Nash County Commissioners took action last Monday that will begin the process of a new animal shelter being built.
Commissioners approved a UDO text amendment to add government owned animal shelter as a separate permitted land use. In addition, commissioners approved a rezoning request to rezone 23.7 acres of property on Eastern Avenue from R-20 and R-30 to O&I (Office and Institutional).

Hospitals are feeling the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, with many hospitals now at capacity due to a surge in patients.
Nash UNC Health Care is experiencing its highest number of COVID patients since the pandemic began but hospital officials say they are prepared and ready for additional surges.

Lisa Stone Barnes is sworn in as a North Carolina Senator, representing District 11, by Nash County Superior Court Judge Quentin Sumner. Standing with Barnes is her husband, Johnny.

Nash County native Roy Cooper was sworn in for his second term as North Carolina Governor on Saturday, January 9 in Raleigh.
The theme of the Inaugural ceremony was "North Carolina: Strong, Resilient, Ready."
Due to the ongoing pandemic, the ceremony was altered and attendance limited to follow COVID-19 safety protocols.

The Nash County Board of Education is seeking community input on what to name the new elementary school.
The board's ad-hoc new construction committee met briefly last Thursday, January 7 to discuss the new school. Naming the new school was the only item on the agenda.

ALSTON

A Nashville man has been charged with the murder of a Rocky Mount man, whose body was found in Castalia.
The Nash County Sheriff's Office, along with local fire departments, were dispatched on Wednesday, December 30, 2020 to the 8300 block of N NC 58 in reference to a brush fire. When units arrived at the scene, the body of Dominick Jermaine Parker, 27, of Rocky Mount, was found.

A difficult year for a non-profit organization was made brighter by the efforts of a Nashville boy.
Alex Vire, 8, delivered over 1,400 cans of non-perishable foods to My Sister's House last month. The food went to clients at the shelter of My Sister's House.
Vire's family sponsored a family through the Christmas program at My Sister's House. Through that sponsorship, Vire wanted to do more for the agency.

Nashville's Town Council passed a resolution last Tuesday night recommending adherence to CDC guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The resolution encourages citizens to wear a mask, wash hands and follow social distancing guidelines, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Nashville's Town Council is requesting the Downtown Strong Advisory Board revisit its idea for downtown parking signs.
Council members tabled a request to spend up to $3,000 of MSD funds to purchase and installs five public parking directional signs in the downtown area. The signs are meant to direct patrons to Nash County's parking lot on the west side of the Nash County Courthouse.

The Town of Castalia continues the search for someone to fill a vacant seat on its board.
Board member Carlyle Hall resigned from his seat in August of 2020. Hall said he was resigning so he could focus on his responsibilities and duties as pastor of Castalia Baptist Church.

The following deed transfers were reported in Nash County from January 4-8.

Building Permit
(Commercial)
Alan Evans; 3500 A Oxfordshire Road; sign; $5,000
Karen Moody; 9301 A Beavercreek Way S; sign; $8,700

A warrant service and damage to personal property were reported on 1/4/21, 1/7/21 and 1/8/21 at 100 N Boddie Street, Nashville
A motor vehicle theft - all other vehicles was reported on 1/9/21 at 10687 Cooper Road, Nashville
A warrant service was reported on 157 N Old Carriage Road, Rocky Mount

INCIDENTS
A possession with intent was reported on 1/9/21 on US 64W at the 458 mile marker
A possession of drug paraphernalia was reported on 1/5/21 on US 64W at the 458 mile marker

An arrest was made last week for a three-year-old homicide in Rocky Mount.
The Rocky Mount Police Department obtained a first degree murder warrant on January 8 for Ervin Majors for the 2017 murder of Jahmel Dales.
Dales was shot and killed in the 1100 block of Niblick Drive on December 8, 2017.

The Rocky Mount Police Department is investigating a hit and run that resulted in the death of a 46-year-old woman.
Police responded to the 2200 block of Hunter Hill Road around 9:30 p.m. in reference to a report of a female in the roadway. When officers arrived, they discovered Julia Uduma, 46, who had been struck by a vehicle. Uduma did not survive injuries sustained and was pronounced deceased.

I love the above verse. It's often overlooked because it's right after John 3:16. It speaks volumes about Jesus. In a simple sentence, it defines His entire mission for taking the form of a man that the world through Him might be saved.
As a child, I had a saving moment of a different kind.

On a scale of 1-10 where would you rate your spiritual warfare attack meter? Perhaps the obsession of local news networks informing you every hour of who and how many people had COVID was throwing your peace into a tailspin. Perhaps the steady barrage of seeing the same folks in the same place for far too long caused you to reconsider just how much you could handle certain people and has led to serious discord that has resulted in spiritual warfare.

Peachtree Bapist Church Business Conference was held on Sunday, January 10 after service. This was the 1st Quarter Business Meeting of 2021.
Flower Calendar sign-up sheets for 2021 are in the Narthex at Peachtree Baptist Church. Please get one, fill-out and return.
Peachtree members held their first quarter Church Conference of 2021 Sunday. Business for part of 2020 and the beginning of 2021 was discussed.

