Four Nash County commissioner terms are expiring next year, in 2026, and two people have come forward indicating interest in challenging incumbents.
Jerry Barnes of Red Oak said he has filed a letter of intent with the Nash Board of Elections to run for District 7, currently occupied by Robbie Davis.
Robert Cordell of Rocky Mount has opened campaign finance paperwork to run for County Commissioner District 2, currently occupied by Fred Belfield, Jr.
Davis and Belfield, along with Gwen Wilkins (district 6) and Wayne Outlaw (district 5), all have four-year terms that expire in 2026.

SPRING HOPE - A woman is dead and a man in critical condition after a possible murder-suicide attempt Tuesday afternoon in Spring Hope. In addition, a sheriff's deputy was hurt in an accident en route to the scene.
According to the Nash County Sheriff's Office (NCSO), a call came in around 1:50 p.m. April 29, 2025, about possible gunshots heard in the 7200 block of Lancaster Store Road.

Steve Langley of Sandy Cross prepares his mare "Dream" for a buggy ride in Nash County.

SANDY CROSS - It's a fast-paced world, often with pressures from work or home pushing people to get things done 'yesterday.' The internet is faster, cars and roads are faster, and deadlines are shorter.
Yet somehow, one local man has found a way to turn back time with his horse and buggy, becoming a fixture on Nash County roads and tying up in the most unexpected places, like Wal-Mart in Nashville.

RED OAK - The 3rd annual GoatFest, a sanctioned barbecue cook-off event designed to fundraise for local cancer patients, gets its sizzle on Saturday, May 3rd at 624 Wollett Mill Road, a 23-acre goat farm in Nashville, from 2 to 6 p.m.
Jason Knapp, event founder and homeowner at the GoatFest site, said this year's goal is $12,000, which will allow him to help 160 cancer patients with food gift cards.

SPRING HOPE- An after-hours business networking event for Spring Hope business owners happens tonight, May 1st, at the Peachtree Country Club. The event begins at 6 p.m.
Planned by the Spring Hope Downtown Development Board (DDB) and assisted by the Spring Hope Chamber of Commerce, the event will feature brief talks by both organizations about current business opportunities and initiatives. It will also serve as a social function for business owners to speak with each other informally.

Studio Glam has opened at The Nashville Juction on Barnes Street in Nashville. PIctured are, left to right: Danielle Bass, Stylist; Kamryn Lee, business owner; and Trinity Gardner, Stylist.

NASHVILLE - The first business to open its doors inside the Nashville Junction, Studio Glam, is accepting new clients and is also looking to hire three more stylists.
Kamryn Lee, salon owner and stylist, held an open house April 11, introducing Danielle Bass and Trinity Gardner, stylists, and showing off the well-lit and spacious digs.
Lee, originally from Roanoke Rapids, said she met her husband, Josh, a Nashville native while still in high school, and knew immediately that she would want to live here.

NASHVILLE- The centerpiece to Nashville's oncoming Barn Quilt wall has been designed and painted, with the finishing touches to be added soon after input from the Downtown Nashville Strong Advisory Board (DNSAB).
Koy Worrell, Parks and Rec Director, lugged the signature center component, designed to look like a compass rose, into the April 28 DNSAB meeting, where the design, with revised colors, was much admired. It was done by Valentine Fine Art.

NASHVILLE- The Nashville Baptist Church Youth group is collecting new and gently used shoes to create income for entrepreneurs in third world countries.
Anthony Engrassia, one of four youth group leaders along with Kathryn Engrassia, Tim Surles and Blaine Pittman, said the drive began March 17th and will end May 11th, when donated shoes will be put on a truck for Florida.
Florida is where the headquarters of Funds2org, a non-profit organization, is based.

NASHVILLE - The issue of Nashville's aging and hard-to-get at Stoney Creek sewer outfall line has a new solution: replacement with a larger pipe along with better access. Town council members selected that from among three options after hearing the results of a feasibility study at the April 8 meeting, with the next step being to find an engineering company to work out the project design.

The Nashville Chamber of Commerce recognized Harper's Nursery as its Business of the Season for Spring 2025. Owners Mike and Wendy Harper were presented the award by Cliff Joyner, chamber president. Pictured, left to right: Candis Wells, Wendy and Mike Harper, Cliff Joyner, and Scott Hale, chamber vice-president. Back row: Dexter Avent and Tanner Askew.

ROCKY MOUNT - Nash County Democrats held their annual convention April 26 at the Northgreen Country Club, conducting an active meeting and caucusing at one point to elect members to serve on the State Executive Committee.
Jabaris Walker, Rocky Mount Ward 7 councilman, welcomed approximately 100 attendees, most sitting by precinct areas but some spilling over in an adjacent dining area. Prior to that, those present companionably mixed and mingled using a social "bingo" card to meet others from different precincts.

