NASHVILLE - Jason Glover, Nashville's new Public Works Director, has come full circle- while he came here fresh from his previous position as Superintendent of Rocky Mount's Water and Sewer Division, he actually started his career in Nashville's Public Works department as a utility worker fresh out of Northern Nash High School in 2001.
And the name "Glover" should ring a bell. Yes, Jason is one of the Glovers who have a strong history with Nashville.

SPRING HOPE - The first board meeting for three new commissioners in Spring Hope was anything but routine, resulting in multiple verbal confrontations aimed at current town management.

The Town of Red Oak held its annual Christmas Festival Saturday featuring a parade, vendors, food trucks, rides, live music and Santa Claus. Pictured above, Kaiden and Carter Richardson of Hollister visit with St. Nick just in time to share their wish list.

SPRING HOPE - Two resolutions relating to the potential extension of Spring Hope's Extra Territorial Jurisdiction were tabled at the Dec. 1 board of commissioners' meeting after considerable opposition voiced during a public hearing.
As listed on the agenda, the first resolution was for consideration of a resolution to extend the ETJ, while the second was to pass said resolution to county commissioners for their approval.

NASHVILLE - A lifetime marked by devotion to family, education, and truth: Bertha Dickens, who just celebrated her 100th birthday Nov. 26, is passing down her legacy to six children, around forty grandchildren, around twenty great-grands and between five and ten great-great grands.
Bertha, then Bertha Howington, was born on "the Braswell farm" in Whitakers, one of 13 children to Percy Lee Bunn and Levy Howington; Levy kept his family fed by digging graves in Edgecombe and Nash Counties, most often at Red Hill Baptist, where he was eventually laid to rest in 1967.

NASHVILLE - A 'town hall discussion' is set for 6 p.m., Monday Dec. 8, to allow interested residents a chance to meet with state officials about what would be involved in establishing a Historical Preservation Commission (HPC) in Nashville.
Kristi Brantley, Local Historic Preservation and Certified Local Government Coordinator for the NC State Historic Preservation Office will attend the meeting, to be held at the Nashville town council chambers adjacent to the Harold Cooley Library.

Free children's activities 2-4:30 p.m.
Children's Bike Parade line-up - 4pm
Parade begins at 4:30 p.m.
Christmas Tree Lighting after parade

MOMEYER - The first draft of a revised town ordinance for Momeyer is now in the hands of the planning board, but initial reactions at a Nov. 20 meeting were not too positive.
The planning board will take a second stab at reviewing the document at their next meeting on January 27, deciding that one session was not enough.

NASHVILLE - Rules are now in place for rental of the town-owned stage at the Nashville Junction, with formal adoption completed at the Nov. 19 town council meeting. The biggest changes to the initial draft have to do with required event security, the addition of a lower use rate for free public events, and the requirement for renters to supply their own porta-potties.

NASHVILLE - Parking in and around the Nash County government complex off W. Washington Street, Nashville, is going to be "creative" this month as work is done on multiple planned building improvements.
Work begins the week of December 1st to replace the roof of the Administration Building, beginning with the courthouse side of the building. Part of Boddie Street will be closed for approximately six weeks, weather permitting, to accommodate placement of a crane, equipment, and materials needed such as dumpsters.

One of two license plate agencies in Nash County has closed, leaving Spring Hope to take up the slack along with offices in Tarboro and Wilson.
The Rocky Mount agency at 1850 Stone Rose Drive closed it doors as of Nov.24, with NCDMV delivering the vague promise of a new agency opening "at a later date at a new location" in a Nov. 14 press release.

Over the last few weeks, we have presented the Gospel accounts of the resurrection of Jesus as nothing less than ancient historical documents, written within the living memories of the eyewitnesses, by those eyewitnesses, or their close associates. Nonetheless, resurrection skeptic and critic Bart Ehrman has often been quoted saying that the Gospel accounts were corrupted through a long string of oral transmissions by multiple people over decades of time, resulting in a distorted and false story ultimately being recorded in the Gospel accounts. Even so, as noted in the previous articles, Ehrman's assertions are deceptive and inaccurate.

Last Sunday, the church I pastor officially began our annual celebration of the Advent season. It is a season to celebrate and remember the birth of the only begotten Son of God and remember He is coming again to claim His bride. But sadly, Christmas for many has become nothing more than a time to eat, party, trade gifts, and focus on everything that has nothing to do with worshipping and adoring Jesus. I shared the statement in my sermon this past Sunday, "What the church needs is less decorations and more of Jesus."

