People's Choice Winners

The people have chosen, now come experience the color!

Last night was kickoff for the special exhibit by the Chowan Arts Council presenting works by Margaret Attkinson, Burton Jones and Katherine Wissink, some of our great local art talent. They are the winners of the people's choice contest conducted in November of last year. The exhibit for their work will run until August 8th, 2006.

Chowan Arts Council Open Houses Always Provide Lots Of Beverages

Each artist brings a unique style to his or her works. Come, enjoy, and be transported into a world of color and texture.

Margaret Attkisson Is One Of The People's Choice Winners, For Good Reason, Here With Her Current Favorite Painting, Cypress At The Water's Edge

Margaret Attkisson, of Windsor, NC, has painted most of her life, but concentrated on a jewelry business for 20 years. She began studying painting again 5 years ago. Margaret feels fortunate to have been able to have Frances Speight as one of her instructors while in school. "His style of painting has been my focus. With each painting, I'm struggling to show the view my vision of ordinary subjects." Margaret loves doing all forms of creativity, but really enjoys expressing her "vision of the world" through watercolors, acrylics & oils. She is also a vital member of the Bertie County Arts Council and a volunteer for both Bertie and Chowan Arts Councils.

There Is Also Always Lots Of Food

Burton Jones, of Edenton, NC, paints exclusively in oils and is self-taught. Burton's interest in art extends 40 or more years as a painter, as the owner and operator of 2 commercial art galleries and currently as a fine arts conservator and restorer. He has won 1st and 2nd places in the Chowan Arts Council member shows. Having spent a good many years at sea and living at its edge, Burton's greatest love is of marine related subjects and scenes. Mr. Jones is a 10th generation Edentonian, is married to Mary Rhea Spivey (Gardner) and has 3 grown children as well as 3 grown step children.

Burton Jone's "Roanoke River Light"

And Best Of All, Lots Of Conversation

Katherine Wassink, of Elizabeth City, NC, grew up on a farm in Buckingham County, Virginia. From an early age she was fascinated with fabric, color and texture, often using her sewing as an excuse to get out of kitchen chores. She received her liberal arts degree in art history from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. In both 2003 and 2005 she was selected as the grand national winner in the American Sewing Guild's National Creativity Contest in the category of "most creative use of trim."

Katherine Wassink's "Vision Of The Road Less Travelled"

The Chowan Arts Council Gallery, at 200 E. Church Street, is open daily from 10 AM to 4 PM. Entry is always free to the public. For questions please call Dawn Fenimore, Executive Director, Chowan Arts Council at (252) 482-8005 or email at ChowanArtsCouncil@yahoo.com. You can vixit their web site by clicking on the title to this article above.

Edenton Music and Water Festival

The Water Festival part of this great event was held on Saturday morning and it was a blast, whether you participated or just watched.

Early Morning And It Is Peaceful Before The Competitors Start To Arrive

All Racers Unload In The Parking Lot

Carrying Boats To The Launch Area Is The Standard Way

Carrying Equipment Is Another Necessary Task

Everyone Has To Take Care Of Their Boats And Get Ready

Once Ready Greeting Friends, Old And New, Is the Next Activity

Race Workers Organize How The Race Will Be Conducted

Race Meeting For Competitiors Was The Last Action Before They Put The Boats In The Water

The Field Charges Off The Start Line, Not Everyone Staying Between The Orange Buoys As They Should

As The Field Charges Off The Serious Competitors Quickly Open A Gap

The Crowd For The Start Was Not Large, But They Were Fans And Followed The Action Closely

The Last Couple To Start The Race Came Late, But Dilligently Circled Around And Crossed The Start Line So Their Efforts Counted

During The Long Periods Between The Racers Passing By Some Fans Found Other Pursuits To Pass The Time

Wandering Around The Booths Was A Great Way To Spend Time And Provided Some Great Food

Ginger Morelock And Katy Shook Were There To Educate The Public, Among Numerous Great Booths

Beriauger Was There For History Buffs, Complete With Costumed Crew

Edenton Has Some Great History Of Its Own And Plaques Inform The Interested

Back To The Racing, The Leaders Drive Towards Completion Of Lap One

The Winners Of Both The Two-Person And One-Person Kayak Classes Charge Toward Victory

Some Local Residents Followed The Winning Teams Across The Finish Line

Next year you should be there in person, it was a really great day

For Contestants and their friends, here are the East Coast Flatwater Canoe and Kayak Races -
Final Results

Racing Division (8 miles)

K1 Men’s Open Kayak: 1st Place – John Chittick, Bridgeton (1:42)
2nd Place – Robert Philpott, Wilmington (1:44)

K1 Men’s 40 & Over Kayak: 1st Place – Stephen Knight, Apex (1:20)

K1 Women’s 40 & Over Kayak: 1st Place – Cindy Wooten, Greenville (1:44)

K2 Mixed Tandem Kayak: 1st Place – Logan and Chuck Conley, Va. Beach (40:31)
2nd Place –Jim and Vangie Troutman, Bradenton, FL (50:30)
3rd Place – Kevin and Barb Mullin, Edenton (1:09)

Men’s Open Surf Ski: 1st Place – Robert Decker, Purcellville, VA (1:21)
2nd Place – David Hamm, Va. Beach (1:38)

C2 Women’s Canoe: 1st Place – Linda Knowles and Michelle Fink, Va. Beach (1:44)

