The Nash-Rocky Mount Board of Education gave Superintendent Dr. Shelton Jefferies the okay to move forward with the next steps in the construction of a new elementary school in the northern end of the county.
The school system is considering consolidating Swift Creek, Cedar Grove and Red Oak Elementary Schools into one, newly built school. The schools are three of the district's oldest schools, with Red Oak Elementary being the oldest at 86 years old.

Nash Community College President Dr. Bill Carver has announced his retirement effective July 1, 2019.
Bill Carver began working at Nash Community College on September 4, 1987 as Small Business Center Director, later becoming Director of Business and ​I​ndustry Services and then Dean of Continuing Education. In 1999, Carver was named Vice President for​ I​nstruction where he served until 2005 when he became NCC's fourth president.

Construction work on the Atlantic Coast Pipeline has been halted since December due to federal permits from the US Fish and Wildlife Service being suspended by the US Court of Appeals.
The Atlantic Coast Pipeline is planning to construct a compressor station and install about 186 miles of 36-inch transmission pipeline in Northampton, Halifax, Nash, Wilson, Johnston, Sampson, Cumberland and Robeson Counties in North Carolina. Around 32 miles of the pipeline will be in Nash County.

Nash County fared well in 2018 and Commissioner Chair Robbie Davis has a list of accomplishments to prove it.
Davis presented the State of the County address on Monday morning at the board's regular meeting, citing numerous accomplishments for the county in 2018.
Among the accomplishments were many internal ones, including the hiring of a new retail economic developer and promoting from within the positions of Director of Social Services and Director of Human Resources.

Nashville's H.D. Cooley Library is preparing to join the NC Cardinal Consortium, which will enable patrons to choose material from libraries across North Carolina.
NC Cardinal was formed in 2010 "to make the combined resources of North Carolina's public libraries available to all people of the state through a shared catalog and a statewide library card."

CORBETT

Nashville police vehicles have a new look.
The department recently unveiled new graphics on its police vehicles and will soon get two new Ford SUV vehicles with the new graphics. In addition, all current vehicles will also have the new graphics.
Nashville's Town Council approved the changes last month during the board's regular meeting.

A Rocky Mount man was killed on Sunday afternoon in a boating accident.
Sgt. George Owens, of the NC Wildlife Resources Commission, said officers received a call around 5:20 p.m. on Sunday, February 3 in reference to a boating accident.

Nashville's Chamber of Commerce is searching for its next Distinguished Citizen.
The deadline to submit a nomination is February 19.
The Distinguished Citizen Award is presented to a citizen or business person from the Nashville area that strives to make the community a better place.

INCIDENTS
A larceny was reported on 1/4/19 at Sheetz, 100 Evans Drive
A driving while impaired was reported on 1/4/19 at 309 S Barnes Street
A larceny was reported on 1/4/19 at Wal-Mart, 1205 Eastern Avenue

A driving while intoxicated, driving after consuming, fraudulent license was reported on 1/27/19 on I-95
An assault on a government official and resisting a public officer was reported on 1/27/19 at Old Smithfield and Skeet Road
A possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver a schedule I controlled substance, possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver a schedule II Controlled substance and maintaining a place was reported on 1/27/19 at 6895 Squirrel Den Road

Nash County Planning and Inspections issued the following building permits from January 28 through February 1.

Nashville Elementary School is inviting the community to grab a book and read.
The school will soon kickoff its One Book, One School program but this year, wants to add One Community to the program.
Principal Quintin Mangano came before Nashville's Town Council Tuesday night with the invitation to participate in the One Book, One School, One Community program. Mangano said the school started the program last year, with the entire school reading the same book over a six-week time period.

The Spring Hope Board of Commissioners will now serve dual roles for the town after approving a zoning text amendment.
The commissioners passed a zoning text amendment regarding the Board of Adjustment at the Monday night meeting. They will immediately serve as members on both the Board of Commissioners and Board of Adjustment, replacing its current members.

On January 29, 2019, by invitation of the UNC School of Government at Chapel Hill, N.C., recently retired Clerk of Superior Court Rachel Joyner taught a class of new clerks of Superior Court proper procedures for presiding over contested hearings before the probate judge. Topics included NC Courts past and present; contested hearings before the probate judge, proper judicial decorum, and awarding of attorney fees.

