Police are investigating a double homicide early Tuesday morning in a subdivision near Northern Nash High School.
Officers responded to a shooting with injury call around 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday, September 4 at 1901 Forest Wood Road. Upon arrival, officers located three victims of an aggravated assault. One victim, Mustafa Yousef Shabaneh, 33, was deceased when officers arrived.

Nashville's new planning director has hit the ground running.
Julie Spriggs started in her new position last Tuesday, August 28.
Spriggs replaces former planning director Brian Hassell, who left in May to join the family business.

ROCKIN' GOOD TIME -- Michele McKnight, Senior Services Director, presents a door prize to Roy Taylor during the volunteer appreciation social.

The Nash County Senior Center celebrated its 200 volunteers that last year contributed over 6,000 hours of service to the center's various programs.
"Our Volunteers Rock!" was the theme for the annual Volunteer Appreciation Social, which Aging Services Director Michele McKnight said was one she looked forward to each year.

The Anchor Holds NC is kicking off National Recovery Month by hosting its Third Annual Nash County Recovery Rally.
The rally will be held on Saturday, September 15 from 2 until 5 p.m. at Stoney Creek Environmental Park in Nashville.
September is observed as National Recovery Month and the Anchor Holds has been hosting the event each September for the past three years.

Nashville's Town Council is considering adding extra handicap parking spots in downtown.
Mayor Donald Street brought the issue before council members on Tuesday night at the board's regular meeting.
Street said he was approached by two Nash County Commissioners at the courthouse ribbon cutting about the possibility of adding a few spots.

The Nashville Blooming Festival is seeking a fresh logo to kick of its 23rd year.
"We developed a logo when the festival began in 1996," said Cooper, "However we have over the past two decades used the t-shirt design in its place. The festival will continue its tradition of local high school students designing the annual t-shirt which is all together separate from a standard logo for the festival."

Castalia's Rosenwald School and another in Franklin County, the Concord School, will go down in history after being included on the National Register of Historic Places.
Those who went to the Concord School in the Kittrell area of Franklin County and the Castalia School in Nash County , are working to make sure they stand the test of time.

Pictured below is the district courtroom from which the pews were removed

The Nash County Courthouse opened its doors last Monday and soon after, renovations began on the historic courthouse facility.
In addition to a new courthouse facility, Nash County's Courthouse Expansion plans included renovating the historic courthouse facility to make more room for the Clerk of Court and Sheriff's Office.

A teardrop-shaped monument was delivered to the Nash County Claude Mayo, Jr. Administration Building last Monday morning.
The monument is the beginning of a commemorative courtyard Nash County Commissioners agreed to do in memory and honor of former Nash County Commissioner Billy Morgan.

An alleged gang member was arrested in Spring Hope after officers discovered drugs during a traffic stop.
Officer Bell, of the Spring Hope Police Department was on routine patrol on August 25 around 1:45 a.m. when he stopped a vehicle heading out of town on Seven Paths Road for a moving violation.

INCIDENTS
A fictitious registration number plate, driving while license revoked, trespassing, obtaining money/property by false pretense was reported on 8/30/18 at Wal-Mart, 1205 Eastern Avenue

A first degree murder was reported on 8/26/18 at 9056 London Church Road
An assault and battery, simple assault and communicating threats was reported on 8/27/18 at 222 W Washington Street
A possession of marijuana and driving while license revoked was reported on 8/27/18 at 157 N Old Carriage Road

Nash County Planning and Inspections issued the following building permits from August 27 through 31.

Nash County is continuing its search for a 10th convenience center.
Discussions have been ongoing for a few years about the need for an additional convenience center in the southeastern part of the county.
County Manager Zee Lamb said on Monday during County Commissioner's regular meeting that a site had been found near the airport that would potentially work.

Nash County officials are in discussion with Edgecombe County about potentially buying the former mental health building the two entities own together.
Nash County Manager Zee Lamb told commissioners on Monday during their regular meeting that he had met with the Chair of the Edgecombe County Board to discuss the building which is on the UNC Nash Health Care Campus.

Matthew Stevens recently received the 2018 Distinguished Service Award from the National Association of County Agriculture Agents during their Annual Meeting and Professional Improvement Conference held in Chattanooga, TN. This award is given to Agents with more than 10 years of service in Cooperative Extension and have exhibited excellence in the field of Extension Education.

David Farris, President and CEO of the Rocky Mount Chamber of Commerce, will lead the 37th annual Day for Wesleyan Campaign starting September 18. A Day for Wesleyan is NCWC's largest annual fundraising event giving area businesses, friends of the college, faculty, staff and thousands of alumni the opportunity to support their efforts to educate Wesleyan's bright, young students.

