NASHVILLE- - Construction bids for the new Southern Nash Middle School have been awarded and design details released, with the total price tag now just over $39 million. Current plans call for the school to be opened for use in August 2027, also the time for the implementation of anticipated redistricting.

A weekend snowfall covered all parts of North Carolina including Nash County. Youngsters and adults alike enjoyed some playtime in the fluffy precipitation. Pictured above, Dwight Collins and his daughter Cora enjoy some snow fun.

NASHVILLE - After calculating replacement costs for town sidewalks, town officials have decided to forge ahead with putting the $224,000 job out to bid.
Part of the funding, however, will be drawn from the town's MSD (Municipal Service District) funds, with that planned amount potentially doubling after discussion at the Feb. 3 town council meeting.
Randy Lansing, town manager, said after inspecting 90% of public sidewalks, a replacement list was made, consisting of two categories: sidewalks inside the MSD and "all other sidewalks."

A 14-year old Nash County girl is facing felony charges after posting Facebook message threats of violence at two area schools.
A January 29 press release issued by the Nash County Sheriff's Office did not identify either the juvenile, who was arrested, or the schools involved but detailed how the threat of violence was handled, with both schools put on a soft lockdown and SRO's managing "a heavy law enforcement presence ...at the schools and an increased safety procedure implemented."

MOMEYER - In the course of revising town ordinances, the Momeyer planning board is recommending adoption of a table of civil violations with fees based on a model used by the city of Wilson.
After taking nominations for board chair and vice-chair, with Brian Edwards retaining his chair seat and Jordan Jackson Felton elected vice-chair, planners looked through code violation information at their Jan. 27 meeting.

ROCKY MOUNT - Five democratic candidates for three county commissioner positions, speaking at a Jan. 22 Meet and Greet for the Nash County Democratic Party, each emphasized their willingness to serve.
Robert Cordell, Deborah Joyner Battle and Quentin Sumner will face each other in the March primary for the District 2 seat currently held by Fred Belfield, who is not seeking re-election. Belfield has not made any endorsements.

NASHVILLE - Four republican candidates are running for two county commissioner positions in Districts 5 and 7; two newcomers - DeLeon Parker and Kent Smith- are vying for primary votes for District 5, currently headed up by Wayne Outlaw. Outlaw is not seeking re-election.
Meanwhile in District 7, incumbent Robbie Davis will face a challenge from Jerry Barnes.
Parker, Smith and Barnes all spoke at the 2nd GOP Meet and Greet Jan. 27th at the Elks Lodge, while Davis, who had a prior commitment and was not present, supplied The Graphic with a candidate statement.

Early voting (in-person) is Feb. 12-Feb. 28. Mon-Fri. 8am-7:30 p.m.; Sat. (Feb. 21) 8am-3p.m.; Sat. (Feb. 28) 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. at the Nash County Ag Center, 1006 Eastern Ave., Nashville and Braswell Memorial Library, 727 N. Grace St., Rocky Mount. Proof of residency is required when registering to vote at any early voting site. Photo ID is required for those who vote in-person. Voters who vote by mail will be required to submit a copy of their photo id with their ballot.
Primary election day is March 3rd (6:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.) at your normal election day precinct polling place.

NASHVILLE - With measles on the rise across North Carolina and a case of potential exposure last month at UNC Health Nash, the Nash County Health Department is urging people to review their vaccination status.
A child seen at UNC Nash's Emergency Department on Tuesday, Jan. 27th, tested positive for measles, which is highly contagious; symptoms usually begin 7-14 days after exposure, but can appear up to 21 days later.

One effect of the recent freezing water temps has been broken water mains, including one in Nashville. The one in Nashville got complicated Tuesday because an attempted repair uncovered a bigger break.
Nashville Public Works put out a notice Feb. 2 that it was responding to a water main break near Brooklyn and Freeman Streets. The notice said that repairs would temporarily interrupt service or cause low water pressure in the interim.

Four people have died in Nash County of flu-related deaths, the latest, a child.
The Nash County Health Department issued a press release Jan. 29th reporting the first pediatric flu-related death of the season, not revealing additional personal information in order to protect the family's privacy. Three adult flu-related deaths have also occurred here.
None of the adult flu-related deaths concerned residents at long term care facilities.

NASHVILLE- Residents who'd like a say in how Stoney Creek Environmental Park will look in the future are invited to a series of public meetings to give their input.
Four meetings are planned at the Nashville Recreation Center on 200 S. Boddie Street: on Monday, February 16, from 6:30 to 8 p.m.; on Wednesday, February 18 from 10 a.m. to noon; on Wednesday, February 18 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.; and on Thursday, February 19, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Input would take approximately 15 minutes.

