A Rocky Mount Police Officer was killed on Saturday night in a car accident.
Senior Police Officer Christopher Driver was on duty at the time of the accident, which happened around 10:35 p.m. at 4112 South Church Street in Rocky Mount.
Driver was reportedly responding to a call of a suspicious vehicle in the roadway when he came upon a tree-trimming truck stopped in the road.

A Nashville business owner came before Nashville's Town Council on Monday night asking for help with expanding his business.
Jeremy Bell, who owns Bell's Hardware on Highway 58, told council members he was working to move his business into the city limits of Nashville and partner with ACE Hardware. In developing the land on East Washington Street across from Walgreens, Bell said he ended up having to do more work to the sewer line than anticipated.

Nakeira Walker, 7, gets ready to slide down a bouncy house at Neighborhood Day.

Fun. Food. Positivity.
Those were the key ingredients to Saturday's Nashville Neighborhood Day.
The event was created for the Brooklyn Community but held at Glover Park for neighboring communities as well.

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 Taylor Lucas

The Town of Castalia will host its annual birthday party for America on Wednesday, July 4th.
This year's Fourth of July Festival will include the same fun as in year's past.
The fun will begin at 11 a.m. when craft and food vendors will open up.

The Homestead Project at the Nash County Arboretum is one step closer to being complete, thanks to a special projects grant from the Daughters of the American Revolution.
The Nash County Master Gardeners were recipients of the 2017-2018 special projects grant, which provides financial support to projects in local communities that exemplify the mission of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) to promote historic preservation, education and patriotism.

The state premiere showing of a documentary on the impacts of the opioid epidemic will also serve as a fundraiser for the HOPE initiative.
The documentary, "The Cost of Living High" will be shown on Thursday, July 12 at NC Wesleyan College in Powers Recital Hall.
WHIG-TV and the Rocky Mount Chamber of Commerce are hosting the showing, Nashville Police Chief Tom Bashore said.

The downtown area of Nashville will more than likely be getting new Christmas decorations.
The town's Municipal Service District (MSD) Advisory Board met on Monday to discuss projects for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins on July 1.
The topics up for discussion were Christmas decorations, trees in downtown and banners/flags.

Law enforcement agencies across Eastern North Carolina are working together to take back North Carolina.
On April 23, Robert J. Higdon Jr., the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Caroline, visited Rocky Mount to announce the "Take Back North Carolina" initiative, which focuses on violent criminals and drug dealers.

A damage to property was reported on 6/19/18 at 14551 Taylors Mill Road
A fraud was reported on 6/19/18 at 8315 Red Oak Boulevard
A felony larceny was reported on 6/19/18 at 8001 N NC 58

Nash County Planning and Inspections issued the following building permits from June 18 through 22.

Lila Hancock (at left) looks on as Kelly Keegan, of Sciencetellers, shows the results of an experiment during a program at the library.

Caitlynn Stewart Bissette (4) holds the first cotton bloom found on her great uncle Burt Philips' Farm in the Battleboro Community. She brought the bloom to the newspaper office on Tuesday, June 26th. She is the daughter of Candice P. and Josh Bissette of Sims. Standing with Caitlynn are her grandparents, Stewart and Carolyn Philips also of the Battleboro Community.

The Nash-Rocky Mount Board of Education approved switching its telephone provider at a special called meeting on Monday night.
The board unanimously voted on a two-year contract with Converged Networks at $157,518.80 annually.
Tremain McQueen, Chief Technology Officer, said the school system was currently in an agreement with Digital Phone.

My Sister's House was the recent recipient of BB&T's Lighthouse Project.
The Lighthouse Project is a community service effort by BB&T, which helps exemplify the bank's mission to "serve as a beacon of light to neighbors in need." BB&T associates are encouraged to work together as a team to determine the needs in their communities they're most passionate about addressing. BB&T then provides funding and time away from the office to support those team projects.

