Dr. Shelton Jefferies, superintendent of Nash County Schools from January 4, 2016 to August 2, 2019, "violated his contract and multiple policies and procedures," according to the final investigative report issued this week from State Auditor Beth Wood's office. His violations resulted "in $45,690 in unallowed and questionable expenses."
Jefferies has 60 days to fully reimburse the system before the case will be handed to the district attorney for review.

A proposed development for the former Birchwood Golf Course was denied by Nashville's Town Council on Tuesday night.
Council members voted 3-1 to deny a special use permit for a residential planned unit development, or PUD, on the 110-acre tract.
The request, by RBD Investments, Inc., was first heard on May 4 and a quasi-judicial hearing was held.

A tree located between 110 and 112 E. Washington Street is one of three trees recommended for removal. Graphic photo by Jo Anne Cooper

A second assessment of trees on Washington Street in downtown Nashville offers a less grim outlook for 15 trees that were initially slated for removal last month.
Nashville's Town Council agreed to hire Historic Tree Care out of Durham to offer a second opinion of the health and risk of 21 trees. The service was commissioned at the rate of $135 per hour.

Nash County author Michael Brantley will hold a reading and book signing at The Nashville Exchange in downtown Nashville on Saturday, June 19, from 2 to 4 p.m. He will read from his second book, Galvanized: The Odyssey of a Reluctant Carolina Confederate, which was published last year by the University of Nebraska Press/Potomac Books.

Jeanne Soltis, who turned 100 recently, attributes all of her accomplishments and long life to her strong faith.
Jeanne was born on June 2, 1921 in Canada. Her family moved to Vermont in 1929. She attended high school in New Hampshire and her graduating class consisted of eight members.

Nash County Health Department Director Bill Hill reported Tuesday afternoon active cases of COVID-19 continue to decline in Nash County.
Hill said only 14 new cases were reported between June 8th and June 14th, 27 were reported the previous week.
Total hospitalizations as of Tuesday at Nash UNC Hospital were 8, while the total number of deaths in Nash County increased by one for a total of 193.

Utility customers in Nashville will soon receive a letter explaining rate and fee increases that will go into effect July 1.
Council members were not in agreement about everything that needed to be included in the letter, however.
A draft letter was brought before council members on Tuesday night. The draft letter informed customers of the changes in the town's fee schedule.

On Wednesday morning last week, Nash County Public Schools (NCPS) held the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Red Oak Elementary School. Situated behind the current Red Oak Elementary School, the new school will merge students from Cedar Grove, Swift Creek, and Red Oak elementary schools onto one large campus. The current 12,300-square-foot gymnasium will continue to serve the new school after a partial renovation and a 1,900-square-foot new addition.

The Town of Nashville is applying for a grant with hopes of helping a local business expand.
Council members approved submitting an application to the North Carolina Department of Commerce for a Building Reuse Grant for "Project ANF Building Renovation."

A Rocky Mount man was sentenced recently to 144 months in prison for possessing a firearm while on post-release supervision for a prior federal felony. This sentence is the result of a federal jury convicting Kalid Koron Ocean-Avent, 24, on a charge of possessing a firearm by a convicted felon on January 26, 2021.
According to court documents and other information presented in court, Ocean-Avent, a member of the 9-Trey Bloods in Rocky Mount, led Rocky Mount Police Officers on a high-speed car chase through a residential neighborhood on January 16, 2020.

On June 13, 2021, Anthony Horne, a 19-year-old male, was charged and arrested for conspiracy to commit robbery and first degree murder of Derrick Anthony Bryant, a 53-year-old male, who was fatally shot in the 600 block of Park Ave., Rocky Mount on June 11.

Warrant for service (4) were reported on 6/7/21 at 100 N. Boddie St., Nashville
Felony larceny was reported on 6/11/21 at 10555 Christian Rd., Wilson
Obtain property by false pretense was reported on 6/11/21 at 11005 Walker Lane, Whitakers

Incidents
A larceny was reported on 6/1/21 at 800 E. Washington Street
A larceny was reported on 6/2/21 at 1022 Eastern Avenue

The Golden LEAF Foundation has announced that 215 rural North Carolina students were selected to receive up to a $12,000 Golden LEAF Scholarship, including four in Nash County.
Students will receive a $3,000 scholarship each year for up to four years of undergraduate study at a participating four-year North Carolina college or university.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is launching an expanded COVID-19 screening testing program to support public, charter and private K-12 schools in protecting students and staff from the spread of COVID-19. The program will launch in fall 2021 and schools can register to participate beginning in early July.

