Lewis Shamir Richardson Jr.

NASHVILLE - Seven months after 61-year-old Debbie Allen was found dead on the grounds of the W.L.Greene School, the victim of a homicide, a former associate of hers has been charged with her murder.
According to a Sept. 25th press release from the Nashville Police Department (NPD), 44-year-old Lewis Shamir Richardson Jr. of 2565 Wintergreen Road, Nashville, was charged with 1st degree homicide in connection with Allen's death.

NASHVILLE - North Carolina environmental regulations about the release of commercial food-related greases into municipal wastewater systems are pushing the town of Nashville to adopt a new ordinance as part of its sewer permitting: but a first run-through before the town planning board has already hit a clog or two.
The new fats, oils and grease (FOG) ordinance - as proposed - comes with a list of requirements for grease control equipment, maintenance, and inspections for either 'grease traps' or 'grease interceptors' for restaurants.

Nashville Elementary 3rd graders from Ms. Fail's class explore the stations during Nash County's Soil & Water Conservation Ecology Day. The students are shown at a "Conservation station" to study erosion and how the presence of vegetation slows water flow. The children were able to use squirt guns on bare soil, soil covered by pine straw, and grass to see how quickly, and how clean the water was that trickled out into mason jars below. The Nash County Soil & Water Department hosts annual Ecology days to promote natural resource education for local third grade students.

MOMEYER - Nearly one and a half years after Momeyer town planners began working to revise and update the town code- which hasn't been done since 1987- a revised final draft, including some new ordinances- is due to come before the town council at its October 12th meeting.
Among the new inclusions is a "Code of Conduct" drafted by the planning board, although planners were told previously that drafting code was not in their purview.

NASHVILLE - A current stormwater drainage project to alleviate flooding on Railway Street has made "dramatic improvements" at the Boddie Street/Railroad Street intersection, but a town engineer is recommending a move to extend the project scope to handle excess water in the event of hurricane rains.
The town council tabled a decision on whether to invest another $49,000+ to upsize area storm pipes until next month, at which point Kevin Varnell of Stocks Engineering said he would have a report with projections on how current piping could handle varying amounts of stormwater rainfall.

Jacquetta Harrison was sworn in by Nashville Mayor Brenda Brown at the September 23rd council meeting to fulfill her husband's term of office on the town council board. Her husband, Xavien Harrison, passed away on August 11, 2026. Pictured with Harrison is her son, Ke'shawn Coppage, who held the bible during the ceremony.

NASHVILLE - A new 26-lot subdivision proposed on the north side of E. Beulah Road, Nashville, next to Community Christian Church will go before Nash Commissioners October 5th for a conditional rezoning request.
Presented at the Sept. 21st Nash County Planning Board meeting, the 'Beulah Acres Subdivision,' on 22.4 acres belonging to Dixie Place Land, LLC, would consist of 26 lots. Current sketch plans from developer Joyner-Keeny show that most of those would be accessed by one of two new interior roadways, while the rest would have driveway access off Beulah Road.

NASHVILLE - What to do with the underused MSD parking lot on Church Street is generating continued discussion by members of the town's Downtown Strong Advisory Committee (DSAB), with the two latest options to pave all of it or to pave half and use the upper part for a park-like community seating area with string lights.
Complicating any decisions is the fact that the town does not own the entire stretch from the lot's Church Street entrance to the alleyway behind W. Washington Street businesses; three property owners would have to agree to an easement for foot traffic to pass through to an alleyway and from there to downtown.

The 53rd annual Spring Hope National Pumpkin Festival is Friday Oct. 2 & Saturday, Oct. 3 in downtown Spring Hope.

NASHVILLE - A request to rezone five acres at Winstead's Crossroad for general commercial use has been denied in a split vote by county commissioners, with some stating that they would like some kind of idea about what is planned for the location.
The parcel in question, a 5-acre tract owned by Miller & Miller Realty, is at the southwest corner of Winstead Crossroads at the intersection of E NC Hwy 97 and S NC Highway 58, Elm City. The request was to rezone it from R-40, single family residential, to GC, general commercial.