The town board of Castalia did not have any new business at its regular monthly meeting Tuesday. The board went into closed session to discuss a personnel matter. After returning the open session the mayor announced that the closed session had been about the vacant town clerk position. One of the applicants will be offered a follow up interview. The meeting adjourned at 7 pm.

Nash-Rocky Mount Schools has released its Honor Roll lists for the second semester of the 2018-2019 school year.
The following students at Nash-Rocky Mount Early College made the A or A/B Honor Roll.

Nash-Rocky Mount Schools has released its Honor Roll lists for the second semester of the 2018-2019 school year.
The following students at Northern Nash High School made the A or A/B Honor Roll.

Nash-Rocky Mount Schools has released its Honor Roll lists for the second semester of the 2018-2019 school year.
The following students at Nash Central Middle School made the A or A/B Honor Roll.

Nash-Rocky Mount Schools has released its Honor Roll lists for the second semester of the 2018-2019 school year.
The following students at Middlesex Elementary School made the A or A/B Honor Roll.

Nash-Rocky Mount Schools has released its Honor Roll lists for the second semester of the 2018-2019 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 second semester of the 2018-2019 school year.
The following students at Coopers Elementary School made the A or A/B Honor Roll.

ASSUMING... We are all guilty of it. For example, you find a dog. He is skinny and unkept. He shies away from a touch. You think he must have been abused, he must have a bad owner. So you think, I will keep him and find him a better home. Whoops... guess what. The dog you found may have been dearly loved. Many dogs escape out the door with kids, for example. Dogs can look horrible only after a few days.

The world sees Christians differently than it did twenty years ago. We need to look no farther than the last presidential primaries to watch this truth play itself out.
What's going on here? We live in a world of moral relativism, a world that does not believe in absolute truths. Moral relativism believes that man can determine what is true and untrue. What is right or wrong.

Last Sunday I stepped back into the pulpit at Castalia Baptist Church for the first time since the last Sunday of 2018. My congregation was gracious enough to give me a 30-day sabbatical.
So upon my first Sunday back, I began preaching a series I've entitled "Living Life God's Way." Sunday morning I preached from the gospel of John 4:1-9. My sermon posed the question, "Where is God leading you?"

The Peachtree Baptist Church Congregation met on a very beautiful day last Sunday. God is good all the time.
The Sanctuary flower arrangement Sunday was presented to glorify God by Beverly Wilson in loving memory of all the Peachtree saints who have striven to follow God's purpose in our community for 210 years.

Congratulations to Ryland Robinson who was baptized on Sunday, February 3 at Red Oak Baptist Church!
Cardio classes have resumed at Red Oak Baptist Church Family Life Center. Classes are held every Monday and Thursday at 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm led by Jordan James.
Make plans now to attend the 23rd Annual Mother/Daughter Overnight Camp at Camp Mundo Vista on April 12-13, 2019.

No one understands "words that should be banished" better than a parent in a household with two teenagers and one close-enough teenager.
So that you know it is not just me ranting, I have support from Lake Superior State University.
Every year -- as noted in the space --LSSU releases the annual List of Words Banished from the Queen's English for Mis-use, Over-use and General Uselessness. This is the 44th edition.

I've been missing in action in this space here lately. I didn't run out of things to talk about but my brain just needed a break.
I'm back because I have important information to share.
Cooties are flying all over Nash County ya'll!!!
It's not just the flu either. There's a new cootie in town.

This photo originally published in The Nashville Graphic on June 28, 1977. Nashville Mayor Rex Paramore (center) was shown congratulating Jim Killebrew, manager of Brigadier Industries, as the first 14-foot-wide mobile home was rolling off the assembly line. Also pictured is Nash Industrial Director Bill Rose, who assisted in plans for the reopening of the plant. Brigadier had assumed operation following a shutdown resulting from the 1974 recession.

This is a photo of the Nashivlle High School graduating class of 1956.

