NASHVILLE- For the second time this year, and again by a split vote of 4-3, Nash commissioners have denied conditional rezoning permission for the proposed Wildlife Road subdivision in Castalia.
Owner/developer Little Bear Creek Properties requested conditional rezoning to allow construction of 122 lots on the 151.6 acre parcel located off Wildlife Road under the RA-30-CZ designation, which is smaller than the R-40 currently permitted under A-1 zoning.

NASHVILLE - An alleged conflict of interest on the part of Nash Planning Board Chairman DeLeon Parker is being investigated by the Nash County attorney after a commissioner brought up an email and the matter was referred for discussion in closed session.
Gwen Wilkins, commissioner, asked that the matter be discussed during the Oct. 6 commissioners' meeting during action on an agenda item, a public hearing on a conditional rezoning request for the Old Lewis School Road Subdivision of Middlesex.

NASHVILLE - A rare, 58-hour training opportunity for trench rescue was completed recently at Nashville's Fire Station 2.
Nashville and Rocky Mount firefighters practiced in and around a 12'deep, 4' wide trench dug behind the fire station, coming away with techniques to use in case anyone was to be trapped in a 'catastrophic earth event.' That would mean a massive shift, or slide, of dirt either burying or pinning someone in place.

NASHVILLE - The impending demolition of another historic Nashville home is spurring a cry for preservation measures before it's too late- including the creation of a new town committee.
Three Nashville residents and The Graphic Publisher appealed to the town council at their Oct. 7 meeting, expressing their dismay and disappointment over reported plans by the Nashville Methodist Church to raze the Will Dozier House, built in 1903 and located at 111 S. Hilliard Street.

Despite multiple obstacles this year, Spring Hope residents and volunteers successfully organized and carried out the 2025 Pumpkin Festival.
Organizers were forced to reduce the downtown parade route and move the majority of the event to the Spaulding Resource Center, which is about three-quarters of a mile outside of the traditional festival footprint. This year's changes were required by the town of Spring Hope due to the projection of construction timeline.

Nashville's Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a candidate forum next week for the three citizens who have filed to run for two Nashville Town Council seats.
Incumbents Kate Burns and Larry Taylor along with newcomer Jeff Dodson are all running for two seats in the upcoming November 4th election.
The chamber is hosting the forum to offer citizens a chance to meet and hear from the candidates.

NASH COUNTY - A Nash County Health Department outreach program to test high-risk patients for sexually-transmitted diseases has been discontinued, while testing at both local offices is still offered and two outside agencies- including the Edgecombe County Health Department- may be working to help fill any gaps.
The ITTS project, which stands for Integrated Targeted Testing Services, "provide HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia and hepatitis C testing in areas frequented by people at high risk," according to the NCDHHS (North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services) Epidemiology web page.

NASHVILLE- After two previous attempts and a return to an earlier, less lot-dense sketch plan, rezoning to accommodate a new Middlesex subdivision on Old Lewis School Road has been approved by Nash commissioners in a split vote.
Despite considerable public opposition at the Oct. 6 public hearing, developers for the Old Lewis School Road subdivision were green-lighted for a conditional zoning change to RA-30 on 110.6 acres owned by Bonnie B. Glover.

The reigning Pumpkin Festival queen waves while riding in the parade.

Bailey queens ride in the Pumpkin Festival parade. Graphic photo by Larry Matthews

Craft and merchandise vendors were plentiful for fall shopping during the 2025 Spring Hope Pumpkin Festival.

My wife is convinced that many of the biblical signs are in place for Jesus to return. In fact, she believes that Jesus will come before the end of her days.
I can remember joking with her about it over years, particularly when I was a newly saved Christian. I didn't want Jesus to return. I had too much "livin" left to do, too many things on my bucket list. "I sure hope not", I told her years ago. "I'm living too large for Jesus to come back right now."
However, I don't feel that way anymore. But for the fact that I still have some family and friends who I do not believe know Jesus, I am ready for his return.

Last week, we explored a common type of resurrection theory by looking at the offering of the atheist David Mirsch. Picking up the story from last week, the plan, Mirsch explains, was to utilize common herbal drugs of the time (namely Shephard's Purse, Mandrake, Myrrh, and possibly Opium) to aid in Jesus' survivability during the crucifixion. This concoction was then slipped into the "sour wine" container at the crucifixion site. Mirsch argues that Jesus first refused the sour wine offered him on the Cross because enough time had not passed (Matt 27:34).

