NASHVILLE - "Think about what you want Nashville to look like for your children and grandchil-dren"- Kristi Brantley, CLG/Local Government Coordinator for the NC State Historic Preservation Office asked Monday evening. Brantley, along with three specialists from that office, conducted a Historic Homes Meeting at the council chambers inside Cooley Library. About 25 people, including the entire city council, were present.

NASH COUNTY - A Nashville area man is dead after an armed confrontation with Nash County Sheriff's Deputies late Wednesday night, at a scene involving domestic violence and alcohol abuse.
Christopher Lee Erb was armed and pointing an AR-15 towards law enforcement when he was killed by a single rifle shot fired by NCSO Sgt. Garrett Cone, a member of the Sheriff's Office SRT (special response team), according to Sheriff Keith Stone.

SPRING HOPE - Spring Hope commissioners have voted to expand the town's ETJ while acknowledging that some parcels that fall into an overlap area between Spring Hope and Momeyer will have to be examined, and an agreement worked out as to which municipality would have jurisdiction.
That work, it was said at the Feb. 9 board of commissioners meeting, would fall to the new town manager to do - but so far, there is no new town manager. Andrew DeIonno, the former manager, was suspended in January, with his contract to terminate in April; no official statement or reason for the termination was given by the town.

Nashville's Chamber of Commerce held its annual Brunswick Stew sale last week. Proceeds from the sale are used to buy candy for Nashville's Downtown Trick-or-Treat Street and for Santa's goodie bags during the Children's Christmas Celebration. Pictured (left) Johnnie Brannan, chamber board member, and Nick Bryson, Town of Nashville Parks Maintenance Technician are two of several who kept the stew stirred Friday.

Ascencion Yanez-Castro

Two Middlesex men have been arrested for animal cruelty, and more than 650 roosters have been euthanized while an investigation is underway at the Nash County Sheriff's Office.
A Feb. 9 NCSO press release stated that 60-year-old Ascencion Yanez Castro and 41-year-old Marcos Aguilar Autry Sr. are each charged with 20 counts of felony cruelty to animals and 1 count of cockfighting after their arrests Jan. 20 at 7816 Logan's Run Lane, Middlesex.

NASHVILLE - As Nashville's new Glover Park Splash Pad is nearing completion, with its anticipated opening this May, the town council has adopted rules and rates for its use.
Groundbreaking for the facility happened in July of 2025, including an adjacent picnic shelter and restroom building; the latter have been completed. Construction costs totaled $791,249, to be paid by a combination of state and local funds: $316,380 in a Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF) grant, with a matching amount to come from the town's general fund.

NASHVILLE- In an attempt to update an "outdated" sign ordinance, which currently does not allow illuminated signs, a new version has been adopted after getting immediate input from a local sign company. Council members approved adoption but asked that a section be reworked concerning signs at major highway intersections.
The purpose of the sign ordinance is to "regulate the size, color, illumination, movements, materials, location, height and conditions of all signs" and to "establish criteria relating to the location, erection, maintenance, lighting, setbacks and use of signs."

CLERK OF COURT
Two Republican candidates - Linda Thorne and Ricky Jenkins - will face each other in the primaries for the Clerk of Court position, while a Democratic candidate - Nancy Blount - waits in the wings to face the victor in November. It will be the second time that Thorne and Jenkins have run against each other for this position.

NASHVILLE - A new I-2, "Heavy" Industrial District has been put on the books for Nashville, creating a text amendment to allow its addition as separate from the current I-1 "Light" Industrial.
In terms of lot sizes, lot widths and setbacks, as well as maximum structure heights, the dimensional standards for the new district "mirror" or copy those allowed in I-1.

NASHVILLE - Long-awaited work to connect homes in the Regency Estates and Essex Road subdivisions with town sewer can finally occur, now that bids have been approved and construction contracts awarded.
Randy Lansing, town manager, detailed bidding results for both jobs at the Feb. 3 town council meeting, recommending that Precision Earth & Pipe from Raleigh be awarded the job for the Regency Estates Sewer Repair and Rehabilitation project and H.G. Reynolds of Henderson be awarded the Essex Road Sewer Extension job.

NASHVILLE- In conjunction with completion of a Master Park Plan for Stoney Creek Environmental Park, due to be finished in April, town Parks and Rec personnel are proceeding full steam ahead to apply for state and federal grants to fund suggested improvements.
Koy Worrell, Parks and Rec Director, asked town council permission to have Griffin Grantworks complete applications for both a North Carolina Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF) grant and a Land and Water Conservation Fund grant, which both offer dollar-for dollar matching funds.

