Recent Articles

Castalia is hoping for an old-fashioned community Christmas this year.
The town plans to host its first ever Christmas Tree Lighting on Sunday, December 8 from 3 until 7 p.m. at the Castalia Town Park.
There will be pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus as well as homemade crafters, a live wreath bar, hot chocolate and food vendors as well as music by local choirs. The event will also include the lighting of the town's new Christmas tree.

NASHVILLE - Castalia may be small on the map, but it could end up having a sizeable energy footprint, now that a Battery Energy Storage system (BESS) has been approved as an addition to one of two solar farms in development in the town.
The 31-megawatt BESS, remotely-monitored and designed to store energy produced by the Skylight Solar farm, would be made up of four climate-controlled units the approximate size of shipping containers with 10 racks of pressure-sealed a lithium-ion batteries;

RALEIGH - Twelve North Carolina races in the 2024 General Election were contested, including two that affect Nash County; recounts locally began at 9 a.m. Tuesday last week and finished up about noon Thursday.
As of 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21, official recount tallies were concluded, confirming that Representative Allen Chesser and Allison Riggs would keep their standings as winners.

NASHVILLE - The 2nd Annual New Years Eve Egg Drop by Braswell Family Farms is on the calendar now after Nashville town officials approved a street and special events application for the event, to be held Dec. 31, 2024 at the Nashville Junction from 4 to 7 p.m.
Trey Braswell appeared before council members Nov. 5 to make the request, which includes street closures on Railroad Street and a section of S. Barnes between W. Cross Street and W. Railroad "because of the success of last year's event," according to Koy Worrell, Parks and Rec Director, who also spoke at the meeting.

NASHVILLE - Nash County Commissioners are due to elect a new chair and vice-chair at their Dec. 2 meeting, with current Chair, Robbie Davis, stating that he is ready to take a break.
"I have let the Board know I wish to take a break from being Chair," said Davis, relating that "the past two years have been especially challenging" and that the Chair job is not an easy one, particularly with the Board chair having to represent his or her own district as a board member.

Sharon Tyson demonstrates aspects of butter-making.

Iker Castro, Hunter Edwards, Juliet Fabrizio, Daniel Melendez, Aubrey Thomas and Skyler Glover of Middlesex Elementary handle baby chicks while learning about their care.

Za'Loniya Arrington of Nashville Elementary tries pumping water.

Brittany Pendleton, Extension Agent, Agriculture-Field Crops explains how cotton grows and is harvested.

PFC Desmond Sykes II, 18, of Rocky Mount graduated from United States Marine Corps boot camp at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island on Nov.1, 2024. PFC Sykes successfully completed 13 weeks of intensive basic training at Parris Island as one of 81 recruits in Training Platoon 2072. Following ten days home on leave he will report to Camp Geiger for one month at Military Combat Training. He then will report to his Military Occupation Specialty school. From there he will be assigned his duty station. PFC Sykes II is a second generation Marine following the footsteps of his father.

"Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." (James 5:16)
Several years ago, a former pastor of mine lamented from the pulpit that prayer was losing its appeal among Christians. It's a sad commentary, but I agree with him. In fact, my own Christian experience has convinced me that a lot of us don't take full advantage of the power and privilege of prayer.

Luke 8:43-48 tells us the story of the woman who had an issue of blood. For twelve years this poor woman had spent all the money she had to try to find a solution to her medical problem. But none could be found. All human effort had proven inadequate for meeting her desperate need.
Then, one day she heard that Jesus was nearby, and she had probably heard all the stories about His power. So, she elbowed her way through the crowd that had gathered around Him, and had to stretch out her arms to touch the hem of His garment. Instantly, she was healed.

All 31 members of the Coopers Ruritan Club were named this year's Ruritan of the Year at the club's annual Appreciation Banquet on Thursday, November 21.
Past President Danny Tyson announced the award and said the vote was unanimous and due to all the hard work the entire club has done this year.
"I usually give a big. long speech and do all this fancy stuff about how great this person done and all they've done," Tyson said. "Because of all the work that ALL the Ruritans have done this year, every member of the Ruritan Club is Ruritan of the Year this year."

The Elks Lodge #1038 at Birchwood hosted a special appreciation dinner for veterans on Saturday night.
Around a dozen veterans attended the event and were recognized after the meal. The anthem for each branch of service was played following the recognition.
"We appreciate all of our branches of service," Parker Phillips, Esquire of the Elks Club, said prior to the recognition. "Your service to our nation, and the work really, is beyond description."

Hedgepeth Hutson Insurance Services of Nashville, with the assistance of their customers and local elves, gathered a truck load of toys and gifts which were taken to Western North Carolina recently for children of families who lost everything due to Hurricane Helene. Pictured, left to right, are: Jennifer Hedgepeth Huston, Brian Hutson and staff member Kelsey McCarl.

The other night I awoke from a bad dream. It seems I had wronged someone and was now defending myself in court. The interesting part was that I was not in court because of what I did, but rather for what I had not done.
I couldn't believe what was happening! The harder I tried to convince the judge of my innocence, the deeper in trouble I found myself. I know that justice is supposed to be blind. However, it never occurred to me that the judge could be blind, too! So there I stood being convicted for a crime I didn't commit.

NASHVILLE - It's National Farm to City Week, which honors local farmers and the history of agriculture and Nash County celebrated its farmers on Tuesday with a special breakfast.
One local man whose contributions to the agriculture industry are great was surprised with a special recognition during the annual event.
Bobby Joe Fisher, 89, of Red Oak, was celebrated for his contributions to North Carolina agriculture with a flag presentation and recognitions by NC Senators.

Fifty-five acres in the West Nashville Commerce Center will soon be a commercial hub for farming, food, philanthropy and community.
Nashville's Town Council approved an economic development agreement on Tuesday night to allow Ripe Revival, a North Carolina produce company currently located in Rocky Mount, to purchase 55 acres in the West Nashville Commerce Center on Cooke Road for $150,000.

Nash County Cooperative Extension celebrated area farmers on Tuesday at the annual Farm to City Breakfast.
Several local farmers were singled out during the event, receiving special awards.
Nashville farmer Jonathan Evans was named the Farmer of the Year. Brittany Pendleton, Nash County Extension Agent for Agriculture, presented the award to Evans.