Local News

NASHVILLE - Additional animal cruelty charges have been made against a local woman, Nancy Beth Gupton, already charged with felony child abuse and animal cruelty following an ongoing multi-agency investigation.
The Nash County Sheriff's Office issued a news release Nov. 19 stating that Gupton, 39, of 5388 W. Castalia Road, Nashville, was re-arrested that day and served with 35 new charges of Animal Cruelty by Starvation.

ROCKY MOUNT- A 35-year-old Rocky Mount man is being held in jail after his arrest Nov. 20 on multiple criminal charges related to child pornography.
David Reid Bowden of 9400 Block E Hwy 97 was taken into custody early Thursday afternoon during the execution of a search warrant at the home. A Nov. 20 NCSO press release stated that sheriff's deputies, along with agents from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation's Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, worked the investigation into implications that Bowden was downloading and sharing pornographic materials.

Filing dates for the March 2026 partisan primary begin Dec. 1, 2025, at 12 p.m., with the period lasting less than three weeks to end Dec. 19, 2025.
Candidates for county commissioner races, for cheriff, for clerk of superior court and for N.C. State senate and house seats may begin to file on Monday, Dec. 1.

RED OAK - The town-chartered Boy Scout Troop, which includes both a Cub Scout Pack and a Troop for older boys, has been approved to open its Cub Scout Pack membership to girls.
"I don't want to have to turn away any youth," said Stephanie Boone, Scoutmaster, at the Nov. 10 town council meeting.
Boone said that because she had been approached repeatedly by girls and their parents who wanted to join, which is permitted under current Scouting America rules, she wanted to ask town permission to switch just the Pack to a "Family Pack," which would allow girls as well as boys between the ages of 5-10 years old.

NASHVILLE - In the wake of the devastating effects of Hurricane Helene on the western part of North Carolina, local emergency planners are sorting through emerging data on what happened there in order to help prevent any of that from happening here.
Firefighters, police, ems and healthcare workers converged at Nash Community College Oct. 10 for a meeting of the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) to share updates and to hear a presentation about Helene from Mark Schell, Area 7 Coordinator for the NC Division of Emergency Management, which operates under the North Carolina Department of Public Safety.

Missing persons reported at 10046 N US 301, Whitakers on 11/3/25
Possession controlled substance prison/jail premises reported at 100 N. Boddie St., Nashville on 11/3/25
Larceny misdemeanor reported at 12352 Oak Ave., Bailey on 11/5/25
Tinted windows; no liability insurance; driving while license revoked; not impaired revoked; identity fraud reported at 1309 S. Wesleyan Blvd., Rocky Mount on 11/8/25

A much-loved NCSO K-9, Pinka, who lost part of one foot to recent amputation, has been retired from the Nash County Sheriff's Office and given to her handler, Sgt. Andrew Smith. Pinka, wearing a pink brace on her left hind paw, accompanied Smith, Chief Deputy Alan Wilson and Major Brandon Jenkins, appeared before Nash commissioners at their August 11 meeting, during which Wilson formally asked permission for Pinka's retirement.

NASHVILLE - Over 2,000 Nash County residents diagnosed with severe developmental disabilities, mental health or substance issues were served by Trillium Health Resources between July and December of 2024. That according to Dave Peterson, Regional VP for Trillium, who made his annual presentation to Nash County commissioners in September.

RALEIGH- Nash County's Health Department is now accredited through November 2027, based on a vote Nov. 21 by the North Carolina Local Health Department Accreditation Board (NCLHD).
Conditionally accredited at its last review in October 2023, the Nash Health Department has received full accreditation status several times in the past, each time the culmination of a four-year process.

ROCKY MOUNT - Part of the oldest county-installed sewer line, located southwest of Rocky Mount along Highway 97, is planned for some rehab, but county officials are hoping to begin the process with a little boost from the federal government.
Nash County started the ball rolling by submitting a letter of interest to FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), and was then invited to submit an application for an advance assistance program to prepare a "shovel-ready" project.

ROCKY MOUNT - Rep. Allen Chesser, a 2019 Wesleyan alumnus, has been awarded the President's Outstanding Alumni Award from North Carolina Wesleyan University.
A Nov. 4 press release from Chesser's office stated that the award was presented Sat., Oct. 25th, during NC Wesleyan's homecoming football game.
Awarded by NCWU President Dr. Evan Duff and Mr. Roger Taylor, a 1970 alumnus, this was the first time that the President's Outstanding Alumni Award was presented, having been established this year.

An intrepid group of three young environmentalists completed the challenge of padding 175 miles down the length of Tar River, beginning Oct. 13 in Granville County and finishing up in little Washington Oct. 25.
Katey Zimmerman, Pamlico-Tar Riverkeeper; Taylor Register, Water Quality Specialist; and Emily Fritz, Volunteer Coordinator, all work for Sound Rivers, an independent non-profit organization that works to protect the Tar-Pamlico and Neuse River basins.

The staff at the Nash County Clerk's Office, as well as the Superior Court Judicial staff, came together to show support for important causes recognized in October; breast cancer awareness, pregnancy, infant loss awareness, and domestic violence awareness. By wearing pink, blue, and purple, staff members aimed to spread awareness, encourage conversation, and show care for those in our community affected by these issues.

EDITOR'S NOTE:
Nash County Public Schools released its honor roll lists excluding students who have not returned their model release forms.

EDITOR'S NOTE:
Nash County Public Schools released its honor roll lists excluding students who have not returned their model release forms.

EDITOR'S NOTE:
Nash County Public Schools released its honor roll lists excluding students who have not returned their model release forms.

"For this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found." (Luke 15:24)
Since I'm often in need of driving directions, I rely on an application on my cell phone called Waze. It provides audio and visual driving directions. This device is just what the doctor ordered!
You open the program and within a few seconds, satellites pick you up and show your exact location on your phone screen.

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. - 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Hello brothers and sisters. We live in a world that constantly tells us we need more. More possessions, more experiences, a bigger house, a faster car. We are conditioned to focus on what we lack rather than what we have. This mindset, rooted in an ungrateful heart, quickly leads to bitterness, envy, and dissatisfaction. It clouds our vision and prevents us from appreciating the abundance of God's blessings that surround us daily.

Last week, we considered New Testament critic Bart Ehrman's suggestion that the historical story of what happened to Jesus after He died was changed and corrupted over years of oral transmission before the Gospel accounts were written. On the contrary, we noted that the oral transmission of histories in ancient Near Eastern culture was not only a very serious and highly structured undertaking, but to corrupt the oral transmission of Jesus stories was to corrupt their own identity.

Robert Covington, (left) past advisory council chair, receives an award for his many years of service to the Nash County 4-H program. Pictured right is Northeast District Extension Director Sandy Hall.

Cade Edwards receives the Next Generation in Agriculture Award.