Bertie Back In The Bullseye?

by Cal Bryant - May 28th, 2007 - Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald

After years of effort, it appears the U.S. Navy’s plans to build an Outlying Landing Field (OLF) in Washington County have been derailed. By a vote of 397-27, the U.S. House of Representatives approved the FY 2008 National Defense Authorization Act on May 17. That legislation included 23 lines of language repealing the authorization to construct an OLF at the site identified by the Navy in Washington and Beaufort counties.

[ship]

However, does that put Bertie County back in the bullseye for an OLF?

One interesting detail in the proposal the Navy put together on the sites they looked at was the number of people who were directly impacted by the acquisition of land for each site. The proposal to build in Bertie County included by far the highest number of people displaced and was touted by the Navy as one reason they would prefer Washington County.

With all of the numerous airports closed as a part of the military cutbacks under President Clinton, it seems bizarre that not one of those already existing airports will serve as an OLF for the Navy. In those sites no displacement of people is needed. The airport aleady exists. There was one mentioned in Viriginia in earlier articles about this issue. Senator Warner was actually advocating use of the existing facility in his state.

Why would the Navy not look there first?

He Walked On Water

Story by Bob Fringer

Some time back in the mid 70s the scary movie of the year was JAWS. It was a story about a Great White Shark, which treated the bathing beaches of Cape Cod, Massachusetts like a smorgasbord, devouring swimmers and fishermen whenever it felt hungry. The scenes were rather vivid and after watching it I never felt comfortable swimming in the ocean. I could just visualize that shark prowling the shallow coastal waters like a starved person looking for a tasty morsel at a buffet table. I didn’t want to be a meal-even though JAWS was only a movie; I was left with a bad impression of sharks.

Several years later, a good friend, Walt Hunt, and I went fishing Striped Bass fishing along the two rock jetties at Barnegat Light, New Jersey. We both had fished the jetties for a number of years, with Walt having many more years experience than I. Usually, we fished the early morning or late evening hours, preferring high tide and the two hours preceding and following it. We would run a boat parallel to the jetties and cast our lures along the rocks in the same manner a bass angler would fish a shoreline of a lake or pond. Most of the time we would slowly run the boat along the jetties on the down- current side so that we could drift off the jetty if we hooked a fish or something happened to the boat. However, there were times when we would fish the other side of the jetty when the wind would blow us off the rocks or the tide was not running too swiftly.

Most of the time we used Walt’s boat, a rugged 29-foot Jersey Sea Skiff that Walt had remodeled to suit his style of fishing. He had removed the boat’s superstructure and installed a sturdy chair over the steering wheel and gearshift so that he could use his feet to maneuver the boat along the jetties. His hands were free and he kept direct control of the boat at all times. He became quite adept at keeping the boat in the proper position for casting as he fished the jetties. The skiff, christened the Recluse, was shaped underwater somewhat like a banana, with the stern being narrowed so that it could take a following sea without difficulty. The sides of the boat from the stern (back) to midship extended about four feet above the waterline.

On this particular trip, we fished the evening in-coming tide. We had worked our way on the down-current side of the north jetty without catching a fish. Since the current wasn’t running too hard, we moved to the other side of the jetty near the beach and began to fish our way out toward the end. Walt had to put the boat in gear every three or four minutes to keep the boat off the rocks. The action picked up and we caught several fish as we worked along the jetty. By that time the sun had set and darkness had overtaken us. Even though it was dark it was easy to see the jetty as the incoming tide washed up against the rocks.

We had fished about two-thirds of the way down of the jetty when Walt put the boat in gear to pull it away from the rocks. However, this time the motor stalled. Walt immediately restarted the engine and put the boat into gear. The motor stalled again. Seeing that we had a problem, I quickly moved to the front of the boat, grabbed the anchor and threw it overboard. We drifted several yards toward the jetty before anchor took hold and stopped our drift toward the rocks. By now, we were only about five yards off the jetty but were securely anchored.

