“Stranded. Need Gas,” read the sign held by Everett Barch onMonday afternoon as he sat on Brookway Boulevard in front of hisvan.

In addition to a bad starter on his van, Barch cited rising gasprices as the reason he was asking passers-by for help.

Prices climbing and no slow-down in sight have left some areagasoline consumers wondering when – or if – prices will comedown.

Gas prices at most Brookhaven gas stations broke the$2-per-gallon mark Monday – the majority by noon.

Derrick Smith said the gas prices were “ridiculous” when hestopped by Murphy USA on Monday and paid $2.06 per gallon.

“I only put in $20 and probably only got eight gallons of gas,”Smith said.

Smith, who drives a Chevrolet Avalanche truck, said he downsizedfrom a Ford Excursion because of gas prices.

“They jack (prices) up so high and if they bring it down tencents, they make it look like they’re doing something,” hesaid.

Smith said he didn’t think gas would ever get back down to $1.50per gallon.

After the initial hikes, most prices remained steady downBrookway Boulevard on Monday afternoon. At most stations, regularunleaded was selling for $2.06 to $2.08 per gallon.

Tillotson’s Economy Service Station on Highway 51 South wasamong lowest-priced gas dealers Monday, with regular unleaded goingfor $2.02. An employee at the station, who would not be identified,said the store’s prices climbed to more than $2 per gallon when themost recent deliver of gasoline, just after noon.

The lowest gas prices in town Monday afternoon – for a while -were found at Pump and Save, which was selling regular unleaded for$1.99 per gallon at 2:30 p.m.. By 5:15 p.m., the price had jumpedto $2.05.

Aljur Herring, a student at Southwest Mississippi CommunityCollege, received a little help getting gas. His grandfather, theRev. Allen Herring, put $20 worth of gas in his grandson’s vehicleMonday afternoon.

Allen Herring said gas prices were “terrible.”

“I pray it goes down,” he said.

Blue Sky Manager Vicky Roberts said her gas prices went over the$2 mark between 10 and 11 a.m. Monday.

“I complained (about the prices), and I’m not a customer,” shesaid. “Most of the customers ask when is it going to comedown.”

A common theme was expressed both by those selling gas and thosebuying it: prices will probably stay above $2 a gallon for theforeseeable future.

Ron Craddock, president of Craddock Oil, said his street pricingfollowed his competitors, such as Wal-Mart and Pump and Save.Craddock Oil operates Big Sky and the Exxon station on BrookwayBoulevard.

He said his cost for gasoline is $1.95 per gallon, whichincludes 36 cents in federal and state tax and a 3.5 cent freightcost to get it to the store. He blames supply and demand around theworld for the current rise in gasoline prices.

Craddock said he’s not an expert and only knows what he’s reador seen on television as reasons for the increase in gas prices.Craddock said he feels prices will come down from $2 a gallon.

“It depends on who you listen to and what channel you watch,” hesaid.

Craddock said some experts have said prices could reach as highas $3 a gallon before the end of summer.

Adjusted for inflation, gas prices were higher in 1979, whenprices hit an all-time high of $1.79 a gallon, he said, during thenation’s energy crisis.

Crude oil prices closed Monday on the Chicago MercantileExchange at $57.35 a barrel, down 11 cents from trading onFriday.

Prices this morning were consistent with yesterday’s prices atmost major outlets. Murphy USA this morning had increased the priceof regular unleaded to $2.07, while the price at Tillotson’s hadclimbed to $2.05.