The Nashville Willing Workers will host their annual Martin Luther King banquet on Sunday afternoon.
For many years, the event was held on Monday morning, the day recognized for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, but in 2016 organizers decided to host the event on a Sunday afternoon.

Nashville Piggly Wiggly Manager Stan Woodlief (at left) gives a flier to Virginia Anderson (at right) at the opening of their new Nashville location on Wednesday morning.

The timing was finally right for Piggly Wiggly to locate in Nashville.
The locally owned grocery store officially opened its doors on Wednesday, January 10 but held a special open house on Monday night for members of the community.
Scott Dunn, owner of Piggly Wiggly, said they've long wanted to come to Nashville.

Nashville's Fire Department will add a new pumper truck to their fleet, after Nashville's Town Council voted last Tuesday to go ahead with the purchase.
The purchase of a pumper truck was scheduled to be included in the 2018-2019 budget year but will instead move forward a few months early.
According to a memo from Chief Randy Goodbrod, who recently retired, the cost would go down significantly if the town could purchase the truck in this fiscal year. Goodbrod said the town could save $36,178 if purchased now.

A body was discovered last Wednesday afternoon in Stoney Creek near US 64 and Womble Road.
The Nash County Sheriff's Office and several other emergency service agencies responded to the area in reference to a body found by employees of Locklear Boring based out of Creedmoor.

Spring Hope Chief of Police Anthony Puckett recently graduated from a renowned academy for law enforcement officials in Quantico, Virginia.
Chief Puckett was one of 222 law enforcement officers from local and state agencies who received training and graduated from the FBI National Academy in December.

A tweet by someone claiming to be affiliated with an out-of-town cat rescue group caused numerous harassing phone calls to be made to the Nash County Animal Shelter.
The tweet was from someone named Kelly Ryan, who reportedly lives in Kannapolis.

Nash County experienced its first snowfall of 2018 last Wednesday night followed by days of extremely cold temperatures. Schools were finally able to reopen Tuesday morning with a two-hour delay. The cold weather didn't stop youngsters from having fun! Pictured above are Ny'Zarria and Khemanri Joyner.

Nash County experienced its first snowfall of 2018 last Wednesday night followed by days of extremely cold temperatures. Schools were finally able to reopen Tuesday morning with a two-hour delay. The cold weather didn't stop youngsters from having fun! Pictured above, Jeff Sherrod and Pat Joyner lend a helping hand to push a car off the slippery ice.

An article on the front page in last week's Nashville Graphic incorrectly listed the date of a fire at Richardson Funeral Home in Nashville. The article said the fire occurred on December 2. It should have stated January 2. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

The Nash County Senior Center recognized the service and dedication of members of the Nash County Sheriff's Office on Tuesday during a special appreciation event.
The event was held as part of National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, or L.E.A.D., which is recognized on January 9th of each year. National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day was founded in 2015 as a way to thank officers across the country for the sacrifices they make for their communities.

INCIDENTS
A possession of drug paraphernalia was reported on 12/31/17 at Vernon and S. Alston Street
A discharging a firearm in the city was reported on 12/31/17 at 712 Scott Court

An assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill was reported on 12/31/17 at 2460 Curtis Ellis Drive
A larceny was reported on 12/31/17 at 3729 Bend of the River Road
A misc larceny was reported on 1/1/18 at 5840 US 64A

Nash County Planning and Inspections issued the following building permits from January 1-5

The following is an excerpt from the sermon I preached in the Sanctuary of Nashville United Methodist Church on January 7, 2018. I pray it's an encouragement not just to the people of NUMC, but the church universal and this wonderful town we call, "The Original Nashville."
This sanctuary, Praise be to God, is not a monument remembered as once being vibrant and full of confessions of faith.

"Be strong and courageous; don't be terrified or afraid of them. For the Lord your God is the one who will go with you; he will not leave you or abandon you." Deuteronomy 31:6 CSB
As a young boy I still remember having dreams of being chased by a vehicle. I recall waking up in the night with a rapid heartbeat and scared to death.

Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! I'm sure the children and some adults enjoyed the snow and snow days!
Now that Christmas is over you may have Christmas cards still around. Red Oak Baptist Church is again collecting card fronts for St. Jude's Ranch for Children. They can use any card fronts, not only Christmas cards.

UDC Bethel Heroes Chapter 636 members recently collected throws to be distributed to veterans in local nursing homes.

Nash-Rocky Mount Schools has released its Honor Roll lists for the first semester of the 2017-2018 school year.
The following students at Nash Central High School made the A or A/B Honor Roll.

Nash-Rocky Mount Schools has released its Honor Roll lists for the first semester of the 2017-2018 school year.
The following students at Swift Creek Elementary School made the A or A/B Honor Roll.

Nash-Rocky Mount Schools has released its Honor Roll lists for the first semester of the 2017-2018 school year.
The following students at Tar River Academy made the A or A/B Honor Roll.

Hannah Cole tosses snow last week after Nash County received several inches.

Logan Hassell enjoyed playing in the snow with her younger brother Luke last week.