Top educators, administrators, board of education members and community partners traditionally gather at Rose Hill Conference Center to honor various Nash County Public School educators, however for the last two years the annual event has taken on new twists.
As with many other traditional mass gatherings, the normal celebration over a meal and awards ceremony had to be cancelled due to COVID-19 related restrictions on such events.

The American Red Cross is experiencing a severe blood shortage as the number of trauma cases, organ transplants and elective surgeries rise - and deplete the nation's blood inventory. Donors of all blood types - especially type O and those giving platelets - are urged to make an appointment to give as soon as possible to prevent further impact to patients.

John-Paul Brown and Fahlon Brown to Ronald A. Gifford and Donna J. Gifford; 202 East Elm Street; $263,000
Mary Katherine Seawell, Latisha A. Warren and Tachianna Chebre Warren to Latisha A. Warren, Tachianna Chebre Warren and Mary Katherine Seawell; 4700 Periwinkle Place;

Nashville
6/16/2021: 3 p.m. - 7 p.m., Nashville Baptist Church, 512 E Washington St
6/21/2021: 3 p.m. - 7 p.m., Sandy Cross United Methodist Church, 3725 Sandy Cross Road

BUILDING PERMITS
RESIDENTIAL
William N. Locke, 4328 Ryans Rd; addition (covered); $14,500
Randy Manning, 981 Breedlove Rd; new single family; $265,000

As of Tuesday, June 1, Voluntary Water Conservation Stage I is now in effect. During this stage of voluntary water conservation, the City of Rocky Mount asks all water customers to be mindful of their water usage and to conserve when possible.
The North Carolina Department of Water Resources requires the city to release 80 cubic feet per second or approximately 52 million gallons of water per day from the Tar River Reservoir, which is the city's primary source of water.

Several years ago, I had a meeting in Washington, D.C. and heard a surprisingly honest and sincere speech by then Ohio Congressman, John Kasich.
It's been a while so you may not remember Kasich when he was in Washington. He was a nine-term Congressman and became Chairman of the House Budget Committee when the Republicans gained control of Congress in 1994.

What we believe about the Bible is absolutely crucial. Whether we've never read it or read it every day, each of us must make up our own mind regarding this amazing book. Some people think that since it was written by many different, imperfect men, it must, therefore, contain errors.
Others believe it's outdated and irrelevant because it was written so long ago.

This past Sunday, Kingdom International Church honored graduates in the service. Children's Pastor Cindy Lamm and Assistant Brenda Braswell presented Pre-School, Pre-K and Kindergarten graduates with Bibles imprinted with their names. The group, with the help of other Children's Church Kids, performed a mime for the congregation. Well done! Youth Pastor Grant McGlothlin presented the High School and College graduates with journals, after which Pastor Daniel Moss gave the morning message.

Each person has their own idea, or imagination, of what God is like.
For many people, whether they realize it or not, this idea comes from how we view our earthly fathers. Hence, the role of a father in a home is vital for cultivating a healthy view of God, and the lack of a godly father in a home can be detrimental to the well being of a child, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.

Peachtree Baptist Church members came to church Sunday morning at 9:45am to start their second Sunday in a Sunday School Gathering. Jerry Hobgood led the service. His devotional was 1 John 2:17. At 10:00am Sunday School started. It is so wonderful to be back with everyone in Sunday School. Peachtree is getting back to their regular schedule.

Congratulations to Eleanor and Elin Conner who were baptized at Red Oak Baptist Church on Sunday, June 13!
Ronnie Dickens has felt the call to serve God through preaching the Word for some time. Last Sunday, June 13, Ronnie was officially licensed to preach the gospel by Red Oak Baptist Church! The licensing ceremony took place during the morning worship service. May God continue to bless Ronnie through his ministry!

Mr. Kenneth Willow Cheston and Mrs. Melissa Kaufman Cheston announce the graduation of their daughter, Emily Willow Cheston, from Princeton University. Emily received a Bachelor of Arts at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs with a certificate in African American Studies.
Emily is a graduate of Rocky Mount Academy and a Turner W. Battle Scholar.

The Halifax County Board of Education approved the superintendent's reccomendation of Linda Cooper for the position of Principal at Enfield Middle STEAM Academy.
A press release from Halifax County notes, "Cooper has 23 years of experience in education.

