Three Nashville residents were among four recognized for their leadership in their communities.
Anna Deans, of the Nashville Willing Workers Community, George Jefferies, of the Winwood Community, Lena Sessoms, of the Brooklyn Community and Reverend David L. Bowens, of the Drake Community, were each recipients of the 2020 Community and Rural Development (CRD) Community Champion Awards.

The Nash County Board of Education Ad-Hoc New Construction Committee will recommend Red Oak Elementary School as the name for the new elementary school.
The Ad-Hoc Committee met on Tuesday evening to discuss results of a community survey, which ran from January 8 through January 15. The survey garnered information on potential names, mascots and school colors for a new elementary school that will be built on the current Red Oak Elementary School site.

WORRELL

Nash County Commissioners have awarded a retiring captain with the Nash County Sheriff's Office his badge and service weapon.
Captain Jeremy Worrell retired on December 31 with a total of 30 years, nine months of service to Nash County.
Worrell began his career in July 1991 as a security officer at Nash General Hospital.

Department heads in Nashville will have to give a longer notice when resigning from their positions, after Nashville's Town Council approved an amendment to the town's personnel policy.
The request came from the town's Human Resources Director Lou Bunch.

The Nash County Health Department reported approximately 2,650 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered to residents and front-line professionals across the county, as of last Wednesday, January 13.
According to Nash County Health Director Bill Hill, Nash UNC Health Systems administered around 1,200 of those doses while the health department brought their total to around 1,450 after holding first responder clinics last week.

All students in the Nash County Public School System will return to school on January 25.
The Nash County Board of Education met on Tuesday, January 19 to receive an update on the school system's reopening plan. In December, Superintendent Dr. Steve Ellis presented a plan that had students returning to remote learning from January 6th through the 23rd.

The Town of Nashville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department is partnering with Nash County Recreation and Senior Services to host a drive-thru light show experience next Thursday night.
"Lights of Winter Wonderland" will be held on January 28 from 6 until 8 p.m. in the parking lot of the Claude Mayo Administration Building.

Nashville's Town Council is helping with the cost of a new roof for Nashville's Community Building.
Council members unanimously voted to contribute $2,500 towards the cost of a new roof for the building, which is owned by the Nashville Inter-Club Council.
The Inter-Club Council is a local non-profit organization staffed by volunteers who oversee the community building at 403 South Alston Street in Nashville.

The North Carolina Law Enforcement Accreditation Program has recognized the Nash County Sheriff's Office for its compliance with the Presidential Executive Order.
A memorandum of compliance was received last week. The memorandum stated that the sheriff's office had satisfactory compliance with requirements of the Presidential Executive Order 13929 "Safe Policing for Safe Communities" and have demonstrated the ability to enforce those tasks required of an agency.

Ripe Revival Market is operating a community supported produce box program in partnership with the Harrison Family YMCA to help provide food for families in need.
Their produce boxes consist of perfectly imperfect produce that is typically considered excess due to size and cosmetic defects, but is perfectly healthy and ready to eat.

Tim Evans (center), owner of Acme Cleaners in Nashville, was recently honored by the North Carolina State Highway Patrol for his service and support of the agency. Acme Cleaners closed December 31, 2020 after Evans announced his retirement. The business had been in operation in Nashville for 77 years.

Rocky Mount Police have made an arrest in a fatal hit and run that occurred on January 9.
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.

An armed robbery was reported on 1/16/21 at 10067 Main Street, Castalia
A warrant service was reported on 1/11/21 and 1/14/21 at 100 N Boddie Street, Nashville
Recovered property was reported on 1/14/21 at 10474 Red Oak Boulevard, Nashville

Building Permit
(Commercial)
Robert Norton; 6441 E NC 97; new construction; $300,000

The following deed transfers were reported in Nash County from January 11-15

INCIDENTS
A larceny after a breaking and entering was reported on 1/11/21 at 501 Barnes Street
A possession of marijuana was reported on 1/13/21 on US 64E at the 461 mile marker

The National Association of Social Workers North Carolina Chapter (NASW-NC) has awarded Marbeth Holmes, LCSW, LCAS with the 2021 NASW-NC Myrna Miller Wellons Advocate of the Year Award. Holmes was selected for this award by the NASW-NC Legislative Committee because of her passion and advocacy for helping individuals from diverse backgrounds seek higher education and achieve their educational dreams. Her innovation and drive to see students succeed at Nash Community College has made her a leader across the state.

Amaya Scoggins of Middlesex has earned her Girl Scouts - North North Carolina Coastal Pines Gold Award, a designation she earned by creating a safe play space for children with autism.
Scoggins was concerned after noticing that there was a lack of fenced-in playgrounds in her area, since she knew that autistic children are more likely to run off.

After a successful fall cohort, the Small Business Center has announced the return of Launch Rocky Mount.
The Small Business Center at Nash Community College with local support from the Eastern NC Center for Business and Entrepreneurship at Wesleyan College, the Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce, and Station Square, received a $15,000 grant from Wells Fargo to offer the Launch Rocky Mount program to spur business creation.

