Tidewater News contributing writer Almeta Davis ran into Southampton High School graduate Texie Blythe during this week’s trip to the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association basketball tournament in Charlotte, N.C.

Almeta let us know that Texie is a cheerleader for Chowan University, where she is a sophomore biology major. She cheered during the Lady Hawks’ game against St. Augustine on Tuesday at the Time Warner Cable Arena. It was Texie’s second trip to the tournament.

Participating in the tournament has been a good experience, she told Almeta.

“It takes you out of your comfort zone, which is a good thing,” said the daughter of Wendy and Carl Blythe of Sedley. “The arenas are bigger; the team, bands and fans are great; and it’s all about acceptance.”

Cheering Coach Pamela Scott — a Franklin resident and graduate of Franklin High School — said Texie is a hard worker, an asset to the team and a joy to work with.

Texie looked at a number of schools before choosing to stay close to home. Her mother is also a Chowan alum.

“Coming from Sedley I knew that I needed a smaller more family-oriented environment,” she said.

Upon graduation, Texie plans on attending nursing school to become a nurse practitioner.

• Debra Holt, the culinary arts teacher for Southampton Technical Career Center with Southampton County Public Schools, recently served as a judge in a taste-testing contest sponsored by the Virginian Pilot.

Debra was one of four to choose the best bread pudding prepared by three finalists; 50 restaurants were nominated. Her favorite and the winner was a bread pudding made by Havana Nights at the Town Center of Virginia Beach.

“Their bread was amazing,” she said. “It was made with some unique ingredients.”

They included Krispy Kreme doughnuts and Cuban bread.

Holt also nominated a restaurant for the contest. She likes the bread pudding at Harper’s Table in Suffolk. It’s made with cornbread, and the restaurant makes its own ice cream.

GWEN ALBERS is managing editor of The Tidewater News. Her email address is gwen.albers@tidewaternews.com.