The mask debate continued at last week's Nash County Board of Education meeting.
Several parents and students spoke out against the mask mandate while bus drivers continued to push board members to stick with the requirement of masks being mandatory in schools.

After searching for approximately four months, the town of Spring Hope has found a new town manager.
Out of four potential candidates, Andrew DeIonno was selected for the role earlier this month. DeIonno hails from Massachusetts and made the move to Wilson, NC in 2017.

A mobile health care unit will be coming to Nash County soon to provide mental health services to residents.
Trillium Health Resources has partnered with Monarch to sponsor the launch of a mobile healthcare unit that will rotate between Nash, Halifax, Gates, and Northampton counties. Both companies provide support to those with intellectual and developmental disabilities, mental conditions, and substance abuse disorders.

The Town of Nashville has received grant funding that will help the town become more bicycle and pedestrian friendly.
Nashville was one of 13 municipalities selected to receive grant funds from the NCDOT Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning Grant program. The grant funds will help the town develop a comprehensive strategy for expanding bicycle and pedestrian facilities and improving the safety of the transportation network.

Nash County Health Department Director Bill Hill said COVID cases in the county have risen tremendously.
He said over the past week there have been 2,442 new cases which brings the county to 20,081 confirmed cases. This is over 1,000 more cases than last week's findings.
"We're at an all-time high and that's not unique to Nash County," said Hill.

A Spring Hope man wants to bring his heavy construction business home.
Travis Felts, of FMC Grading Inc. out of Durham, requested last week that Nash County Commissioners approve a conditional rezoning request for the business at the intersection of US 64A and NC 231, Spring Hope. It is also located north and immediately adjacent to the NC Highway 231 and US Highway 64 Bypass interchange.

A county-owned Shell building will soon have a new owner, as Nash County Commissioners approved its sale last Monday.
The 62,500 foot building is located on 7.8 acres in the Middlesex Corporate Centre.
Commissioners approved selling the building for $1.6 million to FirstWave Innovations Inc.

Incidents
Warrant service reported at 100 N. Boddie St., Nashville on 01/04/22
Simple possession schedule VI controlled substance reported at NC 58/US 64, Nashville on 01/06/22

Maintain vehicle/dwelling/place controlled substance felony, driving while license revoked not impaired revoked, and possession with intent to sell/deliver marijuana reported at 10034 Stone Heritage Rd, Bailey on 01/04/22
Damage to personal property reported at 100 N. Boddie St., Nashville on 01/02/22

With COVID-19 cases reaching pandemic highs, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services urges K-12 schools to promote vaccination and boosters for students and staff and require students and staff wear masks indoors to keep students in the classroom and limit the risk of COVID-19 transmission.
"Research and lived experience in this pandemic have shown it is essential we do everything we can to safely keep our students in the classroom," said NCDHHS Chief Deputy Secretary Susan Gale Perry.

Nash Central High School 11th grade student Camryn Eley is the winner of the Halifax Resolves Chapter NC SAR Knight Essay contest. This contest requires the student to write an 800 - 1200-word essay about a person, event, philosophy or ideal associated with the American Revolution, Declaration of Independence, or the framing of the United States Constitution.

Codi Christine Hunt and Zachary Allen Denton were united in marriage on October 9, 2021 at 4:30 p.m. The wedding and reception were held at The Historic Timberlake House in Louisburg.
The bride's parents are Shannon Hunt and the late Wesley Hunt of Louisburg.

Kevin DeBruhl (left) West Mount Ruritan Club member, presents a club donation for Operation Santa 2021 to Dennis Mays, Deputy Director of the O'Berry Neuro Medical Treatment Center in Goldsboro. The West Mount club has been supporting the Center for over forty years.

For 12 years, the Nash County Sheriff's Office has given a donation to provide fruit baskets to the Meals on Wheels of Rocky Mount Clients. Pictured with the deputies is Sheriff Keith Stone presenting a check to Executive Director Jan Warren. In addition, the deputies delivered the baskets with the meals to the clients. Meals on Wheels of Rocky Mount has served the community's homebound senior citizens with meals and a caring friendly visit for 43 years.

"He didn't have an impressive form or majesty that we should look at Him, no appearance that we should desire Him." (Isaiah 53:2, HCSB)
With the exception of the above verse, the Bible tells us very little about how Jesus looked. If that's the case, then where did we get that picture of Jesus that hangs over some of our mantles?

The Peachtree Baptist Church members would like to welcome all to a new year, 2022. Our prayer is that it will be a kinder, healthier, loving, and peaceful year for all of us.
The Sanctuary flower arrangement today was lovingly given to honor our Lord by Janice Sykes in loving memory of her beloved husband Bobby.

Red Oak Baptist Church is currently collecting card fronts as a ministry to St. Jude's Ranch for Children. All card fronts are acceptable except those from Hallmark, American Greetings, and Disney due to copyright laws. Card fronts will be collected through January 16. St. Jude's Ranch for Children repurposes these fronts into new cards as a fundraiser for the organization. The organization helps abused and at-risk children, young adults, and families.

The Town of Nashville Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources (PRCR) Department was recently awarded $2,000 in grant funding from the AgCarolina Farm Credit Fund for Rural North Carolina to support the development of a farmers' market in downtown Nashville.
The Fund for Rural North Carolina is a corporate giving fund that supports enhancing the quality of life and future opportunities for Eastern North Carolina rural residents and their communities in the areas of education, environment, technology, and quality of rural life.

