This column is written by my dad, Roger Poole. He always has something interesting to say, usually says it and sometimes writes it down.
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- Steve from the phone call.
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- Self-explanatory.
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- Here’s where we found it.
Neither a borrower nor a lender be… William Shakespeare
My daughter asked me if I have a pressure washer. She knows I keep a wide range of tools and appliances available should the need ever arise. Some tools are stowed away unused in their original sealed box. Some followed me home after they called out to me as I passed by them on the racks at Home Depot, or Lowe’s, or Wal-Mart. An example of this is the biscuit cutter. When I was a little guy, a long time ago, my Momma was the biscuit cutter. This new one, which again remains in the box, is designed to cut measured slots on the ends of a wooden board. A little piece of wood, called a biscuit, fits into the slot. You butt it up against another board with matching slots, add a little glue, and the two boards can be “welded” together. But I digress. Let’s get back to the pressure washer.
Pressure washer? Yes, I have a pressure washer. I explained that it had not been used in a while so starting its gas-powered engine might be an issue. I won’t mention any conversation I had with the borrower concerning her expectation that it would powered by electricity. I looked in the tank. It was at best barely wet with fuel. We decided to give it a crank to see if the smidgeon of fuel was enough to start it. Grandson, Ian, gave it a yank, then another, one more and the little engine that could, did. Purred like a kitten asleep on warm milk.
I only use non-ethanol gas in my small engines. Why? Well maybe it is psychosomatic, but ethanol is a by-product of corn syrup. Corn syrup is routinely used as a substitute for sugar (read your processed food labels). Now ask yourself, “What is an old school sure fire method to screw up a car engine?” Answer: pour sugar into the gas tank.
The supply of non-ethanol gas in our shop out back had been used up. We banked our combined knowledge of who sold non-ethanol gas in the area and who might be open on a Sunday afternoon. I knew the mom & pop store, Springhill Grocery, just north of the Dollar General on Springhill Road had the non-corn syrup gas so off we went to see them. They also offer some bodacious BBQ. Unfortunately, on this Memorial Day weekend, they were closed. They were probably on the lake eating BBQ.
Daughter then asked the Google Dude, “Okay, Google, where can I get non-ethanol gas in the Bryant/Benton area?” Google responds with “Mac’s Minnows & More at 15920 I-30 Frontage Rd, Benton.”
We called and Steve from behind the counter said, “Yes we have non-ethanol gas, and yes we are open.” Can you fill in the blanks from here?
Daughter now has my pressure washer, and… Hey wait a minute! She also has the nearly $6 worth of non-ethanol/non-corn syrup gasoline that I picked up for her.
Submitted for review and publication to MySaline.com by Cub reporter Roger L Poole. 5/30/18
Edit from the daughter, Shelli Poole, who happens to run MySaline.com:
I also found non-ethanol gas at Citgo One Stop at 1005 W. South Street in Benton. Anyone else know where to find it in Saline County? Let’s make a list. And… before and after footage of my pressure-washed stuff coming soon. I’ll get that $6 to you, Dad.
Related: See two videos below of Roger Poole reading his stories for the “Tales From The South” radio program.