The Nash County ABC Board surprised General Manager and Law Enforcement Chief Mike Murray last Thursday with a plaque of appreciation.
Murray received the plaque of appreciation "in recognition and appreciation for his outstanding service to the Nash County ABC Board." Board Chair Julia Congleton-Bryant presented the plaque to Murray during the board's regular monthly meeting last Thursday morning.

The Coopers High School Alumni Banquet was held April 28th observing the school's 85th annual event. The class of 1958 was honored during the event. Members of the class attending were Patricia Smith Joyner, Arnold Joyner, Jackson Joyner, Victoria Cockrell Collins, Joyce Boone White, Fred Winstead, Rebecca Joyner White, Carolyn Vickers Mobley and Spencer Cockrell.

The City of Rocky Mount will hold its annual Independence Day celebration from 6-9:30 p.m. on July 3 at the Rocky Mount Sports Complex.
Admission to the event is free.
The celebration will include inflatables for young children, a pair of live bands, and a nightime fireworks display by Bay Fireworks Company.

Major League Baseball is in full swing. As a teenager, my summer hero was Bobby Richardson. If you are one of my younger readers, you've probably never heard of him.
But when I was a kid, he played second base for the New York Yankees. He made the American League All-Star team seven times, won a World Series Most Valuable Player award, and helped the Yankees win seven league pennants and three world series championships.

I'm not sure where you enjoy spending your vacation time. Lot's of people love the beach! I've always loved the beach and since I was a small boy, I can recall enjoying Myrtle Beach. I have very fond memories of family vacations at The Dayton House Resorts, although it was not called a resort when I was a young boy.
On of my fondest memories from my time at the beach was playing in the Atlantic Ocean, jumping waves, and collecting sea shells.

On a beautiful summer Sunday morning Peachtree folks met at the church for worship. Sanctuary flowers were given by Barbara Hardison in memory of her husband, John Beverly Privette. June 24 is the anniversary of their wedding- 1951. The adult Choir sang "His Strength is Perfect", under the direction of the pastor.
Pastor Whitehouse chose as his sermon topic, "Anchored in the Rock of Christ Jesus ". It was based on scripture passage Daniel I.

Charleston Southern University has named Laura Elizabeth Brown, of Nashville, to the Dean's List for the spring 2018 semester. Brown is a senior majoring in Graphic Design.
Students named to Charleston Southern's Dean's List earned a 3.5 GPA or better and earned 12 or more credit hours for the semester.

Summer Greetings fellow followers! Three things to note before we dive in. First, beginning next week I will be on a writing Sabbatical. That means I will not have an article in the Graphic for the next 5 weeks. I plan to have an article in the August 9th edition of the Nashville Graphic. Thank you to all who read, offer encouragement and soak me in prayer. I am forever thankful and grateful for our witness together to show and tell of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Women in Action of Red Oak Baptist Church met at the church on Tuesday, June 19. They enjoyed a salad supper followed by their program. They will be preparing and serving a meal at the Homeless Shelter in Rocky Mount in July. Their next meeting will be Tuesday, July 31.
The youth and chaperones from Red Oak Baptist Church arrived home safely Saturday, June 23 from a week at MFuge in Philadelphia, PA! Everyone had a great time.

The North Carolina State Board of Certified Public Accountant Examiners recently announced that 103 North Carolina candidates successfully completed the Uniform CPA Examination during the 2018 Q1 (January/February/March) testing window.
Nashville resident Emily Corinne Jones and Rocky Mount resident Vanna Eugenia Whitaker-Kufs were among those completing the Uniform CPA Examination.

Southern Nash High School AFJROTC Cadet Eduardo Orellana (at left) was presented with the Sons of the American Revolution Bronze JROTC medal at the unit's recent awards banquet. Selected by the senior military advisor, Orellana was chosen "in recognition of outstanding leadership qualities, military bearing and excellence, thus exemplifying the high ideals and principles which motivated and sustained our patriot ancestors," Halifax Resolves Chapter member Ken Wilson (at right) made the presentation.

Southern Nash High School was awarded the Sons of the American Revolution Flag Certificate for their proper display of the American flag. This award is presented by the SAR to individuals, groups and companies who correctly display the flag for patriotic purposes. Accepting the certificate on behalf of the school was AFJROTC Cadet Colonel Hunter Wood (at left). Ken Wilson, at right, a member of the Halifax Resolves Chapter, made the presentation.

