Nash County Commissioners decided to hold off on voting for a resolution in support of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, agreeing to further discuss the resolution at a work session next month.
The resolution was brought before commissioners at the end of their regular meeting on May 4.
The Atlantic Coast Pipeline is a joint venture between Dominion Resources, Duke Energy, Piedmont Natural Gas and AGL Resources. The natural gas transmission pipeline is proposed to start in Harrison County, West Virginia and extend south into eastern North Carolina.

After finally getting a meeting set up with Edgecombe County Commissioners to discuss the potential realignment of school systems, Nash County Commissioners have cancelled Friday's meeting.
Nash County Commissioners have been trying for weeks to meet with Edgecombe County Commissioners to discuss a study that was done by MGT America, Inc.. The study reviewed local funding provided by both Nash and Edgecombe Counties.

A Nashville resident requested Nashville's Town Council consider enabling the town to become a Tree City USA and a Tree Lines USA.
Victoria Frazier, of Collins Street, quoted Dr. Seuss in appealing to the town council last week at the regular meeting, held on Tuesday, May 5.
Frazier quoted "The Lorax," a children's book that tells of the plight of the environment and the Lorax, who speaks for the trees against the Once-ler.
Frazier said trees in Nashville are being butchered by Duke Energy, who are trimming the trees on or near power lines.

HANG ON BUDDY! -- Chelsey Joyner of Sandy Cross takes little Macon Shearin for a ride at the Nashville Blooming Festival carnival.

The 19th annual Nashville Blooming Festival ended with perfect weather, despite possible forecasts of rain.
Organizers said they are pleased with this year's events and thankful the rain held off for the festival, which ended on Saturday night with the Hip Pocket Band performing on the main stage.
"The weather held off," Co-Chair Cindy Puckett said. "It was literally like God put his hand over Nashville and kept the rain away,"

Nash Central High School's Marching Band performs during the Blooming Festival Parade. Also performing were Southern Nash and Northern Nash High School Bands.

Spring Hope Commissioners went over a tight budget on Tuesday night and discussed cuts and increased taxes to enable the town to do more in the upcoming budget year.
The proposed FY 2015-2016 budget is balanced at $1,047,997. The proposed budget is almost $10,000 lower than the current year's budget.
Holpe said in preparing the budget, he went through each department and cut as much as possible.

Rev. Mildred C. Brown will soon be celebrating her one-year anniversary as pastor of Galatia African Methodist Episcopal Church.
Brown is the first female pastor of the Nashville church, which will turn 145 years old this year.
The church is one of the oldest churches in Nash County, having been organized in 1870 in a "bush arbor" by the Rev. L.B. Clark. The church later moved into an old building about a mile south of Nashville on Old Wilson Highway. The church moved to its current location at 320 Galatia Street in the Brooklyn Community around 1930.

Nash County Manager Zee Lamb relayed concern about the increase in solar farms throughout the county at the latest Board of Commissioner meeting.
Three solar farms were a part of last Monday's agenda. Two farms were requesting extensions and the third was for a conditional use permit for a farm on N. NC 58.
Lamb said there had been talk in the community about the increase in solar farms in Nash County.
"It's clear that Nash County is very solar friendly," he said.

Nash County Commissioners approved a proclamation last week that recognizes Ruritan Founders Day on May 21.
The proclamation was requested by Nash County Commissioner Wayne Outlaw, who has been involved in Ruritans himself for around 20 years.
"I can tell you without question this is a group of givers," Outlaw said. "They give of their time. They give of their energy. They give of their resources all for one purpose; to make our communities a better place to live, work, and play."

Nash County Planning and Inspections issued the following building permits from May 4 through May 8, 2015.

A larceny of a pocketbook was reported on 5/5/15 at 2920 Old Mill Road
A breaking and entering and larceny after a breaking and entering was reported on 5/5/15 at 3363 Cornell Drive
A breaking and entering and damage to personal property was reported on 5/5/15 at 2800 S. Halifax Road
A misdemeanor larceny was reported on 5/5/15 at 522 N Old Carriage Road

INCIDENTS
A damage to property (vandalism) was reported on 5/4/15 at 311 Boddie Street
A violation of a court order, driving while license revoked and driving while impaired was reported on 5/5/15 at 305 Church Street
A possession of counterfeit money was reported on 5/7/15 at 125 W Church Street

Nash County is continuing its efforts to expand broadband in unserved areas.
The county has been working with Jason Semple, an Economic Development Analyst-Technical Advisor under the Office of Digital Infrastructure, since last year to find ways to bridge the gap in service for Nash County residents.
Semple's work with Nash County is part of an initiative by the state. Broadband technology provides a critical foundation for public safety, economic development, education and efficiency.

