RAPER

Nashville's Town Council unanimously agreed to terminate the employment contract of Town Manager Hank Raper on Tuesday night. The action was followed with applause from the audience.
Last Thursday, Raper and Finance Director Linda Modlin were put on administrative leave until the board could officially terminate Raper. That action came just two days after the board had met in closed session and announced that "intervention measures" had been put into place for Raper.

The former town manager for the Town of Smithfield was hired on Tuesday night to serve as the Interim Town Manager for the Town of Nashville.
Nashville's Town Council voted unanimously for Pete Connet to serve in the interim position until a full-time permanent manager can be hired.
Connet served as Smithfield's Town Manager from December 1998 until 2009.

In the blink of an eye, life changed for Southern Nash High School senior Emma Bailey. But her outlook on life has remained the same.
Emma was in a single-car accident on Friday, May 25. Bailey was driving and reportedly went around a curve, lost control and over corrected, causing her vehicle to flip and collide with a light pole.
A resident of a home near the crash heard the commotion and came out to find Emma's vehicle, with Emma still inside.

A former employee with the Town of Nashville spoke out on Tuesday night about how her job was wrongfully dismissed under the leadership of former Town Manager Hank Raper.
Former Library Director Cati Montgomery, of Rocky Mount, told council members she had decided to speak out because of recent events that had unfolded in town.

The Town of Nashville's 2018-2019 Fiscal Year Budget was officially presented to council members and the public during a special called meeting last Wednesday night.
The $9 million budget includes around $5.5 million in the general fund and $3.5 million in the enterprise fund.
The budget presented includes a two cents property tax increase, which will bring Nashville residents' property taxes to 58 cents per $100 valuation.

The Nashville Graphic is introducing new officers of the Nashville Police Department this month as part of an "Officer Spotlight" series. This week's article features Officer Daniel Wheeless.

Planning continues for the possibility of a new elementary in the northern end of the county.
The Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools Board of Education, along with the Nash County Board of Commissioners, are looking at consolidating Cedar Grove Elementary School, Swift Creek Elementary School and Red Oak Elementary School into one, newly built school.

NC Department of Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey presents the Castalia Volunteer Fire Department a grant check in the amount of $19,988.93.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey visited Nash County Friday making stops at several fire departments and private insurance companies.
Causey's first stop was at Castalia's Volunteer Fire Department to congratulate the department on receiving a fire-rescue grant from the NC Department of Insurance (NCDOI) in the amount of $19,988.93. The grant will be used for protective equipment. Matching funds are required according to the application criteria.

Nashville's H.D. Cooley Library will host an active shooter training on June 21.
Library Director Emily Enderle said the training is in response to numerous shootings that have taken place recently.
"There's been so many active shooter situations recently in the press I felt like it's important for people to get some training on what to do in a situation like that," Enderle said.

Wal-Mart is working to rebrand its stores and requested Nashville's Town Council allow new colors on the outside of the Nashville location.
A public hearing was held on the request last Wednesday evening.
When Wal-Mart's site plan was initially approved in 2006, Town Council approved an agreement that the store would use tan and green colors, Tina Price, Nashville's Code Enforcement Officer, told council members and planning board members during the public hearing.

A Spring Hope man was sentenced to 114 months in prison for conspiring to distribute crack cocaine.
Chief United States District Judge James C. Dever III sentenced Equan Cornelius Dunston, 26, to 114 months imprisonment followed by five years supervised release.

INCIDENTS
An open container, speeding, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia was reported on
A larceny after a breaking and entering and breaking and entering a residential was reported on 5/28/18 at 741 Western Avenue

An assault on a female was reported on 5/28/18 at 3526 S Wesleyan Boulevard
A burglary was reported on 5/28/18 at 1094 Bloomery Road
A larceny of motor vehicle was reported on 5/28/18 at 9438 Pine Street

The Town of Spring Hope will see a four cent tax increase.
The budget was approved and all proposed figures presented at May's meeting remain the same.
The total budget is set at $1,642,400, which includes the general fund at $1,165,100 and water and sewer fund at $477,300.