It has been one year and eight months since the infamous Presidential election of 2016.
Some folks still haven't come to terms with it. Some have turned it into a mental illness condition.
I still say that about 20 percent of the people were nuts for Hillary, about 20 percent nuts for Trump, and the other 60 percent braced ourselves when we voted, knowing we were losing either way.

I don't think I've ever, in my 15-year career in the newspaper business, been more glad to see July 1 approaching.
Why July 1?
Well, in local government, that's the day budgets have to be passed.
This budget season has just about called for my retirement.

Driving through North Carolina's countryside this time of year is both good for the soul and a reminder of the importance agriculture plays in our state. The NC State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences reports that agriculture adds $83.7 billion to our state's $538 billion gross domestic product, accounting for 16.9 percent of all jobs. While we celebrate the number one contributor to our state's economy, we also recognize there are storm clouds on the horizon that threaten not only our farmers but also our state's economy.

JAYCEES -- This photo was originally published in The Graphic on May 9, 1978. Durwood Parker (center) assumed the role of the Nashville Jaycees' president at the club's installation banquet.

PUP SQUAD HEROICS. Nash Rec's Ellie Hart takes part in the Pup Squad event for Nash Rec as part of last Thursday evening's Nash-Halifax Swim League home matchup against long-time rival Roanoke Valley.

NASHVILLE -- Nash Rec and Roanoke Valley have been the Nash-Halifax Swim League's top powerhouses over the past several campaigns -- and have developed quite a rivalry along the way.
The clubs met again last Thursday -- and for the first time this season -- as part of a much-anticipated N-HSL event at the Nash Rec Pool.

Birchwood's Jillian Hale speeds through the pool for the Barracudas during last Thursday evening's home showdown against long-time opponent Westridge in Nash-Halifax Swim League action.

NASHVILLE -- Due to the cancellation of a meet one week earlier, Birchwood got off to a late start to its Nash-Halifax Swim League season last Thursday.
But the action heated up quickly as the host Barracudas tangled with perennial foe Westridge at the BCC Pool.
Birchwood showed some promise in the event, but Westridge was able to come away with a 335-137 decision.

NASH CENTRAL'S CAMERON JOHNSON

ROCKY MOUNT -- Nine league championships. Seven Player of the Year awards. And five Coach of the Year honors,
Certainly, Nash Central High School made the most of what would prove to be a memorable inaugural campaign in the Class 2-A Eastern Plains Conference.
The Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs became instant hits in the EPC after a long stint in the Class 3-A Big East Conference.

ZEBULON -- Weston Wilson hit a solo home run in the fourth, Dallas Carroll went 3-for-4 with a RBI, Devin Hariston had two hits and Nathan Rodriguez went 2-for-4 while also driving in one as the homestanding Carolina Mudcats defeated Buies Creek 4-3 on Sunday afternoon at Five County Stadium in a Class A Carolina League baseball event.

NASH COUNTY -- The annual Eastern North Carolina Roundball Skills Camp will be held July 9-12 at Faith Christian School in Rocky Mount.
Nash Central High School veteran boys basketball coach Renny Taylor will serve as the camp director.
The camp is for boys and girls who are rising second through ninth-graders. The event will run from 8:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. each day.

SETH MORGAN

GARRET LEWIS

Nash Rec's Abby Wilson competes in the IM event during last Thursday's Nash-Halifax Swim League meet against the Roanoke Valley Rockfish at the Nash Rec Pool.

ROCKY MOUNT -- The purpose of the North Carolina Wesleyan College Athletics Hall of Fame is to recognize and honor those individuals, who through their superior athletic achievements or by their outstanding service, have made long-lasting, exemplary contributions to the college.
Beginning with its inaugural class in 1999, Wesleyan has bestowed this honor upon 70 former athletes, administrators, and coaches who created a higher standard for our Bishops.

BLAINE HALE

ROCCO CATALANO