Each year, the Cary Chamber of Commerce recognizes local small businesses with its annual Excellence Awards. The prizes go to companies based on the business's community contributions such as innovation, work environment, sustainability, success and community service.

Atlantic Tire & Service claimed the top prize: Small Business of the Year.

Also winning awards: BP Studios, Innovation; Wine and Design, Cary, Community Service; Masterpiece Home Improvements, Work Environment; AlphaGraphics Cary, Green Plus Sustainability; Panther Creek High School, Entrepreneurial Award in Education; The Carying Place, Charitable Partners Award.

The awards were given out on May 9.

Apex, which climbed to No. 1 in the N&O boys soccer rankings on Tuesday, dropped its first game of the season Wednesday as Panther Creek took a 1-0 victory.

 Nate Latigue scored the only goal with an assist by Kyle Peterson.

Apex had defeated then-No. 1 Green Hope, 1-0, on Monday.

The crowding problem at Panther Creek High School these first few weeks of school has generated a good bit of media coverage.

The combination of rapid growth around the Northwest Cary school and the inability to get 22 modular classrooms set up before classes began has slammed Panther Creek. As was noted last week, students are using the media center and the auditorium until the modulars are installed.

The situation has raised questions about the process Wake uses to install modulars. It's also pointing to how high school students will likely be reassigned in 2009.