Celebrating driver safety and skill, local celebrities join the annual event

with a competition benefiting local charities

 CHARLESTON, SC – Today, The Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) hosted the annual “Bus Roadeo,” a local qualifying event for the International Bus Roadeo organized by the American Passenger Transport Association (APTA).  Local celebrities joined the event in support of CARTA and competing for their favorite charity. The event celebrates the skilled and dedicated employees that drive CARTA buses every day.

The celebrities who participated in the event for charity included:

• Bill Walsh, Chief Meteorologist WCSC-TV 5
• Tessa Spencer, Co-anchor of Good Morning Charleston and Lowcountry Live, also midday personality on Starr 99.7
• Bill Burr, Reporter at WCIV-TV 4
• Rob Concannon, President of South Carolina Stingrays Hockey
• Michael T, On-Air Personality and Program Manager at Starr 99.7
• Dee Jay Cass, Afternoon Personality Z-93 Jamz
• Yonni Rude, Afternoon Personality 95SX
• Elliott Summey, County Council Vice-Chairman and CARTA Board Chairman

“This annual event is about celebrating our talented and dedicated bus drivers and employees with the local qualifying round of this international event,” said CARTA Executive Director, Christine Wilkinson. “We are honored to have local celebrities and personalities join us in this celebration and help us raise money for some great local organizations.”

The participants of the celebrity portion competed for donations to the charity of their choice.  Bill Walsh placed first, donating $2,000 to Ronald McDonald House, a program that provides a “home-away-from-home” for families so they can stay close by their hospitalized child at little or no cost.  Dee Jay Cass placed second, donating $1,000 to The Lowcountry Affiliate of Suzan G. Komen for the Cure, an organization that is working to better the lives of those facing breast cancer in the community.  Bill Burr followed close in third place, donating $500 to Lowcountry Food Bank, an organization that collects donated food products and distributes them to a network of more than 320 member agencies including soup kitchens and homeless shelters.

Following the celebrity portion of the event, 15 drivers participated in the Bus Roadeo to compete to move on to the state competition. Bus operators challenged their driving skills on various obstacle courses, and were judged on identifying defects on a vehicle during their pre-trip inspections, safety habits, and skill as they maneuvered 35 and 40 foot buses through the course.

Drivers and mechanics participate in the annual competition as an opportunity to show their skills.  Two highlights of this year’s team are Andrew Stevenus and Andrew McKelvey.  Andrew Stevenus was a winning mechanic at last year’s State Bus Roadeo competition.  Stevenus is also celebrating the completion of his fifth certification, with two planned for completion in March, to become an ASE Master Certified Mechanic.  He has served with Veolia for CARTA since October 2008.  Andrew McKelvey will also be participating in this year’s competition.  McKelvey won 3rd place last year at the State Competition Bus Roadeo and is a certified Behind the Wheel Trainer.  He has served with Veolia for CARTA since July 2009.

2014 Winners Include:

First Place, 35 feet, Bernard Sumter
Second Place, 35 feet, Sandra Lindsey-Bennett

First Place, 40 feet, Andrew McKelvey
Second Place, 40 feet, Gregory Shuler

First Place, Para Transit, Sharon Maxwell
Second Place, Para Transit, Jamal Thomas

To learn more about CARTA events, bus passes and routes, visit RideCARTA.com.

About CARTA

The Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) is a public transportation system dedicated to providing affordable transit to the Charleston community through four services – fixed routes, Tel-A-Ride, flex/demand service and express routes. CARTA services Charleston and the surrounding areas including West Ashley, North Charleston and Mount Pleasant. For the latest on CARTA, visit www.RideCARTA.com, follow us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter at @RideCARTA.  CARTA – It connects us all.

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