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Oak Creek — Oak Creek residents Tim and Cheryl Carl say it's true that you miss something more when it's gone.

Especially gasoline.

On Thursday, Tim Carl confirmed that at about 2 p.m., gasoline and diesel began flowing from the pumps at the Oak Creek Sinclair. Motorists can pay for fuel only by credit or debit card. The gas station's convenience store has not re-opened.

The Carls are working with Jon Peddie, who owns the Oak Creek Sinclair, to reopen the entire station by mid-June.

"We're glad to be providing this service again because we feel there is a need for the station in town," Tim Carl said. "I think people really missed the station being open and realized how much they need their gas."

Peddie and former gas station manager Norm Hoskinson closed the gas station May 19 after deciding it was not possible to keep the business open with dwindling business and rising fuel prices. Peddie said at the time the business needed more support than it got from South Routt residents.

"It was unfortunate for both the community and myself as the owner that we had to shut down without much notice. We certainly apologize to the community for that," he said.

Peddie said there was "a lot of interest" in the station after it closed, and he thought the Carls were the best fit to take over the business.

"This is a difficult business to be in, especially in this environment, where fuel is as expensive as it is," he said.

The Carls, who have lived in Oak Creek since August 2002 with three of their six children, are in the process of finalizing a lease agreement with Peddie to operate the gas station and the convenience store.

"We really have to thank Jon for giving us the opportunity to lease the store to help the community," Tim Carl said. "I think he cares about the community as much as anyone else."

Peddie said he hopes the community continues to patronize the gas station in the future.

"I think (the Carls') intent is to first get their feet on the ground with the long-term goal of providing a unique level of service they feel they can provide," he said. "Hopefully, it will work out for everyone."

Tim Carl said it has been a dream of his to operate a gas station with his family.

"We've always kind of wanted to do this for some reason," he said. "It intrigues me."

Carl also owns his own construction company, Carl Construction. Cheryl Carl likely will operate the day-to-day doings of the store with their children and a few other employees, he said.

"We look forward to serving Oak Creek and South Routt," he said. "We plan on being involved in the community, the schools and with as many other events as we can be."