RALEIGH, (SGRToday.com) - Avery County school bus driver Mitch Banner showed he can maneuver a yellow school bus through the most difficult obstacles. That expertise has translated into being named the best school bus driver in North Carolina at the annual State School Bus ROADeo.
 
The other top nine drivers in the competition in order of finish from 2nd to 10th place were:
•    Byron Lanier (Wake County Schools)
•    Eric Turner (Hertford County Schools)
•    Boyce Chapman (Cabarrus County Schools)
•    Billy McKemey (Wake County Schools)
•    Andre Patterson (Public Schools of Robeson County)
•    Johnnie Waters (Onlsow County Schools)
•    John Gore (Brunswick County Schools)
•    Jeffrey Cassidy (Onslow County Schools)
•    Barerra McPherson (Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Schools)
 
Banner received a $500 cash prize and will represent North Carolina in the international school bus driving competition to be held this summer in Greensboro. The 2nd through 5th place finishers received $300, $200, $100 and $75, respectively. Sixth through 10th place finishers each won $50.