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AWARD WINNERS - This photo was originally published in The Graphic March 3, 1981. Nash Central Junior High School's team took first place in the dairy cattle judging contest held by the Nash-Edgecombe Future Farmers of America Federation. Receiving a trophy from Ed Baker, Rocky Mount branch manager of Coble Diary, are team members, from left: Raymond Hunter, Barbara Langley, Ray Wood, Scarlett Jones, Stanley Robinson and Scott Wood.

I hope everyone had a great week and enjoyed the warm weather along with a few days of more rain. This week I feel we would receive a few really cold days so please stay out of the cold as much as possible. As I read last week's Graphic, one article especially caught my attention and brought a lot of memories of my school days at Red Oak Elementary and also Red Oak High School. I graduated in 1958 and I realize I have been out of school 58 years now. Time really seems to fly as we get older. The news stated the old girls dormitory across from Red Oak Elementary School is going to be demolished.

On another beautiful Sunday morning, Pastor Whitehouse welcomed those who had gathered at the church to worship. Sanctuary flowers were given by Janice and Bobby Sykes in honor of their great-grandsons, Jackson Helman and Samuel Sykes. The choir sang "Holy Ground" under the direction of the pastor and accompanied by Jane May.
The pastor chose as his sermon title, "Bent Knees; Confessing Tongues". The scripture from Philippians 2:6-11 was read by Jerry Hobgood.

Last year was an amazing year for Red Oak United Methodist Church! During 2015, new ministries were started, and previous ones continued to grow.
Red Oak United Methodist Church hosted the very first meeting of Jacob's Friends, a ministry that aims to provide social interaction and activities for children and young adults with special needs as well as offer support to their parents and caregivers. The group attended the Nashville Blooming Festival, the Spring Special Needs Carnival in Raleigh, and The Lion King Jr. at the Dunn Center in Rocky Mount.

The Myrtle Carter Henry Scholarship was recently endowed by the DeLeon Carter Foundation at Nash Community College to assist students with the resources needed to train and prepare for their chosen careers. Since its partnership in 2001 with the College, the Board of Directors have made an impact for the Nash/Rocky Mount area on campus through the Myrtle Carter Henry Amphitheater with fountain and the digital marquee on campus.

Rocky Mount High School recently announced that four seniors in the Class of 2016 have advanced to the next round of the prestigious Morehead-Cain Scholarship Competition for UNC Chapel and the Park Scholarship Competition for NC State University.
Both scholarships are very competitive and highly selective. To advance to the second round of the application process is a significant honor and achievement.

Rotarian President Richard Sykes, at left, stands with Chrystal Kowack, formerly of AAA Travel, who spoke at Doubletree of Rocky Mount on vacations, tips, and her new company, Taste for Travels. The next Rotary meeting is January 25.

Thursday, January 14 from 2:30 until 6:30 p.m. at Momeyer Ruritan Club, 4812 Momeyer Way, Nashville
Saturday, January 16 from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. at Union Hill Missionary Baptist Church, 1104 Taylor Store Road, Nashville
Wednesday, January 20 from 12 until 4 p.m. at Eaton Corporation, 8171 Planer Mill Road, Middlesex
Saturday, January 23 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church, 652 Raleigh Road, Rocky Mount

During the Dec. 14, 2015 Rocky Mount City Council meeting, Mayor David Combs presented a proclamation to the ladies of AKA, proclaiming December 19, 2015 Chi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Day in honor of their 90th Anniversary.

Mu Chapter members of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, sang carols for Autumn Care residents during the holiday season. Picture (standing in front) is Diane Day. Back row, left to right) are Beth Credle, Tunisia Bullock, Tobey Worthington, Reba Fulghum, Elaine Christianson, Pat Taylor, and Beth Wingfield.

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission, in conjunction with the city of Rocky Mount, will host events during the month of January honoring the legacy of one of the most prolific civil rights figures in history, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The overall theme for this year's events is "Wait No More."
The pinnacle event of the month will be the 28th annual Unity Breakfast on Monday, Jan. 18, 2016 starting at 7 a.m. with breakfast at the Dunn Center for the Performing Arts on the campus of North Carolina Wesleyan College.

