SPRING HOPE - This year's Pumpkin Festival Oct. 3rd and 4th, split in two locations with the parade downtown and the bulk of events at the Spaulding Family Resource Center, features a mix of old, time-honored traditions and some new additions.
Two of the biggest changes, according to Festival Marketing Chairman Steve Brumfield, are with the parade and with the largest and newest addition, the "Kidz Zone."

ROCKY MOUNT - Beginning October 1, people who get electric or gas service from the City of Rocky Mount will be subject to a rate hike, just imposed as part of the city's "Financial Recovery Plan Amid Budget Crisis."
Rocky Mount Mayor Sandy Roberson in a Sept. 23 speech recorded on the city's You Tube channel, said that the city would have to "make modest adjustments to our utility rates to strengthen our city's financial foundation."

Nash County District 8 Court Judge Alicia Slaughter speaks during the Community and Rural Development Banquet.

NASHVILLE - The Nash County Community and Rural Development (CRD) Council honored a woman with 56 years of service to her community at the organization's annual banquet on Saturday.
Elsie Bowen was presented the CRD Community Champion Award by Nash County Community and Rural Development Agent Traci Dixon. The award is presented to someone who goes above and beyond for the needs of their community.

NASHVILLE - "You are not helpless. What you do matters:" the takeaway summative statement by Larry Danforth, Nashville Police Officer, on the occasion of NPD's Sept. 23rd public education event, 'Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events.' Held from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Nashville Methodist Church, the free class drew about sixty attendants, including residents of Nashville, Momeyer and surrounding towns.

NASHVILLE - In the wake of JOANN's Fabric Store of Rocky Mount closing in February of this year, a gaping hole was left in the area's crafting community- but a new store in the Nashville Junction has stepped up to help fill the gap.
Kozy At Home Studio & Boutique, owned by Nash County natives Jessie Smith and her mom/partner Donna Smith, celebrated the business with a ribbon-cutting Sept. 26 after the doors officially opened July 18th.

RED OAK - A Red Oak Elementary school parent faces two misdemeanor charges after her arrest for alleged assault on a school employee.
Lakisha Caudle, of 46 Green Pastures East, Battleboro was charged in connection with an incident around 8:40 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 19, according to a Sept. 25 press release from the Nash County Sheriffs Office.

CASTALIA - Town officials in Castalia are cracking down on reoccurring issues at the town park.
Reports of excessive loitering as well as damage to park property and verbal and physical violent behavior lead town officials to contact the Nash County Sheriff's Office.
After increased patrols and investigation of the incidents, Donquel Gupton, 40, and Monika Silver, 35, were arrested and charged on August 10 with trespassing.

NASHVILLE - In a split vote by county commissioners, Nash County has changed its parameters for funding assistance to non-profit agencies to require that they must have a physical address and base of operations in Nash County or in the City of Rocky Mount to be eligible.
The action was seemingly spurred by past disagreement over one agency in Wilson county, Casa Azul de Wilson, which offers educational and cultural support specifically to people of Latino heritage. Funding to that agency was a bone of contention for months during the FY2026 budget ordinance process earlier this year.

RED OAK- With this year's successful Red Oak Classic behind them, town leaders are well into planning their annual Christmas Festival event, slated for November 29 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
In response to a request from past vendors for longer hours, council members voted Sept. 8 to extend Festival hours from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. It was decided to hold Santa photos earlier, before the parade, while the light was still good.

"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." (Romans 10:9)
It may sound a little dramatic, but the thing I worry most about in my faith is that Jesus will return before a family member or friend comes to a saving knowledge of him. Ever since Jesus was born and since he died, we have the opportunity for salvation.

We began last week by setting the foundation for our historical study of the resurrection of Jesus using Michael Licona's "minimal facts" approach. When we look at the historical resurrection event, the agreed-upon bedrock facts about the fate of Jesus are these:
1. Jesus died by crucifixion.
2. Shortly after Jesus' death, the disciples had experiences that led them to believe and proclaim that Jesus had been resurrected and appeared to them.
3. Within a few years after Jesus' death, Paul converted after experiencing what he interpreted as a post-resurrection appearance of Jesus to him.

The parable of the unforgiving servant in Matthew 18:21-35 teaches that forgiveness should be limitless, extending far beyond traditional expectations. It illustrates God's immeasurable mercy in forgiving a vast debt, contrasting it with a servant's refusal to forgive a much smaller debt owed by another. This highlights that those who have received God's boundless forgiveness are compelled to extend similar grace to others, and a refusal to do so carries severe consequences. (bible.com)

Four Seasons Contractors, LLC to How Xuan Duong and Kim Ngoc Tran; Bradford Place Subdivision, Lot 7; $305,000
Boone Logging Company, Inc. to TRJD Development, LLC, Pier One Investments, LLC and Wrenn Properties and Real Estate, Inc.; 50 acres in Ferrells Township
The Union Hope Gospel Chapel, Inc., Timothy Carter, Alyce B. Carter and Michele R. Fowler to The Union Hope Gospel Chapel, Inc., Timothy W. Carter, Alyce B. Carter and Michele R. Fowler; 1.057 acres

(This is Part 2 of a 2 part series).
A few days after the Charlie Kirk assassination, my youngest son used his new welder -- he learned the basics at his summer job -- to make a flagpole for the trailer hitch of his pickup.
I admired the handiwork, but then I wondered if I should caution him about riding around with an American flag on his vehicle.

Looking back over the last four decades, we've become pretty good at erasing more than a hundred years of history when it comes to Nashville's historic architecture.
Nashville has been recognized nationally for its late 19th and early 20th century examples of Queen Anne, Victorian, Classical Revival and Neoclassical Revival architecture, including the Bissette-Cooley House, which we refer today as "the Cooley Manor." Fortunately this structure remains in good hands to ensure its future!

This photo published in The Nashville Graphic on February 8, 1962. These girls lead the cheers for the Nashville Blue Flames throughout the year in various sports.