"Bee the One!" missions celebration sponsored by Women in Action was held on Tuesday, Sept. 30 at Red Oak Baptist Church. Everyone enjoyed an evening of food, fellowship, and missions speaker. Women in Action members provided the dinner. Donna Best gave the blessing for the meal. Suzy Pearce, Women in Action facilitator, gave a welcome and announcements. Vicki Lassiter, Denise Langley, Jo Ann Pierce, and Taylor Brantley gave a skit for the theme interpretation. The "Bee the One" theme emphasized how we could learn things from the bees as they are hard workers, humble, patient, persistent, and positive.

Ballysteen Realty, LLC to Hornet Homes, LLC; 2785 River Meadow Court, Spring Hope; $65,000
Kwagi Martinus Heath to Amir Edwar Said; Garvey Property, Lots 17-18; $160,000
Dorothy Stowe Cummings to The D.S. Cummings Irrevocable Trust and D.S. Cummings; Beth Eden Subdivision, Phase 3, Lot 27
Robert Clifford Smith to Alexis Smith Williams and Jason Robert Smith; Section 4, Shepherds Way, Phase 2, Lot 24

Assault serious bodily injury reported at 100 N. Boddie St., Nashville on 9/9/25
Damage to real property; discharge firearm into occupied dwelling/moving vehicle reported at 10482 Pace Rd., Bailey on 9/12/25
Financial transaction card fraud reported at 105 Drake St., Nashville on 9/12/25
Possession of drug paraphernalia reported at 1437 Green Rd., Spring Hope on 9/11/25

Nashville
Oct. 20: 1:30 p.m. - 6 p.m., Sandy Cross Methodist Church, 3725 Sandy Cross Road
Oct. 27: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Nash County Senior Center, 103 N. Alston Street

Girl Scout Troop 251 members climb the 50 ft. Alpine Tower.

Rocky Mount/Nash Girl Scouts are busy starting out the new scout year with learning to conquer their fears and believing in themselves.
Recently, Juniors - Ambassadors (4th-12th graders) climbed a 50ft Alpine Tower at a local Girl Scout Camp.
This event was to challenge girls in more ways than one while encouraging them along the way as they climbed 10ft, 30 ft or all the way to the top of the 50ft tower.

Rocky Mount native Clifton Barnes, who was a reporter and editor at the Nashville Graphic in the 1980s, has won a national writing award.
Writing on behalf of the Athens Drive (Raleigh) High School band, Barnes won an Award of Excellence from the DC area-based Communications Concepts through its 2025 Awards for Publication Excellence (APEX) competition.

ROCKY MOUNT - The N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV) has announced that eligible drivers without a REAL ID can now renew their driver's license online for a second consecutive time. This change, effective immediately, stems from Senate Bill 245, signed into law last week by Gov. Josh Stein.
"We encourage our customers to renew their driver license online if they're eligible. It's fast, easy, and helps reduce wait times at our offices," said DMV Commissioner Paul Tine. "By choosing online services, you're freeing up space for those who need in-person assistance."

I had mixed feelings when I found out Waylon Jennings had a new album coming out last week.
Waylon, my favorite country music "outlaw," has been dead for nearly 25 years. However, his producer son has found several unreleased songs and thus Songbird was released. Two more albums from the man known for "Good Hearted Woman" and "I've Always Been Crazy" are planned.
XM Radio dedicated the Outlaw Country station to Jennings over the weekend, playing only his songs and covers of his songs by others.

I joined others to speak to the Nashville Town Council members Tuesday night while knowing there wasn't one thing, as a municipality, they could do at this point - in a legal action - to stop the destruction of 111 S. Hilliard Street. This 1903 home is slated to be "razed" as stated by Nashville Methodist Church.
However, each of them can step away from their post as a town council member, acting as a citizen of this town to express their thoughts to the church leadership asking for reconsideration.

This photo published in The Nashville Graphic on March 1, 1962. Pictured is part of the chow line at an old-fashioned fish fry held at the V. Lee Bass and Sons farm in Momeyer.