NASHVILLE - A long-promised sewer extension project to connect homes on Essex Road has hit another clog in the line, with an amended plan going back to NCDEQ for review.
Nashvlle Town Manager Randy Lansing requested for an update after the August 20 town council meeting by councilman Larry Taylor, said a lift station at Cardinal Woods, a newer subdivision, was built with SCADA telemetry equipment and has been handling sewage formerly pumped from the Surry Drive lift station, which has been taken off-line.

BOBBY JOE FISHER

NASH COUNTY - One of Nash County's most famous sons of Agriculture, Bobby Joe Fisher, has moved on to greener fields, passing away Sunday, August 24 at the age of 90.
Fisher, also known as the "Father of the annual Catfish Luncheon," a hugely-popular venue conducted by Nash County Soil and Water, was universally well-liked and admired for his volunteerism to all causes Agriculture, particularly 4-H, and for his genial personality. His face was often wreathed in smiles.

NASHVILLE- A proposal to demolish an existing vape shop in the intersection of S. 1st and Brake Streets in favor of building a new neighborhood convenience store is attracting a lot of attention, with the August 26 Nashville Planning Board meeting packed. In a split vote of 5-1, planning board members recommended rezoning denial for the two parcels involved from R-10 residential to B-1 business. The Nashville town council will have the final say at their September 2nd meeting.

NASHVILLE - In an attempt to come up with extra money to buy extra features for Glover Park's as-yet-unbuilt Splash Pad, Nashville's Parks and Rec department is looking for sponsors who are willing to pay to "name" parts of the Park.
Nashville Parks and Rec Director Koy Worrell asked and got approval from the town council at their August 20 meeting for a three-prong project approach: a naming rights policy; an agreement, or contract form between the town and individuals or businesses who want to purchase naming rights and the terms; and a lengthy list of naming opportunities at the park, along with suggested prices and name term lengths.

Nashville Police Officer Rosa Johnson checks incoming vehicles for valid operators license during a check point Friday night. Graphic photo by Nancy West-Brake

NASHVILLE - A multi-agency 'Checking Stations' event last Friday night in and around Nashville netted almost 50 results, with offenses ranging from drunk driving to a stolen firearm to having no license.
The Nashville Police Department coordinated a multi-agency 'Checking Stations' event between 8 p.m. and 1 a.m. Saturday, manning four checkpoints and utilizing officers from North Carolina Highway Patrol, Spring Hope PD, Bailey PD, Wilson PD, and the Edgecombe County Sheriff's Office,

NASHVILLE - A citizen request for sidewalk installation in front of Nash Central Middle School may have been made at just the right time, as the addition could potentially be added to current plans for sidewalk improvements.
Nashville's FY 2026 budget includes $146,000 specifically for sidewalk repairs, part of which is coming from reserve Powell Bill funding.

NASHVILLE - "What do we want Nash County to look like?" The question voiced by Marvin Arrington, county commissioner, summed up the focus for a joint meeting between commissioners and the Nash County Planning Board, held for two hours in the late afternoon of August 19 inside the Emergency Operations Center.
The "kick-off" meeting's purpose was to begin the process for the county's Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) Update, a one-year process to rewrite and update regulations that the county uses for land uses. The current UDO dates from April 1999.

Fields of Honor will take place Sept. 4-11, 2025 at 1114 First St., Nashville (grassy lot next to Fellowship Church). The event is hosted by The Sharpsburg Exchange Club.
Honor your hero by purchasing one of 250 8 ft. poles. Your flag will be tagged with a 3" x 5" photo card and information about your hero.
Honorees may include military, police, firefighters, medical first responders, teachers and other heroes that through service and sacrifice have earned our gratitude.

NASHVILLE- Four houses in Nashville could be completely demolished and rebuilt for their owners under a loan forgiveness program, should a $950,000 CDBG-NR Housing Grant be approved.
Ben Jones with Faltor Consulting Company presented addresses for the four- identified as 307 Battle Drive; 528 Indian Trail; 1020 Sunnyfield Road; and 122 Circle Drive- along with three alternate sites that he said fit the criteria for the Community Development Block grant Neighborhood Revitalization program.

RED OAK - In the light of a recent proposed zoning change for his property by the town of Red Oak because of annexation, a local landowner is questioning whether he can designate part of the land for agricultural conservancy.
Albert James Ervin, who jointly inherited several parcels, including 117 acres and 10 acres on either side of Reges Store Road, appeared before the Red Oak town council for a public hearing August 11 to ask for some direction.

NASHVILLE - What appeared to be a "grave curb" around an enclosed area outside the Nash Senior Center is now nothing but a pile of rubble, as the site has been cleared for development after initial concerns that there might be a small cemetery there.
As reported in the April 2, 2025 edition of The Graphic, "Rezoning request unearths grave concern," the suspected gravesite, big enough for four plots, was initially questioned by local historian and Nashville planning board member Ross Strickland when Nash County applied to rezone the area to accommodate planned Senior Center expansion.

"Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching." (Hebrews 10:25)
In March 2020, our world changed. The government ordered that schools and public gatherings should cease due to the outbreak of Covid. But there was also another major change in America. Sundays have long held a place in our country as the day most Christians would gather at their local churches to worship the Lord.

From the moral argument presented over the last few weeks, we determined that since the Great Designer and Creator is necessary for moral values to exist in created humans, He must be a Moral Being Himself who has imparted moral values to human beings --via the imago Dei--with the expectation that they are obligated to fulfill His moral standards. God Himself is an infinitely Moral and infinitely Just Being, both attributes necessary for infinite love. In other words, the Purposeful, Spiritual, Creator and Designer of the universe, God, is a Moral and Just Being who imparted moral values into the spiritual consciousness of human beings whom He created in His image and likeness with the expectation that they embrace and fulfill His Moral Law.

