you are correct. We have asked many times why Greenvile gas prices seem to be higher than most other cities of the east. And we are told, its a matter of supply and demand.

Now, I went to Raleigh last weekend and paid 4-dollars and six cents for a gallon there.

Thanks to all of you who wrote in.