The Nashville Chamber of Commerce presented a local real estate company with the business of the year award and upcoming college freshmen with scholarships at its annual meeting last Thursday.
The meeting was held July 21 at Elks Lodge 1038 in Nashville.

Multiple dignitaries were on hand Tuesday to celebrate the groundbreaking service for Nash County's new animal shelter. Pictured above, Nash County Commissioners along with guests prepare for the groundbreaking. Graphic photo by Kendra Jones

A groundbreaking was held Tuesday for the new state-of-the-art animal shelter coming to Nash County.
Nash County Pet Connection Center will be located at 3656 Eastern Avenue between Nashville and Rocky Mount. It will be adjacent to Nash Community College near the roundabout.

St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church is providing children with a weekly summer feeding and reading program until August 12. The program is held every Monday and Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Children recently rode horses as part of the enrichment portion of the program which allows them to explore new activities and develop new skills. Horses were provided by Ross City Buffalo Soldiers, a horse riding club located in Nash County.

The Town of Nashville is continuing its work to remove abandoned or derelict homes.
Last year, four homes and one accessory building were demolished under the direction of Code Enforcement Officer Shawn Lucas, who was hired last March. The homes were removed through the town's demolition process for abandoned/derelict homes.

PUCKETT

After a 30-year tenure in municipal law enforcement, Nashville Police Department Chief Anthony Puckett is retiring.
Puckett started as a police chief for the Nashville Police Department in 2019. Before then, he held various roles at different agencies including as a police chief for the Spring Hope Police Department, a sergeant at Wake Forest Police Department and a corporal at the Rocky Mount Police Department.

Several intersections in Nash County will be converted into all-way stops.
The N.C. Department of Transportation awarded this week a $580,000 contract to Highway Traffic Control Inc. of Durham to install all-ways stops over a dozen locations in Division 4 including the following intersections in Nash County:

Nashville Police Department Captain J.T. Winstead has been promoted to serve as the town's new Chief of Police.
Winstead will be replacing current police chief Anthony Puckett once he retires on August 1. He was selected by Nashville Town Manager Randy Lansing.
Winstead's law enforcement career began in 2002 when he completed Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) at Nash Community College.

Nashville Police Chief Anthony Puckett (right) shakes hands with Captain John Thomas Winstead who has been named Nashville's new police chief as of August 1st upon Puckett's retirement.

Two women who hold pivotal roles in Nash County earned an esteemed statewide award.
Deputy Elizabeth Cahoon of the Nash County Sheriff's Office and Crystal Wright, district chief and paramedic at Nash County Emergency Services EMS division, were honored at the American Legion state annual convention held at the North Raleigh Hilton in June.

The town of Castalia is hosting a workshop in August to explore visions for its economic and development future.
Castalia residents, property and business owners will gather at the workshop to develop an economic positioning statement/vision for the town on August 16, 2022, from 6 - 8:30 p.m. at Castalia Baptist Church Fellowship Hall at 9563 Main Street in Castalia. The workshop is open to the public.

Two men were arrested last Saturday at a private event that halted traffic in Castalia.
Maj. Eddie Moore of the Nash County Sheriff's Office said around 10 p.m. July 23, sheriff's office deputies along with Nash County Highway Patrol and the Nashville Police Department were called to Moore's Ball Field to clear traffic.

Larceny by employee reported at 1765 Red Oak Rd, Nashville on 07/21/22
Missing persons reported at 1809 Exum Rd, Nashville on 07/18/22
Damage to real property reported at 2488 Wiley Rd, Spring Hope on 07/17/22

Rape statutory (13,14 or 15 years old) reported at Richardson Ct, Nashville on 07/20/22
Breaking and entering automobile damage only and damage to personal property reported at 102 S. Eastpointe Ave, Nashville on 07/20/22
Death investigation reported at 108 Arrowood Dr, Nashville on 07/17/22

Building Permit Commercial
Dewey Allen,5523 US 264A; new construction; $65,000
Nick Kraft, 9377 N US 301; new construction; $4,000,000

Nash County Public Schools has released its Honor Roll lists for the fourth semester of the 2021-2022 school year. The following students at Tar River Academy made the A or A/B Honor Roll.

Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC, Robert L. Doughty and Lorraine S. Doughty to Rickey Jerome McWilliams and the Law Firm of Hutchens, Senter and Britton, P.A.; 4916 Massengale Road, Whitakers; $150,000
Seth Nathanael Fisher and Amber Bissette Fisher to Donna Beth Schank; Beth Eden Phase 2, Block 6, Lot C

You can't help but wonder what Paul's "thorn in the flesh" was. But we do know from Scripture that it kept Paul humble. It also ensured that his prayer life remained active.
Theologians have offered a number of possibilities.

"'No, father Abraham,' he said. 'But if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.'
"But he told him, 'If they don't listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded if someone rises from the dead.'" Luke 16:30-31 CSB
The last few weeks have been interesting for me.

Welcome, Landon Driver, to the Red Oak Baptist Church family! Landon is the son of Brandon and Megan McIntyre Driver.
The children from Red Oak Baptist Church will be traveling to Camp Caraway on Monday, August 1 and returning Friday, August 5. Pray for safe travel and a good time for all campers and chaperones attending.

As dangerous, extreme heat settles into our area this summer, the city of Rocky Mount Parks and Recreation Department is offering its Senior Center, 427 S. Church Street, as a cooling location for residents.
Any residents needing relief from high temperatures may come and sit inside the Senior Center during its operating hours. 8 a.m.-7 p.m., Monday-Thursday; 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Fridays.

Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce announced its Small Business of the Month last week. Metro Maintenance is the winner for the month of July.
"We felt that Mr. Alston at Metro Maintenance proved to be a winner in all of our categories," Stated Erin Gall, chamber small business committee chair. "It was a no-brainer to award his business this prestigious award for the month of July."

Some weeks are hell weeks at the Shelter.
First there is the staff shortage. Previously there have been 5 (four AC Officers and one supervisor) and the job was well done. Currently there are three and one of them is on medical leave.

Nashville Chamber of Commerce President Mary Grace Daughtridge (right) presents Samantha Puckett with a $500 scholarship.

Daquan Cook rides a horse during the St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church Summer Feeding, Summer Reading Program.

The other day in the grocery store, a woman was walking towards me with a pen and piece of paper in her hand, so naturally I prepared to sign an autograph for her -- obviously, she was in my loyal army of Soapbox-reading fans.
She stopped and looked thoughtfully at me.

I'm going to rewind back to a column I wrote in 2010 regarding the Nash County Animal Shelter.
We reported in 2009 a high euthanization rate at the shelter reaching 85 percent. The shelter had limited space with absolutely no one advocating or working on its behalf to encourage adoptions or rescues. The year prior 2,661 animals had been euthanized.

Dear Editor: FACTS MATTER
The Town of Momeyer (TOM) issued Notice of Public Hearing in The Nashville Graphic 05/19/22 and 05/26/22 as required by law for the proposed text amendment to the zoning ordinance to change the zoning regulations table of uses to allow food pantries and thrift stores as a land use permitted for zoning district C (Downtown Commercial.)

This photo originally published in The Nashville Graphic on May 15, 1958. Winners in the annual 4-H dress revue are pictured. The event was held on April 23, 1958 at the Nash County Training School.