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WSTA Bus Operators Win Top Honors in State Competition
On Sunday, June 3, 2007, three Winston-Salem Transit Authority WSTA bus operators took home trophies for first and second place in the Fixed-Route Division, and first place in the Light Transit Vehicles Division at the North Carolina Public Transportation Association's Annual Statewide Bus/Van Roadeo Competition.

The roadeo is held each year prior to the statewide transportation conference; and it gives operators from transit systems throughout the state of North Carolina the opportunity to compete in various divisions for trophies and cash prizes. This year's competition was held on June 3 in Wilmington, North Carolina.

Operators Alfredo Granados, and Jose Najera placed first and second place respectively in the Fixed-Route Division competition using Gillig buses. Approximately 24 other operators from all over North Carolina competed for the coveted trophies. WSTA has Nova buses in its fleet, so the operators were driving vehicles that were basically unfamiliar to them.

Heather Cousar placed first in the Light Transit Vehicles Division competition. She competed against 25 other operators from all over the state. A 12-year WSTA veteran, Cousar said, "I've been trying and trying year after year to bring home a trophy. I feel great! I can't wait to go to the next level of competition."

WSTA Safety Director Wendell Smith was just as excited as the operators when their names were announced as the winners. "I cannot begin to tell you how very proud we are of Alfredo, Jose and Heather. They do a great job for WSTA as operators on the streets of Winston-Salem, and they did a fantastic job at the roadeo. I had the awesome pleasure of training each one of them when they started working for WSTA, so naturally I feel like a proud Dad. We are looking forward to the national competition. We have had a success at the national competition in the past with Clark Campbell and Tony Bowen, who both won the state competition many years ago. What a treat to have two of our operators representing the state of North Carolina."

First place division winners, Granados and Cousar, will go on to compete in the national competition, scheduled for later this year.