Christian Fellowship Church enjoyed the second message in the series "Perspective", given by Pastor Daniel Parker this past Sunday; the church also received a new member. On January 3, there was a baby dedication service during the worship service.
Kingdom International Church opened with prayer and offering.

Now in its fourth year as an official chapter, North Carolina Wesleyan College's National Society of Leadership & Success (NSLS) recently inducted sixty-two student leaders into the organization. The National Society of Leadership & Success is the nation's largest leadership honor society, with more than 700 chapters and over 1.2 million members.

Elks Exalted Ruler Michael P. Davis (left) presents a donation of school supplies to Mike Kennedy at Swift Creek Elementary School.

The Elks Lodge #1038 at Birchwood in Nashville donated $1,000 in student bookbags and supplies and clothing for students at Swift Creek Elementary School in November.
The donation was made possible by a grant from the NC State Elks Association.

Of course as a local church pastor for more than twenty years, I've seen a lot. Some say I should write a book. I've learned a lot about the church and myself along the way. Many churches are organized for a 1980 world, but you and I know it's 2021. A lot has happened in forty-one years.
The "recipe" for church health is found in the Bible.

IT PAYS TO SHOP LOCAL - Nashville's Chamber of Commerce hosted a shop local contest over the holidays. Participants were asked to submit copies of receipts to the chamber when shopping with a chamber member. A drawing was held on December 21st pulling one lucky winner of $500 from all receipts submitted. Pictured above Chamber Vice-President Cliff Joyner presents the winner, Deborah Webb, with the cash prize. (Graphic photo)

A founding member of the Momeyer Rescue Squad was honored for over 50 years of service.
Ronald Bass received a plaque for his dedicated service to the community last Monday night. The plaque was presented by Momeyer Volunteer Fire/Rescue Chief Kevin Lee.

Social welfare and justice advocate Clara J. Ester will be the keynote speaker at the 33rd Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Program on Monday, Jan. 18.
Ester's speech will take place virtually from the Imperial Centre for the Arts and Sciences. In accordance with COVID-19 guidelines, only program participants will be in attendance. The event begins at 8 a.m. and will be broadcasted live via the Imperial Centre's YouTube page.

The good news is that the United States didn't end last Wednesday.
Nor did it almost end, despite some of the sensationalist reporting.
But make no mistake, the angry, unhinged mob that had built gallows on the Capitol grounds and attacked police officers inside the building, presents an immediate and future danger to the country.

I promise I won't write a column every week about social media's lack of liability!
But it's high time the billionaires who control these high tech companies have their feet held to the fire and be accountable for the travesty of what they've allowed to fester for years!

These photos originally published in The Nashville Graphic on March 13, 1975. Members of Brownie Troop 352 are shown making cakes. From left to right are Kella Stone, Lynn Cockrell, Salena Dougles, Scarlet Jones and Gigi Turner.

My pastor, LuAnn Charlton, led the drive-in worship in the church parking lot. Her scripture was Psalm 51, but she focused on one sentence in the chapter: "Create in me a clean heart, oh God, and renew a right spirit within me."
Think about it a moment.

NASH CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL RUNNER EVAN BULLOCK (Photo Submitted by Meryn Johnson)

FARMVILLE -- In what may have been their last distance race in the Eastern Plains Conference, the Nash Central High School Bulldogs certainly went out in style last Wednesday.
The Bulldogs successfully defended their boys crown at the EPC Cross Country Championships, which were held at Farmville Central High School in Pitt County.

NASH CENTRAL SENIOR ABBY COOK

RED OAK -- Having regular season volleyball take place in January is a strange enough aspect in its own right.
However, last Thursday's Senior Night sweep of North Johnston High School by the Nash Central High School Lady Bulldogs' volleyball team had a peculiar feature of its own.

DURHAM -- The North Carolina Wesleyan College women's basketball team suffered its first official loss of the season on Monday afternoon, falling 87-58 on the road to the Division-1 Eagles of North Carolina Central University.
The Bishops shot 33 percent from the field in the loss while the Eagles shot 46 percent.

ROCKY MOUNT -- Northern Nash closed out its 2020-21 volleyball campaign in style last Wednesday by making a long-awaited trip into the victory column.
And the Lady Knights performed that task against rival Rocky Mount, winning by a 3-0 margin over the homestanding Lady Gryphons to finish off the Big East Conference spike schedule.

Nash Central High School's Emma Midkiff prepares for a freeball during last Thursday evening's impressive Senior Night victory over rival North Johnston in Class 2-A Eastern Plains Conference volleyball action.

Members of the Nash Central High School cross country teams, including Coach Terri Cash (front), pose after last Wednesday's Eastern Plains Conference Championships in Farmville.

Nash Central's Brooke Thompson denies a kill attempt during last Thursday's match versus North Johnston in EPC volleyball action.

Nash Central High School's (l to r) Camryn Eley and Emma Midkiff team up for a block during last Thursday's Eastern Plains Conference victory against North Johnston.