RED OAK - Residual issues with the now-closed Red Oak Landfill and a request for annexation consideration were two topics brought up during the Sept. 14th town council meeting.
Walter McGhee, speaking during the meeting's public comment section, asked the town's help with landfill buffer issues.
McGhee, whose property adjoins the old landfill which was closed for contamination, said that a mandated 50' buffer zone had gravel in it that pushed into his property line and into the road right of way. He also said that a promised treeline had just scattere vegetation with gaps.

NASHVILLE- The North Carolina Association of Municipal Clerks (NCAMC) has announced that Lou Bennett, Town Clerk for the Town of Nashville, has been named an at-large officer for the 2026-2027 term and District 5 Director for the 2026-2027 term.
NCAMC's press release states as an at-large officer, Bennett will support executive leadership and contribute to initiatives focused on education, outreach, and member engagement.

After winning Best in Show at the Down East Senior Games, the Rowdy Rockin' Seniors qualified for the NC Senior Games (the State Finals) and went on to win the Gold Medal on September 18th at the 2026 NC Senior Games at the Cary Arts Center. The Rowdy Rockin' Seniors rocked the house, with their energetic performance of "That's the Way I Like It," under the direction of their talented choreographer and instructor Sandy Richardson. Costumes designed by Jane Tyson received many compliments.

"There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." (Romans 3:22-24)
What makes Christianity different from all other religions in the world? C.S. Lewis, a longtime defender of the gospel, once said, "Oh, that's easy. It's grace."
Grace is difficult for the unbeliever to understand primarily because of the demonstrative change it can make in the life of a believer.

Terminal lucidity is a remarkable phenomenon often experienced by those who, through the process of disease or accident, have lost the cognitive capacity to interact with others. Scientist Michael Nahm defines terminal lucidity as "The reemergence of normal or unusually enhanced mental abilities in dull, unconscious, or mentally ill patients shortly before death. Including considerable elevation of mood and spiritual affection, or the ability to speak in a previously unusual spiritualized and elevated manner." Medical school professor Scott Haig gives an example.

Sunday was another great day at Red Oak Baptist Church! Red Oak Baptist Church celebrated Homecoming on Sunday, Sept. 27. The morning began with the worship service. Cindy Pike, Student Minister, gave the welcome, announcements, a reading of the church history, and prayer.
The Carol Choir (elementary aged children) sang a special song, and the ROBC musicians performed an instrumental song in preparation for worship.
Pastor Chris Fowler recognized the leaders of the church across the years.

Substitute Trustee Services, Inc., Justin Arthur, Sandra A. Turner and Christian Turner to State Employees Credit Union, Philip A. Glass and Substitutee Trustee Services, Inc.; 1761 North Old Carriage Road, Rocky Mount
Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. and Richard Bowling to U.S. Bank National Association, U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association and Substitute Trustee Services, Inc.; 1701 Bethlehem Road, Rocky Mount

A friend called Saturday morning to offer Kristi and me "an evening out" -- the North Carolina Symphony was playing in Wilson and he had two extra tickets. We were all over that.
After we arrived at the Edna Boykin Cultural Center and found our seats, I felt like I'd been transported back into time.
My first exposure to the Symphony was when I was in seventh or eighth grade and they bussed us from Southern Nash Junior High to Nash Central with all the students from that grade in the system.

This weekend marks the 53rd Spring Hope Pumpkin Festival which is truly something to celebrate for a small town.
While strolling around downtown Spring Hope, you'll find a granite marker on the ground near the Depot which honors the founders of the festival, Ralph Bass and Elmo Tant. The two men have gone down in Nash County's history as the co-founders of the event which was launched in 1971.
Spring Hope has had a long history of people taking pride in their town and making extraordinary commitments to their community.

This photo published in The Nashville Graphic on Oct. 10, 1978. Kim Crickmore (seated, second from left) was elected president of the 9th grade Debu-Ettes. Other officers elected were (seated left to right) Rhonda Morton, vice-president; and Pam Proctor, recording secretary; (standing left to right) Chris Poplin, parliamentarian; Kathy Mills, corresponding secretary; Margaret Williamson, historian; and Cherie Batts, treasurer.

The 53rd annual Spring Hope National Pumpkin Festival is Friday Oct. 2 and Saturday, Oct. 3 in downtown Spring Hope.