Walt grabbed his flashlight and lifted the engine box and then the deck hatch over the propeller shaft. There didn’t appear to be anything wrong with the motor or shaft connections. However, the propeller shaft wouldn’t move even when the transmission was in neutral. Walt then looked over the boat’s transom (rear) and saw a large piece of polyethylene trailing out from behind the boat. Apparently, that sheet of plastic was wrapped around the boat’s propeller.

Walt said that we would have to go overboard and cut the plastic off the propeller. I quickly responded by telling him that it was his boat but that I would be happy to hold the flashlight. After all, what are friends for? Walt could see by my immediate reaction that he had to go swimming. After removing his shirt, pants and shoes Walt reluctantly slipped over the side of the boat into the dark water. I handed him the knife and bravely held the flashlight. Grasping the knife, Walt began to dive repeatedly under the boat. As he cut the polyethylene loose the pieces floated away with the current. I continued to do my courageous job of shining the flashlight.

After about a half dozen dives under the boat, Walt finally cut all the plastic from the propeller. As the last piece of plastic was removed it floated up and rubbed up against Walt’s leg. His reaction to that foreign object against his leg was immediate and furious. In the blink of an eye, he was hurdling himself up and over the side of the boat. He was for an instant, literally walking on water. I have never seen a grown man jettison himself out of the water and over a four-foot side of a boat. He looked like one of those acrobatic dolphins from Sea World. I was impressed, to say the least. After wiping himself dry and gaining his composure Walt explained that he, too, remembered the movie and kept thinking about that Great White Shark. He thought that he was a goner when that piece of plastic sheet hit his leg.

We fished our way out to the end of the jetty and decided to head back to the dock. We had experienced enough excitement for one evening. At least Walt had! It was the day remembered as the time Walt walked on Water.

We laughed about that fishing trip for many years. That situation, coupled with many other adventures and mishaps, served to create a wonderful friendship which we both enjoyed for many years. We had some wonderful memories.



Bob Fringer
December 31, 2003



Epilogue

On October 30, 2003, Walt Hunt passed away after a spirited and valiant battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. He will be remembered as a devoted husband, loving Father, and a true, faithful friend. His zest for life was unsurpassed. I savor the memories of the many pleasant days we both enjoyed together. He is missed.

County Commisioner's Meeting Tax Increase Is Discussed

The County Commissioner's meeting started at 7:00 PM last night and after public comments concluded (covered in detail in the article below about C.G. White) Rick Harrell was sworn in by Belinda White as a member of the Board of Equalization and Review.

Immediately thereafter the entire County Commission went into session as the Board of Equalization and Review to arrange for a legal auction of real estate and property that the county needs to dispose of. It was authorized for Mr. Bill Forbes to conduct the auction, and a meeting was set up on 7/2 to review the successful sales that are possible with adequate bids on the properties being sold.




Later in the meeting, the two people below, who are members of the local Humane Society, were appointed as Animal Cruely Investigators by vote of the County Commission under the state law that permits their function.





These two people, Donnie Taylor and May Paspas, are two of the many Humane Society people who work at no charge as volunteers to help with the adoption of animals that wind up in the Bertie County animal shelter. They work many hours to help take care of the animals and I thank them and the Humane Society for their hard work. It is much appreciated.

Almost the final agenda item of this night was certainly one of the most important items that was discussed. There is great concern, as expressed by Rick Harrell, that unless the State Legislature does something to reduce the Medicaid burden on our county, that a tax increase will be necessary.

The Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald article about the possiblity to avoid the tax increase can be found here. The problem is that the Legislature has not acted yet, and there is no guarantee they will. Everyone is waiting patiently in hopes that the talked about savings if the state provides some relief will become actuality. If it doesn't, then a tax increase is a real possibility.

C. G. White Is Wanted

At the County Commissioner's meeting on Monday night, a large group from Powellsville came to ask during public comments for preferential treatment in the County's disposition of the C. G. White School in Powellsville that is being closed.

The heart of their arguments appeared based on the premise that C.G. White was an icon in the black community of Bertie County and that the school was the first African-American school in the county. Therefore they feel some effort should be undertaken to see that an African-American organization controlled the school . . . . so they could use if for a cultural center, resource center or other purpose to serve the African-American community.