Stuart Parker, chairman of Momeyer Ruritan Club's awards committee, presents long-time member Winfred Arnold Smith of the Momeyer Ruritan Club the Tom Downing award. The Tom Downing Fellow Award is the most prestigious member recognition award in Ruritan, and is awarded to less than two percent of all members nationally for outstanding service in support of the Ruritan objectives of fellowship, goodwill and community service.

North Carolina's egg prices were steady on small, lower on the balance when compared to last week. Supplies of extra large were very light, while large and medium were fairly heavy to meet a moderate demand. The North Carolina weighted average price quoted Thursday, January 06, for small lot sales of delivered, cartoned, grade "A" eggs was 178.17 for Extra Large, 176.07 for Large, 120.00 for Medium, and 78.00 for Small eggs.

D.R. Horton, Inc. to Eric A. McDaniel and Subrenia McDaniel; Section IV, Ford's Colony at Rocky Mount, Lot 100
D.R. Horton, Inc. to Samantha Sanford; Worthington Farm Phase 2, Lot 25
Keith S. Evans, Keith Stephen Evans and Ollie M. Evans to Irene Ben Group, LLC; 118 Howell Street and 523 Jefferson Street, Rocky Mount

Building Permit Commercial
Brian Rollins, 922 Old Wilson Rd; renovation/alteration; $14,900
Michael J. Lovell, 12811 White House Rd; detached accessory; $50,532.21

Never, never be afraid to do what's right, especially if the well-being of a person or animal is at stake. Society's punishments are small compared to the wounds we inflict on our soul when we look the other way." Martin Luther King Jr
January 17, 2022, is Martin Luther King Jr Day (born Jan 15, 1929) and would have been Betty White's 100th birthday.

Nash Central High School teacher Renny Taylor, his AP and Honors US History Classes as well as his AP Seminar and Research classes visited Petersburg, Williamsburg, Jamestown, Yorktown and Charlottesville (Monticello), VA, thanks to a grant from the American Battlefield Trust's Field Trip Fund.
Taylor said the trip provided students with an exceptional, hands-on history learning opportunity. Grants are awarded based on a competitive national application process, demonstrating Taylor's commitment to excellence in the classroom.

The English department at Lake Superior State in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan (pronounced Soo Saint Marie provides a valuable service every year when it releases its list of "banished ... and problematic words and terms."
It's hard not to nod, even for someone like me.

Looking back a year ago I wrote a column about our freedom of speech and how it has been slaughtered when it comes to social media.
I'm sure I sound like a broken record, though some our younger readers may not know what that means, but I'm not going to stand quiet while social media continues to run rampant with lies and misinformation which in many respects is harming people.

This photo originally published in The Nashville Graphic on July 14, 1989. Nashville Fire Department members (left to right) Jay Dornseif, Bill Aycock, Danny Whitman and Ricky Dorsey were pictured with the newly painted addition to the department's fleet.

SIMPLY THE BEST. Nash Central's Lance Norris roars to another victory during last Thursday's Big East Conference Swim Meet in Rocky Mount. (Photo Submitted by Meryn Johnson)

ROCKY MOUNT -- Newcomer Roanoke Rapids made an early splash during last Thursday's Big East Conference Swim Meet at the Harrison Family YMCA.
The Yellow Jackets proved that they will be one of the clubs to beat in the boys race this season as they roared to a team victory with 102 points.
Nash Central was second at 75 points, followed by Rocky Mount High School in the third spot with 60 markers.

BIG NIGHT FOR JORDAN. Southern Nash sophomore guard Jordan Vick delivered 35 points Tuesday night as the Firebirds secured a home boys basketball triumph against non-conference opponent Oxford Webb.

STANHOPE -- Had this been a professional sport, pundits would have been analyzing the 'trade deadline deal' the Southern Nash Firebirds made in boys basketball during the Christmas Break.
But in the world of high school basketball, mid-season changes are rare -- though that isn't the case this year for the Firebirds.

FOUR FOR TWO. Southern Nash's Z'Nala Rooks (with ball) prepares to drive for a basket during Tuesday night's home showdown against Oxford Webb.

STANHOPE -- Jermia Walker has returned to the Southern Nash High School girls basketball program after a one semester absence -- and has made an immediate impact.
The star guard could be seen stealing the ball, diving out-of-bounds for possession, running the fast break and breaking down defenses in profuse fashion for SN during Tuesday's home matchup against non-conference opponent Oxford Webb.

RED OAK -- An unexpected change is set to be made at Northern Nash High School over the next few weeks as former head softball coach Greg Tharrington left his post teaching and coaching at the school for a position outside of Nash County.
Northern has yet to name a new head coach, and will look to continue its search in the coming weeks as softball season nears.

ZEBULON -- The 2022 baseball season is fast approaching, and the Carolina Mudcats are expanding ticket availability with all group options including suites, the Cattails Premium Club, picnics, birthday parties and more all on sale now at www.carolinamudcats.com, at the Five County Stadium office and by calling (919) 269-2287.

WILSON -- The Wilson Tobs Summer League Baseball Team has announced the return of third-year head coach Harry Markotay for the upcoming season.
"I'm excited to return to the Tobs for my 4th season with the organization,'' Markotay said. "This year will be my third season as head coach with an ultimate goal of improving our student-athletes and bringing home the Petitt Cup to Wilson."

SN's TJ Taybron goes up for a dunk during Tuesday's home victory against the Oxford Webb Warriors.

ROCKY MOUNT'S MADDIE GIROUARD

NASH CENTRAL'S ARIANNE SPENCER

NASH CENTRAL'S CLARA DANFORTH

Southern Nash's Darielle Whitley (right) drives toward the basket during Tuesday's home girls basketball meeting with non-conference opponent Oxford Webb.