Congratulations to Windley Griffin, daughter of Nathan and Heather Griffin, who joined Red Oak Baptist Church.
Congratulations to Bryce and Emma Pike, and big brother Bryce, on the birth of their daughter and sister, Elizabeth Tayloe "Sugar" Pike, on August 15. Proud grandparents are Bob and Cindy Pike.
The Walk for Life/Run for Life/Littles for Life will be held at the Rocky Mount Sports Complex on Saturday, Sept. 6.

SPRING HOPE - Spring Hope's planned caboose addition to the Depot is still on track and "getting closer," but the cost of rolling it into place is more pricey than anticipated, causing town officials to put a hold on some planned streetscape additions.
Andrew DeIonno, town manager, told the board of commissioners at their August 4 meeting that he had been working with NCDOT and the town's insurance company to get all the paperwork in place, "but transportation of the caboose is about a $25,000 ticket item...

SPRING HOPE - The town of Louisburg and Franklinton may be supplying new beautification ideas to Spring Hope, with Downtown Development Board members reviewing a few "field trip" observations at their August 18 meeting.
Pam Brantley, chair, reported that she had been researching what towns without significant trees downtown do to present their best appearance.
Brantley said a favored technique was to draw the eye to good architecture, which she said Louisburg did with hanging flower baskets.

NASHVILLE- Braswell Family Farms has been approved for its 3rd Annual New Year's Eve Egg Drop, to be held Wednesday, Dec. 31 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Nashville Junction.
Trey Braswell, BFF President, appeared to make the request at the August 20 town council meeting, which also included a public hearing on the special events permit request. Braswell was the only person to speak.

NASHVILLE - Starting September 2nd, the Vino Market is going to also offer morning coffee, filling a longtime need for a coffee shop in downtown Nashville.
Joanne Pope-Clark, business owner, shared details at the August 25th Nashville Downtown Strong Advisory Board (DSAB) meeting, relaying that the inside business would be called "Sip and Skip," as suggested by her staff.

Anne Wilkes Bass, Matthew Bass, Matthew Thomas Bass, Brittany Bass, Leslie Robert Kennedy Jr., Crystal E. Kennedy to Leslie Robert Kennedy Jr., Crystal E. Kennedy, Anne Wilkes Bass, Matthew Thomas Bass and Brittany Bass; .304 acres off Wiggins Road
Katie L. Morales to Katie L. Morales and Jeremias Salvador Silverio; 10285 Pasture Road, Middlesex

NASH COUNTY - A free, community-centered event, The Wellness & Recovery Fair, is set to take place in Brown Auditorium at Nash Community College Thursday Sept. 4 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The fair is open to the public, with the focus of promoting mental health, substance use recovery and overall wellness.

On August 4, 2025, members of the Nash County Sheriff's Office Narcotics Unit arrested Shunquillis Earl Wiggins after an extensive investigation into the distribution of MDMA (methylenedioxymethamphetamine) within Nash County.
Shunquillis Wiggins is responsible for transporting and distributing thousands of MDMA tablets, as well as cocaine, in the Nashville and Spring Hope areas.

Shoplifting concealment goods at 10696 NC 97, Rocky Mount on 8/17/25
Possession of drug paraphernalia; possession cocaine at 1821 N. Wesleyan Blvd., Rocky Mount on 8/19/25
Carrying concealed weapon at 2120 Stone Rose Dr., Rocky Mount on 8/21/25
Assault serious bodily injury at 2869 US 64A, Nashville on 8/19/25

Judson Beasley and Matthew Joyner take a ride on a golf cart using virtual goggles that simulate being under the influence of alcohol.

Nash County 4-Hers pose with Nash County Sheriff's Office members.

Trillium will host a virtual Overdose Awareness Symposium on Friday, Aug. 29.
This symposium will provide education and awareness about the realities of overdose, including its causes, warning signs, prevention strategies, and available resources for support and recovery.
The goal is to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and promote community-wide efforts to address and prevent overdose deaths.

Rod, a good friend at work, was making his last preparations for retirement. He came into my office with a box of books.
"You can have any of these you want," he said. "Or all of them." Then he paused. "But you can't have the box. I want that back. It's really nice."
I'm not going to lie: after I peeked at the titles on top, I knew I was going to want all the books and getting that fine, double-walled corrugated box was just going to be a bonus. It was like the man had read my mind.

Nash County lost a huge part of its farming heritage this week. Bobby Joe Fisher, 90, passed away Saturday, Aug. 24.
The first time I covered a Nash County Soil and Water Catfish Luncheon it was still being held at I.C. Lamm's farm - which was one of the most beautiful slices of Nash County I had ever seen. Back in the day, prior to the luncheon, multiple agencies were on the farm all day talking to high school students. At some point it transitioned from a high school field day to fourth graders, which was a good idea to teach the values of taking care of our farms at an early age.

Dear Editor: United Community Ministries has worked diligently to provide a nurturing and supportive environment for homeless and nearly homeless individuals and families in the Rocky Mount area for nearly four decades.
During the month of July, 13 families with 26 children were housed at the Bassett Center and 61 men and women at the Community Shelter. Meals were provided for all residents and the soup kitchen is open to anyone in the community seven days a week.

This photo published in The Nashville Graphic on November 17, 1977. These Northern Nash Senior High School students were inducted into the National Honor Society in ceremonies held at the school.