Eastern Shore Musician Places Second In Song Contest

Machipongo native Thelma Peterson placed 2nd in the USAToday Gulf Oil Spill Song Contest, with her song I am at war receiving 4,928 votes which was 31% of the votes. However, Judge Craig Bickhardt picked Peterson's song as his personal favorite.

Peterson had a healthy 5% point lead as of Sunday afternoon, but within the last 12 hours more than 2,000 votes came in to give John Bagnato's Sweet Crude Blues the win with 6,709 votes.
"Of course I would have loved to been in first place but getting the Judge's favorite was an honor in itself I would like to thank all the people who have voted for my song and supported me through this," said Peterson. "I've gotten so many calls and emails from people who heard my song, voted for my song and told me they liked it. They were happy an Eastern Shore girl was recognized on a national stage such as this.">

Here are the winners in our Gulf oil tragedy song contest - click here

Former "POISON" Singer In Critical Condition

CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY) - Bret Michaels, former singer for Poison and current "Celebrity Apprentice" contestant, fought to stay in the boardroom Sunday night, but the episode was taped months ago. In real life, Michaels is fighting to get out of the hospital.

Doctors found a massive bleed at the base of his brain stem after he complained of a sudden, excrutiating headache Thursday.

Chesapeake Neurosurgeon Charles Levy is not privy to Michaels medical records, but says that his condition sounds like an aneurysm.

"A large percentage of people who have aneurysm hemorrhage do not make it to the hospital," said Levy.

According to the Brain Aneurysm Foundation , six million Americans have unruptured brain aneurysms, but only a small percentage will bleed.

Eight out of every 100,000 people with aneurysms will rupture each year. Four out of seven who recover from the event will have disabilities. Forty percent of people who have a rupture will die.

Michaels staff posted Internet updates, stating he has slurred speech and blurred vision.

"If he's awake, and still with the slurred speech, most likely a lot of that will probably recover quite well," said Levy.

This is the latest in a series medical problems for the singer. Aside from being a lifelong diabetic, ten days earlier Michaels had an emergency appendectomy.

He was also injured at last year's Tony awards when a moving piece of stage hit him.

Levy warns any sudden severe headache should be checked out right away. He says people who smoke and have high blood pressure are at greatest risk, but anyone can have one.

Host and Executive Producer of the "Celebrity Apprentice," Donald Trump, told TMZ Monday the prognosis is not great, but said Michaels is an amazing competitor and that could save his life.

Posted on Michaels' website's News and Information:

"As of now Bret remains in ICU under 24 hour surveillance. Further testing this week will help locate the source of the bleeding."
More updates may be available from Michaels' website, BretMichaels.com

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