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NASHVILLE - A longtime Nashville resident is dead, the victim of a shooting Sunday afternoon at 713 Smith Street. Calvin Akeem Ellis, also known as "Chucky," died at UNC Nash Hospital after suffering multiple gunshot wounds.
Officers were dispatched in reference to a shooting at 2:41 pm, finding Ellis wounded. Nash County EMS responded, as did the Nashville Fire Department and the Nash County Sheriff's Office, among others.

Edward Lopez of N. Walnut Street, Spring Hope, speaks to the Spring Hope Board of Commissioners Tuesday night. Graphic photo by Nancy West-Brake

SPRING HOPE - Pleading unsafe living conditions and fears for the longevity of their homes from continued stormwater runoff into their properties, a group of residents from Riley Way and N. Walnut Street appeared before the Spring Hope board of commissioners last night, each armed with folders of photographs about what has been going on.
"I don't know what to do," said Dominique Richards of Riley Way, a single mom and first-time homeowner who said that frequent flooding was creating "a threat to home and health."

NASHVILLE- A planned rezoning request to allow demolition and rebuilding of a larger store at the intersection of 1st and Brake Streets has been withdrawn by property owners, leaving a large crowd at last night's town council session with no public hearing.
Courtney Elstad and her husband, Amir Mujalli, who own the People's Market store, requested rezoning from R-10 residential to B-1 business to allow expansion into two adjacent lots to triple the store size and add 18 parking spots. Also planned was a change in store venue to offer hot foods, milk, eggs and coffee.

NC Department of Education State Superintendent Mo Green, left, chats with a cafeteria worker at Nash County\'s Early College during a visit to Nash Community College.

ROCKY MOUNT - Just eight days after the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) and the State Board of Education (SBE) released a strategic plan to make North Carolina's public schools the best in the country by 2030, State Superintendent of Schools Mo Green made a visit last week to Nash County's Early College.
Green, who was on campus for several hours Thursday, August 28, had a series of meetings with Early College students and staff, with Nash County Public Schools officials, and stopped in to visit several Early College classrooms.

NASHVILLE - More than 7,300 children are riding public school buses in Nash County this year, with last year's bus driver shortages mainly a thing of the past. At present, only two bus routes are without regular drivers.
Director of Transportation Michael Baier gave an update to Nash County school board members during the August 28 committee meetings, relating that he is short two drivers, compared with 16 at the start of the last school year.

Eric Smith, Servant Softwash owner, puts in volunteer hours at A Touch of The Father's Love recently during a special project carried out by many local agencies and local businesses.

MOMEYER - A Touch of the Father's Love Ministry and Food Pantry now has a new privacy fence with gate, upgraded lighted awning, and a new American Flag as the result of a multi-agency community project last week.
Seegars' Fence company, along with construction companies Bunn Brantley and Property Worx were onsite August 28 and 29th to install fencing and a gate between the main and secondary building, a warehouse, and to rework the store's front porch overhang "to make it more appealing and functional," according to Shawn Holland, Vice-President at Seegars Fence.

This year's Red Oak Classic, famous for its tractor show along with a whole hog cook-off, is slated for Sept. 5-6 at the W.B. Ennis Park in Red Oak.

RED OAK - A bridge on N.C. 561 northwest of Red Oak will be replaced, but traffic will use a temporary on-site detour during construction.
Built in 1947, the bridge over Fishing Creek is nearing the end of its lifespan. Wilson-based S.T. Wooten will replace it with a bridge that meets modern design standards at its current location, after the N.C. Department of Transportation awarded a $4.2 million contract this week.
The bridge north of Red Oak is on the Nash-Halifax County line and close to the borders of Franklin and Warren counties.

Taylor and Emily Jones of Wilmington are pictured with their grandmother, Sarah Williams of Rocky Mount.