"He didn't have an impressive form or majesty that we should look at Him, no appearance that we should desire Him." (Isaiah 53:2)
With the exception of the above verse, the Bible tells us very little about how Jesus looked. If that's the case, then where did we get that picture of Jesus that hangs over some of our mantles?
While there is no biblical support for the picture that our minds conjure up when we think about Jesus, some theologians claim that it came from eyewitness accounts.

Continuing from last week, the last of the three significant criticisms lodged against the Christian resurrection narrative is undergirded by a claim that the sources used to defend the resurrection are deficient. When it comes to skeptical criticism, the source of the evidence is usually one of the first topics to be discussed. After all, if our sources are the only evidence we have, then they should be.
However, in general, the criticism takes two forms: there is not enough evidence, and the sources are deficient.

The Love of God: A Love That Reorders Everything
Few themes in the Christian faith are as vast, as comforting, and as transformative as the love of God. It is the thread that runs through the entire story of Scripture--from creation to redemption to the promise of eternal life. Yet God's love is not merely a doctrine to affirm; it is a reality meant to be experienced, embodied, and shared.

The youth and children of Red Oak Baptist Church will have a Biscuit Fundraiser on Sunday, Feb. 8. Fundraiser will be held at 9:15 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. This supports the youth and children attending camps this summer.
Women in Action missions group will meet on Tuesday, Feb. 10 at 6:30 p.m. at Red Oak Baptist Church.
Everyone's welcome!

ACCIDENTS
The Nash County Sheriff's Office responded to five injury accidents between Jan. 31 and Feb. 2. Those locations were at 533 NC Highway 97 East; at 606 Cleveland Street in Rocky Mount; on I-95 at mile marker 141; at N. US 301 and Johnston Road in Whitakers; and at 5901 Old Bailey Highway, Nashville.
Deputies responded to wrecks involving property damage at 113 E. Main Street, Rocky Mount; at Oak Level Road and Barnes Hill Church Road, Nashville; at 3365 Old Spring Hope Road; at 476 E. Highway 97, Wilson; and at mile marker 450 on US 64 E.

Current and prospective Edgecombe Community College students interested in entering a career in the skilled trades, will now have a new source of support. The Edgecombe Community College Foundation has established a scholarship fund, with donations from Roger and Gaile Taylor.
The Calvin Davenport Skills and Trades Scholarship, named in memory of Gaile's father, will provide $30,000 to support students pursuing a degree, diploma or certificate in programs such as welding, small engine repair, construction academy, automotive, collision repair, cosmetology, plumbing, HVAC-air conditioning and agribusiness. Successful scholars may also receive a set of tools tailored to their trade upon completion of their program.

Adams Homes AEC, LLC and Don Adams to Stanley Clyde Hahnel and LeaAnne Keel Hahnel; Williams Grove, Phase VI, Section II, lot 172; $381,500
Lucy McIntyre Saunders Revocable Trust, Lucy McIntyre Saunders and David Montgomery Saunders to T.Lavender, LLC; 36.01 acres;
Robert J. Iannucci and Cheryl K. Iannucci to Cheryl Kae Iannucci; lot 2 in Oak Level Township
FHG Properties, LLC and New Sion, LLC to New Sion, LLC and FHG Properties, LLC; .119 acres

Dr. John T. Avent, recently honored with the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Champion award, stopped by The Graphic to point out a reporter error in the story "Honoring Dr. King; Hundreds father to honor King's legacy" in the Jan. 22 edition.
Avent was reported as involved in the 1960 sit-in at S.H. Kress Department Store in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
In fact, Dr. Avent was one of seven college students arrested and convicted for trespass at a S.H. Kress segregated lunch counter in Durham, NC.

About four years ago, I bought and installed two new "smart" thermostats. They were supposed to be far superior to my 20-plus year-old dumb thermostats. The old ones did not have wifi or an app or a touch screen. And regardless of whether we were sweating or had ice particles on our chins, they insisted it was 72 degrees in the house.
The power company who sold me the new, smarter generation -- this is starting to sound like some kind of metaphor for today's society -- insisted these things were easy to install. All I had to do was follow some "simple" online directions.

Old towns have old sidewalks. I have visited many towns where the old sidewalks in their historic areas are actually part of the town's character.
Most recently visiting Swansboro, I recall having to climb steep and narrow steps to reach a storefront. Sidewalks were narrow with pedestrian and vehicles competing in the nooks and crannies of the downtown.
However, sidewalks also must remain safe for pedestrians. Especially if your hope is to increase pedestrian traffic in your downtown.
I agree with our town leaders that some of our sidewalks are in need of a lot attention.

This photo was published in The Nashville Graphic on February 29, 1968. The ladies pictured took part in a mattress-making demonstration given at W.L. Greene Elementary School by Nash County home agents. There were no names listed in the caption of the photo.