The following are some of the people who spoke on behalf of assuring that C.G. White was not sold to the highest bidder, but instead steered through some process to this losely affiliated group.



J.C. Watford


Estellle Simonds


Lucille Bazemore


Gloria Riddick Mizelle (Great Grandaughter of C.G. White)


Commissioner Norman Cherry


Cordia Hall


Mabel Taylor

I have already commented before that I believe that we should maximize our revenue from this school, as well as the J.P. Law and Askewville schools so that we can repair some of the serious maintenance needs in our current high school. Our high school was intentionally under maintained in recent years in the belief that it would be replaced, but at this point there is no realistic chance of that happening for at least a decade . . . and maybe two. In fact unless Bertie County starts to grow, there may never be enough bond funds to replace the current school The current students badly need the money that could be gained from disposal of the C.G. White school at the highest price possible to allow for the serious maintenance backlog to be cleared up.

However as long as the price differential is not too great, there is a great deal of logic to assuring the cultural legacy of C. G. White is retained for the future of our county. Hopefully a solution can be found that helps with the historical legacy concerns and still takes care of our children who are attending school. They deserve for any money derived from selling this valuable asset that was built with money intended for public education to be used to educate children as its primary use.

'Bright Futures' Needs Help

by Cal Bryant - May 16th, 2007 - Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald

[Posting updated with new material on Friday May 18th at 11:00 PM]

While the commissioners continue to seek ways to implement countywide high-speed internet access, the school system is eager to move forward with Bright Futures. At Monday’s joint meeting with the commissioners at the new Bertie Middle School, Interim Superintendent Dr. Michel Priddy said the educational benefits of the program, especially from a standpoint of using web-based technology, was too good to pass up.

'Bright Futures' Needs Help? Yes it does! The help it needs is some sanity in setting intelligent technology goals and strategies for our school system. This is one place where I disagree with Dr. Priddy if he is saying this is our best choice for spending money on computer technology at this point.

Getting our students up to speed with technology is certainly a laudatory goal. However there is little to indicate that the process to do that here in Bertie County is being planned with an eye to useful expenditure of money and getting the basic foundations in place before we do flashy projects that will cost a fortune. It is a well known fact that if you want to spread computer acceptance and culture, you start at the top.

What do I mean by that?

The best known story that communicates this concept is when Jack Welch, former Chairman of General Electric, became a true believer in computers and the powerful tools which they can provide to tie an organization together. This was back in the early 1990s. He ended the process of implementing computers at the bottom of the employment brackets in GE and demanded that all top executives immediately become computer literate first. I repeat, that was done first. All executives had to learn how to use email, word processing and project collaboration tools before they could plan projects for lower levels of managers and employees. Welch demanded executives quit using their secretaries to handle their email, and use it themselves. Welch demanded they learn how to do it personally! He demanded that executives become computer literate themselves so they could spread that expertise downward in a cost effective way. He believed that when they were computer literate they could be more rational in managing the strategy by which their divisions adopted the technology. This top down process was a key component in making GE the most profitable corporation in the world, and the most effective user of technology among all corporations.

Before we try to implement something like "Bright Futures" here in Bertie County, we need computer literacy and USE to be a standard part of our teacher's and administrator's culture. There are a lot fewer teachers than students in our middle school and high school and training them will be easier and quicker than teaching the much larger number of students. When the students have computers they are going to have questions that have to be answered about simple things they need to do every day. This will be easier if all teachers in our schools are already computer experts. Our teachers need to be EXPERTS at the use of technology or they will never deal with the questions successfully. That is truth.

I have a couple questions about that process of preparing teachers in Bertie County schools.

