Recent Articles

Nash Central High School's Sam Smith participates in the backstroke portion of the Boys 200 IM event during last Thursday afternoon's Big East Conference Swim Meet at the Harrison Family YMCA in Rocky Mount.

Southern Nash's Sam Howell makes his way toward the finish line in the Boys 200 IM during last Thursday's Big East Conference Swim Meet in Rocky Mount.

POOL PERFORMERS. Among last Thursday's Big East Conference swim meet participants were (above) Nash Central's Mia Gibson.

POOL PERFORMERS. Among last Thursday's Big East Conference swim meet participants were (above) Nash Central's Langdon Norris.

NASHVILLE -- The all-sports rivalry between Northern Nash and Nash Central dates back to 2002, when Central opened its doors for the first time.
As someone who has coached at both schools, current Nash Central Athletic Director Michael Mosley was looking for ways to foster the competitive rivalry.
Mosley's idea was to formulate a points system between the schools' face-to-face matchups every year. At the conclusion of the season, one school would be able to take care of a trophy for the next year.

STANHOPE -- With its third coach in the past four seasons, Southern Nash was looking for a bit of stability this fall within its boys soccer program.
Southern got just that from Mike Kennedy, who made an instant impact in his first campaign as the Firebirds' head coach.
Kennedy, a former assistant at SNHS, guided the Firebirds to a second-place finish in the Big East Conference -- and a berth in the second round of the Class 3-A State Playoffs.

STANHOPE -- Southern Nash High School's boys and girls basketball seasons were scheduled to begin Tuesday with road contests at Corinth Holders.
SN's complete ledger is follows, with home events listed in CAPS:

SMITHFIELD -- Nash Central High School kicked off its 2015-16 wrestling campaign last Monday by taking part in a tri-match with Wilmington Laney and host Smithfield-Selma.
The Bulldogs, coached by Shon Johnson, defeated SSS 51-18 and fell 64-12 to Laney.
Results from the matches were as follows:

ROCKY MOUNT -- After two weeks of action, only one Nash County team remains in the Class 3-A State Football Playoffs -- the Rocky Mount Gryphons.
Rocky Mount, the regular season champion in the Big East Conference, was one of two county clubs to make the playoffs, with the other being league runner-up Southern Nash.
But after winning on the road in the first round at West Craven, Southern saw its exemplary campaign come to an end last Friday with a second-round road loss at powerhouse Eastern Alamance in Mebane.

FREDERICKSBURG, VA. -- The North Carolina Wesleyan College men's basketball team handed Shenandoah University an 85-68 loss on Sunday afternoon in the Bishops' final game of the 2015 South Region Challenge hosted by the University of Mary Washington. Wesleyan's victory came on the heels of a 73-60 loss to Hampden-Sydney on Saturday, leaving the Bishops with a 2-2 overall mark.
Against the Hornets on Sunday, the Bishops held a slim 32-29 lead at the break and opened the second half with a 15-5 run to go up 13 around the 15-minute mark.

FAYETTEVILLE -- The USA South has announced its 2015 All-Conference awards in football with a total of 59 student-athletes earning honors.
North Carolina Wesleyan College had five players recognized, led by major award winners Malik Adams and Adrian Minondo.
Adams, a junior wide receiver from Selma, was named the league's Offensive Player of the Year, marking the second consecutive season that a gridiron Bishop earned the prestigious award.

Rocky Mount's Sherrod Greene (44) denies a South Johnston pass attempt during last Friday's action in the second round of the Class 3-A State Football Playoffs.

Several events are on tap for next weekend to help get you in the Christmas Spirit.
Nashville's Children's Christmas Bicycle Parade will be held on Saturday, December 5, with events beginning at 4 p.m.
The event will kick off with music by the Nash Central High School Chorus and Red Oak Middle School Band, followed by the parade, where children will parade down Washington Street from the Courthouse to the Battleship area in their decorated bicycles, wagons and other unmotorized items.

