NASHVILE - Jeannette Pittman, a former Nash educator and current member of the Nash County Health and Human Services Board, has been awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the highest award given by the governor of North Carolina. The award is given to those with proven record of exemplary service to the State of North Carolina as well as to their communities.
The presentation ceremony was conducted at 3 p.m. Feb. 27 in the Nash Board of Commissioner chambers, and well-attended, with the chamber nearly full.

NASHVILLE - As the growing season approaches, the population of migrant and seasonal farmworkers will increase in Nash County - and a new facebook page and grant program are hoping to spread the word to increase training for farmworker health and safety.
Nash county had 1,300 migrant workers employed during peak harvest time last year, that number marking Nash as the fourth-highest county in the state behind
Sampson, Bladen and Wayne Counties, according to a 2024 estimate compiled by the NC Department of Commerce.

NASHVILLE- In response to nearby resident concerns, and to requests by the town council, the developer for a new 72-unit apartment complex off Southside Drive has agreed to pay to widen Southside Drive, and also post a road improvement bond in the event of road damage during construction.
Mark McCloskey, director of business development and planning for the Jacksonville-based firm Eastpoint Homes, submitted a rezoning request for 11 acres off Southside Drive from A-1 Agricultural to RCZD Residential Conditional Zoning District, which was approved by town planners last week and also given the green light March 4 by the Nashville town council.

Nashville Elementary students lined the halls for the kindergarteners Letterland Parade to round out the school's Read Across America week of activities on March 7. Students dressed as their favorite Letterland characters. Young men from The Village Males to Men Mentoring Program gave students high fives during the parade. The mentors also read to the kindergarten classes.

SPRING HOPE- Code Enforcement, particularly for commercial buildings, is getting tighter in Spring Hope, with more non-compliant property owners getting 'called into the office' and/or fined somewhere in the process.
Town commissioners got an update at their March 3 meeting from Shawn Lucas, Code Enforcer, who said several property owners had skipped out on scheduled meetings, with a result of applied penalties.

NASHVILLE - After a year's work and collaboration with the state, Nashville is adopting an implementation plan to use existing natural resources to market the town for outdoor recreation, both for tourism and to encourage outdoor business development. Other goals are to develop outdoor assets and to enhance quality of life for residents.

WHITAKERS - "We are Family," the 1979 song immortalized by Sister Sledge, is also the theme song for a Whitakers-based family, who dance together to it and make TikTok videos; the woman who started the family and starring in those videos, however, just celebrated her 100th birthday: Pearlie Williams.
Williams' celebration took place March 8 at the Fishing Creek Building on Avent Road in Aventon, attracting over 100 family members from far and wide.

NASHVILLE - The annual State of the County address, delivered via video March 10 at the Nash County commissioners' meeting, focused on public safety, education, health services, capital projects and economic development.
Narrated by Wayne Outlaw, board chairman, and produced by the Communications Department, the video featured multiple action photographs that matched information from what Outlaw said were "the key areas that saw substantial change in 2024."

NASHVILLE - Nash County bus drivers, citing communication and safety concerns, are asking for a pay raise of $3 per hour for all drivers and monitors. Steven Ellis, Superintendent, has promised to address those concerns, with a presentation to follow at the board's next set of committee meetings.
Five bus drivers, each wearing NCAE (North Carolina Association of Educators) T-shirts, spoke during the public input session of the March 3 Nash County Public Schools Board of Education meeting, backed by a large group of other drivers and transportation workers.

We recently learned of the passing of one of our generations great actors, Gene Hackman. He appeared in so many memorable movies - "The French Connection", "Superman", and "Hoosiers." One of the movies in which he had a stellar performance was "The Poseidon Adventure."
The movie was about a luxury cruise liner named the S.S. Poseidon. The ship capsized from a tidal wave on New Year's Eve. When the dust settled, a handful of survivors - led by Hackman (a liberal, self-determined preacher) - decided to work their way to the hull of the ship.

We must worship God exclusively, correctly, reverently, and regularly. If you are not careful, life will crowd God out. But redeemed people must never forget to make proper time for the God who created us, sustains us, and redeemed us. Ray Pritchard said: We give 1 day in 7 to God because 7 out of 7 belong to him!!!
As we continue from last week and think about our time with God, let's turn back to Exodus 20. Verse 9 commands, "Six days you shall labor, and do all your work." Many people view success as getting to the place where you do not have to work anymore. But that view of life reflects our sinful nature, not God's holy wisdom.

Oak Level Ruritan Club recognized members for outstanding years of service. Pictured above (left to right) Robbie Causeway, District Governor; Ann Kirkman (15 years.); Donald Bridges (5 years); Carolyn Bridges (10 years); Rodger Bowen (34 years); Dwight Harper (50 years); Ravin Carpenter (15 years); Sophia Bridges (10 years). Not pictured, Lee Hines (30 years).

Damage to personal property at 105 Drake St., Nashville on 3/5/25
Restraining order violation; possession marijuana less than 1/2 ounce at 1101 Brake St., Nashville on 3/3/25
Driving while license revoked (impaired revoked); fail maintain lane control; DWI at mile marker 459 US 64 W., Nashville on 3/2/25
Firearm by felon; possession stolen firearm; possession marijuana less than 1/2 ounce at mile marker 459 US 64 E., Nashville on 3/7/25

Obtain property by false pretense at 1058 Thompson Chapel Rd., Wilson on 02/21/25
Larceny of a firearm at 12408 White House Rd., Zebulon on 02/17/25
Damage to personal property at 13023 Sandling Ct., Zebulon on 02/16/25
Damage to real property; larceny after breaking and entering; felony breaking and/or entering; possession schedule I controlled substance - felony at 1322 Bowden Rd., Spring Hope on 02/19/25

Cub Scout Pack 5, out of Rocky Mount, hosted its Pinewood Derby on Saturday, January 25 at First United Methodist Church in Rocky Mount. The Pinewood Derby is a much-anticipated scouting event where scouts come together to race cars they transformed into their own creations. Pack 5 meets at First United Methodist Church on Mondays from 6 until 7 p.m.

