Recent Articles

It's dark early now. Our drive home around 5:08pm is no longer a joyful ride of putting the windows down and breathing in the fresh fall air. Now, our heat is cranked up, and the stations are already playing Christmas music (a joy for some and a terror for others).
We hurry home, put our sweatshirts and sweatpants on, get on our knees and pray for June to come quickly.

The community came together on Sunday, November 22 for the annual Community Thanksgiving Service. This year the service was at Red Oak Baptist Church with Pastor David Joyner of Red Oak United Methodist Church bringing a challenging message.
"Fact or Fiction: The Christmas Edition", the Red Oak Baptist Church Youth and Children's Christmas play, will be Sunday, December 6 in the Family Life Center at 6:30 pm. Everyone's welcome!

John Jesso, Rocky Mount Downtown Development Manager, spoke on "Progress in Downtown Rocky Mount" at the November meeting of the Micajah Pettaway Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Pictured with John on the right is Frances Powell, Regent and on the left Martha Gallop, Registrar of Micajah Pettway chapter.

ROCKY MOUNT -- Nash Central picked up a pair of victories as part of a home tri-match last Tuesday against Greene Central and Louisburg in prep wrestling action.
Central, coached by Shon Johnson, displayed its improved squad with decisions over GC (45-30) and Louisburg (34-24) at the NCHS Gymnasium.
The Bulldogs closed out their pre-holiday schedule by taking part in last Wednesday's I-95 Duals Tournament at Northern Nash.

Several organizations came together on November 14th to help the VFW honor First Responders this holiday season. There are two Christmas trees located in The Golden East Crossing Mall decorated with stars featuring Nash County Veterans and First Responders. Pictured are members of the Red Oak Cub Scout Pack 16, Red Oak Girl Scout Troop 578, and Nash Central JROTC assisting with the project.

What does a Christmas parade, carriage rides, ice skating, indoor snow and Santa Claus all have in common? They are all a part of Holiday Happenings in Rocky Mount!
The events kick off on December 4, 2015 at 6 p.m. during First Friday. Come to downtown Rocky Mount for the lighting of the Imperial Centre. The ice skating rink makes its grand opening for the event, plus guests will be able to enjoy carriage rides and see Santa. While the event is free, some activities may cost a nominal fee.

As Animal Control hires a new employee (replacement), I again wonder when, and if, the administration will ever consider Saturday hours. Hours for people who work during the week, when they could adopt. It could be 10 a.m. till 1 p.m. They already go in on Saturday morning. They have to check on the pets, get water, clean up, etc. If only they will consider Saturday hours, can you imagine how many more lives could be saved?

A Honor Roll
Johnathon Adams, Kelsey Allen, Jocelyn Arellano, Coburn Bailey, Faith Berry, Grace Berry, Zeke Blankenship, Jared Bone, Jamia Booth, Madison Bridgers, Harrison Brown, Avery Clark, Gavin Clark, Andrew Collier, Christopher Cooper, Clara Danforth, Shyon Davis, Cameron Denton, Christopher Deringer, Enzo Dillon, Logan Dwyer, Nora Eason, Cade Edwards, JaNiya Elijah, Kailyn Ellis, Toure Evans, Kaylee Faile,

A Honor Rolls
Jaylon Alston, Rachel Barnes, Taylor Bass, Carlee Beckham, Noah Braswell, Jacob Cooper, Kel'Von Dixon, Makayla Dunston, John Edwards, Sadie Edwards, Lindsay Farmer, Silas Finn, Marisol Garcia-Antunez, Reylie Gardner, Alexander Garland, William Grover, Leslie Guzman-Diosdado, Hollie Hancock, Oriyona Harrington, Joseph Hoeing, Alayla Jenkins, Courtney Lancaster, Aryana Leek, Samantha McGuire, Ashley Merari-Mendez, Rhiannon Moore, Linh Nguyen,

A Honor Roll
Caroline Adkins, Kathryn Adkins, Kendall Andrews, Kayleigh Bakerman, Emerson Bone, Mary Boulden, Dylan Cade, Bryleigh Colbert, Jaycee Coley, Jeffrey Coley, Kenan Collins, Carson Cross, Fallon Curtis, Elizabeth Daniels, Michael Daniels, Reagan Davis, Mason Deal, Victoria Diaz, Benjamin Flowers, Jacob Fowler, Hannah Frazier, Ashanti Gervacio-Diaz, Dustin Gibbs, Emory Gibson, Sarah Glover, Anna Grissom, Madeline Hart, Taylor Howard, Christian Hudgins, Ellory Jackson,

A Honor Roll
Joshua Evans, Sebastian Perez-Hernandez, John Richardson, Ja'Brionna Silver

Nash Health Care has announced that Sherri Alligood, RN has taken the reigns as the Director of Hospice and Palliative Care. A long-time resident of Tarboro, Alligood comes to Nash Health Care after a 32-year nursing career. She was most recently a quality nurse specialist at Vidant Medical Center, and before that she served as the manager of the in-patient Hospice Facility at Vidant Home Health and Hospice. Alligood also has experience in critical care, emergency department intensive care, outpatient nursing and patient experience and satisfaction.