Social media can be your best friend or your worst enemy and recently, it became the latter for Nash-Rocky Mount Schools.
An Instagram post that threatened to shoot up Nash Central High School caused alarm for parents of students at the school and rightly so, said Nash-Rocky Mount Interim Superintendent Dr. Travis Twiford. But, Twiford added, the threat was addressed by school officials as soon as it was discovered and handled before many even discovered it.

A propane gas line exploded inside a Nashville Dry Cleaning Business last week, injuring two employees.
Nashville's Fire Department responded to the reported explosion around 3:45 p.m. on Wednesday, November 18 at Koretizing Cleaners at 912 Eastern Avenue. There were no fire damage reported, however, Nashville's Fire Department reported moderate structural damage to an attached utility room at the back of the dry cleaning business.

The Coopers Ruritan Club honored a long-time club member for his behind-the-scenes service last week at their annual volunteer appreciation banquet.
Danny Tyson was the recipient of the club's Ruritan of the Year Award.
Tyson has been in the club around 11 years. He has had perfect attendance for the past six years.
Gail Walker, a member of the club, said Tyson does a lot of things for the club but it's things many people don't even notice.

The West Mount Ruritan Club celebrated 60 years of service to the community last week at a special anniversary celebration.
Wayne Outlaw, the club's Vice President, began the celebration with a history of the club.
The club was chartered on November 14, 1955 and was sponsored by the Coopers Ruritan Club.
Twenty-five men signed the original charter, which continues to hang in the clubhouse. The last active charter member, Aaron Joyner, passed away in June 2015.

This Thanksgiving, Alvarata Thomas has a lot to be thankful for. On Friday, November 27, she will celebrate her 105th birthday.
Thomas said she doesn't feel any different but is happy to be celebrating another birthday.
"I feel okay," she said. "I hadn't even thought about turning 105."
"I'm just proud the good Lord let me live this long," she added.

Nash Arts will offer five opportunities for the public to catch a more modern showing of "A Christmas Carol."
This year's production has been changed around to a more modern version, said Director Jim Singleton.
Jim Lee took Singleton's script of the production and used it for the basis but updated the language and said he was excited about this year's production.
The modern version was written following the 2008 banking crisis, Lee said, and Scrooge works for a financial services office and is an investment banker.

As grocery stores hit that one time of the year they can actually sell cranberry sauce (what do you sauce it on?), it's always good to reflect on the many blessings that come with being 'American by birth, Southern by the grace of God.' Let's face it: most readers of this newspaper have pretty long lists.
Blessings, of course, are relative. Some will face holidays without family, without a feast, and some, without shelter. As those with so much, we have an obligation to offer kindness, charity and prayers. It doesn't change our lists:

I am still in denial that Thanksgiving is here.
I just can't believe.
I refuse to believe it!
This year is going by way too fast!
I haven't had the best year but nonetheless it's going by so fast, I am having trouble even remembering all the crazy stuff that has happened.

Joy. -- It's a simple three-letter word that was beautifully defined Saturday afternoon by one woman surrounded by hundreds of people.
Ms. Nan Strickland of Nashville celebrated her 100th birthday Saturday spreading joy to hundreds of people, taking time to hug and speak to each and everyone one of us.
She asked that no gifts or cards be brought to her birthday party. Her only request was for each of us to just do something nice for another person.

CHRISTMAS PARADE -- This photo was found in The Graphic's November 1977 archives. The photo is from the 1977 annual Christmas Parade in Rocky Mount. Rocky Mount's 60th Annual Christmas Parade will take place at 3 p.m. Sunday, December 6th in downtown Rocky Mount.

Numerous Nash County residents are reporting that they are receiving calls from people claiming to be IRS agents.
Nash County Sheriff Keith Stone said 9-1-1 has received dozens of calls from residents stating they have received calls demanding money for tax debts. Callers are reportedly asking for banking and credit card information and claiming to be IRS agents.
According to the Better Business Bureau, the IRS impersonation scam is one of the most persistent cons out there.

INCIDENTS
A larceny after a breaking and entering and breaking and entering a residential was reported on 11/16/15 at 503 S Boddie Street
A larceny by an employee was reported on 11/16/15 at Just Save, 731 E Washington Street
A larceny was reported on 11/16/15 at L&L 14, 479 W Washington Street