The regular meeting of the town board of Castalia was called to order at 6 pm on Tuesday. It was adjourned at 6:13 pm.
The board voted to adopt a new retirement plan for the position of Town Clerk that was discussed in last month's closed session. The town will donate $10,000 to the plan to start, and continuing paying 2 percent of the salary for the position each pay period.

The regular monthly meeting of the town board of Red Oak was held a week earlier than usual.
There was no old business. At the meeting the board was informed of a recent donation. There has not been a sidewalk connecting the handicap/ramped entrance of the community building to the parking lot. It is very difficult for someone in a wheel chair or walker to get into the building, especially during inclement weather.

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Christopher S. Glover graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas.
The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.

Katye Marie Jobe and the Honorable Jefferson Glenn Griffin were married Saturday, May 19, 2018 at four o'clock in the afternoon at Ann Street United Methodist Church in Beaufort, North Carolina. The Reverends Taylor Mills and Luke Edwards officiated. A reception was held at the Harvey W. Smith Watercraft Center followed. On Friday evening, a rehearsal dinner was hosted by the groom's parents at Beaufort Grocery Company.

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

The Rocky Mount Academy Junior Historian Club attended the state convention at the North Museum of History in Raleigh on April 27. At the convention, Caleb Thompson represented the club in the annual t-shirt contest. The t-shirt was designed as a group project and featured the quote, "The key to the future is unlocking the past." The club placed first in the intermediate group literacy division with their entry, a magazine entitled, "Notable Nash County and Rocky Mount Natives."

During a retirement reception honoring Dr. Deborah L. Lamm, president of Edgecombe Community College for 14 years, the College's Board of Trustees announced plans to name a building in her honor.
The tribute was announced by Dr. Jerry Price, chair of the ECC Board of Trustees, during a retirement reception held May 22.

How do you view God in your life? Is His purpose just salvation from sin or is it the total redemption of your life? I want to encourage you today, that God is out for your total healing. He has come to set you free from sin, self, satan, and shame. He has come to heal you in your, once broken relationships with Him, self, others, and creation. In doing so, we learn that we can be expectant of God to do mighty works, that His supernatural moves are not confined to the past, but are available to us now.

I begin this week with a huge thank you. It is such an encouragement as I am out and about in our community and I have people saying how much they enjoy this article. I need to make it a priority each week, and that's one of my goals. Thank you for reading and I pray it encourages us to reflect upon the subjects that are written about.

On a beautiful morning Peachtree folks gathered at the church for worship. Sanctuary flowers were given by Jane May in memory of her beloved husband, Perry May.
The Adult choir sang, "He Touched me" under the direction of the pastor. Jane May played a beautiful arrangement of "Beulah Land" for the offertory.

We've all heard it when we have one of those insurmountable needs that life brings our way. Our Christian brothers and sisters will tell us to turn it over to the Lord. "Put it in His hands," they will often say.
That's great advice and I certainly don't disagree with it. But the spiritual question is how?

Graduation Sunday was June 3 at Red Oak Baptist Church. High school and college graduates were recognized and were presented with a gift. High school graduates recognized included Caitlyn Cooke, Hannah Farmer, Miranda Griffin, Elias Moore, and Anna Shaye Thompson. College graduates included Amanda Davis, Corbin Griffin, Hunter Smith, and Will Wollett. Congratulations to all!

A rising senior at Northern Nash High School has been selected to attend the 79th Session of Tar Heel Girls State.
Sophia Atkins, of Castalia, was selected by the Coleman-Pitt Unit #58 American Legion Auxiliary of Rocky Mount to attend the session, which will be held June 10 through 16, 2018 at the Catawba College in Salisbury.

I've mentioned in this spot that the much-publicized bully and violence in schools is a culture problem, not the fault of a tool or object.
I believe that's true. In a time where one has to carefully watch radio stations for profanity, might have to explain all kinds of products advertised on TV before 9 p.m. (or mentioned in shows) and here all kinds of salty language at kids' sporting events, it's obvious we have a culture problem.

