NASHVILLE- Beginning January 1, 2026, Nash County landowners who want to invest in farmland preservation will be able to do so as a formal program has been created and approved by county commissioners.
Cole Strickland, Nash Soil & Water Director, presented the details for the new program at the commissioners' Sept. 22 meeting, four months after getting the go-ahead to work out program specifics.

NASHVILLE - Spring Hope Mayor Kyle Pritchard has succeeded in getting initial Nash County buy-in regarding the formation of a Statewide Flash Flood Action Committee.
Pritchard, who made a detailed presentation on flash flooding at the Sept. 22 commissioners' meeting, asked that a resolution be signed directing county staff to collaborate with state and federal partners, along with Spring Hope, to work on action plans and funding strategies to address flash flooding.

Southern Nash Assistant Principal Elbert Maynard relishes some fresh cooked corn.

BAILEY - The 2nd annual Agriculture Appreciation Night and Expo at Southern Nash High School Sept. 19, hosted by Southern Nash FFA, offered both students and the general public a chance to visit with multiple vendors related to the ag industry, along with hot roasted corn on the cob, just prior to a Firebirds vs. Southern Wayne football game.
Visitors to the event were greeted by the two resident SNHS horses, penned along a field entranceway and used for the school's Equine classes, along with guinea pigs and sheep for a "sheep bingo" event.

NASHVILLE - The latest chapter of Nashville's ongoing saga about legislating use of shipping containers is headed to a new level, with town leaders scheduling a work session just for that Oct. 8.
While shipping containers have been allowed for temporary construction or renovation storage use in both residential and non-residential areas, there is no specific ordinance covering their use, a point contested repeatedly by Chris Sandy, owner of Build Right Supplies, who first requested an amendment to add one in June.

Hundreds gather at a vigil hosted by the Tar River Republican Women. Graphic photo by Larry Matthews

NASHVILLE - The grounds upon which the Charters of Freedom are placed at the Nash County Courthouse was the gathering site for a vigil to honor Charlie Kirk Sunday.
"We chose to have this prayer vigil here at the Nash County Courthouse," said Tar River Republican Women President Mary Helen Pelt Warren. "Here at the Charters of Freedom memorial, which features replicas of the Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, and Bill of Rights."

NASHVILLE - With a plan to make its new recreation center fully ADA-accessible, Nash County has been awarded a $500,000 Accessible Parks grant from the state. Paired with a 20% local government match of $100,000, the county will be investing over a half million into the Old Fellowship Church site on White Oak Road specifically for upfits to accommodate those with disabilities.
Many of the new features planned will be able to be used by anyone, among those six new adjustable-height basketball hoop systems that will facilitate use by different age groups, and six sets of new bleachers, which will include "cutout" portions to accommodate protected wheelchair seating.

SPRING HOPE - The murder of a 25-year-old woman, found dead last Friday in Spring Hope, remains under investigation by the Nash County Sheriff's Office, while the man charged with her murder is in the Nash County Detention Center under a 2 million dollar bond.
Samuel Sanchez Lopez, age 30, of Nick At Nite Lane, Spring Hope, remains charged with First Degree Murder. Lopez was reportedly in a relationship with Estrella Florez Silva prior to Silva's death during the early morning hours of September 19th.

Nash County employees are shown planting green pinwheels around a tree at the Nash County Administrative Building. Pictured, left to right: Christopher Kennedy, Dillon Arnold, Charlissa Speight, Jacquelyn Moore and Kimberly Nicholson standing to the far right.

NASHVILLE - Nash lawmakers have voted to approve an updated FEMA flood map including two changes in the Whitakers-Hollister area involving Fishing Creek and Little Fishing Creek, but both changes are considered minor and do not impact any homes or structures there.
Commissioners approved the FEMA update earlier this month, which was required by state and federal authorities to be done by Sept. 19 in order to ensure that Nash County can participate in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and remain eligible for federal disaster assistance following flooding events.

NASHVILLE - An existing Nash County business may be in line for a $5.9 million state grant to cover building expansion, with an additional goal of creating 30 new jobs.
The business name is not being released, but its 'code name' within the Nash County Economic Development is "Project Emerald City."
Andy Hagy, Nash Economic Development Director, got the buy-in from county commissioners at their Sept. 8 meeting.

"Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God." (Genesis 6:9)
On September 18th, the movie, "Noah", was released nationwide in theaters for one week. But if you missed it, you have a wonderful opportunity to go and see the production in person.
Several years ago, Robbie and I vacationed in the "Amish Country" of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

Matthew 13:1-3 ESV
That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: "A sower went out to sow.
The situation is getting complicated. The religious leaders want to get rid of Jesus.

So upfront, I've got to tell you that the claim that a man was resurrected from the dead is quite extraordinary. In fact, the mid-18th century philosopher David Hume put forward the extraordinary nature of the Christian resurrection claim as a question. Hume asked: "Is it more probable that a person is deceived, deceiving, or that the dead man actually rose from the dead?" In fact, it is so improbable that anyone claiming that a dead man rose from the dead is assumed to be lying. Hume put it this way: saying it is a strange thing that such miraculous events don't take place in our day.

The Baptist Men had very good attendance at their monthly breakfast on Sunday, Sept. 21.
Windley Griffin and Lawson Jernigan joined Red Oak Baptist Church and will be baptized Sunday, Sept. 28!
Come join Red Oak Baptist Church on Sundays at 9:45 a.m. for Sunday School/Life Groups and at 11 a.m. for morning worship. Children's Church is also offered for preschoolers and children Kindergarten - 5th grade.

New York City
Holiday Bus Trip
The holiday season is quickly approaching and the Nash County Cooperative Extension sponsored New York City Holiday Bus Trip is back.
Buses will leave from the Nash County Cooperative Extension Office located at 1006 Eastern Avenue Nashville on Friday, Dec. 12 at 9:30 p.m. and return early on Sunday, December 14. Cost is $175.

MOMEYER - Starting Nov. 1, Momeyer town residents who said they wanted free trash pickup are going to get it for the next 3 years, thanks to approval this month by the Momeyer town council.
Council members, minus an absent Richard Matthews, voted unanimously Sept. 8 to approve the contract, which will cover pickup for either trash, recycling, or both for the residents who told town hall their preferences.

Northern Nash High School Principal Michael Girouard, left, accepts a check for $2,500 Sept. 19 from Milton Hagans, alumnus, and the Class of 1975.

(Editor's Note: This is part one of a two-part series).
I was asked to be the Constitution Day speaker at Barton College last week, and I felt honored.
It would be a piece of cake to talk about America and my favorite legal document. Having been in journalism for 40 years, it seemed natural to talk about the First Amendment, near and dear to my heart.

In today's world of algorithms - there's one sure thing for users of social media - we're all at risk of the unfortunate possibility of "following a narrative." Even those of us who feel we're not vulnerable attempting to always see "both sides." When relying on social media sites to look at things of interest, we can never be sure both sides, or the entire picture, is being presented to us.
Algorithms are designed to suck us into exactly where the influencer wants us. Wow - talk about big brother if there ever was one!

This photo published in The Nashville Graphic on March 7, 1968. Members of the Northern Nash Basketball team pose for a picture after winning the District III Basketball Tournament in Wilson.

NASHVILLE- The second annual Mother & Son Prom, a spin-off of the more recognized Daddy-Daughter Dance, is set to happen Saturday, October 4, at the Nash County Ag Center at 1006 Eastern Avenue, Nashville.
Presented by Nash County Parks & Recreation, the event is open to adult female family members and boys aged 3-12, with a price of $35 per couple. Additional sons are covered at $5 each.