The Nash County Health Department is beginning its Phase 1B roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccination.
Because vaccine supplies are currently limited, states must make vaccine available in phases. On December 22, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices released updated interim vaccine prioritization recommendations for the next phases of vaccinations.
Phase 1A is for health care workers fighting COVID-19 and long-term care staff and residents.

The Nash County Sheriff's Office is investigating a suspicious death in Castalia.
Members of the Sheriff's Office, along with local fire departments, were dispatched to the 8300 block of North NC 58 on December 30 in reference to a brush fire. When units arrived, a black male was found deceased in the area.

Long-time director of Faith Christian Ministries, Lynne Walker, retired on December 31, 2020.

Lynne Walker has seen plenty of miracles since she began working at Faith Christian Ministries 13 years ago.
Her becoming director of the non-profit organization was one of those miracles.
Walker's service to the ministry was celebrated last week as she retired on December 31.

A decision to close Elm Street was delayed another month by Nashville's Town Council on Tuesday night.
The proposal to close a portion of Elm Street between Drake Street and North Boddie Street as well as a half block of Court Street between Elm Street and Vale is due to Nash County's intent to construct an addition to the Nash County Detention Center.

A United States flag was flown over the United States Capitol in honor of a Nashville man's 85th birthday.
Charles "Chuck" Lewis now has the flag and plans to proudly display it in his home.
The flag was flown over the Capitol at the request of Congressman Steny H. Hoyer, who represents Maryland's Fifth Congressional District.

Town of Nashville employees will receive a two percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), Nashville's Town Council decided on Tuesday.
The town's Fiscal Year 2020-2021 Budget did not include a COLA for town employees due to the uncertainty of revenues from the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the time the budget was adopted, council members agreed to postpone consideration of a COLA until there was a better idea of the town's revenues.

District Court Judge Anthony W. "Tony" Brown started the year off being sworn in for another term as district court judge for the 7A Judicial District and 7BC Judicial District, which serves Nash, Wilson and Edgecombe Counties. Brown was re-elected to the seat in November. Brown, a Castalia native who now resides in Spring Hope, was sworn in by Linda Thorne, Nash County Superior Clerk of Court on Friday, January 1 in the Superior Courtroom in the old wing of the Nash County Courthouse. Brown has served as district court judge since September 2009.

Nash County Recreation and Senior Services is partnering with NC MedAssist to host a drive-thru event that will provide over-the-counter medications to the community.
The Mobile Free Pharmacy will be held on Saturday, January 9 from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Claude Mayo Administration Building in the parking lot.
The event will offer free over-the-counter medication such as cough and cold medicine, vitamins and first aid supplies.

The State Highway Patrol recently welcomed 50 new troopers at a graduation ceremony held for the 152nd Fast-Track Basic Highway Patrol School. The ceremony commemorates a historical first for the fast-track program as the cadets spent nine consecutive weeks at the training academy without visiting home. This training schedule was designed to ensure maximum protection for the cadets from outside exposure to COVID-19.

Incidents
A larceny was reported on 12/20/20 at 479 W Washington Street
A concealed gun was reported on 12/20/20 at Brake and Sixth Street

A missing person was reported on 12/28/20 at 14672 Red Bud Road, Castalia
A financial transaction card fraud was reported on 12/28/20 at 163 Hunts Way, Spring Hope
An assault by pointing a gun and damage to personal property was reported on 1/2/21 at 2417 Quail Haven Road, Rocky Mount

A property owner can now take steps to potentially bring homes to Spring Hope after commissioners approved her rezoning application.
Augusta Jones, owner of land on 813 East Nash Street, has had her property on sale for a while. She owns a bulk of the property along with a few family members.
In the past, the land was zoned as Residential-Agricultural (RA).

Invariably, the six days between Christmas Day and New Year's Day is a time when we look back at the year and reflect upon our successes and our failures. We look at the good times and the bad times. Obviously 2020 will have many more bad times. Most of us even make resolutions for the new year that we rarely keep. Yet, it's important that we bring closure to the past year and make sure that we've learned and grown from whatever came our way.

Happy New Year!
Remember Red Oak Baptist Church is offering an early worship service on Sunday mornings at 8:45 am. Service is held in the sanctuary and is a "mask required" service. Worship in the Family Life Center will be at 11:00 am and is "mask recommended." Everyone can worship as they feel comfortable.

World renowned American theoretical physicist, Michio Kaku remarked that all people are born as geniuses. To watch a child at play in the woods or with some blocks or a dollhouse is to watch brilliance at work. Their creative nature is limitless, the world is their playground. No one has told them what they are doing is wrong, silly, or a waste of time.

What is a godly life, and how is it achieved? These are important questions because as believers, we are called to live sanctified lives that are fully surrendered to Christ. Although we know that this is God's will for us and that He's working toward this purpose in our lives, we have a responsibility in the process as well. What we habitually do has tremendous influence on whether we will have a godly life.

Teachers and students at Southern Nash Middle School "decked the virtual halls" by dressing up for classes during the last week of school before Christmas break. There were quite a few elves, Santas, reindeer and a Mrs. Claus.
Vaughan's Chapel church held their Christmas program on 12/20.

It was an exciting Sunday at Peachtree. We, as the member, welcomed the New Year in with special prayers for a better New Year, 2021.
CHURCH BUSINESS
*Church Business Conference, Sunday, January 10, 2021, after service. This will be the 1st Quarter Business Meeting of 2021.