AgCarolina Farm Credit announces twenty-seven college scholarships are available and will be awarded in the coming months.
The Raleigh-based farm lender has long been a supporter of young and beginning farmers and others who live in rural North Carolina. College scholarships are just one component of the Young and Beginning Farmer Program at AgCarolina Farm Credit. Ag loans, special loan programs, educational seminars, and financial sponsorships to help young and beginning farmers succeed are also provided by the agricultural lender.

Nash Community College recently announced the following students achieved academic honors during the 2015 Fall Semester.
To qualify for the Dean's List, students must earn a perfect 4.0 grade point average (all A's) while taking 12 or more semester hours. Students who qualify for the Honor Roll must earn a grade point average of 3.3 or above and be enrolled in 12 or more semester hours.

There was a RARE situation at the Shelter this week. We ended up with more empty kennels than usual on Friday. Sadly, it came at the loss of several lives when, earlier in the week, the Shelter was so FULL that some DIED that were adoptable. Might could have been adopted, had people came. There is a pawfect fit for any person that cares. Sometimes, it just takes more time, which the homeless pets in an animal control facility don't have enough of.

ROCKY MOUNT - Following a long hiatus for the holiday break, the Big East Conference swimmers returned to the pool last Friday to begin the second half of the 2015-16 campaign.
Wilson Fike withstood challenges to take first place in the girls standings with 135 points and second place in the boys team event with 146 markers at the Harrison Family YMCA Pool.

Northern Nash's Allison Womble competes in an event as part of last Friday's Big East Conference Swim Meet at the Harrison Family YMCA in Rocky Mount.

Action was plentiful last Friday afternoon as the Big East Conference continued its 2015-16 swim campaign at the Harrison Family YMCA Pool in Rocky Mount. Among the competitors from the event was (above) Sam Howell (Southern Nash).

LOUISBURG -- Coach Shon Johnson thinks his Nash Central High School wrestling squad is peaking at the right time heading into most important part of the campaign.
With the Big East Conference Dual and Individual Championships looming later this month, the Bulldogs have been busy preparing for those moments.
That preparation including a visit to Franklin County last Saturday to take part in the annual Louisburg Duals at the Louisburg High School Gymnasium.

NASH COUNTY -- Rocky Mount dominated the Big East Conference football season -- and would go on to win a thiller over South Point to claim the Class 3-A State Football Championship.
So it was no surprise when the league announced its 2015 All Big East Conference Team -- and the Gryphons swept the top honors.
Leading the way for Rocky Mount was Coach of the Year Jason Battle, who guided the Gryphons to state supremacy.

ROCKY MOUNT -- Behind a game-high 19 points from senior Devontae Williams, the North Carolina Wesleyan College men's basketball team picked up a 70-64 victory over Ferrum College last Saturday afternoon in Everett Gymnasium on the NCWC campus.
Williams knocked down the first four shots he took to help the Bishops forge an early 12-2 lead that they would not relinquish.
Thanks to Williams' hot start, NCWC was able to take a 37-24 advantage into the half. Ferrum, however, did not go down without a fight and used a late 9-0 run to get a close a two, 56-54, at the 6:23 mark.

NASH COUNTY -- Listed are results from Week One of the Nash County Parks & Recreation Department's Basketball Season:

STANHOPE -- Southern Nash High School's boys basketball squad picked up a key early victory in the Big East Conference schedule last Friday.
The Firebirds moved ahead to stay in the first period and never looked back en route to defeating Wilson Fike by a 63-53 total at the SNHS Gymnasium.
Making their way through Fike's zone defense, the Firebirds delivered 21 points in the initial stanza of action.
Southern Nash would increase its early cushion to as many as 12 points against the Golden Demons.

I love God. I love God for many reasons and one of them is the fact that one of the first glimpses we get at our Creator is Him playing in the dirt (Genesis 2:7). Imagine a God so spectacular, so joyful that He plays in the dirt, a God so loving that he even put his hands in the dirt to bring mankind into existence. Most of the "gods" of the earth are too prideful and elegant to touch dirt - not our God, not the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob - He plays in the dirt!

Nash Central's Langdon Norris sprints ahead in a freestyle event as part of last Friday's Big East Conference Swim Meet at the Harrison Family YMCA in Rocky Mount.

Among the Nash Central High School standouts from last Saturday's action at the Louisburg Duals Wrestling Tournament in Franklin County was (above) Joshua Brice. (Graphic photos by Geoff Neville)