Recent Articles

BUNN -- After stepping down after six seasons as Bunn High School's baseball coach, Geoufrey Anderson was looking for a way to remain close to the game he loved.
He found it as an umpire in 2009.
After taking two years off, Anderson returned to the diamond, but this time wearing a mask as opposed to a coach's uniform.

RALEIGH -- The men's basketball team of North Carolina Wesleyan College earned a 100-90 USA South Conference win at William Peace University on Monday night in Raleigh.
All five starters reached double-figures for the Bishops, who move to 11-6 overall, 4-2 in league action.
The first half featured three ties and eight lead changes before the Bishops were able to forge a 47-40 lead at the break.

RALEIGH -- Two Nash County residents are among the 144 graduate students and 992 undergraduate students who received degrees from Appalachian State University in December 2015.
Jazmin Rios, of Rocky Mount, received a Bachelor of Science Business Administration in Accounting.
Sarah Ray Weiffenbach, of Rocky Mount, received a Bachelor of Science degree in Commercial Photography.

Nash County Commissioners, earlier this month, approved an agreement with the Town of Dortches to maintain and operate the town's water and sewer systems.
Nash County took over operation and maintenance of the Town of Dortches water and sewer system in 2010. Now, Derek Hawkes, Nash County Engineer/Utilities Director, told commissioners the town wants the county to expand the county's responsibilities to include all administrative tasks except for setting water and sewer rates and ownership and financial responsibility. Hawkes said the additional duties primarily include billing and collections.

A Castalia teenager was charged with armed robbery last week, after he allegedly stole a wallet from a man in the parking lot of the L&L Store.
According to the Nash County Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to an armed robbery at the L&L Store in Castalia around 1:20 p.m. The suspect, Christopher Tysun Richardson, 16, of Bucks Farm Road in Castalia, reportedly approached a vendor in the parking lot, who was delivering items to the store. Richardson allegedly brandished a firearm, took the vendor's wallet and ran behind the store.

Heather Griffin wasn't planning for a home delivery but that's exactly what she got on January 12 when she delivered her baby girl, Windley, at her Red Oak home.
Griffin said the day started off like every other day. She got up and got ready to go to work at Middlesex Elementary School, where she's a first grade teacher. Griffin said she felt a little funny and remembers telling her husband to be sure to keep his phone nearby, just in case. But the couple's baby girl wasn't due until January 20 so Griffin said she didn't think what she was feeling was labor.

The Nash-Rocky Mount Board of Education recently approved a policy that will allow students to retake a course in an effort to receive a higher grade.
Policy 3420 was brought before the board for approval at their January 14 meeting. However, the concept for the policy change was initially shared at the board's December meeting.
Robin May, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, told board members that the policy would allow students to repeat a course for credit given certain criteria.

The Nash-Rocky Mount Board of Education gave final approval on January 14 to a revised District Improvement Plan put together after the board was deemed a low-performing district in October.
The board received a draft of the plan in December at the board's regular meeting. Since that time, Robin May, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, said the plan was sent to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (DPI), where they reviewed it and sent it back with some feedback.

The Nash Health Care Board of Directors recently said goodbye to three retiring board members and welcomed three new ones.
Kay Mitchell, Wayne Deal and Robert Evans all retired from the Board of Directors. Their terms expired in 2015. All three had served on the board for nine years.
Marty Nealey, Jackie Deloach and Damian Tucker were selected to replace them on the board.
"We are so pleased to welcome the new board members to the table," said Larry Chewning, President and CEO of Nash Health Care.

Your Choice Resource Center Board of Directors has announced Jason Scott Jones as the 2016 Celebrate Life Banquet keynote speaker. Jason is a film producer, human-rights activist, and author. As a teenager, Jason was devastated by his girlfriend's abortion. He has since dedicated his life to protecting the pre-born and ending abortion.
Jason is president of Movie to Movement and the Human Rights Education Organization (H.E.R.O.) He has recently co-authored a new book entitled, The Race to Save Our Century; Five Core Principles to Promote Peace, Freedom, and a Culture of Life.

Pitt Community College in Greenville recently announced its Dean's List and Honor Roll students for the Fall 2015 Semester.
All full-time students in a major who maintain a semester grade point average between 3.50 and 4.00 are recognized on the Dean's list. Those who maintain a semester grade point average between 3.00 and 3.49 are recognized on the Honor Roll.
Locals named to the Dean's List include Kenneth Vincent Gallatin and Chase Walthall, both of Rocky Mount.