Southern Nash High School junior Cole Avery Edwards, a member of Boy Scout Troop 37, has completed his Eagle Scout project, building and installing a flag retirement box at the Elks Lodge #1038 in Nashville.
The project provides a designated location for community members to retire worn or damaged American flags in a respectful and proper manner, as outlined by the U.S. Flag Code. According to the code, when a flag is no longer in a condition to be displayed, it should be "destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning."

Momeyer ruritan Officers pose with US Congressman Don Davis. Pictured, left to right: Pat Cooper, Vice-President; Don Davis, U.S. Congressman; Brent Leggett, President; Jordan Jackson Felton, Secretary. Contributed photo

Kathryn Vick Gillette, Patrick Grey Gillette, Nicholas Taylor Vick and Gabrielle Gutshall Vick to Andrew Lee Pridgen and Dustin Ryan-Cole Barefoot; 3298 Barnes Hill Church Road, Nashville; $185,000
Steven L. Phillips and Margaret R. Phillips to Steven L. Phillips and Margaret R. Phillips; .70 acres in Ferrells Township
Jeffery Van Tyson and Sharon W. Tyson to Michael Scott Stringer and Morgan Ashley Tyson; 5207 Rose Loop Road, Nashville; $200,000

Renovation/alteration; 6251 Fire Tower Rd., Bailey; $35,000
Detached accessory structure; 1394 Frazier Rd., Spring Hope; $50,000
Detached accessory structure; 7245 Twin Pines Rd., Spring Hope; $12,140.68
Deck: 1307 Birchwood Dr., Nashville; $5,000

April 19, 2025, was the 30th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing. Do you remember where you were when you heard the fretful news? And when you first heard the name "Timothy McVeigh"?
Whenever there is a national tragedy, we always seem to remember where we were when we learned of it. I remember where I was when President Kennedy was assassinated, when the Challenger exploded, the destruction of the Twin Towers, the bombing at the Boston Marathon, and when Osama Bin Laden was killed.

As we begin this series on joy in the letter of Paul to the Philippians, it seemed good to me that we should probably begin with a definition of joy. I am not just asking about the meaning of joy in general. I am talking about Christian joy, as Paul the apostle describes it. Christian joy is a good feeling. By that, I mean it is not an idea. It is not a conviction. It is not a persuasion or a decision. It is a feeling. Or -- I use the words interchangeably here -- an emotion. One of the marks of the difference between an idea and an emotion or feeling is that you don't have immediate control over your feelings or your emotions.

Our son Lowell is the master of an "off the wall" conversation.
After not seeing him for hours, he might pop out of his room and ask, "What do you know about Karl Marx?" or "Hey, you don't care if I take the motor off the vacuum, do you?"
Sometimes, there aren't questions, just comments on the way out the door.

I recall seeing road-side signs for a thing called Goat Fest the past couple years just before Blooming Festival weekend. I assumed it was most likely a private event, redirecting my attention to wrap up loose ends to finish getting things ready for the Blooming Festival.
Last fall, an energetic young fellow, Jason Knapp, stopped by the office to place an ad for a stew sale to raise money for his cause. When he handed over his card, I noticed he was connected with the "Goat Fest" event.

Dear editor: I write to the citizens of Nash County. Soon, the Nash County Board of Commissioners will vote on the 2025-2026 county budget. One outside/non-profit organization that is requesting funding from Nash County is a Wilson County agency named Casa Azul de Wilson.

This photo published in The Nashville Graphic on May 28, 1964. Nash County Extension staff gathered for a photo. This group was responsible for administering the farm and home extension program in Nash County. The staff consisted of 10 agents and four secretaries.

STANHOPE -- Here's one of the most fascinating statistics from Southern Nash's recent softball dynasty -- the Ladybirds haven't dropped a regular season contest since all the way back on April 19.
Of the 2023 season.
Such is the dominance the Ladybirds have enjoyed in recent campaigns -- and that trend has continued this spring as Coach Scott Collie's club is carrying an undefeated record into this week's Big East Conference Tournament.

RALEIGH -- It was a successful Victory Over Cancer game as the North Carolina State University Wolfpack won their seventh consecutive game and its fourth consecutive Atlantic Coast Conference series after No. 25 NC State defeated No. 2 Clemson 4-1 to complete the sweep over the Tigers last Saturday afternoon from historic Doak Field on the NCSU campus.
NC State (30-12, 15-6) holds a 10-2 record in the last 12 ACC games.

NASH COUNTY -- Baseball season is coming down to the wire in Nash County with the NCHSAA State Playoff brackets set to be released on Monday and the Big East Conference Tournament taking place this week. The first round of the seven-team Big East Championship kicked off on Monday with all four Nash County schools in action, with Southern Nash defeating Northern Nash 8-3 and Nash Central dropping Rocky Mount 14-3 in a run-rule victory.

NASH COUNTY -- The 2025 prep girls soccer season is coming to a close in Nash County, with Northern Nash leading the way amongs the four area public high schools.
The Lady Knights hosted Southern Nash in their final home game of the regular season on Tuesday and will travel to archrival Rocky Mounttoday in the team's regular season finale, entering this week at 10-6 overall and 8-2 in league play.