Ernesto L. Monfiel, Ernesto Linares Monfiel, Aida Cuestas and Aida Lisseth Cuestas Mejia to Ninfa Doris Reyes Salinas; 13135 Eagle Ridge Drive, Zebulon; $32,000
Steven D. Espelien, Cynthia J. Espelien, Julie G. Nygren, Thomas L. Espelien and Steven D. Espelien to Bradford S. Grubbs and Rachel Lee Rivers; 13.52 acres
Fellowship of Praise Church of God, Inc to Bob W. Nichols and Margie J. Nichols; .010 acres in Stony Creek Township
Jane E. Berry, Thomas Harrison Berry, Henry Benjamin Roberson Jr. and Valerie Winslow Roberson to Janice Davis Roberson; 1013 Avondale Avenue, Rocky Mount

New construction; 6653 NC 48, Battleboro; $25,000
New single family dwelling; 12895 Old Raleigh Wilson Rd., Middlesex; $565,000
Detached accessory; 5583 Deans Rd., Battleboro; $7,615
Renovation/alteration; 7827 Briar Creek Rd., Rocky Mount; $8,000

Walter Walrus, Kameron Anderson; Zig Zag Zebra, Gianna Donovan; and Annie Apple, Josephine Carpenter sang the Letterland song as they paraded through Nashville Elementary School's halls.

Early Sunday morning, Bogey led the way down the front steps and a group of robins took off from the ground, so many that it was almost like someone was airing out a black and reddish-orange quilt.
As we made our turn to the right, I spied a couple of bluebirds perched on branches that are still naked. A look over at the emerging tulip beds tells me those trees won't stay that way for long.

I found myself needing to take a mental break last weekend from the daily duties of running a local newspaper. Though I worked Saturday, like most weekends, I decided Sunday I wouldn't go near - or even think about work. I'm sure everyone has been there from time to time just needing to turn off the brain for a bit.
If it wasn't bad enough to have Covid-19 several weeks ago, my husband came down with it last week. So we had isolated ourselves from each other all week with me double masking in the house until I could get to my "safe air" in a separate room that was shut off from the rest of the house.

This photo published in The Nashville Graphic on July 2, 1964. These 21 youngsters from the Nashville Baptist Church were spending a week at Camp Caswell. Here, they're pictured receiving last-minute instructions from Rev. Joe Lister, pastor, who accompanied the group on the trip.

RED OAK -- Northern Nash's girls soccer squad improved to 3-3 on the young season on Monday evening as the Knights picked up the first league win in their Big East Conference opener in comprehensive fashion, dropping Bunn by a staggering 10-0 decision.
The win came just two days removed from The Brittany Soccer Showcase in Wilson last Friday, widely regarded as one of the top soccer events of the year in North Carolina.

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- Two-thirds of the Big East Conference boys golf schedule got washed away by poor weather last Wednesday.
That 18-hole event was postponed at The River Golf Course, which is located near Bunn in Franklin County.
But two days earlier, the Big East's finest did convene at The River for a 9-hole warmup match as the early portion of the league's links campaign continued.
Bunn's Jacy Cancilla and Nash Central's Jaxson Hayes tied for the top spot with match 3-over-par 39s.

NASH COUNTY -- Baseball season is well underway in Nash County, and it's head coach Willie Langley's Nash Central Bulldogs leading the way early in the year.
The Bulldogs entered this week at 3-0, dropping Bertie, Eastern Wayne and Franklinton all by at least six runs.
Central hosted Northern Nash on Tuesday night while preparing to make the return trip to Northern today in what will be the Bulldogs' third league game of the young season.

RED OAK -- Several members of the Red Oak Runners Club, including some from the Northern Nash High School cross country team, took part in the prestigious One City Marathon two weeks ago in Newport News, Va. The runners all competed in the 5-k race on Saturday morning, then enjoyed the day in Williamsburg sightseeing, playing putt-putt, playing cornhole and relaxing at the indoor pool.

STANHOPE -- The tradition-rich Southern Nash Firebirds are off to yet another strong start during the 2025 boys tennis season.
The Firebirds opened with four consecutive victories -- including two in the Big East Conference -- before running into a buzzsaw from Bunn last Thursday.
Before then, Southern Nash kicked off its schedule on February 24 with a 5-3 non-league decision over the Corinth Holders Pirates.
Then came Big East decisions over Nash Central (9-0) and Roanoke Rapids (5-1) before SN ran into Bunn.

RED OAK -- Listed are Red Oak Middle School's spring sports schedules for the 2025 campaign (home events are listed in CAPS):

Ira David Wood III, well-known actor and playwright at Raleigh's Theater In the Park, has penned a book: The Bittersweet Voyage of the Golden Ship Hatteras, and will be available Saturday, March 29 at Braswell Memorial Library for a "Meet the Author" event.
Wood, who was born in Rocky Mount and raised in Enfield, retired in 2023 from his long-running role of Scrooge in the musical comedy adaptation of "A Christmas Carol" performed in Raleigh, handing the role over to his son, David Wood IV.