Several years ago, my wife and I stumbled into a gallery while shopping. It was a gallery unlike any we'd ever seen.
If you haven't taken a trip to one of Thomas Kinkade's galleries, it's a must. Every picture hanging on the wall literally glows. For example, neighborhood scenes show light-filled houses that look as if the light inside is real.

Are you ready for normal again? If so, I have some good news. The book of Ephesians actually helps us in how we are to live as normal Christians, saints, new creations. But not normal as in 2019, normal as in, God's heart for his saved people to live a normal life in the power of His Spirit, since we were created to be "like God in righteousness and holiness" (Eph. 4:24).

This past Sunday, Pastor Daniel Parker continued the message series "Perspective."
Christian Fellowship Church has announced that their entire church campus will be closed for two weeks to allow their new sterilization system to clean the buildings. Services will be broadcast live on Facebook during this time. Sanctuary services will resume on January 31.

Joseph Hart struggled to understand the balance between faith and good works. Throughout his life, Hart found himself at the extremes of these elements; at times he believed he was not righteous enough to be saved, while at other times he believed that he had license to live sinfully because of Jesus' righteousness. Since neither approach aligns with the gospel, Hart's faith was shallow and tumultuous.

The First Baptist Church of Spring Hope have started welcoming members and visitors to indoor services.
The First Baptist Church of Spring Hope continues to welcome guest pastors for Sunday Services.
Momeyer Baptist Church is now having Sunday School and Church Service. All are welcome.

Puppy mills, flippers, and backyard breeders.
Before I got involved in helping to save homeless pets from the Nash Shelter, I had no clue what those terms really meant. I was too busy with career, raising children or being involved in other activities.

By the time most readers get to this column, we will have a new president: Joe Biden.
All Americans should wish him well, whether they voted for him or not.
The one thing that we can all agree on is there isn't much unity in the country right now.
Of course, you can't scream, "Resist!" for four years and then suddenly scream, "Unite!" and expect people to think you're sincere.

Dear editor: It hasn't been days or weeks but YEARS since Lisa Barnes ran for commissioner and promised to be a leader in countywide internet service and she just keeps on getting elected, amazing.
Ironically if you live within three miles of Nashville, chances are you STILL do not have internet service sufficient to do daily task associated with living in this century, our children are at the mercy of whatever happens during these times when service could not be more important for school.

I recall the news of former U.S. President Richard Nixon resigning after the impeachment process against him was approved. I was only eight-years old, but I remember the silence in our house while my father watched Walter Cronkite bring the announcement into our home.
I also recall the day Elvis died, again sitting in front of the television watching the somber announcement of the legendary artist's death. Another evening of momentary silence in our home.

This photo originally published May 20, 1975 in The Nashville Graphic. Mrs. R. B. Freeman, head of the Philadelphia Community's Bicentennial Sign Committee, admires the new community marker along with E.L. Leonard (left) and Carl Stephens, who helped erect the sign. Arthur Bunting, not pictured, was also a member of the sign committee.

NASH CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL SWIMMER LANCE NORRIS

ROCKY MOUNT -- Nash Central's shortened -- but much-anticipated -- swim season began last Thursday as the Bulldogs tangled with SouthWest Edgecombe, Tarboro and Wilson Beddingfield at the Harrison Family YMCA.
Nash Central showcased its skills by taking first place in both the girls and boys team standings under the direction of veteran head coach Kyle Bain.

WINTERVILLE -- Another year, another effective campaign for the Northern Nash High School cross country program.
The Fighting Knights were able to claim their 10th consecutive Big East Conference Boys Championship under the direction of legendary head coach Jeff Dodrill.
And NN also boasted the Big East Girls Individual Champion in Elana Griffin, along with the Big East boys runner-up in Justin Marshall.

FINAL PUSH. Nash Central's Aaron Brown (left) speeds to the finish line last Saturday.

NEWPORT -- Nash Central High School capped off its successful cross country campaign by taking part in last Saturday's Class 2-A East Regional Championships at Croatan High School in Carteret County.
NCHS send an entire boys team to the meet to go with one girls individual -- talented freshman Hope Lee.

NASH COUNTY -- The second North Carolina High School Athletic Association Realignment Draft, at least from a Nash County perspective, looks similar to the initial list -- with one notable exception.
The latest Big East Conference projection remains

ROCKY MOUNT -- The North Carolina Wesleyan College men's basketball team put together a terrific first half at home en route to outlasting the Marlins of Virginia Wesleyan 75-62 last Saturday afternoon.
Wesleyan jumped out to a quick 18-5 lead and kept up the defensive pressure throughout the half to lead 43-18 at the break.

NASH CENTRAL'S ABBY COOK

NASH CENTRAL'S REBECCA BARNES

NASH CENTRAL'S RACHEL WINSTON

Self-taught artist Willie Thorne, a native of Rocky Mount, will exhibit his painted wood constructed wall reliefs at Wesleyan College's Mims Art Gallery in the Dunn Center through February 14th. Gallery Hours are 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Thorne is a graduate of Rocky Mount schools. After a hitch in the Army he went to work at Firestone in Wilson.