SPRING HOPE- In order to provide extra assistance to town residents in danger of having their water cut off, commissioners have decided to consider a Water Bill Assistance Program at their upcoming budget retreat meeting.
William Toney, commissioner, presented the idea at the Feb. 9 board of commissioners meeting, stating that he felt that the town had to address the issue, particularly for elderly or disabled residents on fixed incomes, "until we can get the water bill down."

NASHVILLE - Nashville Police are working a multi-agency investigation to find and apprehend a man who wrecked his car after a high-speed chase Tuesday, Feb. 3.
The man, described as an adult black male with dreadlocks and searing a gray sweatshirt or coat and black pants, eluded officers after flipping a rented black Jeep Liberty underneath the North Old Carriage Road bridge.

A friend of mine and I were talking the other day about life in general. I have been concerned for quite some time about his soul. But I was afraid to ask him about it for fear that the question would divide us.
I kept telling myself that I could do more good by trying to show him a godly lifestyle than I ever could by popping the question and driving him away.
A recent telephone call from another friend suggested that I might be wrong.

Critics often ask, "Why was there not more written between the resurrection and the writing of the letters of Paul starting in 48-50 A.D.?" How helpful would it be to have a few documents written in 35, 38, or 40 A.D.? Concerning this time gap, we can perhaps gain some insight by looking at some internal evidence. It is essential to stop for a moment and consider a couple of bib-lical passages that shed some light on this document gap: why does it exist, and how can it be ex-plained?

Prayer and Courage in Nehemiah 1: A Blueprint for Bold Faith
The opening chapter of Nehemiah is one of Scripture's most compelling portraits of how prayer fuels courage. Before Nehemiah ever lifted a stone, confronted an enemy, or stood before a king, he knelt before God. His story begins not with action but with anguish, not with strategy but with surrender. Nehemiah 1 shows us that courage is not the absence of fear; it is the presence of God sought through prayer.

Congratulations to Scott and Abby Wilkerson who were baptized Sunday, Feb. 8 at Red Oak Baptist Church.
Kingdom Heirs in concert at Red Oak Baptist Church. Concert will be on Saturday, Feb. 14. Doors open at 4 p.m. and concert begins at 5 p.m. in the Family Life Center. All are welcome.
The Area Wide WMU Spring Meeting will be Monday, March 9 at West Edgecombe Baptist Church at 13821 Hwy 43 in Rocky Mount.

Assault on a female reported at 1005 Bloomery Rd., Bailey on 1/30/26
Assault reported at 1011 Red Oak Rd., Nashville on 1/25/26
Obtain property by false pretense reported at 11241 Old Middlesex Rd., Middlesex on 1/29/26
Motor vehicle theft-all other vehicles reported at 1357 Devan Lane, Nashville on 1/28/26

Herson Lopez and Heidi Claribel Garcia Luna to NC Vrev, LLC; 216 South Tillery Street, Rocky Mount; $74,500
NC Vrev, LLC to MGK Partners, LLC; 216 South Tillery Street, Rocky Mount; $86,500
East Coast Timberland, Inc. to POP Homes-RDU, LLC; Lancaster Place, Section 1, Lots 1-12
Patsy J. Stone and Jack T. Stone Jr. to Amir Said; 963 West Raleigh Boulevard, Rocky Mount

The Cpl. Suzi Sannes Detachment of the Marine Corps League presented a Community Service Award to Super Flame Gas Co., Inc. on February 5, 2026. Gary Moore stated the award was for "contributions and outstanding support within our community and the Marine Corps League." He continued, "Your time and efforts have greatly contributed to the continuing growth and presence not only within our community but the areas beyond. In keeping with the highest standards and traditions of the Marine Corps and the Marine Corps League, it is my honor to present you with this award."

Pictured, standing in front is NC Senator Lisa Stone Barnes. Standing with Barnes are (left to right) Lucy McGee, James Harris, Matthew Spradley, Lisa Stone Barnes, Luke Roberts, Landon Hobgood, Jake Monaghan, Fenner Parker.

The Nash County Teenage Republicans met on February 7th at 6:30 p.m., featuring special guest speakers North Carolina State Senator Lisa Stone Barnes and DeLeon Parker, Republican candidate for Nash County Commissioner in District 5.
Senator Barnes shared highlights from her work in the NC Senate, described daily life as a senator, explained how teenagers can get involved in politics, and offered insights on running for office in a competitive district.

