Recent Articles

A Honor Roll
Rachel Acker, Hannah Adcox, Zena Ali, Jasmine Alvarez, Sophia Atkins, Teneshia Avent, Dnya Awamleh, Tajheuar Basemore, Robert Bass, Izie Battle, Brandon Bent, Jacob Bernat, Natalie Bernat, Marc Bertolino, Kassandra Bild, Kaila Boulden, Samantha Bowyer, Ashlee Brackett, Jade Brake, Joseph Brake, Tamiyah Braswell, Ariel Bridgers, Olivia Bunn, Gabrielle Carter, Caleb Carwell, Jacob Chappell, Miguel Chavez, Stephen Cherry,

Area authorities are investigating a homicide after finding the body of a Tarboro man in a Franklin County field.
Franklin County Sheriff's Office Chief of Staff Terry Wright said the body of Anthony Bernard Howard, 28, was found in a wooded area in the 700 block of Rick Boone Road, just inside Franklin County the morning of Dec. 24.
The body was found about 100 yards off the roadway and about 20 feet from a wood line.

The community joined the Nash-Rocky Mount School System in welcoming Dr. Shelton Jefferies on Monday night at a swearing-in ceremony and reception for the new leader of the school system.
The Board of Education announced the hiring of Jefferies at the December board meeting. Jefferies was one of 17 candidates from eight states who applied for the Superintendent post, which was left vacant in July.

The North Carolina Highway Patrol charged two Rocky Mount men in a road rage incident that occurred on December 28 on Interstate 95.
The Nash County Communications Center received a 911 call about a possible road rage incident on I-95 North around 7:15 p.m.
Daniel Aaron Edwards, 35, of Rocky Mount, had allegedly struck the vehicle of 69-year-old Norman Lee Webb, also of Rocky Mount, and followed the victim north into Nashville on Highway 58.

A Nashville police officer and fire chief from Roxboro were recognized by Nashville's Town Council on Tuesday night for their actions in saving a life during a vehicle fire in November.
Sgt. Brooks Heath and Chief Kenneth Torain were both recognized with certificates by Nashville Mayor Donald Street. Heath received a Life Saving Award and Torain received a Certificate of Appreciation for their lifesaving efforts on November 25.

The Nashville Willing Workers are gearing up for their annual Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration but this year, have changed the event's day and time to hopefully draw more to the celebration.
This year's celebration is set for Sunday, January 17 at 4 p.m.
For many years, the Willing Workers have hosted a breakfast event on Monday, which is the day recognized for Martin Luther King, Jr.

A longtime employee of Nash County's Emergency Communications Center is celebrating retirement.
Cindy Wells officially retired on December 31, after over 30 years with Nash County.
Wells started her career in 1982 as a dispatcher with the Nash County Sheriff's Office. Wells said Frank Brown was the sheriff at the time.
When things transitioned to include more than just the sheriff's offices calls, Wells transitioned with it.

Nash County Manager Zee Lamb announced on Monday that Sue Yerkes, Nash County Parks and Recreation Director, would be leaving the county for a similar position in Missouri.
Yerkes has served as the county's only Parks and Recreation Director. She was hired in September 2006 when the county decided to start its recreation program for children who may not have the benefit of municipal programs.

The majority of Castalia's regular town board meeting Tuesday was spent discussing the town's water system.
"The water system is in trouble," Mayor Ellene Leonard explained, "It's been in trouble; operating in the red for years. And it's gotten to the point now where it's draining the general fund. And it's really a problem. We need to do something about it."
Earlier in the year, the auditor suggested that the town seek guidance from the School of Government on this issue.

SpringBoardNC, along with partner organization Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce, recently announced that it will host the third annual Shark Tank by SpringBoardNC event on March 17, 2016 from 4 to 7:30 p.m. at The Imperial Centre for the Arts & Sciences in Rocky Mount. The popular competition event and startup business expo showcases local business ideas and gives would-be entrepreneurs a chance to win up to $15,000 in seed money. It will be free to participate in, and to attend.