North Carolina's egg prices were higher on large, lower on extra large and medium, steady on small when compared to last week. Supplies of extra large were heavy, large moderate, while medium were fairly light to meet a moderate demand. The North Carolina weighted average price quoted Thursday, June 10, for small lot sales of delivered, cartoned, grade "A" eggs was 105.07 for Extra Large, 102.34 for Large, 87.35 for Medium, and 82.00 for Small eggs.

This is both an announcement and a call to arms to get all of y'all to go green.
It's time.
I'll admit writing an essay for a class in graduate school entitled "I Hate the Environment: What Has It Ever Done for Me?" several years ago.

Hurricane season is here again - and while we're thrilled with the season the Carolina Hurricanes have been having, we can all do without any tropical storms or hurricanes that may reach North Carolina this year. Unfortunately, experts are already predicting another above-average hurricane season. You can't wait until a hurricane is imminent to begin preparing, though. Here are some things you should be thinking about now.

Dear Editor: I watched the exchange at the end of the Nash County Commissioners meeting held on June 7, 2021 between Commissioners Sue Leggett, Dan Cone and Wayne Outlaw regarding the proposal on residential lot sizes of R 30 (30,000sf) vs R 20 (20,000sf).

This photo originally published in The Nashville Graphic on October 8, 1970.

2021 NORTHERN NASH HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS TENNIS TEAM BIG EAST CONFERENCE CHAMPS

RED OAK -- When Elaina Ingram walks through the Northern Nash High School Gymnasium, she likes to look at the banners on the walls and check out all of NN's league championships through the years.
But Ingram always can't help but notice that the girls tennis banner -- the sport she coaches at NN -- is empty.

STANHOPE -- COVID-19 took away the majority of Trey Mizzelle's diamond tenure at Southern Nash High School -- but he isn't quite finished yet.
Mizzelle is excited to have an opportunity to continue his baseball career as the SN star pitcher recently signed a letter-of-intent to join the program at Lenoir Community College.

SOUTHERN NASH'S RICKI BARTLEY

STANHOPE -- Few prep softball teams can overcome the loss of a talented battery to graduation -- let alone two of the best players in school history.
But that was exactly what the Southern Nash Ladybirds were able to accomplish in 2021 as Coach Scott Collie's club was once again able to defend its Big East Conference Softball Championship.

NC WESLEYAN'S DRIFTON PADGETT

ROCKY MOUNT -- The 2021 D3baseball.com All-Region teams have been announced. And the 17th-ranked, 33-win North Carolina Wesleyan College Baseball Team had three players named to All-South Region Teams, while head coach Greg Clifton was named South Region Coach of the Year.

FAYETTEVILLE, ARK. -- The North Carolina State University baseball team is headed back to the College World Series for the first time since 2013 and its third time in program history, thanks to its 3-2 win over No. 1 Arkansas, on Sunday evening in a winner-take-all game at Baum-Walker Stadium in Fayetteville, Ark.
After suffering a 21-2 loss in game one then evening the series with a 6-5 win in game two, the Wolfpack gutted out the win over the number one overall seed in the NCAA Tournament.

KANNAPOLIS - Felix Valerio drove in two with a RBI double in the third and homered in the sixth while directly accounting for four of the Carolina Mudcats' six runs in a 6-2 series finale victory versus the Cannon Ballers in Kannapolis on Sunday afternoon in Low A-East baseball action.
Andre Nnebe also had a two-run single in eighth and Nick Belzer earned his second victory as the Mudcats left with a series split in Kannapolis.

NASH COUNTY PARKS AND REC
RED OAK SHARK SHOOTERS
8-UNDER GIRLS REGULAR SEASON CHAMPS
AND TOURNAMENT SECOND PLACE

NASH COUNTY PARKS AND REC
WOLVES
8-UNDER BOYS REGULAR SEASON CHAMPS
AND TOURNAMENT SECOND PLACE

ROCKY MOUNT -- The City of Rocky Mount Little League's two top hurlers locked horns last Wednesday evening on a steamy, Southern afternoon and put on quite a show for those in attendance.
Pizza Inn's Colson Gay and Wesley Men's Jaelyn McLean threw darts all game long, controlling the strike zone and reducing the hitters to putty with every thrown ball.

NASH COUNTY PARKS AND REC
AVENGERS
10-UNDER GIRLS
TOURNAMENT SECOND PLACE

NASH COUNTY PARKS AND REC
BULLDOGS
10-UNDER BOYS REGULAR SEASON CHAMPS
AND TOURNAMENT SECOND PLACE