1. When are we going to place a projector driven by a computer (not a TV) in every classroom? When are we going to implement management communication processes that USE these computers effectively to manage our school system and immerse our teachers in using computers constantly? Projecting computer programs onto a screen visible to the entire class could allow for every single classroom to easily display a streaming message posted on the Bertie County web site. It is a powerful visual teaching tool. Every teacher could show it to their entire classroom and do it when convenient to do so for her classroom. There are hundreds of ways teachers can use this much more cost effective technology of projecting the computer onto a screen every day. This could be done at a fraction of the cost of the "Bright Futures" project and would be significantly more valuable to teaching our children, ALL OF OUR CHILREN, about technology and its use!

2. When are we going to implement training that assures every TEACHER uses email to communicate with central office, school administrators, each other and the parents of their children, each and every day of their school life? In any well run computer literate school system . . . email is the FIRST THING THAT A TEACHER SHOULD BE USING. They should be checking and using email 4 and 5 times a day, right in the classroom, right now. I have been told by our teachers, there is no program to institute email culture in our Bertie County schools, much less text message and chatting, the more advanced concepts of instant communication. Business has found USE of email with word processing and spreadsheets a powerful communications tool that is the basis to spreading computer understanding. Every single report and form the teachers submit should be done by email. Anything less than constant reliance on email means the teachers are unlikely to be computer literate at the level where they will spread the culture of computers effectively to our children.

A little research was done back when the school system was trying to get the county to spend millions of dollars for a truly ignorant county wide wireless system that would have had little value to getting high speed Internet into our student's homes. Why do I say it was ignorant? Research discovered that commercial efforts had already spread the availability of high speed Internet to over 70% of Bertie County homes (at a fraction of the cost per home that the school system was proposing). The school system's proposal only made sense in highly concentrated areas like the downtown of cities, not in a rural area like Bertie County. We need to keep working on getting that access to high speed Internet to the last 30%, but commercial ventures will do that without the county spending a fortune for a wireless solution that can only be deemed ignorant.

Even when we get to the point in an intelligent strategic process to spread computer knowledge to our children by giving them their own computers we need to make sure we use the technology that will be most valuable to the majority of them. I have posted earlier articles explaining why Apple is a questionable choice for this "Bright Futures" effort. Bertie County citizens need to understand that even in the technical world there are a number of people who passionately argue on both sides of the Apple versus Microsoft choice. Our school management cannot just listen to one side. They need to understand what this argument is about.

As an example, there is the argument about whether Apple has 6% or 12% of the marketplace. Apple has studies that they claim show they are getting 12% of new computer sales. However to get this they carefully exclude a great number of marketplaces that they say don't count. Even if they are right though, that still says Apple is a minor player. In the best of their view, they still lost out in 8 of every 9 sales to Microsoft. Their response is that anyone who doesn't buy Apple is simply stupid. Interesting attitude to say the least, but not compelling. It is consistent with the Apple simplistic and insulting ads they run on TV.

Apple also claims that they get 23% of school computer sales as if this is good. Compare that 23% to the nearly 80% they used to get. You have to ask, why have they lost so much market share to Microsoft? Doesn't that loss of market share say a lot about the relative value of Apple versus Microsoft?

Finally, the whole issue of Apple "Boot Camp" (which allows you to run Windows XP on the Apple computer) needs to be understood. Apple computers cost more than Windows and have significantly less software available. That is the only reason they are adding this "Boot Camp" capability. Since Apple is such a small player, many software companies do not find it worthwhile to bother creating Apple versions. Apple users find this frustrating. Apple's solution is to allow you to run Windows on the same machine to get access to this huge marketplace of software. The first version of "Boot Camp", their capability to run Windows on the same machine, only allowed you to run one OS at a time. This was not very convenient and considered a kluge by almost everyone. The new version allows you to run both OSes at the same time. Much better, but still quite expensive and it will always be SLOWER than running one OS at a time.

The real question is what is the impact over the long run. There are industry strategists that believe Apple has made a serious mistake. Since Apple hardware is always more expensive, and the "Boot Camp" capability makes it even less valuable for software firms to create an Apple version of their software, the long term market for Apple could get even smaller as less and less software is written for Apple. Why have a more expensive Apple with "Boot Camp" running Windows slower than it would by itself if you spend all your time in Windows XP anyway? It is also more complex and will burden all users with confusing complexity that adds no value. And Windows XP is the old Microsoft OS. When will Apple support Windows Vista, the future for Microsoft users?