The city of Rocky Mount and the Imperial Centre for the Arts and Sciences will host another First Friday event on Dec. 4, 2015 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. According to Sheila Long, recreation services supervisor for the Imperial Centre, the December installment of the First Friday series will be the start of the city's many Holiday Happenings.
"This First Friday will feature ice skating, performances from the Christmas Chorus, carriage rides, Santa Claus and a lighting of the Imperial Centre at 6 p.m.," says Long. "Entertainment will also be provided by a local musician in the Arts Center."

Did anyone notice there wasn't any Aventon news last week?? I know I have finally lost it. I "thought" I sent my news to the Graphic last week, but I didn't. There has been so much going on around the Ricks Farm and my mind has been a little preoccupied. Troubles, who doesn't have them? I had someone ask me if I felt like Job yet. The answer is no! I still have my children and grandchildren; I am blessed with all the things that count.

Mrs. Alvarata Thomas, of Castalia, celebrated her 105th birthday on November 27 with family and friends at Castalia Missionary Baptist Church. Representative Bobbie Richardson also stopped by the celebration to present a certificate to Thomas and wish her a happy birthday. Pictured (L-R) is Thomas with Rep. Richardson.

Southern Bank recently announced the promotion of Kenneth E. "Ken" Sawyer, Jr. to Senior Vice President in its Commercial Banking Unit in Rocky Mount. Sawyer is a Commercial Relationship Banker and his office is located in the Southern Bank on Franklin Street. He has been employed in the banking industry for the past 16 years.
A Greenville native, Sawyer attended East Carolina University.

The Maria V. Howard Arts Center will is now home to an exhibition that captures the stories of slaves and their determination to achieve freedom.
"Color in Freedom: Journey along the Underground Railroad," will be on display through December 13 and is a collection of paintings, etchings and drawings of what people experienced during this journey.
"This exhibition depicts the emotions and perseverance of African American slaves through slavery and into their freedom," says Alicyn Wiedrich, curator for the Maria V. Howard Arts Center, located inside the Imperial Centre for the Arts and Sciences.

RED OAK -- Corey Mercer had one eye on the scoreboard and the other on the future during last Wednesday's I-95 Duals Wrestling Tournament.
Mercer, Northern Nash's long-time mat skipper, has hosted the event for the past several years -- and always on the day before Thanksgiving.
The turkey tradition continued last Wednesday as eight teams showed up for dual-meet competition.
Mercer figured his Knights would experience a challenge at the duals, mainly because they were giving away 18 points due to absences against a quality field of opponents.

ROCKY MOUNT -- Wilson Fike picked up a clean sweep in the pool last Monday in Round Two of the Big East Conference's swim campaign.
The Demons were the runaway winners in the boys competition, racking up 152 points to outdistance runner-up Rocky Mount (108 points).
Nash Central was a strong third with 95 points, followed by Wilson Hunt in fourth at 90 points.
Fike set the tone for what should be an interesting year in the girls side by avenging an opening loss to Rocky Mount.

GREENSBORO -- Junior Timyra Staton turned in her first double-double with the Bishops by netting 10 points and pulling down 13 rebounds, but it would not be enough as North Carolina Wesleyan College fell at Guilford College by 82-63 score last Tuesday night in women's basketball action.
The Bishops struggled from the floor in the opening quarter and faced an 18-6 deficit after connecting on just 2-of-17 shots over the first 10 minutes of play.
Junior Kenyata Harris proceeded to score seven of her nine points in the second quarter to send the two teams into the half with Guilford leading 38-21.

RED OAK -- This much is for sure about Grover Battle's amazing career as the Northern Nash High School girls basketball coach -- even though he has piled up over 500 victories, he has touched even more lives.
That was apparent last week when Battle was saluted for winning his 500th game earlier in the campaign as the Lady Knights were victorious at Southern Wayne.
During Northern's next home contest, Battle received a commemorative ball from NN Athletic Director Patricia Haggerty and NN Principal Chad Thompson.

KENLY -- Southern Nash is off to a quick start on the boys basketball hardwood thanks to a pair of recent victories in Johnston County.
Last Tuesday, the Firebirds were 58-48 winners at Corinth Holders behind 18 points and 13 rebounds from veteran frontliner Marquise Wright.
Damien Bryant (11) and Darius Edmundson (8) combined for 19 points for Southern, which used a 1-3-1 defense to force 15 Pirates' turnovers.
Southern also enjoyed a 35-16 rebounding advantage.

CONFERENCE SWIMMING SUPERSTARS. Several Nash County standouts took part in last Monday afternoon's latest Big East Conference Swim Meet, which was held at the Harrison Family YMCA Pool in Rocky Mount. Pictured (above) Allison Womble (Northern Nash).

RED OAK -- For the first time in school history, Jeff Dodrill won't be coaching the boys basketball program this winter at Red Oak Middle.
Dodrill has stepped down from his position and will concentrate on his duties as RO's Athletic Director.
Dodrill went out in style last year as his Tigers won the Tri-County Conference Tournament Championship at the ROMS Gymnasium.
The Red Oak girls also reached the finals of the tournament and were edged by Nash Central.

STANHOPE -- Northern Nash's girls and Rocky Mount's boys will defend their championships at the annual Nash County Christmas Tournament, which will be hosted this time around by Southern Nash High School.
The event is slated for December 15-17 at the SNHS Gymnasium. Tickets for all games will be available at the gate.