NASH CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL SWIMMER ALLISON SMITH

ROCKY MOUNT -- Nash Central will carry plenty of momentum into this Saturday's Class 2-A State Swimming Championships.
The Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs have been on a recent roll, including a successful defense of their Eastern Plains Conference crowns two weeks ago.
Last weekend, Nash Central's top competitors took part in the Class 2-A East Regionals at the Triangle Aquatic Center in Cary -- with spots in the prestigious state meet at stake.

RED OAK MIDDLE'S MALIK HILL

RED OAK -- Regardless of the sport, coaches can ask for nothing more than to have their team playing at top form when it matters the most.
That's exactly how things went Tuesday for head coach Kristian Cox and his Red Oak Middle School boys basketball squad.
Cox saw his club achieve near-perfection with a flawless first period that all but sealed the outcome of the Tigers' 59-31 decision over visiting Toisnot in the semifinals of the Tri-County Conference Tournament at the ROMS Gymnasium.

Members of the Nash Central High School boys track and field team pose after winning the Eastern Plains Conference Indoor Championship recently at The Dawg Pound on the NCHS campus in Rocky Mount.

ROCKY MOUNT -- The Eastern Plains Conference's premier track and field program shows no signs of relinquishing its lofty throne.
Nash Central High School's boys and girls starred during the recent EPC Indoor Championships, which were held at The Dawg Pound on the NCHS campus.
Not only did NC sweep the boys and girls team crowns, they also took home individual Most Valuable Performers courtesy of Myka Hedgepeth for the girls and Jahkee Williams for the boys.

NNHS' JORDAN RICHARDSON

FRANKLINTON -- Northern Nash's boys track and field team seems to have picked up where it left off during last spring's successful campaign.
During that stretch, the Fighting Knights won the Big East Conference and Class 3-A East Regional Outdoor Championships under veteran head coach Jeff Dodrill. Northern's latest boys accolade came last Monday when the Knights took the top spot at the First Annual Big East Indoor Track and Field Championships at the Franklinton High School Football Field.

ZEBULON -- The Carolina Mudcats, the Class-A Advanced affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers and member of the historic Carolina League, have announced that individual game tickets for the upcoming 2019 season are now available for purchase by calling (919) 269-CATS (2287), by visiting carolinamudcats.com/tickets and at the Five County Stadium box office.

NASH COUNTY -- Here are updated Nash County Recreation and Senior Services youth basketball scores:

NASH COUNTY -- Listed are updated Nash County Recreation and Senior Services Youth Futsal Scores:

ROCKY MOUNT -- The North Carolina Wesleyan College men's basketball team outlasted visiting conference foe Greensboro College 88-78 last Saturday afternoon in Rocky Mount.
The Bishops were led by a double-double from junior center A.J. Frye, his 7th of the season, as he scored a team-high 23 points with 10 rebounds, 3 assists and a steal.

RED OAK -- Northern Nash High School will kick off its 2019 baseball season on February 27 with a home contest versus the Nash Central Bulldogs as part of the 'Battle of the Bridge' series.
NN's complete ledger is as follows, with home games listed in CAPS:

The Northern Nash Fighting Knights were the champions at the first-ever Big East Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships, which were held last Monday at the Franklinton HIgh School Football Field in Franklin County.

(L to R) Ethan King, AJ Lytton, Lance Norris and Ryan Agan were among the Nash Central competitors at last weekend's Class 2-A East Regional Swim Championships, which were held at the Triangle Aquatic Center in Cary.

Members of the Northern Nash High School boys track and field team pose with medals claimed at the Big East Conference Indoor Championships. The Fighting Knights took first place as a team at the event last Monday at Franklinton High School.

Red Oak's Malik Hill gets past the Toisnot defense for a basket during Tuesday's semifinal showdown in the Tri-County Conference Boys Basketball Playoffs at the ROMS Gymnasium. The Tigers secured a convincing victory to advance to today's home championship contest versus the Parker Pirates.

Red Oak Middle's Jonathon Page (right) drives for a layup during Tuesday's home playoff game against Toisnot in Tri-County Conference boys basketball action.

Nash Central High School's relay foursome of (l to r) Sarah Hicks, Allison Smith, Grahson Williams and Kylie Grace Billups qualified for the Class 3-A State Swim Championships thanks to their strong finish at last weekend's regional event in Cary.