Three individuals from the Nash County Sheriff's Office were awarded the Advanced Deputy Professional Law Enforcement Certificate by the North Carolina Sheriff's Education and Training Standards Commission on December 11.
Brandon Medina, Yvette McCalston Whitley and Angela V. Ricks all received the certification.
The North Carolina Sheriff's Education and Training Standards Commission was established in September 1983.

It is January and the holidays have passed, so that can mean only one thing: gyms all across America are swamped with folks lining up to join. It also means it is time for the Soapbox Predictions for 2016.
Because we are so accurate year after year, many folks clip and save this column on their refrigerators until the newsprint becomes brittle, escapes the magnet, and slides under the device, causing a major fire hazard.

Nash County recently received some sad news, as Sue Yerkes, the county's Parks and Recreation Director, announced she was leaving to take on a similar position in Missouri.
Sue came to Nash County in 2006 and has basically built the county's parks and recreation department from the ground up.
Now it's hard to even imagine the county not having parks and recreation.

This photo originally published in The Graphic on February 24, 1981. Nashville residents were required to have town license stickers on their automobiles. Police Chief bill Sirginson is pictured giving a ticket to a driver who failed to place the sticker on his windshield as required. The fine was $1.

INCIDENTS
An animal abuse/neglect was reported on 12/28/15 at 585 Haley Drive
A damage to property (vandalism) was reported on 12/30/15 at 730 S Bass Drive
A larceny was reported on 12/30/15 at Wal-Mart, 1205 Eastern Avenue

A possession of a controlled substance in jail was reported on 12/27/15 at 222 W Washington Street
A larceny of a four wheeler was reported on 12/27/15 at 2504 Goldrock Road
A fraud was reported on 12/27/15 at 6179 Windchase Drive
A breaking and entering and larceny after a breaking and entering was reported on 12/27/15 at 6099 Archibell Road

A Wilson man was arrested last week for attempting to steal a trailer from an Elm City home.
According to the Wilson County Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to a larceny in progress in the 4100 block of West Langley Road in Elm City. A caller reported that he was driving to his residence when he saw an SUV parked on the side of the road and a man pulling a trailer from one of the neighbor's homes. The caller stopped and questioned the suspect, who advised he was doing some work.

Nash County Planning and Inspections issued the following building permits from December 28 through 31.

The Town Board of Red Oak made a few decisions at its regularly scheduled board meeting on Monday.
The board unanimously decided to begin collecting bids for the demolition of the old dormitory, located across from Red Oak Elementary.
"That is too much liability sitting there right now," Mayor Pro Temp Levell Langley said.
The board also voted to accept a bid from Rocky Mount Awning and Tent Company for $1543.04 to place vinyl/canvas awnings over two doors at the Town Hall.

Members of the Boys and Girls Club are working on getting more involved in the community.
Youth recently visited Universal Healthcare of Nashville to sing Christmas carols to residents and give out handmade Christmas cards.
The visit is just the first of several things in store for the club, said Program Assistant Chris Williams.
Williams serves as the Program Assistant for youth ages five to 10 at the Nashville Boys and Girls Club.

Nash Community College celebrated the opening of its aseptic clean room Tuesday, December 15, 2015. Located in the College's new Continuing Education and Public Services Building, the 913 square foot room was funded through a Golden LEAF grant. Local and industry leaders toured the aseptic lab during the event.
Initial conversations about offering aseptic training in Rocky Mount began about four years ago. Pfizer Plant Manager Marty Nealey shared with attendees the pharmaceutical plant has historically sent employees to Maryland for the same type of industry training.

Students from Nash County, Vance County and Johnston County's Sheriff's Departments recently completed Detention Officer training at Nash Community College. The certification includes 181 hours of training designed to train qualified participants to function as officers in detention facilities. The course is governed by the North Carolina Sheriffs' and North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commissions.