Gasoline prices in Moore County have surpassed the milestone of $4 a gallon.

A gallon of regular unleaded gas was a staggering $4.03 this morning at the Shortstop/Exxon Station on N.C. 5 in Pinehurst near the bowling alley -- the highest so far in Moore County, according to an informal survey of stations around the county.

Several other stations in the Southern Pines/Pinehurst/Aberdeen area, as well as one in Robbins, showed prices of $3.99.

Carthage appeared to have the lowest prices, ranging from $3.87 to $3.91 a gallon.

Penny Laverdure, manager of the Shortstop on N.C. 5, said that while her customers have commented on the astronomical price of gas, no one has gotten too upset about it.

"We haven't really gotten any complaints," Laverdure said. "Our corporate office sets the prices. I don't have anything to do with it."

Laverdure said she gets the feeling that motorists are starting to understand that high gas prices are the reality.

Richard Wilber, who owns Raw Wood Inc. in Pinehurst, said he is starting to feel the strain of paying more for gas. He said he is being forced to tack on fuel surcharges for his customers to alleviate some of the burden.

"It's starting to get a little ridiculous," he said. "I work in construction, so I do a lot of driving. Every trip costs a lot of money. It's starting to eat into my profit."

Wilber said he is paying double what it used to cost to fill up his Chevrolet Silverado pickup. To offset the high prices, he doesn't put as much fuel in.

"I used to spend about 60 bucks a week filling this up," he said. "Now it's like 120. You can definitely feel it.

With the cost of a barrel of oil continuing to rise, Moore County drivers could be in for a long -- and expensive -- summer.

Contact John Krahnert at 693-2478 or by e-mail at jkrahnert@thepilot.com.