This workshop explores how UAVs are transforming modern agriculture--from a once "high-tech hobby" into essential farm equipment. Drones are highly versatile tools, capable of applying herbicides for targeted weed control, spreading seed across pastures, and much more. Participants will also learn what it takes to become a licensed UAV operator.
The event will be held at the East Carolina Agriculture and Education Center, 1175 Kingsboro Rd, Rocky Mount.

N.C. Cooperative Extension Summer Internship applications deadline is Feb. 18, 2026 Cooperative Extension at NC A&T State University is offering a 11-week paid internship program for full-time college students from May 18th through July 31st. The program offers hands-on experience that connects classroom learning to real-world impacts. The assignment will reflect Cooperative Extension's four key program areas: Agriculture and Natural Resources; Community and Rural Development; Family and Consumer Sciences; 4-H Youth Development

ROCKY MOUNT - The N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV) has announced that extended early-morning hours at 90 driver license offices will end this week due to the exhaustion of federal funding provided through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) State Fiscal Recovery Fund (SFRF) grant.
These offices have opened at 7 a.m. instead of the standard 8 a.m. to provide additional customer service time and help address elevated demand for driver license and ID services.

Damien Wozniak of Nashville was named to The University of Alabama Presidents List for Fall Semester 2025.
A total of 15,388 students enrolled during Fall Semester 2025 at The University of Alabama were named to the dean's list with an academic record of 3.5 (or above) or the president's list with an academic record of 4.0 (all A's). These driven students are making waves across UA's more than 70 undergraduate programs and 12 colleges and schools.

Nash County Public Schools honored teachers who exceeded growth at the February Board of Education meeting, held in the Rocky Mount High School Black Box Theater.
Superintendent Dr. Steven Ellis emphasized the importance of spotlighting the educators who drive student success. "Our teachers are the ones making it happen in the classrooms. Their work deserves to be seen and celebrated." He pushed to ensure the recognition felt meaningful, not like another box to check.

Nashville
FEB. 10: Nashville Baptist Church, 512 E. Washington St., Nashville (1:30 p.m. -6 p.m.)
FEB. 19: Nash County Senior Center, 103 N. Alston Street, Nashville (9 a.m. - 2 p.m.)

If it seems like you've read this column before, it is because you have. My quest for Good Internet has been a long one.
I remember being so excited that we could upgrade from the disks you got at the checkout line in Kmart to DSL. It took some time because the phone company told me that my account did not, in fact, exist, nor did I have a phone number.
It only got straightened out when I asked for all the money I'd sent them the previous 15 years for phone service.

I was excited to see good attendance at Monday night's informational meeting regarding implementing a local historic commission in Nashville.
As mentioned many times in my weekly opinion corner, I've watched too many historic structures get demolished for one reason or another. Half of the commercial end of downtown is forever gone. Many homes from the late 1800s or early 1900s - which were exquisite examples of Nashville's historic architecture are - gone.
One may say we can't live in the past or that "progress" is inevitable.

Dear Editor: I would like to take a moment to publicly thank the Nashville Fire Department for their professionalism and dedication during the recent water situation.
Their quick response, calm presence, and commitment to protecting the community made a real difference for many families, including mine. In moments like that, it becomes clear how fortunate we are to have first responders who truly care about the town they serve.

Dear Editor: Reference the proposed establishment of an historic preservation commission (HPC), we live in the target area and wish to add our vote in opposition of this initiative for the following, not all-inclusive, reasons (quotes and people cited are from the article in The Nashville Graphic):
The initiative to create another level of unnecessary bureaucracy is not driven by what residents are doing to their homes.

This photo published in The Nashville Graphic on Feb. 15, 1968. These Northern Nash girls were holding heart-shaped balloons during a basketball game to promote Feb. 25 as Heart Fund Sunday. Pictured, left to right, are Barbara Strickland and Martha Thorne, spectators; and Pam Short, Northern Nash cheerleader

Ensemble Aubade will perform Mozart and More for the Cherry Hill Concert Series on Sunday, Feb. 15th at 3 p.m. The program will include wide-ranging masterpieces for the unusual combination of flute, viola, and piano. The centerpiece is the exquisite Kegelstatt Trio K, 498 by Mozart with Peter Bloom on alto flute "wonderfully smoky and mysterious - EarRele-vant".