One of many Nash County 4-H summer camps include teaching youth to sew. A summer camp ran in July at the Ag center for children aged 9 and older. Youth did not have to be a member of 4-H or a Nash County resident.
Coordinators said the 4-H Summer Sewing Camp was very successful with the "Sew It Begins" group making aprons, plastic bag holders and jar openers. The "Sew You Can Sew" group made a sun dress.

"For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me." (Job 3:2)
Did you know that scientific studies show that the very fear of a certain disease - such as cancer - may have a lot more to do with why we get it than we ever suspected. God has known this since he breathed life into us and tried to teach us that very lesson through the life of Job. Isn't it strange that while science and religion fight to convince us that no common ground exists on which they may stand, science has proven that God's word was right all along?

Psalms 96:4 reads this way in the English Standard Version of the Bible, "For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods."
David is one of the most familiar people in the old and new Testaments. In fact, someone has said he is second in recognition only to Jesus. One great story from his life is discovered in 1 Samuel 16-17.
The most unlikely of Jesse's sons is considered for the role of king after king Saul's demise.

Last week, we began to scratch the surface of a story that goes back to the very basement of time: the story of the Jewish people. Since the idea of "history" is defined by Oxford as "the whole series of past events connected with someone or something," then the Jewish story is not merely a story but is a "history" told by the Jewish people of their past, their relationship with Yahweh, and their prophetic expectations for the future. In short, it is what the Christian theologian Kavin Rowe calls the story of everything.

Red Oak Baptist Church celebrated Promotion Sunday on Aug. 31. Children going to first grade were presented Bibles. Children receiving Bibles included Austin Baker, Melody Lewis, Kennedy Mason, and Tristan Sykes. Sunday School members with perfect attendance are also recognized. This year Neal Boone was recognized for his 3rd year of perfect attendance. Congratulations!
The Area Wide WMU Fall Meeting will be held on Monday, Sept. 8 at 10 a.m. at Red Oak Baptist Church in the Family Life Center.

Anchored NE, LLC to Brent William Inners and Coleen Eileen Lengle; Section 1, J Claude Mayo, Jr. Subdivision, Block A, Lot 7; $231,000
Michael Mosley and Melba Y Mosley to Michael Mosley, Melba Y. Mosley and Mashanda Mosley; 1633 Shamrock Lane, Rocky Mount
Linda Earp Herron, Kevin Wesley Earp and Margie Belinda Earp to Chandlor Byrd and Nancy Byrd; 1.12 acres and 1.06 acres
Sherwood Neal Joyner and Karen J. Joyner to Allyssa Joyner Taylor and Joel Spencer Taylor; Lot 4, Prim Branch Lane

The other week at church, the preacher asked the congregation, "How many of y'all are judgmental?"
Normally, I'm very wary of things the preacher says -- especially when he starts asking trick questions -- due to: a) he's my big brother and b) see a). But it was an elbow jerk reaction that my right arm shot straight up.
After all, I'm very judgmental. I feel like I'm pretty good at it. I actually get paid to do it.

Driving out of town on South First Street, NC Hwy 58 S, you'll notice a field on the right, which sits empty, begin to transition with a landscape of over 250 American Flags this week.
Beginning today, Sept. 4th, flags will stand in honor of local heroes including military, first responders, teachers, coaches - anyone who has made an impact on our lives.

This photo published in The Nashville Graphic on Nov. 22, 1977. Fred Belfield (seated) was awarded for his service to 4-H in a national conference for 4-H leaders. Here, Nash Agriculture Chairman Bill Shackelford observes the award with Belfield.

Gallery opening day for the new Tar River Art Gallery is Sunday, Sept. 14 from 2-5 p.m.
The gallery opening will be a celebration of the exhilarating new display of art by 40 area artists featuring more than 150 paintings, pictures, prints, sculptures, and artful creations. The opening reception is free to the public, with free adjacent parking. There will be music provided by cellist Jeff Hatley and light refreshments.
The Tar River Art Gallery is in the right hall of the Dunn Center on the campus of N C Wesleyan University at 3400 North Wesleyan Blvd. in Rocky Mount.