Welcome to a new-for-2016 feature of the Soapbox known as The Rundown. This will be a compilation of observations, and of course, since I'm prone, semi-rants. You'll get the idea:
•Hopefully, you've all recovered now from the storm of the century of the week. As I peck this out in the dark, racing against my vanishing charge, I await the restoration of my power service.

What a crazy year 2015 was! Not just for me but for Nash County as well!
This week, The Nashville Graphic has its Year in Review out and you can get a glimpse into all the excitement from last year.
It's always neat to get to sit down and go through the year and remember everything that happened last year. Time flies so fast sometimes you forget everything so this was a good way for me to recall some of the exciting things I got to cover.

This photo was originally published in The Graphic April 7, 1981. Garland Strickland (right), chairman of the Nash Soil and Water Conservation District, is shown presenting the agency's long range plan to F.B. Cooper, Jr. (left) who was chairman of the Nash County Board of Commissioners. Also pictured is Mrs. Doris Strickland, whose farm was pictured on the cover of the report, and her granddaughter, Carol.

Meghan Chandler Dawes and Johnathan Adam Owen were married at half after five o'clock in the evening on October 23, 2015, at 128 South in Wilmington.
The Reverend Ben West of Fayetteville performed the ceremony.
The bride is the daughter of Gene and Debbie Dawes of Rocky Mount.
Grandparents of the bride are the late Randolph and Lois Cockrell, Ann Dawes Ivey of Raleigh and the late William Dawes of Bailey.

Pay It Forward Ciivitan Club welcomed Brenda Cogdell, President of Tri-County Industries, as the guest speaker during their January meeting at Ribeyes in Nashville. Pictured from left, Renee Habit, Program Committee, Brenda Cogdell, Tri-County Industries and Deborah Hill, Pay It Forward Civitan President.

The Nash County Board of Elections has started fulfilling absentee ballot by mail requests.
Voters who have already requested an absentee ballot for the March 15th Primary will soon start receiving their ballots.
Registered votes who would like to request an absentee ballot may do so by completing the absentee ballot request form located on the Board of Election website (www.nashcountyboe.com) or by calling 252-459-1350.

Cynthia Kornegay, center, was the guest speaker at the January 2016 meeting of the Micajah Pettway Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Kornegay explained the operation, goals and needs of My Sister's House. Pictured with her is Berteen Wilder, at left and Reba High, at right, hostesses for the January meeting.

f things don't change, I am going to have to change my news from Aventon Strong, to JoJo's Strong Thread (memories). With cold weather, everyone's busy schedules, and all my family obligations, news is harder and harder to get each week. News maybe hard to get from my Aventon family, but I have lots and lots and lots of memories/ thread that could keep me busy forever.

By now I'm sure many of you have heard about the Christian monastery in Iraq being destroyed by, what appears to be, ISIS. The ancient site was over 1,400 years old and was considered to be the oldest monastery in the war torn lands of Iraq. Upon seeing the satellite images, it is indeed; heartbreaking. To think of all the memories made in that sacred spot. To think about all the lives that were changed by the Spirit in that sacred spot. To think about all the prayers lifted up to the God who hears all prayers, in that sacred spot, leaves me not only heartbroken, but it also leaves me thankful.

A reunion and appreciation supper was given to honor Vernon Avent, of the Aventon Community, on December 28, 2015.
Since marrying her husband, Jack Avent, in 1950, Vernon has served her church, Fishing Creek Baptist Church, and her community.
She served as an Acteen and GA (Girls in Action) leader for 25 to 30 years, teaching and influencing many young girls from the community in the areas of missions to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Mu Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International received three new members in December. Pictured (L-R) is: Carolyn Garfi Turner, Spanish Teacher at Southern Nash High School; Delana Perry, Biology Teacher at Southern Nash High School; and Rhiannon Rains Holloman, Math Teacher at Nash Central High School.

A larceny was reported on 1/18/16 at 4127 Vicks Joyner Lane
A domestic violence was reported on 1/18/16 on Talon Drive
An obtaining property by false pretense was reported on 1/19/16 at 2739 S. Old Franklin Road
A felony larceny was reported on 1/19/16 at 8264 Edwards Road

INCIDENTS
A driving while impaired and assault with a deadly weapon was reported on 1/18/16 at 501 W Washington Street in the McDonald's parking area
A breaking and entering a commercial property was reported on 1/19/16 at 108 S Barnes Street
An assault with a deadly weapon, larceny and robbery of a person was reported on 1/19/16 at Regency and Embassy Drive

Nash County Planning and Inspections issued the following building permits from January 18 through 22.