C2 Mixed Canoe: 1st Place – Rusty and Leza McLain, Chesapeake (1:20)

Recreation Division (4 miles)

Men’s Under 18 Kayak: 1st Place – Grainger Coughtrey, Edenton (1:13)

Men’s 18-39 Kayak: 1st Place – Chris Ford, Edenton (55:41)
2nd Place – Phillip Patrick, Edenton (59:10)
3rd Place – Brian Ward, Edenton (59:53)

Men’s 40 & Over Kayak: 1st Place – Juan Ponce, Va. Beach (48:18)
2nd Place – Urbain Boutin, Roper (50:55)
3rd Place – John Jacobson, New Bern (52:54)

Women’s 18-39 Kayak: 1st Place – Cierra Ward, Winterville (1:03)
2nd Place – Cecilia Chittick, Bridgeton (1:04)
3rd Place – Mary Olson, New Bern (1:07)

Women’s 40 & Over Kayak: 1st Place – Rebecca Philpott, Wilmington (58:42)
2nd Place – Kelly Hudzina, Edenton (1:01)
3rd Place – Lorri Givens, Rougemont (1:03)

Mixed Tandem Kayak: 1st Place – Mickey and Mitchell Turlington, Lumber Bridge (49:43)
2nd Place – Michael and Conner Gavigan, Edenton (51:12)

Men’s 40 & Over Canoe: 1st Place – Thomas Givens, Rougemont (55:10)

Summary: 39 Boats and 46 Race Participants from 19 different Cities

Edenton Championship Rodeo

The Edenton American Legion is sponsoring their third annual Championship Rodeo and last night was opening night . It was fantastic The gates, pony rides and concessions opened at 6:00 PM. Feyer Ford Lincoln Mercury of Plymouth and Williamston is the Center Gate Sponsor for the event, and their efforts are much appreciated. The American Legion grounds were well prepared for the large crowd, and signs guided the entering vehicles back to the parking at the rear of the facility. As I walked in from the parking lot I passed a number of trucks and trailers that had the cowboy's horses already saddled.

The Horses Were Simply Magnificent

The Rodeo performers are provided by Mid-Atlantic Professional Rodeo Association. Click on the title of this article above to visit their web site and find out more about their other events, including the two World Championship events they put on here in North Carolina. Alltel Wireless is the season sponsor for their circuit. Behind the rodeo facility that had been built on the American Legion Fairgrounds were the pens for all the stock, wild horses and bulls, that would be the challenge for the evening.

Stock Pens For The Wild Horses And Bulls

The Edward G. Bond Post 40 American Leion, is a non-profit fraternal organization supporting the care of disabled veterans, widows of those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice and our children who are the leaders of tomorrow. The proceeds from the rodeo are put back into the community and primarily goes to support American Legion Baseball and various other orgnizations that do good works in our community.

Rodeo Staff Gets Organized

The concession stand was equipped with just about everything you can imagine, from saddles to hats, and you can still buy things by calling (704) 882-6994 or go on line at arealcowboystore.com Two gorgeous cowgirls were on hand to help you with your selection of souvenirs.

The Souvenir Stand Sold Just About Everything

There were plenty of beautiful cowgirls in the stands as well.

One Of Many Local Cowgirls Filling The Stands

Participants Were Everywhere Getting Ready For The Competition

As Event Time Approached, Contestants Started Mounting Up

Many Local Moms And Dads Brought Their Families

The Stands Were Jammed By Start Time

Rodeo Announcer Roger Harrris Starts The Event

The Procession Is Led By The American Flag

The National Anthem Is Played

The first event was bronc riding.

These Are Essentially Wild Horses That Don't Tolerate Men Riding Them

A Contestant Doesn't Make The 8 Seconds

Another Contestant Doesn't Make The 8 Seconds And Has To Have Help To Walk Away

There Is Plenty Of Action With These Horses

The Winner Finishes His 8 Seconds And Gets Help To Dismount

Some Kids Were Allowed To Win A Watermelon . . . After Providing Some Humor By Crawling Around On the Rodeo Floor

Next We Enjoyed The Calf And Steer Roping Contests

This Is Harder Than It Looks!

Steer Roping Takes A Team . . . And This Night All The Steers Won

During Intermission I Got A Chance To Meet Some Of The Chowan County Sheriffs Department Who Were Providing Security

E.C. Toppin Was Presented A Trophy In Recognition Of The American Legion Rodeo Winning Honors As The Best New Rodeo Two Years Ago

One Of The Clowns Who Provided Safety And Humor Throughout The Evening

A Special Ceremony Honoring America's Fighting Forces Ended With Fireworks . . . Which Also Ended The Intermission

After Intermission we got to enjoy the two most popular events of the rodeo, barrell racing and bull riding. Bull riding is always the highlight of the evening and always concludes the rodeo.

Barrel Racing Is Fast Paced And Requires A Horse With Great Ability

One Horse And Rider Took A Bad Tumble At This Point

However All The Contestants Still Had A Great Time

This Bring Us To The Final Event . . BULL RIDING!

Staying On Is Not Easy

These 2,000 Pound Animals Are Awesome Athletes And It Takes Amazing Skill To Stay Aboard

Bull riding ends the rodeo because there is simply nothing else to equal it. It is the perfect conclusion to a great night.


Final night of the Edenton Championship Rodeo is tonight. Don't miss it!

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