Plans for Castalia's annual Fourth of July celebrations are well underway. Festivities in the works this year include the annual car show, parade, a fireworks display, live music, and various vendors.
The application and down payment for the fireworks display have been submitted. The Fourth of July planning committee is still waiting to meet with the Fire Marshal, but Committee Member James Alston said that meeting usually does not take place until June.

Nash County Commissioners recognized the seventh graduating class of the Nash County Citizen's Academy at their regular meeting last Monday.
"Nash County Government Works" met every Monday from 5:30 until 8:30 p.m. from January 26 until April 20. This is the seventh year the academy has been held.
The academy features different topics each week that all focus on different aspects of Nash County Government. Nash County staff helped teach the sessions. Some of the sessions included tours of Nash County facilities, including the jail and 9-1-1 center.

Nash-Rocky Mount Public School Honor Rolls for the third nine weeks are listed below:

Rotarian President Ron Green, at left, stands with Bob Garner, at right, at the DoubleTree Hotel during a recent meeting. Mr. Garner spoke on his new book "Foods That Make You Say Mmmmmm " and how foods and people's stories are so intertwined. The Rocky Mount Rotary Club meets every Monday at 1 p.m.

The City of Rocky Mount has rescheduled the Rocky Mount/Nash County Special Olympics Spring Games to this Friday, May 15, 2015.
Weather conditions forced the event, originally scheduled for Wednesday, April 15, to be cancelled.
The games will now take place on Friday, May 15 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Bishop Stadium, 600 Independence Drive in Rocky Mount.
The public is invited to attend the Rocky Mount/Nash County Special Olympics Spring Games to show their support of participants.

UDC Bethel Heroes Chapter 636 members visited the Coolmore Plantation for their May meeting. Joseph and Janet Spiers gave a tour of their home, which is a National Historic Landmark. Those attending were Kay Freehand, Donna Boykin, Helen Sharpe, Margaret Sink, Margie Parker Brantley, Traci Thompson, Claudia Linkous, Edith Whitby and Sara Watson.

Army Pfc. Benjamin K. Hatchel has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. During the nine weeks of training, the soldier studied the Army mission, history, tradition and core values, physical fitness, and received instruction and practice in basic combat skills, military weapons, chemical warfare and bayonet training, drill and ceremony, marching, rifle marksmanship, armed and unarmed combat, map reading, field tactics, military courtesy, military justice system, basic first aid, foot marches, and field training exercises.

Tale Talk is one of the many fellowship opportunities offered through Red Oak United Methodist Church. The next book club meeting is scheduled for 6 pm Saturday, May 19 and they will discuss Gifted Hands by Ben Carson, MD.
Sign up now for the 2nd annual Stop Hunger Now meal packing event hosted by Red Oak United Methodist Church and scheduled for Saturday, May 30. Volunteer registration forms are available on their website or through any ROUMC member. Online registration is also now available.

Ads were once simple presentations of the good qualities of various products. Toothpaste makes teeth white. Soap scrub away dirt. Washers clean clothes. This was the modern approach. Much advertising today is postmodern. Image replaces function. Cars and clothes make a statement. Cigarettes and beer portray an image. Advertisers tinker with our hearts. They appeal to lust and the lower nature. They foster discontent.

Mother's Day was happily observed by Peachtree folks on Sunday morning as they gathered for worship at the church. Sanctuary flowers were given by JoAnn Blankenship in memory of her mother, Ann Downey Savage, and her grandmother, Minnie Wester Savage. Special worship music was by David Griffin, accompanied by Jane May at the piano, as he whistled "Precious Memories", in memory of all mothers.
Linda Edwards, Youth Leader, recognized the oldest and the youngest mothers present.

I hope all the mothers had a really nice Mother's Day on Sunday. We had a great service at Beulah Church of Christ. The attendance was good and we were so thankful to have a lot of visitors. The sermon was brought to us by our minister Chris Matchem and was on "Mothers are the Best Preachers." Chris and his wife, Bre, also sang a duet, which was beautiful. We were also blessed with a solo by Mary Lee Bass, which was beautiful. God has blessed all them with a special talent and we look forward to hearing from them all again.