Ben Casey, author of the column Casey at Bat, has been named editor of The Pamlico News. Casey has published five books, and been a columnist for two other weeklies and one daily. He and his wife, Carolyn, expect to finish the book, Sound People this month. He retired as the Director of Public Affairs at Pamlico Community College in 2015 after a nine-year tenure there.

The Nashville Chamber of Commerce made a contribution of $500 from its Blooming Festival proceeds to the Nashville Fire Department. Pictured on the front row, left to right are: Mary Grace Daughtridge (chamber president), Nashville Fire Chief Chris Joyner, Cindy Puckett (Blooming Festival co-chair) and Amy Beasley (Blooming Festival co-chair). Back row: Cliff Joyner (chamber vice-president, Nashville Fire staff Ryan Landrum, Stephen Perry and Alex Wester.

The Nashville Chamber of Commerce made a contribution of $500 from its Blooming Festival proceeds to the HOPE Initiative. Pictured left to right are: Mary Grace Daughtridge (chamber president), Michelle Parris, Volunteer Coordinator for the HOPE Initiative, Nashville Police Chief Tom Bashore, Heather Moore from the Anchor Holds organization, and Cliff Joyner (chamber vice-president).

The Nashville Chamber of Commerce made a contribution of $500 from its Blooming Festival proceeds to the Nash County Sheriff's Office. Pictured above (left to right) are Nash County Sheriff Keith Stone, Nashville Blooming Festival chairperson Jo Anne Cooper, and Nashville Chamber of Commerce Vice-President Cliff Joyner.

Nashville Blooming Festival Chairperson Jo Anne Cooper (left) presents a check to the Rocky Mount Optimist Club. Ray Goodwin, a member, accepts the check on behalf of the organization. The club traditionally provides voluteers and oversees the ticket sales for the carnival. In return, the festival shares proceeds with the organization.

The town board of Castalia sold a piece of property at the regular monthly meeting on Tuesday.
At last month's meeting, Linda Rich addressed the board asking that they donate the lot back to her. She said in August, "Years, ago, I sold the town that well site for $5,000. The town has gotten a lot of use out of it over these years, and then the well went bad. It would really be nice if you would just donate that lot back."

In advance of the Rocky Mount Event Center's grand opening in October, the Rocky Mount City Council has approved the RMEC Traffic Control Plan.
There will be 328 on-site parking spaces between two lots at the RMEC. There are eight designated lots throughout downtown with a total of 1400 spaces and three shuttle routes to serve the lots.

I would like to take this moment to mention a couple of our volunteers who work tirelessly to help save the pets of Nash County. Cindy and Sparky Whitely have hearts of gold and it is due to their help that many are saved. They are unsung heroes in my eyes! They temp foster (from Shelter till time to go to their rescue), run pets to the vet and transport them to some of the local rescues or does the first leg of a longer transport.

Commercial, arts & crafts and non-profit vendors are needed for the 11th Annual Eastern Carolina BBQ Throw Down.
The event will be held Oct. 12-13 at the Helen P. Gay Rocky Mount Historic Train Station.
The Eastern North Carolina BBQ Throw Down will be held from 4-8:30 p.m. on Oct. 12 and from 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m. on Oct. 13. The event is a professional cooking competition based on Kansas City Barbecue Society categories (chicken, pork ribs, pork, beef brisket).

Nashville United Methodist Church is adding an additional Sunday morning worship service to accommodate the growth the church is experiencing.
Currently, the church offers a contemporary service at 8:30 a.m. and a traditional service at 11 a.m. In addition, a service is offered on Thursday night at 6:30 p.m.

"In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you." (John 14:2)
What a great verse because it teems with truth. I've talked before about the truth that heaven is a real place. This week's column points out that truth. But this week is more about the messenger who speaks truth - Jesus!

"Fire Insurance" Salvation
What is the title about? Well, there are many "professing Christians" who believe in Jesus only to escape the fires and tortures of hell. They do not have a desire to change their wicked lifestyle or to live holy lives which the Bible demands we do once we are born again (Lev 11:44, 45; 19:2; 20:7; I Pet 1:16). It is what some have called easy believe-ism or cheap grace.

For those who know Jesus as Lord and Savior, who are dedicated to living the rest of their lives for the sake of the gospel, the following question is of utmost importance, "How do I share the good news about Jesus Christ in the most impactful way?"

