TOUCHSTONE ENERGY HOT AIR BALLOON MAKES MAIDEN FLIGHT WITH BRUNSWICK EMC MEMBERS ABOARD – and KICKS OFF THE RELAY FOR LIFE

May 15, 2007, Supply, NC - - Touchstone Energy Hot Air Balloon pilot Cheri White visited southeastern North Carolina recently with a brand-new hot air balloon just added to the fleet. Brunswick Electric Membership Corporation, the local Touchstone Energy cooperative brought the balloon to southeastern NC with the help of the statewide organization of electric co-ops, NCEMC.

In the weeks before the visit, the co-op had lined up several members to ride in the balloon via a drawing. Fair skies and light winds were needed for this highly-weather-dependent activity but the weather did not cooperate. Cheri White and her team made the best of it and gave as many tethered rides as possible during the long weekend at two locations, the NC Strawberry Festival in Chadbourn and at the Brunswick County Relay for Life. They also inflated the balloon for a visit by schoolchildren in the Chadbourn area. The students were amazed at the sight and asked lots of questions about how a hot air balloon flies.

In the wee hours of Saturday, May 5 the weather lifted a bit and the morning flight was on! BEMC members Bruce Hart, Jr. of Chadbourn and Pat Roach of Shallotte made the early morning trek to arrive at the Strawberry Festival balloon field in time to watch the inflation of the huge balloon. With 25 balloons all going up at the same time, it was quite a sight. For Pat Roach, the ride was a total surprise. The winning ticket notification came to her husband Dan who kept it a secret until the ride was a definite "go". With their grandchildren along to ride in the chase vehicle, it turned into a memorable family outing. Dan even helped inflate the balloon and pack it up at the end of the flight.

Upon landing in a farmer's unplanted field along with several other balloons, Hart commented, "This was great. I got closer to heaven in the company of two beautiful women. I'm a lucky man, with a wonderful wife waiting at home to hear all about it. Thanks, BEMC."

Southport resident Howard Kilgore's flight was cancelled due to bad weather, but he was happy to go up for a tethered ride on Saturday, adding the hot air balloon to the long list of aircraft in which he has flown.

On Friday afternoon, the Touchstone Energy team brought the balloon over to West Brunswick High School to help kick off the 2007 Relay for Life. The huge balloon loomed above the bleachers as the survivors gathered for their photo and the drawing to see who would get to ride in the balloon. Winners were Joyce Erickson of Ocean Isle Beach and Tony Lombardo of Calabash, who donated his winning ride to one of the youngest survivors, six-year old Nicholas Black of Bolivia. As cancer survivors, both Erickson and young Nicholas are used to ups and downs, but this day was a definite "up"!

Every day the Touchstone Energy Balloon flies, the team makes a charitable donation. Pilot Cheri White, Brunswick EMC's CEO, Robert W. Leavitt, Jr, and several BEMC employees presented a check for $510 to Renee Adams, Chairperson of the Relay for Life. This of course was in addition to other money raised by the BEMC employee team.

The Touchstone Energy Balloon helped kick off the Brunswick County Relay for Life - West Brunswick High School, Shallotte, NC.

The Touchstone Energy and Brunswick Electric balloon team present a charitable donation check to the Relay for Life, supplementing the efforts of the BEMC employee team. (l-r) Touchstone Energy Hot Air Balloon pilot Cheri White, Jimmy Green and Lisa Winfree, BEMC team captains, Robert W. Leavitt, Jr, CEO of BEMC, Beryl Hall, balloon team volunteer, Renee Adams, Relay Chairperson and Rodney, balloon crew chief.

Joyce Erickson, cancer survivor from Ocean Isle Beach, won a tethered ride in the Touchstone Energy Hot Air Balloon. Is this lady ready for adventure or what!

Cancer survivor Nicholas Black of Bolivia got a chance to ride in the Touchstone Energy Hot Air Balloon at the 2007 Relay for Life. Tony Lombardo of Calabash won the ride and donated the memorable experience to the 6 yr old. Pilot Cheri White, and Nicholas Black ready for takeoff, surrounded by BEMC balloon team members (l-r) Earl Andrews, Brook Holmes, Michael Baines and Beryl Hall.

Touchstone Energy's Hot Air Balloon taking off with a group at the NC Strawberry Festival, May 5, 2007. Photo by Stan Bush

(Ctr), Touchstone Energy pilot Cheri White prepares for takeoff with Brunswick EMC members Bruce Hart Jr. of Chadbourn, NC and Pat Roach of Shallotte, NC for the maiden flight of a brand-new hot air balloon. 2007 NC Strawberry Festival in Chadbourn. Photo by Vince Winnie Photography