One definition of strong is "not easily defeated." That will be the new name of our community news. I can't think of one single word thaT describes us Aventonians any better than the word strong.
For an itty bitty community, Aventon has so much to be proud of. Family is so important to Aventonians and never more has it been present than today......right now!

The O.D. Moore Scholarship Foundation will host its Sixth Annual Golf Tournament at Belmont Lake Golf Club in Rocky Mount on Saturday, May 22. Check in is at 8:30 a.m. with a 9 a.m. shotgun start. The entry fee donation is $70 per golfer and includes the grene fee, golf cart, lunch, range balls, 50/50 long drive, 50/50 closest to the pink and many other prizes. Proceeds from this event go towards a scholarship fund which benefits graduating students. For information, call Patrick Ford at 252-469-9805, Allegro Cordell at 252-469-1299, Goldie Ford at 301-873-8586 or Troy Smith at 919-672-0448.

Isaiah Person, a student at Northern Nash Senior High, recently served as a Page for the North Carolina House of Representatives.
Person is the son of Arthur and Sonja Person of Castalia and was sponsored by Representative Bobbie Richardson (Democrat-Franklin). Speaker of the House Tim Moore (R-Cleveland) appoints the Pages and introduces each one to Members and citizens in the House gallery at the start of each week during Monday night's session.

North Carolina State University's Park Scholarships program has named 39 students to its Class of 2019.
Jeffrey Perry Currin, of Nashville, was one of those selected for the Park Scholarship.
Currin is the son of Dennis and Shellie Currin. He will graduate from Nash Central High School, where he is the assistant drum major, a member of the swim team and a National Honor Society inductee.

The Morehead-Cain Foundation - home of the first merit scholarship program in the United States - is proud to announce its class of 2019.
This fall, Morehead-Cain will welcome to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 59 new Morehead-Cain Scholars from across North Carolina, the United States, and the world. The class of 2019 includes:

Keep America Beautiful (KAB) of Nash and Edgecombe Counties recently received a KAB President's Circle Award. The President's Circle Award recognizes exemplary performance made by certified affiliates of the national nonprofit in building and sustaining vibrant communities.
In qualifying for a President's Circle Award, KAB of Nash and Edgecombe Counties has met KAB's standards of merit by conducting an annual Community Appearance Index, calculating the affiliate's cost/benefit ratio, and administering activities in the areas of litter prevention, recycling and waste reduction, and beautification and community greening.

Cedar Isle Dairy traveled to Winston-Salem on March 21, 2015 to compete in the annual NC State Holstein Show. Cole Strickland and Casey Strickland competed in four classes and won first place in Fall Heifer Class for "Leslie," sixth place in the Spring Yearling Class for "Goldie," fifth place in the Winter Yearling Class for "Emelia," and third place in the Fall Yearling Class for "Enya." Cole and "Leslie" returned to the show ring for the Champion Drive. and the judge selected "Leslie" as the Reserve Junior Champion of the entire show.

Ben E. King is dead and I don't feel so good myself.
Okay, so I am borrowing that line from the title of a book by Lewis Grizzard after Elvis died.
King's rendition of "Stand by Me" should be in every rock and roll hall of fame, and, from my perspective, should be rated as more earth-shattering than the British invasion.

I'd say this year's Blooming Festival was a hit!
My kids, at least, would tell you so!
Prior to the carnival starting up last Wednesday night, I was asked the question, "mommy, is the carnival here yet," at least a dozen times a day.
My boys had their share of fun at the carnival on Wednesday and at the festival on Friday and Saturday. I bet many others can say the same thing.

The problem with history is that it starts out as news. It happens, is reported, and then finds its context in the world.
It is not a work of fiction, or a Disney movie where everything just sort of works itself out in the end.
However, we are seeing a movement I've not experienced in my lifetime that is all about re-writing American history. Groups are claiming things from our country's past need to be sanitized, as do our historical figures.

HARVEST FESTIVAL -- This photo was submitted by Mrs. Anise Poland Rose. She is pictured above (far right) riding in the Harvest Festival in Nashville. She believes the photo was taken in 1948. Pictured next to her (left to right) are Helen Pridgen Green and Demative Poland Tatum. They were representing Nashville Building Supply Company in the parade.

AUCTION! ~ We are planning to have the BIGGEST & BEST Online Auction! We are SEEKING lots of items such as gift certificates (restaurants, retail locations), stays at hotels, art, jewelry, dog/cat items, vacation packs, new and unique items, decor, tickets to events, gift cards, autographed memorabilia, gift baskets.... and the list goes on!

