Pictured is one of many buildings which sit on the W.L. Greene School property.

NASHVILLE - Given that Nash County commissioners have repeatedly expressed the desire for more affordable housing, the former W.L. Greene School may end up filling that bill.
Stacie Shatzer, county manager, addressed the potential purchase of the property, recently cleared for sale by Nash County Public Schools, during an 'information only' added agenda item at the commissioners' July 13 meeting.

NASHVILLE - The question of if, how, and where "vape"shops could potentially land in unincorporated parts of Nash County is due to come up for discussion at the July 20 meeting of the Nash County Planning Board.
While the county's Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) is in its final stages of being overhauled, a UDO Text amendment request is being made "to specifically recognize a smoke, tobacco, vape, or cannabidiol (CBD) shop as a retail trade land use type permitted for development in the RC (Rural Commercial) and GC (General Commercial) zoning districts, subject to required development standards."

NASHVILLE - There could be some relief in sight for high numbers of court caseloads for Nash Assistant District Attorneys, now that three new ADA positions have been approved for funding under the current state budget.
While no dollar amount allocation was given, both Senator Lisa Barnes and Rep. Allen Chesser announced July 3rd that the new positions would be funded for Prosecutorial District 8, which comprises Nash, Edgecombe and Wilson Counties.

MOMEYER- As the clock counts down until the arrival of the Freedom Truck next week in Momeyer, members of the Outreach Committee are putting the final touches on planning for the event.
The Freedom Truck, an interactive mobile museum which is traveling the U.S. to celebrate America's 250th anniversary, is scheduled to pull in to the Momeyer Baptist Church on the afternoon of July 23rd, and will be there for two days, opening for free visitation Friday, July 24th from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday July 25th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

By virtue of a state-directed grant of $348,000, the Nash County Sheriff's Office is building a new Swift Water Search and Rescue team.
Announced July 3rd by the offices of both Senator Lisa Barnes and Rep. Allen Chesser, Nash legislators, in conjunction with the passage of the state budget by the North Carolina General Assembly, the grant was one of several listed as earmarked for Nash County.
Allen Wilson, NCSO Chief Deputy, told The Graphic that the Sheriff's Office, upon hearing the news, was conferring with the state and other law enforcement agencies to decide what equipment, including boats, would be purchased.

Lisa Barnes, NC Senator

RALEIGH - The biggest budget ever to be passed by the North Carolina General Assembly- $34 billion- includes at least $14 million dollars in grant money to be spent on Nash County.
Rep. Allen Chesser and Senator Lisa Barnes both issued press releases within the last two weeks with lists of local grant recipients.

NASH COUNTY-- The Nash County Health Department is alerting the public after a raccoon captured near East Washington Street and Eastern Avenue in Nashville tested positive for rabies.
Nash County Animal Services captured the raccoon after receiving a report that the animal was behaving erratically. The raccoon was sent to the North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health, where testing confirmed that it was infected with rabies.

MOMEYER- More than a month after a generator was put in place outside town hall to satisfy FEMA requirements, it is creating plenty of 'heat,' or disagreement, regarding its premature placement.
Listed as part of the Nash Edgecombe Wilson Regional Hazard Mitigation plan, Momeyer was to have put in a generator by 2021. Town officials got a quote for purchase and installation by ALCO Electric in March 2026, deciding then to add a new line item as part of the FY 26-27 budget.

Nash County water users have been cleared to drink their water without boiling it, as a precautionary boil water advisory was lifted July 8th at 9:30 a.m.
Last week's printed edition of The Graphic had already been sent to press when Nash County announced lifting the boil advisory. Updated information about the advisory was added to The Graphic's breaking news that evening.

SPRING HOPE- Recent cleanup efforts at Spring Hope's Community Park are resulting in significant improvements, with recent efforts in June by the Chamber of the Commerce and the town's public works department making a noticeable difference.
Drew Griffin, Chamber president, said it all started with talks between the chamber and town staff about the general condition of the town park, located at 251 McLean Street, which then led to prioritization, with town manager Jonathan Allen's help, of what projects to do when.

