Hurricane Ike has all but shut down oil production in the Gulf of Mexico, and local gas stations have the lines at the gas pumps to prove it.

Storeowners are reporting that gas supplies throughout the county will be exhausted by Saturday. It is reported that new gas shipments will not be available until Monday or Tuesday, depending on the aftermath of Ike.

Motorists are being urged to fill up their tanks as soon as possible.

For more in depth coverage of the gas situation in the county, see the Saturday edition.