Recent Articles

RED OAK -- One of the top basketball players in the area's history is making a big change this offseason, one that not only is taking him outside of Nash County but outside of North Carolina as a whole.
Formerly of Northern Nash High School's Boys Basketball roster, one of the class of 2027's top players in C.J. Rosser announced on Sunday via social media that he would be leaving Northern this year, opting to attend Southeastern Preparatory Academy in Orlando, Florida this academic year.

STANHOPE -- Building a successful high school sports program comes in phases, some of which can be excruciatingly long and frustrating -- but the euphoria at the end of the journey somehow makes all of those struggles seem rewarding.
Such is the case for Melanie Mercer's tenure in charge of the spike squad at Southern Nash High School.
Mercer preached patience and commitment as she slowly built the Ladybirds into a playoff contender without cutting any logistical corners.

TUSKEGEE, ALA. -- One of the top tennis players in Nash County's recent history is heading into her final year of college this fall and is primed for a strong senior campaign on the tennis court.
Northern Nash graduate Chloe Harrington has made a huge impact on the Tuskegee University Golden Tiger tennis team over her first three years, highlighted by back-to-back NCAA Division II Regional appearances by Harrington and her teammates in 2024 and 2025.

STANHOPE -- For the first time in more than 20 years, Southern Nash will be under the direction of a new boys basketball coach this winter.
Ten-year assistant and longtime member of the Southern Nash family Sterling Leonard will be taking the reins as the Firebirds' head coach on the hardwood, taking over the position from Robbie Kennedy, a role he held since the 2002-03 season.

ROCKY MOUNT - The City of Rocky Mount has received a notice of violation by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality.
At issue is effulent discharge from the Tar River Water Treatment Plant's wastewater treatment facility on May 8 and May 9, 2025.
A July 15 certified letter to Elton Daniels, Rocky Mount City Manager, gives both the notice of violation and the intent to assess a civil penalty.
The environmental group Sound Rivers posted a press release about an event July 17, the same day that a Nashville Graphic reporter was denied photographic access to the Tar River Reservoir dam.

ROCKY MOUNT - Less than six weeks after the Nash County Animal Shelter was cited by the state for multiple animal care violations, the facility has failed another inspection, leading to another civil penalty of $9,100.
The shelter, also called the Pet Connection Center, was previously assessed $6,700 in fines after an inspection June 13 and a follow-up visit on June 16.

NASHVILLE - A well- attended 34th annual meeting of the Nashville Chamber of Commerce July 24 featured a celebration of appreciation for multiple local folks and businesses, with awards bestowed for "Business of the Year," "Beyond The Call of Duty," a Special Recognition, four scholarships and the swearing-in of Chamber officers.

The Nashville Chamber of Commerce presents four college scholarships during its 34th annual meeting. Scholarship winners (left to right) Carsyn Roughton, Jaylah Faulkner, Gavin Alan Clark and Madelyn Grace Girouard poses with their certificates and presenter Christie Baker.

NASHVILLE- While a final vote is pending at the August 4 board of education meeting, Nash School District officials are putting the word out now about a policy change on student wireless device use. It should be going into effect at all schools- K-12- across the county by the first day of school, August 12. This also includes the Early College. The policy is based on recent legislation adopted at the state level, and would supersede earlier district policies.

RALEIGH - Former North Carolina Governor and Nashville native son Roy Cooper is running for a U.S. Senate seat.
Cooper, a Democrat and also a former attorney general from 2001-2017, said his decision came in response to the current threat to the middle class.
"Right now, our country is facing a moment as fragile as any I can remember. And the decisions we make in the next election will determine if we even have a middle class in America," Cooper said, adding that he "never really wanted to go to Washington" and wanted to serve people in North Carolina, "but these are not ordinary times."

NASHVILLE - The bulldozers have started their work for Nashville's long-awaited splash park at Glover Park, with a celebratory ground breaking July 23rd, accompanied by free hot dogs served up by members of the town's Parks & Rec Department.
"This is a dream come true," commented Brenda Brown, mayor, who said It had been her heart's desire to do more for the town's children and their families.

BAILEY - The owner of a Bailey event center, initially denied a variance to keep his business open past midnight, has won that right while re-branding his business as a nightclub or dance hall.
Herculao Patino and Patino Contracting of Wendell, owners of the Tu Casa ("Your Home") Event Center at 5825 Main Street, Bailey, asked for a variance in the summer of 2024, stating that it was causing a business hardship for him to close his events down prematurely, as clients wanted to stay longer during celebrations.

NASHVILLE - The Nashville Planning Board has weighed in with recommendations about the use of shipping containers in town, and now it will be up to the town council to make a decision at their upcoming August 5th meeting.
Spearheading the movement to codify shipping container use has been local businessman Chris Sandy of Build Right Supplies, who first composed and presented a prospective ordinance at the June 24 town planning board meeting.

The Joyner family held their annual family reunion at Oak Level Ruritan Club July 18-20. Approximately 100 family members attended the event which has been taking place for the last 55 plus years.
Due to rain, a group photo couldn't be taken. The family provided the photo above which was taken at a prior event showing family members pose forming the letter "J" while a drone photo is taken.

COLLEGE PARK, MD - National History Day® (NHD) announced in May, the teachers honored as the 2025 National History Day Teacher of the Year Award nominees.
Emily Lemus of Nash County was one of 71 teachers nominated this year. Lemus was nominated in the senior division.
This year, teachers from all NHD affiliate programs were able to self-nominate for the award.

The last few weeks over in Brantleyworld have been rough.
If my mama was still around, she'd probably tell me it's because I missed church two weeks in a row.
I had this naivete that the summer might get a little less hectic once Wedding Week: The Epic Motion Picture finished its run. Pfft.
I finished a five-year commitment by chairing a conference a couple of weeks ago that went well.

I really can't believe we're having to report, again, the shortcomings of Nash County leadership when it comes to making sure our animal shelter is managed and operated properly.
It's bad enough they were basically gifted a brand new facility, which opened in 2023, but have yet to place any focus on developing a plan to increase staff, increase adoption hours, develop affordable spay/neuter programs or increase public awareness.