Monday, Sept. 10 from 2:30 until 6:30 p.m. at Nashville United Methodist Church, 209 East Washington Street, Nashville
Tuesday, Sept. 11 from 7 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Kaba Ilco Corp., 400 Jefferys Road, Rocky Mount
Thursday, Sept. 13 from 2:30 until 7 p.m. at the Rocky Mount Moose Lodge, 521 Country Club Road, Rocky Mount

Jane Finch and Diane Lyles were presented with the Home Delivered Meals Volunteer of the Year last week at the Senior Center's Volunteer Appreciation Banquet.

Becky Bost was named the Nash County Senior Center Volunteer of the Year last Wednesday at the annual appreciation celebration.

If you never thought history was important, or haven't been paying attention, now might be a good time to start.
We've reached a challenging point in our history, one that was inevitable, I suppose.
Where there was once a movement to revise history to fit a certain agenda, we now have those who wish to erase it.

I get to cover lots of neat events each year.
One event I always enjoy covering is the Volunteer Appreciation Social at the Nash County Senior Center.
The event is a way for staff of the senior center to show their appreciation to all the volunteers that come out each and every day and help with programming.

This photo originally published in The Graphic on May 4, 1972. Northern Nash High School was featured for its television station. Pictured above, the FFA department was taping a program on agriculture-related vocations. Students are pictured rehearsing for the FFA Sweetheart Ball.

BUNN -- Limited opportunities, limitless big-play heroics.
Such was the theme of last Thursday's backyard rivalry football showdown between Southern Nash and host Bunn in non-conference action.
Thanks to Bunn's drain-the-play-clock strategy, Southern Nash was only able to run 13 plays from scrimmage in the first half.

NASH COUNTY -- Hard to believe, but Northern Nash and Nash Central have enjoyed a rivalry that now spans almost two decades -- going back to Central's grand opening in 2002.
But while the grudge match has always been in place, few items and footnotes have been utilized to official preserve the rivalry the schools share.

FINDING A CREASE. North Carolina Wesleyan College's Trey Lancaster (with ball) breaks free for a big gain during last Saturday's home victory over Thomas More College in the Bishops' regular season gridiron opener.

ROCKY MOUNT -- On a day that three past Bishop Football heroes were inducted into the NC Wesleyan College Athletic Hall of Fame, the 2018 Wesleyan Football team would put on an exciting show.
The Bishops won their season opener in dramatic fashion 35-28 over non-conference foe Thomas More College (Ky.) at Rocky Mount Athletic Stadium last Saturday afternoon.

BUIES CREEK -- Carolina's Nathan Rodriguez hit a three-run homer in the first, but the host Buies Creek Astros answered back with a three-run blast in the home half of the first and two more homers in the fifth while defeating the Mudcats 6-3 at Jim Perry Stadium in what was Carolina's final game of the 2018 Class A Carolina League baseball season.

RED OAK -- Coming in with a 2-0 record, overconfidence may have struck Northern Nash heading into last Thursday's home meeting with traditional powerhouse Tarboro.
With a large crowd on hand in a huge game at Death Valley, Northern struggled immensely, dropping its first loss of the season to defending Class 1-AA state champ Tarboro by a score of 50-6, in a game shortened by lightning approaching the area.

RED OAK -- Red Oak Middle School will kick off its Tri-County Conference football season on Sept. 20 on the road against Edwards.
Red Oak will also take part in the preseason Nash County Jamboree on Sept. 11 at 6 p.m. at Death Valley on the campus of Northern Nash High School.
Red Oak's complete ledger is as follows, with home events listed in CAPS:

ARLINGTON, VA. -- The North Carolina Wesleyan College women's soccer team picked up its first win of the season last Saturday as the Bishops topped non-conference opponent Eastern Mennonite University (Va.) 3-1 in a neutral site game in Arlington, Va.
The Lady Bishops got on the board first as sophomore forward Cydney Nichols scored unassisted just five minutes into the game.

North Carolina Wesleyan College's Trey Lancaster eludes a trio of defenders during last Saturday's home football decision against Thomas More College.

Dog owners are invited for an afternoon of fun with their pets during the city of Rocky Mount's Splash Bark. The event will be held from 2-5 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 16 at Sunset Park's Spray Park.
Owners may bring no more than two dogs for an afternoon of playing in the Splash Pad, riding on the train around Sunset Park and taking part in the doggie swimsuit contest.

One of Gospel music's most popular quartets, The Dixie Melody Boys, will be featured at the Middlesex Baptist Church, located at 11490 West Stewart Street in Middlesex on Sunday, September 30. The Quartet will share their unique, four-part harmony during this musical service beginning at 6 p.m.