Hood County News from Granbury, Texas • Page 6

6A Hood County NewsSaturday, September 15, 2001 AttttOGEl OLD taoirDGo i HCN photoMaiy Vinson Motorists jam Granbury gas station Tuesday afternoon fearing that gas prices would skyrocket Stores demy price gomgm; execution delayed Jeffrey Eugene Tucker, 40, was scheduled to have been executed Tuesday night for the 1988 murder of 64-year-old Hood County resident Wilton B. Humphreys. However, Texas governor Rick Perry delayed the execution for 30 days because of the terrorist attacks. Perry's aides say he delayed the execution because federal offices, including the U.S. Supreme Court, were shut down that day due to the attack on the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.

The closings would not have given Tucker full opportunity to have access to the courts for a last-minute appeal, aides explained. Tucker, an Arlington resident, went to Humphreys' Laguna Tres home on July 11, 1988 on the pretext of buying a truck and travel trailer Humphreys was attempting to sell through a Fort Worth newspaper ad, said investigators. Humphreys and Tucker later left with the truck supposedly to have paperwork completed on the sale at a Granbury bank, investigators stated. Humphreys' body was found about an hour later on Kelly Road in Parker County, officers stated. He had been shot three times and run over.

The truck and trailer were missing. After killing Humphreys and stealing the truck and trailer, Tucker fled to New Mexico after robbing an Arlington motel, stated investigators. He was arrested near Tucumcari, N.M. three days later after he robbed a service station there, said officers. Tucker was driving Humphreys' truck at the time of his arrest.

The travel trailer was later recovered at a trailer park near Grapevine. Tucker was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death after a two-week trial in Parker County in October 1989. Even before Humphreys' murder, Tucker was no stranger to the law, said investigators. He had been to prison three times for nine prior felony convictions ranging from forgery to theft to drugs and aggravated assault, said prosecutors. He had also been investigated by the Secret Service for making death threats against then-President Ronald Reagan, prosecutors stated.

night. FFP was also told by Diamond Shamrock that its gasoline allocation would be cut by 90 percent, stated Trinatafellou. FFP had no choice but to increase prices, Triantafellou said. FFP decided to raise its prices ranging from 10 cents to 30 cents at its stores across the country, he stated. Wednesday morning, however, suppliers indicated they were lowering their prices to the previous levels, Triantafellou said.

FFP then reduced its prices too, he stated. Anyone who bought gasoline under the higher prices who has a receipt will be eligible for a refund, Triantafellou indicated. Triantafellou feels the suppliers' prices went down after warnings from the attorney general about price gouging. The refinery that closed has also begun operations again, said Triantafellou. Officials with the Tommy's convenience store chain also stated they raised prices Tuesday after being told by their supplier that prices were going up.

Tommy's upped the price from $1.39 a gallon to $1.45, officials said. Another resident who complained felt that Diamond Shamrock was capitalizing on the tragedy by raising gas prices. He felt Diamond Shamrock should be boycotted. Mike Triantafellou is spokesman for FFP Operating Partners, which owns the West Pearl Street store and operates it under a brand agreement with Diamond Shamrock. The other Diamond Shamrock store in Granbury is actually owned by the Diamond Shamrock corporation, said Triantafellou.

Triantafellou said FFP was forced to raise prices when suppliers told his company they were increasing gasoline costs anywhere from 5 cents to 28 cents a gallon. "We've received hundreds of phone calls a day calling us price gougers," Triantafellou reported. "We were certainly not participating in price gouging." After Tuesday's terrorist attacks, FFP was notified by one major independent refinery that it was shutting down immediately for an indefinite period, said Triantafellou. Throughout the day, FFP was notified by all of its major gasoline suppliers that they were increasing prices as of mid by LELAND DEBUSK News Editor Some residents made accusations of "price gouging" Tuesday when several area stores hiked gasoline prices after Tuesday's terrorist attacks. Store officials deny price gouging, however.

They say they were forced to raise prices because their suppliers hiked their costs. Prices have since returned to normal levels, at the stores. One store official believes the suppliers backed off from the price hikes because of government pressure. Texas attorney general John Corny had warned Tuesday that his office would prosecute price-gouging complaints. Cornyn's announcement followed an executive order by Gov.

Rick Perry forbidding price gouging as a result of the tragedy. Some convenience stores were jammed with motorists Tuesday afternoon trying to gas up before the price went up. One resident complained that Diamond Shamrock on West Pearl Street raised its prices 32 cents a gallon Tuesday. DRIVE TO GRANBURY AND FORD CHRYSLER DODGE GRANBURY PRE-V7KIEIQ) DCWEKIYODW STAY TUNED IT WILL BE REVEALED SOON! 2000 Honda Accord EX, sedan, V-6, leather, auto $19,995 1998 Chrysler Sebring LXI, leather, sunroof, auto $9,985 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse GS, auto, leather, roof $16,485 2000 Chevy Impala, auto, sedan, dual climate control $12,995 1997 Ford Contour GL, auto, sedan, nice $5,995 1999 Ford Crown Victoria, sedan, loaded $12,995 2000 Chevy Prism, auto, 4-dr, nice $8,995 2001 Ford Taurus SES, auto, loaded, low miles $12,995 2001 Ford Escort SE, auto, nice, low miles $8,995 2001 Dodge Intrepid, auto, loaded, low miles $13,995 IOjONE CD CDU 1 vN. VI r73rnnn 1999 Chevy I -Ton Crew, dually, 4x4, Silverado, aux tanks, nice $22,995 1999 Chevy Suburban LT, leather, loaded $19,999 2000 Dodge 1500 Club Cab, V-8, low miles $13,995 1998 Chevy 2500 X-Cab, Silverado, loaded $15,995 1998 Ford Explorer, Eddie Bauer, leather, 4wd, loaded $14,988 2000 Ford Explorer, Eddie Bauer, leather, low miles, $20,995 1999 F250 Super Cab, Powerstroke, XLT, loaded $19,995 1999 Toyota Rav-4, Auto, new tires, $12,995 1998 Chevy Ext.

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