A giant weight was lifted off the shoulders of a lot of people on Tuesday night, as Nashville's Town Council officially axed its town manager. The finance director is gone too.
It's amazing the damage two people can do to a small town. What's even more amazing is how long it took for town council to realize the havoc they were causing.

This photo originally published in The Graphic on May 30, 1978. Members of Nashville Cub Scout Pack 76 were winners of medals for placing in various events in the Eastern Carolina Council Cub Scout Olympics held at Aurelian Springs School near Roanoke Rapids.

IN THERE. Bryson Rackley (right) is safe at third base during last Saturday morning's Town of Nashville youth baseball action at Glover Park.

NASHVILLE -- The weather held off for the closing day of the Town of Nashville Spring Sports season last Saturday at Glover Park.
In Baseball, Piggly Wiggly was victorious over Ribeyes 7-5.
Skipper Joey Corbett said that the coaches "were proud of the teamwork shown during the last game. The season has been an absolute pleasure."

SOUTHERN NASH'S TYLER WILSON

STANHOPE -- Offensive fundamentals can be taught by good basketball coaches, but there is something about a pure scorer that simply comes naturally.
And that is the intangible Tyler Wilson possessed during his exceptional career as a member of the Southern Nash High School boys basketball squad under veteran head coach Robbie Kennedy.

ROCKY MOUNT -- Nash Central High School's girls soccer team continues to reap the benefits of a season of firsts.
During the 2018 campaign, the Lady Bulldogs set a school record for victories with 17 while earning their initial league championship in NCHS history in the Eastern Plains Conference.

ROCKY MOUNT -- North Carolina Wesleyan College President Dr. Dewey Clark has announced that local high school skipper Greg Clifton has been named the next head baseball coach for the Battling Bishops.
Clifton, who recently captured his second straight NCISAA State Championship at nearby Faith Christian School, takes over a storied Wesleyan baseball program that will be celebrating the 20- and 30-year anniversaries of its two Division III National Championships next spring.

RALEIGH -- After much anticipation throughout the day two Sundays ago, North Carolina State Univrsity Wolfpack fans from all around the state were concerned about whether or not the 'Pack would host an NCAA Baseball Regional.
That night, it was announced Elliott Avent's Wolfpack would once again be hosting -- State's fourth time acting as a one-seed in a regional in the past seven years.

NASH COUNTY -- A combined six players from Southern Nash and Northern Nash have earned spots on the 2018 All-Big East Conference Baseball Team.
Southern Nash, which took third place in the always-competitive league, featured four performers on the squad -- Jason Montague, Colton Cruz, Leroy Edwards and Alex Nolan.

RED OAK -- The annual Northern Nash High School Girls Basketball Camp will be held next Monday through Wednesday at the NNHS Gymnasium.
Camp times will be from 5:45-8:15 p.m. each day, and the cost is $25 per camper.
Each attendee will receive a complimentary T-shirt.

JASPER VALENTINE
MARY RUFFIN NATIONWIDE

NOAH ELLISON
KIDZ PLACE TO BEE

LADY HEELS
SOFTBALL
REGULAR SEASON AND
TOURNEY CHAMPS

TAR HEELS
8-UNDER COACH-PITCH BASEBALL
REGULAR SEASON AND
TOURNEY CHAMPS

THE MOSSER'S 10-12 FLAG FOOTBALL REGULAR SEASON AND TOURNEY CHAMPS

NASH COUNTY -- Here are tournament results and regualr season scores from the Nash County Recreation & Senior Services Spring Sports Leagues:

GREENVILLE -- No. 4 seed UNC-Wilmington scored nine runs in the fifth inning Sunday after a lengthy rain delay to rally past top seed East Carolina University 9-7 in an elimination game at the NCAA Baseball Greenville Regional.
The Pirates' season ends with a 44-18 overall record while the Seahawks improve to 39-22 in advance of Monday's regional championship game against No. 2 seed South Carolina.

Graham Kannan of Hager Construction makes a big throw for first base during last Saturday's season-ending action for the Town of Nashville Recreation Department.