DATE: Thursday, April 3, 1997               TAG: 9704030554

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B2   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 

                                            LENGTH:   40 lines

ALBEMARLE

REGIONAL

FIRE RISKS HIGH: Forest fires still pose an extreme risk in North Carolina and a ``Red Flag Warning'' remains in place across the state, state Forest Service officials said Wednesday.

``Red Flag'' warnings are issued when high winds, low humidity and warm temperatures make the threat of forest fires an extreme hazard, said Carl Johnson of the state agency.

Since the first of this year, Forest Service crews have responded to 1,341 woods fires that involved more than 5,000 acres, Johnson said.

HATTERAS

BILLFISH TOURNEY MAY 8-10: The third annual Hatteras Village Offshore Open Billfish Tournament will be held May 8 through May 10, sponsored by the Hatteras Village Civic Association, Teach's Lair Marina, Hatteras Harbor Marina and Oden's Dock Marina.

The tournament is open to charter boats and smaller boats.

The event begins with a captain's meeting and registration May 7. Thursday, Friday and Saturday will be fishing days with an awards banquet and auction Saturday night.

Teach's Lair Marina will serve as the official weigh station and there will be scheduled events each night dockside ``Under the Big Top.''

For details or to become a sponsor, call Donna Peele at 986-2323 or Joe Morris at 986-2460.

OCRACOKE

YERKES CITED: Russell Yerkes of Ocracoke won second place for his painting, ``Wiskas,'' during the 49th semi-annual Juried Exhibition of the Watercolor Society of North Carolina.

His painting is an underwater scene with a tiger looking down at fish. It is included in the March issue of ``Our State'' magazine.

Yerkes maintains a studio on Ocracoke Island. The public can view his works during July and August at the Green Leaf Gallery in Nags Head.

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