As noted above, I have posted two previous articles on this issue, and they generated more comments than most of the articles posted on my blogs. Some Apple fans tried to make their case by criticizing my even asking the question about how well we chose. You can see my articles and the comments by clicking on the two links below.

http://bertiecounty.blogspot.com/2006/07/laptop-project-update-for-bertie.html
http://bertiecounty.blogspot.com/2006/08/apple-computer-has-new-sales-people.html

Computer technology is important. When I ran for the board of education, an adoption of technology was one of my 4 campaign platform issues. I still believe it is key to our children getting a great start in the modern world we live in. However a strategy that goes immediately for an expensive bottom up approach when we have not put into place the technology culture (at the teacher and administrator levels) that will allow this to succeed is more consistent with the failed practices of education bureaucrats on other issues. Throw money at the problem does not work. If one of the best managed companies in the world, GE, stopped this strategy because it does not work, what makes the Bertie County school system think it will work for them? We need to model our efforts on the top down approach.

Bertie County cannot afford this "throw money at the problem" solution that is the current strategy of the "Bright Futures" project.

Windsor Rotary Gets Update From VP

The VP of the local district for Rotary, Don Johnson of Hertford, gave the Windsor Rotary Club an update on what is happening at higher levels in Rotary.




Here Ned Heckstall, Windsor Rotary President, thanks Don for his presentation with the traditional cobalt blue coffee mug.

May Students Of The Month

Bertie County interim Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Michael Priddy, and Chairman of the Bertie County Board of Eduction, Rickey Freeman, honored the outstanding students from our four elementary schools, two middle schools and high school for the month of May.

Andrina Lee - Aulander Elementary School -
1st Grade


Keiyoishia McKinney - Colerain Elementary School - 1st Grade


Tylik Harrell - West Bertie Elementary School - 1st Grade


Ralyn Bunch - Windsor Elementary School - 5th Grade


Shaquanda McPherson - Southwestern Middle School - 8th Grade


Kerron Hayes - C.G. White Middle School - 7th Grade


Brittney Payton - Bertie High School - 11th Grade

BOE Presents Budget In Joint Meeting Focuses On Our Children

Bertie Middle School

The Bertie County Board of Education (BOE) and County Commissioners met in joint session yesterday to see the final details of the budget request for the BOE from the interim Superintendent, Dr. Michael Priddy. One aspect of this years presentation was its location. It was held on the construction site of the new Bertie Middle School which is almost completed. Though like most constuction sites it was a little untidy, it was interesting to see how close they were to being done.


Melinda Eure, Norman Cherry, Alton Parker, L.C. Hoggard - Vice Chairman County Commissioners


Dr. Michael Priddy - Interim Superintendent, Rickey Freeman - Chairman of the BOE, Rick Harrell - Chairman County Commissioners, Zee Lamb - County Manager


Mike Bracy, Wallace Perry, Gloria Lee, Charles Smith

Most of the budget presentation was conducted by the school systems Finance Officer Pearline Bunch and she did a very good job. It was encouraging to see in the details an effort to live up to Dr. Priddy's words, "This budget represents an effort to build public confidence and lend credibility to funding requests based on real needs."


Pearline Bunch

This years presentation had none of the inconsistencies and invalid numbers of the two previous presentations I saw on the school budget. I am a person with some experience reading financial statements and it was encouraging to find that the presentation actually made sense. Starting from last years numbers and moving forward with what was added, what was subtracted, what was being done with the difference between the two, the budget was possible to follow. That is not easy but this year it was done well.

It was clear that the county had gone out of its way to provide the most money possible, once again providing increases for the BOE that are much higher than other departments are being given. The BOE and Superintendent worked hard to stay within the numbers possible.

As a result, this years meeting seemed to have a totally different tone, one that was quite positive and focused on what was in the best interest of our children. Some of that tone is reflected in the article by Cal Bryant in the Roanoke-Chowan News Herald entitled 'Impressive' proposal.