RALEIGH- Nash County's EMS program is getting an unexpected windfall from the state to help patients with mental health and substance use disorders.
A June 8th award letter from the NC Department of Health and Human Services states that Nash EMS has been selected to receive $222,070. The money is coming through the Rural Health Transformation Program Mobile Integrated Health Grant.
Earlier that day, a press release from the Office of Governor Josh Stein dropped the news that NCDHHS would be distributing $10 million dollars to 39 local EMS agencies across the state, Nash being among them. Edgecombe and Franklin counties were also on the list.

SPRING HOPE - The town of Spring Hope is looking to apply for state grant money to renovate or replace low-income housing.
After listening to a presentation July 6th by Ben Jones of Faltor Consulting, who successfully helped Nashville land a $950,000 grant for the same thing, commissioners voted unanimously to have town manager Jonathan Allen work with Jones to begin initial steps.

Union Hill Missionary Baptist Church sponsored its annual Community Service Appreciation Day luncheon June 23rd, during which a complimentary meal was provided for first responders and community workers. Nashville Firemen Alex Wester, Lt.; Mason Williams, firefighter; and Colin Spain, Engineer, relax after the meal with server and church member Diane Porter.

We all get those messages in the mail, e-mail, or social media about some kind of sweepstakes. Invariably, the offer promises that I am the "lucky winner of one of several prizes". I became cynical years ago, so I stopped completing the entry forms or buying their magazine to heighten my chances of winning. Experience taught me that no matter how good their promises were, they simply were not true.
The Christian world is really no different. Some preachers promise God's blessings just as confidently as the sweepstakes promise free gifts.

Over the last few weeks, we have been looking at possible reasons why God allows evil and suffering to exist, including as punishment for sin, and as a consequence of other people's sin (as a byproduct of free will). Recently, we have suggested that the exercise of free will is perhaps the predominant reason why God allows evil and suffering to exist. In this vein, we have sure enough seen how most all evil and suffering in the world traces back to free will decisions made by human beings. In short, the free will argument often dominates among all explanations given.

Sakina Sabreen Abdal-Rafi, Sakina Sabreen Abdal Rafi, Kamal Rasool Abdal-Rafi and Kamal Rasool Abdal Rafi to Rocky Trand, LLC; 404 Estell Street, Rocky Mount; $7,500
Alvaro Torres to DAT Investments, LLC; 711 Sutters Creek Boulevard, Rocky Mount
Mary C. Ransome and Willie L. Ransome to Mary C. Ransome and Willie L. Ransome; Bloomer Hill Subdivision, Lot 3

Building Permit Commercial
Addition; 8164 Grover Rd, Nashville; Heaven Huffman, Licensed Contractor, Skyward Telecom, LLC; $15,000
Addition; 10975 N NC 58, Castalia; Chrystal Fisher, Licensed Contractor, TEPDB OPCO, LLC; $25,000
Addition; 968 Aventon Gin Rd, Whitakers; Chrystal Fisher Licensed Contractor, TEPDB OPCO, LLC; $25,000

After spending time in Costco and at a professional baseball game this week, many of society's important needs have come to light.
In the interest of public service and the greater good, Soap Box Staff will soon offer a new workshop: How to Walk and Stand in Line in Public.
Many of us learned these valuable skills in elementary school. Several of my teachers who were personal friends with Abraham Lincoln drilled this into us at bathroom breaks and on cafeteria trips.

Nash County, possibly in partnership with the Town of Nashville, may consider revitalizing the W.L. Greene School campus into low-income housing. The conversations have begun, however there's a lot to be studied and considered.
I've noticed, across the nation, private developers are purchasing old malls and school houses for the purpose of revamping the structures into senior living apartments and even small medical centers - which makes absolutely good sense.

William Turner was born March 4, 1752 in Virginia and passed away December 30, 1843 in Nash County. He was a Private in the American Revolutionary War.
While a resident of Nash County, NC, he enlisted in June, 1778, and served as private until April or May, 1779, in Captain William Lewis' company and in Captain John Baker's company in Colonel Hogan's Third North Carolina Regiment (This would be James Hogun/Hogan of Halifax County. He has a North Carolina Historical marker near Hobgood.)

This photo published in The Nashville Graphic on September 2, 1976. Southern Nash football coach Spencer White goes over some of the fine points of the wishbone with his probable starters in the backfield before playing against Saratoga Central.