SOARING TO NEW HEIGHTS. Nash Central's Myia Spivey clears the high jump bar at the Class 3-A State Track and Field Championships last Friday.

GREENSBORO -- Just because a state crown eluded performers from Nash Central, Southern Nash and Northern Nash doesn't mean that all was lost for the county titans at the annual Class 3-A State Track and Field Championships.
The event was staged last Friday at Aggie Stadium on the campus of North Carolina A&T State University.
Points were hard to come by for the Nash County schools, especially in girls action, where Nash Central topped the county by claiming 18th place with 12 total points.

GOOD EYE. Northern Nash High School's Tyler Barrett takes a pitch during the Knights' victory at Wilson Fike last Thursday evening in the championship game of the Big East Conference Baseball Tournament.

WILSON -- It's been an up-and-down season for the Northern Nash High School baseball squad -- but the Knights have saved the 'up' portion for when they needed it most.
Despite returning several key standouts from last year's regular season champions in the Big East Conference, the Knights were unable to defend that title under Coach Leonard Allen and suffered some unexpected losses along the way.

NASH COUNTY -- Josh Harden made the most of his senior season as a member of the Southern Nash High School golf squad.
The talented Harden was second in the Big East Conference cumulative standings and also represented the league at the Class 3-A State Championships earlier this week at Longleaf Golf and Country Club in Southern Pines.
After the first round of the 36-hole event, Harden was tied for 59th place following an 84.

RED OAK -- Senior veteran Shelby Godwin tossed a two-hitter as the homestanding Northern Nash Lady Knights defeated Southern Nash by a 5-0 margin last Thursday in the championship game of the Big East Conference Softball Tournament.
Godwin struck out 11 and walked just two to propel the Lady Knights to the crown. Godwin has signed a letter-of-intent to continue her career at Chowan University.

NASH COUNTY -- Tremel Davis' season-long dominance resulted in his selection as the Big East Conference Boys Tennis Player of the Year.
Davis, a junior at Northern Nash, was the Class 3-A East Regional finalist and also qualified for last weekend's Class 3-A State Championships in Burlington.
Davis was defeated in the opening round of the states by Cameron Union Pines' Will Hart (6-3, 6-1).
Wilson Fike's Lee Matthews was tabbed as the Coach of the Year after guiding the Demons to the league crown, along with a 15-0 overall record in the regular season.

NASH COUNTY -- Listed are updated Nash County Parks and Recreation Department's Spring Baseball and Softball League scores:

SALEM, VA. -- Andrew Thurman held the Salem Red Sox to just two runs over a season high six and 1/3 innings while leading the Carolina Mudcats to a 5-2 win on Sunday at LewisGale Field at Salem Memorial Ballpark in a Class A Carolina League baseball showdown.
Levi Hyams led the way offensively after going 2-for-4 with two RBI in game four of the series.
The Mudcats (18-12) broke a 1-1 tie with four runs in the seventh to take a 5-1 lead over Mike Adams and the Red Sox (16-15) on Sunday.

LEXINGTON, VA. -- The North Carolina Wesleyan College men's tennis team suffered a 5-1 loss to #4 Emory University on Sunday afternoon in the third round of the NCAA Tournament, which was hosted by Washington & Lee University.
While the team ends its dual season with a 17-6 overall record, senior Robert Kjellberg and freshman Sebastian Sikh will continue play in the NCAA Division III Singles and Doubles Championships on May 21.

ROCKY MOUNT -- Brian Carter drew a one-out walk in the bottom of the sixth inning and cruised home with the game-winning run on Maliq Nicholson's RBI double to close out a game as the Wesley Men Yankees picked up an 8-7 win over the B.O. Cardinals in last Wednesday's afternoon action of the Rocky Mount 11-12 Little League at the RM Sports Complex.
The two teams combined to score 15 runs and pound out 21 hits as the base hit merry-go-round was kept busy spinning all game long.

NASH COUNTY -- Here are updated scores from the Nash County Parks and Recreation Department's Spring Youth Soccer League:

CONCORD -- Known as the epicenter of NASCAR, a visit to Charlotte Motor Speedway during the 10 Days of NASCAR Thunder is on every true race fan's bucket list, and in 2015 fans have more reason than ever to visit the iconic 1.5-mile superspeedway and get revved up for thrilling back-to-back weekends of white-knuckled racing.
It all starts this weekend with the biggest all-star event in sports, the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race (May 16) and culminates with the 56th running of the venerable Coca-Cola 600 on May 24.