Blake Denton, 8, and his brother, Bryce Denton, 4, (L-R) take a break from playing in the snow last week. Nash County received several inches of snow overnight on Wednesday into Thursday.

Gracie Miller enjoys sledding in the snow last week, after Nash County received several inches.

Leah Rackley enjoys playing outside in the snow last week after a good dusting in Nash County.

Even dogs ventured out to enjoy last week's snow. Pictured is Harlow, an available dog with Odin's Orphans Rescue, playing in the snow at his foster family's house.

Nash-Rocky Mount Schools has released its Honor Roll lists for the first semester of the 2017-2018 school year.
The following students at Southern Nash Middle School made the A or A/B Honor Roll.

Nash-Rocky Mount Schools has released its Honor Roll lists for the first semester of the 2017-2018 school year.
The following students at Spring Hope Elementary School made the A or A/B Honor Roll.

Nash County firefighters battled a fire in snow and ice last Friday morning in the West Mount area.
The call was dispatched around 11 a.m. on January 5 to the 4000 block of Barnes Hill Church Road in reference to a house fire. It was reported a woman was still in the burning home.

Nash County Commissioners awarded a contract for the expansion of the C&D Landfill on Tuesday morning.
The county began soliciting bids for construction of the phase 4 C&D Landfill Expansion Project in November. The county received eight bids on December 14 with bid amounts ranging from $524,610 to $790,134.

At its regular monthly meeting on Monday, the town board of Red Oak discussed and developed a plan to bring street lights to most of the roads within the town's limits. The plan will involve nine separate phases. The town plans to begin with Highway 43. Before work can begin, the town board will meet with Duke Energy Progress to determine the cost and timeline for the project.

If you're tired of nothingburgers and fake news, you are not alone.
Those are two of the words/phrases that are officially being shut down in 2018. Sort of.
Michigan's Lake Superior State University, which overlooks the St. Mary's River and into Ontario, Canada, has published its annual list of words that they would like to see stricken from use, the 43rd annual List of Words Banished from the Queen's English for Mis-use, Over-use and General Uselessness.

Sometime early last week, as I walked outside to my car, I thought I had moved to Alaska and somehow forgotten!
It was not just cold but bitter cold!
There started to be talk of that dreaded "s" word and that talk became a reality, as on Wednesday night, the flurries came falling down.

JAYCEES SELL JELLY --This photo is from The Nashville Graphic's January 31, 1978 archives. The Nashville Jaycees were selling jelly to area residents as part of a state-wide Jaycees fund raising effort to support burn institutes in the state. Nashville Mayor Rex Paramore (left) is shown purchasing a jar from Jaycees Ed Bass (center) and Greg Bell. The jelly sale was an annual event sponsored by the Jaycees.

RED OAK -- Randy Raper began his 27-year tenure as a head football coach in 1991 when he was hired at Wilson-Hunt.
Raper then embarked on a fantastic run that, over 22 years, included ten double-digit win seasons, multiple conference championships and a state championship appearance as the head coach of the Warriors.

GARDNER-WEBB'S ALEXUS HILL

NASH COUNTY -- Alexus Hill is making the most of her final season as a member of the Gardner-Webb University women's basketball program.
Hill, a senior guard who enjoyed a star-studded multi-sport career at Northern Nash High School, has racked up a myriad of accomplishments this winter for the Bulldogs.

SUPER SEVEN. Nash County resident Rod Ramsey (far right) was one of the officials for the Class 3-A State Championship Football Game last month.

NASH COUNTY -- Long-time official Rod Ramsey experienced a pair of career first when he worked the Class 3-A State Football Championship Game last month.
Ramsey had never officiated a state title game before -- and had never reffed a gridiron contest in the snow.
Both of those accomplishments were achieved in a three-hour span as Ramsey was part of a seven-person group that called the state finale showdown between Charlotte Catholic and Havelock at Wallace Wade Stadium on the campus of Duke University in Durham.

NASH CENTRAL'S MY'KA HEDGEPETH

NASH COUNTY -- Last Wednesday's snowfall and subsequent below-freezing temperatures gave Nash County high school athletes and coaches an unexpected week off.
Of course, that's not exactly what coaches wanted following Christmas Break.

ZEBULON -- The Carolina Mudcats are currently offering all of their ticket packages online through etix.com for the upcoming season.
Ticket packages are also available through the box office by calling (919) 269-2287.
One of the packages is the Trophy Four Pack, which is good for the 2018 Carolina League All-Star Classic on June 19 at Five County Stadium.

ROCKY MOUNT -- Methodist University erased a 15-point deficit with just over eight minutes remaining in the game to force overtime, eventually scoring a 98-91 USA South win over North Carolina Wesleyan College in men's basketball action last Wednesday at Everett Gym on the NCWC campus.
The Monarchs (8-2, 3-0 USA South) found themselves down 71-56 with 8:25 remaining after a lay-up by NCWC's Adrian Moore gave the Bishops their biggest lead of the half.

STANHOPE -- Veteran head coach Robbie Kennedy feels like he has the blueprint for his Southern Nash Firebirds to be an impact player in the Big East Conference boys basketball standings.
Now, it's just a matter of being able to execute that plan.