Rick Harrell , Chairman of the County Commissioners certainly reflected that new tone when he asked the other Commissioners if they would consider rounding the county paid portion of the budget up to an even $2.5 million by adding an additional $11 thousand.

As it was presented the budget for Bertie County Schools will be composed of $16.24 million in North Carolina regular funding plus $3.15 million in state small schools, low wealth and DSSF funding, $2.49 million from Bertie County and $2.14 million in federal funding for a total of $27.63 million. This is down from previous years overall due to the continuing decline in student enrollments for our County resulting in significant reductions in state funding. The county portion of the money continues to climb though.

The most exciting part of the presentation was how much effort was being expended in moving money into the classroom, something that will be a lot more valuable for our children than some of the efforts that have been discussed in the past. The budget includes a new bonus program providing money to hire and retain the best teachers possible. That is the best thing I saw. I do not want the school people to feel I am not appreciative, but the money for the function is still just a start. It would be great if they could keep working to free up more money for this in the future. Good teachers are what will really make a difference in how much our children learn, and a part of the new program includes money to retain the good ones we aleady have. Even wanting to see a whole lot more done with this program in the future, I believe the Board of Education deserves high praise for what they have done.

At the conclusion of the meeting we took a tour of the new facility. That started with a presentation from the new principal, Sandra Hardy.


Sandra Hardy - Principal Bertie Middle School


Richard Andrews

The Architect, Richard Andrews (shown above), from DKWA Architects also had a few comments before he introduced Jimbo White (shown below) supervisor from the contractor building the facility.


Jimbo White


Both of these men bragged on the new facility and talked about what a great and exciting facility it is. My personal thoughts are that the best school I ever saw from the prespective of what children were taught was a dilapidated old facility. School buildings do not teach kids and fancy schools with low test scores is sometimes indicative of the failure to understand what is needed to teach our children. I hope we keep that in mind in the future. Keeping facilities maintained is necessary, but how fancy they are does not ultimately change the education.

What follows are pictures showing the new Bertie Middle School. Our group tour was conducted by Charles King, Construction Inspector from DKWA.


A typical hallway


One view of a standard classroom.


Second view of a standard classroom.


Jason Jernigan will be in charge of maintenance for the new school, here with Mike Bracy.


One of the science labs.


Serving area of the new lunchroom.


Kitchen area of the new lunchroom.


This is where the tables will be for the children to eat.


The media center / library.


The band room with lockers for the instruments.


The chorus room with risers already installed.



The gymnasium.

A good building. It should last us a couple of hundred years if it is maintained.

Tee & Sea Concludes With Seafood Buffet

The final event in the 14th Annual Tee & Sea was held last night. The Seafood Buffett with Music and Dancing afterwards was quite a night. Here people pick up tickets and get their credentials at the gate.



Inside there was shrimp, scallops, trout, crab cakes and clam strips, all prepared by the tremendous Windsor Fire Department volunteers who do such a great job putting on this huge local event.



The Windsor Fire Department volunteers serve the food with courtesy and enthusiasm.



It was all magnificent and the crowd ate a huge amount.



The crowd lined up early in the buffet line and was steady all night long.




The group Band of Oz provided the music for the dance that was held after the buffet in this huge outdoor area (shown below).




One final thank you to all the fantastic Windsor Fire Department volunteers for the great job they do all year long. The entire Tee & Sea was better than ever! Wish we didn't have to wait a year to do it again.

Embarq Open Golf Tounament

Today was the second day and second golf event of the 14th Annual Tee & Sea, the Embarq Open Golf Tounament, a four man super ball event. Tee times were 8:30 AM and 1:00 PM.

This is a map of the beautiful Cashie Country Club Golf Course, a nine hole course that is the home for the Tee & Sea.



Teams lined up for the start, filling their carts with golf clubs and drinks for the first few holes.




A handful of players warmed up on the putting greens.



Billy Smithwhick announced the start of the event.




Jerry Sary covered special rules of the day for this Super Ball Event.




Windsor Fire Department volunteers were everywhere helping make the event go smoothly.