Northern Nash's Derrick Carter earned the mound decision last Thursday during the championship game of the Big East Conference Baseball Tourney at Wilson Fike HS.

Northern Nash's Rhema Hedgpeth (left) soars over a hurdle during qualifying action at last Friday's Class 3-A State Track and Field Championships.

Northern Nash's Nick Vester hustles to reach first base as the ball gets away from a Wilson Fike player during last Thursday's championship contest of the Big East Conference Baseball Tournament on the Fike campus. The Knights hosted Eastern Guilford on Tuesday in the opening round of the Class 3-A State Playoffs.

Nash Central High School will present the musical, "High School Musical" May 14 and 15 at 7 p.m. and May 16 and 17 at 2 p.m. at the Imperial Centre in Rocky Mount. Tickets are $7 in advance and $10 at the door. Call 451-2860 for tickets.

Virginia Ewing Hudson

The Cherry Hill concert series continues its spring performances on May 17th with a presentation by four members of the Meredith music faculty. Piano, cello, violin, and guitar music will be played by professors of those instruments. The concert will begin at 3:00 PM and will be followed by a reception for audience members and performers.
Dr. Margaret Evans is an award-winning piano teacher known for building students who play with depth of understanding, passion, beauty, and technical ease.

Nashville's own singer-songwriter Valerie Wood will return to her hometown stage on SaturdayMay 16th at 7 p.m.
The performance will be held at Nash Arts, a significant place for Wood, as her grandparents, the late Ray and Anna Matthews, both played a critical role as founding members of the Nash Arts Council in the mid 1980's, working for the preservation of its historical building as a center for cultural and artistic expression.
Wood said she is thrilled to return to her roots in Nashville.

Arthur Freer, Jr., 84, of Rocky Mount, died on May 9, 2015.

Beulah Jenkins, 72, of Rocky Mount, died on May 11, 2015.

Carl Steven Cannon, 65, passed away Thursday May 7, 2015. He was born December 6 1949 in White County, TN. Steve was preceded in death by his father, Carl Cannon.

Deverna "Dee" Sims Wylie, 70, passed away Monday, May 11, 2015. She was born April 5, 1945 to the late John Sr. and Blanch Taylor Gerlinger.

Ernestine Winstead age 81, passed away Friday May 8, 2015. She was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years Elijah Winstead.

Hiawatha F. Hilliard, 82, of Rocky Mount, passed away on Tuesday, May 5, 2015.

Isaac Lee "Scrap" Garrett AKA "Mr. Bodacious", 68, of Brooklyn, New York and formerly of Rocky Mount, died on May 5, 2015.

Jane Winters Rohr, 70, passed away Saturday May 9, 2015. She was preceded in death by her father; William Winters, mother, Elenore Davis Winters, grandfather, "Uncle" Sam Davis and grandmother Lena Bulluck Davis; brother, William "Bill" Thomas Winters.

Jase Matthew Griffiths, born on April 20, 2013, passed away Sunday, May 10, 2015. He was preceded in death by his maternal great-grandfather, Tommy Cliett; his paternal great-grandfather, Wendell Holmes and his uncle Adam Wilder.

Jennette Baker Bone Cantrell, 76, passed away Monday May 11, 2015. She was born August 15, 1938 in Nash County to the late Lacy and Geneva Joyner Baker. In addition to her parents she is preceded in death by her husband, Jerry Wayne Cantrell, sons, Terry and Danny Bone.

Jo Ann Pope, 82, of Rocky Mount, died on May 11, 2015.

Visitation for Porfirio Mendoza Alvarado will be Friday, May 15, 2015 from 6-8:30 pm at Cornerstone Funeral Home in Nashville. A funeral service will be held Saturday, at 12 noon, also at Cornerstone. Burial will be held at Spring Hope Cemetery.

Robert Lee Anderson, Sr., 52, of Rocky Mount, died on May 8. 2015.

Rosa Mae Moore Leonard, born on February 14, 1935, passed away on Sunday, May 10, 2015. She was born in Nash County to the late Mark Braswell Moore and Rosa Meyer Moore. She was preceded in death by her husband, Howard Hardy Leonard and her son, Patterson McClean Moore Davis.