Red Oak Baptist Church welcomes Susan and Peyton Whitley to the church family!
Be sure to visit Rock Creek Baptist Church on Saturday, December 6 at 9:00 am - 2:00 pm for their Christmas Bazaar! Suzy Pearce, local author, will have a booth selling her unique children's storybooks which feature cute and funny characters and rhyming stories. She also has missions devotional books for boys and girls. Don't miss it! These will make great gifts for Christmas or any occasion

SAN DIEGO - Petty Officer 3rd Class Tony Johnson, a native of Rocky Mount, North Carolina, serves aboard the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Boxer, currently operating out of San Diego, California.
Johnson graduated from Northern Nsh High School in 2019.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Rocky Mount.

On Wednesday, Nov. 26, Alpha Omicron Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. celebrated 79 years of service to the Nash and Edgecombe County area. Alpha Omicron grew out of the realm of Nu Alpha Chapter and was chartered on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 1946. This occurred when some local faithful men sought to preserve and establish a Chapter in Rocky Mount, North Carolina; providing that "like minded men, immersed in the true Omega Spirit" could accomplish this fete. Due to hard work and nine dedicated men, with the line name Doctor's Bag Please," Omega Psi Phi Fraternity came true to Rocky Mount.

ROCKY MOUNT -- The City of Rocky Mount announced a contribution from the DeLeon Carter Foundation to support the newly installed Medal of Honor monument honoring U.S. Army Capt. Hugh Reavis Nelson Jr. at the Veterans Memorial in Jack Laughery Park. The monument, unveiled during this year's Veterans Day ceremony, stands as a permanent tribute to Capt. Nelson's extraordinary heroism and enduring legacy.

A HONOR ROLL
SIXTH GRADE
Kyle Trull, Amberlyn Hedgepeth, Marley Shore, Emmanuel Barrantes Garcia, Skyla Mines, Lily Collins, Kristian Dickens, Daniel Duong, Avni Patel and Bentley Gibson

A HONOR ROLL
THIRD GRADE
Savannah West-Lee, Eva Gray and Richard Laurence Arellano

A HONOR ROLL
NINTH GRADE
Cooper Kriesel and Nathan Mackey

A HONOR ROLL
THIRD GRADE
Aiden Higgins, Christopher Lou Edmondson, Lizbeth Mez-Rodriguez, Alberto Garcia, Carter Manning, Addison Delgado Addison and Mercy Somieari

Annie R. Massey Bryant and Jackie Lynn Bryant to Ashley Paige Flowers; 1.120 acres
Rodney E. Hopkins and Lisa G. Hopkins to Edwin Ron Lasater; Edinburg Subdivision, Section 2, Block A, Lot 17; $168,000
MB Homes Construction, Inc. to Joseph J. Coniglione and Carla Ann Vanlandingham; Jackson Fields Subdivision, Lot 2; $499,000
Jimmy P. Hendricks and Linda M. Hendricks to Elizabeth Jane Hale; Joyner Farm Acres, Lot 8

I think it was the third time I added flour -- some of it actually went into the bowl and not on the counter -- when I realized I'd made a terrible mistake.
What was being attempted was Granny's tea cookies. These fond memories from my childhood were paper thin sugar cookies and one of the best treats ever.
I'd copied the recipe from a card taped inside a kitchen cabinet door at my parents' house. The problem was that I hadn't made them without my mama's assistance in at least 20 years.

The days of December tend to get quite chaotic around the newspaper office with a gazillion holiday events to cover, many of them happening at the same time.
In addition to the many happenings, our press deadlines are much earlier with the same amount of work to accomplish in a shorter amount of time each week.
December comes on the heels of November where this very small staff cranked out a huge paper mailed out to close to four times the number of homes.
A few days ago I was looking back through the last five years of holiday editions realizing time indeed is a thief.

Kelton Stone is pictured in the pressroom at The Nashville Graphic in 1960.

The Nash County Arts Council will host its 24th annual "A Christmas Carol," based on the classic Charles Dickens novella. This year's traditional play is directed by Dana Pippen with evening performances on Thursday, Dec. 4, Friday, Dec. 5, and Saturday, Dec. 6, at 7:30 p.m., closing with a matinee on Sunday, Dec. 7, at 2:30 p.m. General admission tickets are $13 in advance or $15 at the door. Reserved seating is available for $5 more.