The following deed transfers were reported in Nash County from December 28-31

Three sections of primary highways, plus 10 secondary routes, in Nash County will be repaved next year.
The state's Transportation Department this month awarded a $3.2 million contract to Barnhill Contracting Co. of Rocky Mount to mill away the old pavement, place new asphalt and restripe 38 miles of roadway across the county. The improvements will include:

Seventeen short line railroads will soon be making improvements to their infrastructure thanks to approximately $16.7 million in matching grant funds being awarded as part of the N.C. Department of Transportation's Freight Rail and Rail Crossing Safety Improvement program (FRRCSI).
FRRCSI supports rail infrastructure health, safety and performance throughout the state, enabling NCDOT to partner with rail companies on improvement projects.

North Carolina's egg prices were steady on small, higher on the balance when compared to last week. Supplies of extra large and large were heavy, while medium were moderate to meet a moderate demand. The North Carolina weighted average price quoted Wednesday, December 30, for small lot sales of delivered, cartoned, grade "A" eggs was 108.07 for Extra Large, 105.20 for Large, 79.61 for Medium, and 66.00 for Small eggs.

The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is issuing a warning to consumers to not purchase or let their dogs or cats consume certain lot codes and types of Sportmix brand dog and cat foods due to high levels of aflatoxin found in the products during testing. There have been reports of illnesses and deaths in dogs associated with some of the products identified in this recall. No cat or human illnesses have been reported.

Cleveland Hunt wrapped up a 51-year EMS career on December 31 but his service to the public likely won't stop anytime soon.
Hunt began his career before he was even 18-years-old with a company called Ambucare.
"I wasn't 18 yet so they gave me a job answering the phone as a dispatcher," Hunt said.

The Town of Dortches recently honored the life and service of former Mayor Kirby Boice Brown.
Brown passed away unexpectedly in August 2020 after battling COVID-19.
Brown served the town's board for 42 years, first as a commissioner from 1978 to 2002 then as mayor from 2002 until his death.

Viruses affects every living creature. For dogs, there is a nasty virus called distemper. This virus is very easy to prevent with a simple vaccination (the DHLPP).
Dog distemper is an epidemic that quickly spreads into all breeds of dogs, and it has become imperative that dog owners be informed about it. If you are a dog owner, you can save your precious pet from this deadly disease.

United Way Tar River Region is pleased to announce the continuation of the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) in local communities.
For Phase 38, Congress has appropriated $3,460,380 for North Carolina to supplement and expand emergency food and shelter programs. Of this amount, Nash and Edgecombe Counties have been awarded $61,165 to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in our area.

That's enough about 2020.
For the next little bit, I'm going to just say "last year," so it seems like any other year.
Regular readers know this is the time of year for my anti-resolutions. The Soapbox knew resolutions were unfashionable long before "influencers" said it was so.
It doesn't take an advanced degree to figure "resolving" to lose 100 pounds in 12 months or get rich doesn't usually work out.

We were all ready for 2020 to be in the rearview mirror with hopes 2021 will be the year of hope.
Vaccinations have begun in the fight against COVID-19 which is hopefully the beginning of the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel.
And it's been a mighty long tunnel!
January is traditionally a time we all find ourselves reflecting back while looking forward - though many wish to just block out 2020.

Dear Editor: We have a right to not wear a mask. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Guaranteed by the Constitution. But there are limits to all rights. The basis of the limits are that you cannot, by exercising your rights, interfere with the rights of another.

This photo originally published in The Nashville Graphic February 25, 1975. The Planters National Bank team captured the Nashville Little League regular season title. Kneeling, left to right, are: Stokes Suiter, Jeff Cobb, Duane Boddie and Arnold Braswell. Standing, left to right: Coach Coop Cooper, Randy Frazier, Bobby Pullium, Allen Weeks, Gregory Hines, and Coach Pell Cooper. Team members Randy Coggin and Dennis Bass were not present. (Graphic photo)

BACK IN THE FOLD. Kanasia Arrington is expected to be a strong performer this season for the Northern Nash High School girls basketball squad.

RED OAK -- With cold weather in the forecast for Nash County and calendars beginning to turn over to 2021, long-time Northern Nash High School Girls Basketball Head Coach Grover Battle has his sights set on the hardwood as the Lady Knights prepare for the tip-off of their season in just under two weeks.

NASH CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL SWIM STANDOUT LANCE NORRIS (Photo Courtesy Meryn Johnson)

ROCKY MOUNT -- From the Glass Half-Full Department comes Nash Central High School's 2021 swimming season -- or what there is of it.
Certainly, there is a bit of gratitude that the Bulldogs will be able to conduct a campaign at all due to COVID-19 concerns.
But athletes will have to make the most of a shortened schedule that will feature just two meets.

JACKSONVILLE, FLA. -- North Carolina State University wrapped up its 2020 football schedule last Saturday with a 23-21 loss to Kentucky in the Taxslayer Gator Bowl.
The Wolfpack fell behind 13-0 at halftime before rallying after the break -- only to come up short.
North Carolina State finished the campaign with an 8-4 overall record for veteran head coach Dave Doeren.

SOUTHERN NASH'S JERMIA WALKER

STANHOPE -- Had it been a show on HGTV, the Southern Nash High School girls basketball program would have been a complete reno -- all the way to the foundation -- when Jordan Bass took over as the head coach six seasons ago.
But after an arduous series of baby steps, Phase One of Bass's rebuilding process was staged last season.

RALEIGH -- The Carolina Hurricanes will open their 2021 shortened National Hockey League season on January 14 with a road game against the Detroit Red Wings.
Carolina's first home event will be January 21 versus the Florida Panthers at PNC Arena in Raleigh. Fans will not be able to attend the Hurricanes' home games.
The 56-contest schedule will run through May 8. Carolina will compete in the newfangled Central Division and will only play against other clubs in that division.