That included cooking food to keep all the golfers fed.



The major sponsors provided hospitality tents around the course where the golfers could get food and drinks to help them along. This is the Bertie Ambulance Hospitality Tent.



This is the U.S. Cellular Hospitality Tent.



This is the Embarq Hospitality Tent.


Following are the Teams that had morning Start Times:


The Hooker Team - Bill White, Andy Lee, Bill Perry, Bill Price
(1st Place - Gross Score)


The Old Guys Team - John Foy, Frank Palm, John Styrom, Mike Kelley


Windsor Fire Department Team - Nelson Baker, Billy Smithwick, Robert Dunlow, Britt Smithwick
(4th Place- Net Score)


Soundside Group Team - William Hardison, Mark Hendrick, William Byrom, Neal Tynch


Action Auto Team - Rod Price, Kenneth Harrell, John Davis, Billy Griffin


Cellular Warehouse Team - Toby Williams, Tim Ivey, Randy Russell, Kyle Williford


Dan Pittman Insurance Team - Jamie Harmon, Bobby Harmon, Joe Alexander, Bob Brown


CRMP Concrete Team - Donny Roberson, Brenda Roberson, Frank Hoggard, David Simmons


Timberlands Unlimited Team - Mike Barden, Mike Paul, David Jennette, Alan Castelloe
(2nd Place - Net Score)


Edenton Motors Team - Chris Kelley, Barry Jones, Ashley Futrell, Chris Lorry
(3rd Place - Gross Score)


Hazelgrove - Copper Realty Team - Rodney Alexander, George Murat, Collins Cooper, Michael Flannely

Following are the Teams that had afternoon start times:

Embarq Team #1 - Derrick Caldwell, Larry Drew, Eddie Lynch, Truett Miller


Embarq Marketing Team - Mark Phillips, Cathy Wilson, Joe Murray, Charles Ainsley


Embarq Team #2 - Bobby Jefferson, Scott Mason, Andy Porter, Chuck Wilson
(1st Place - Net Score)


Wachovia Team - Will Cobb, Dana Lee, Linda Lee, Andy Lee


Bill Clough Ford Team - Steve Hoggard, Kent Williford, Sid Copeland, Riley Thompson


"D" Marshburn Team - Andy Eure, Jim Hardison, Sam Harbrax, Dee Marshburn
(3rd Place - Net Score)


Cardinal Chemical Team - Freddie Ladson, Bracy Boone, George Clifton. Dalton Williams
(4th Place- Gross Score)


Tommy Davis Insurance Team - Dave Bowen, Mike Vanlandringham, Brian Davis, Tommy Davis


Dot Ward Team - Carrol Forehand, Dot Ward, Bill Price, Lois Rascoe


Bertie Ambulance Team - Jimmy Miller, Brad Phelps, Bob Batts, Drew Batts
(2nd Place - Gross Score)


Southern Bank Team - Chad Cobb, Jennifer Cobb, Crystal Cobb, Chris Cobb


Farm Bureau Team - Eddie Conner, David Bunch, Carl Bryant, Kyle Williford


Bertie Memorial Hospital Team - Dr. Phil Harris, Gail Vanlandringham, Carolyn Jordan, William Oconney


Nalco Team - Al Hulan, Al Howe, Tony Harris, John Gray


Rehab Systems Team - Gene Wall, Keith Walker, Lander Green, George McFadyen


It was a great day and everyone agreed it was the best tournament ever. Winners were of course the most excited about the tournament. There were four winners declared in each of two categories, Gross Score and Net Score (after adjustment for handicap). The winners are listed below:

Gross Score

1st Place - The Hooker Team.

2nd Place - Bertie Ambulance Team

3rd Place - Edenton Motors Team

4th Place - Cardinal Chemical Team


Net Score

1st Place - Embarq Team #2

2nd Place - Timberlands Unlimited Team

3rd Place - "D" Marshburn Team

4th Place - Windsor Fire Department Team


Congratulations to all the winners, and that was really everyone who played.

Click here to see the team photos from last years Sprint Classic tournament.