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A reception will be held at Nash Arts Center on September 11 from 6-8 p.m. Fortenbery's art will be on display from September 8-31.
Mysi Fortenbery is a self-taught mixed media artist who creates fun, colorful and whimsical pieces of art. She has an art studio in Edenton, NC where she teaches classes as well as creates her own work. Her love of art began at an early age and she has always been creative and dabbled in art throughout her life however it wasn't until moving to Edenton that she really began to pursue her passion for art.

New Covenant will be performing their gospel show live at Nash Arts on Saturday September 19th at 7 p.m. and will return February 6, 2016 in different fashion and musical forms as they take us back in time celebrating Valentine's Day 50's style.
The Gospel group, formed in the Fall of 2001, originates out of Wendell. Each singer met at Central Baptist Church and is also a member which brings a strong continuity among the group.

DON'T LEAVE IT, SECURE IT ~ Check to make sure it doesn't have ID tags. Maybe you will be lucky. If you cannot keep the pet you find, while trying to find the owner, it is best to take it to the Shelter! If in Nash County, Nash County Animal Friends of NC will photograph and promote to find the owner, an Adopter or a Rescue. It is better than to let it continue to roam where it will be hurt or killed in the roads, starve or many other horrible things.
ABUSED or MISTREATED? ~ Not necessarily, don't assume.

All Aventonian youth should by now be back in the swing of things with the start of the new school year. I want to tell you about one of them. I have written about my grandson Garrett Ricks several times in the past. Garrett is 14 years old and has severe Cerebral Palsy. Need to stop here before I go any further. Garrett is a blessing. We are blessed to be his family and we have the honor of taking care of him. He is awesome. He doesn't want your pity, nor do we. We think Garrett is the finest thing since frog's hair.

The message Sunday morning was brought to us by our minister, Chris Matchem. It was taken from Matthew 11:28-30 on "Reaching your Full Potential." Let God control your life and remember to endure with patience. We should have pride and forgiveness. We must have God in our life to live a Christian life. Living without God is a waste of time.
Some of our members were absent and out of town. Others were out due to sickness.

Guilt is an oppressive inner burden that drags us down and stifles joy. It's a sense of heart that stems from actual wrongs committed. Conscience hurts. We lie. We commit adultery. Guilt rises. It may only be temporary. We bury the bad feelings with excuses. We harden ourselves against these ugly pangs. Yet, when we are alone with our own thoughts, guilt once again rears its head. We cannot shake it off. Despite every effort, we know God frowns on us.
There is only one final solution to guilt for sin.

Michael Brantley was the guest speaker at the most recent Nashville Business and Professional Women's (BPW) meeting, which was held on Monday, August 17 at The Nashville Diner.
Brantley spoke on his recently published book, "Memory Cards," which includes stories from his childhood in Nash County and how things have changed.
Nashville BPW meets the third Monday of every month at 11:30 a.m.

Rocky Mount Police Chief James Moore was recently elected president for the North Carolina Police Executives Association. The association is responsible for the training and development of police professionals throughout the state.
Its members are comprised of over 2,100 law enforcement professionals representing federal, state, municipal, campus, military and corporate law enforcement, as well as security agencies.

SMITHFIELD -- When Chris Lee took over as Nash Central High School's head football coach back in March, he knew one of his first orders of business was to quickly put an end to the Bulldogs' long losing streak, which dated back two seasons.
Not only did Lee think the streak adversely affected his players from a confidence standpoint, he also thought it brought a stigma to the Bulldogs that wasn't necessarily deserved.

RED OAK -- With only four returning starters, Northern Nash's Joe McCarthy expected some early-season growing pains this fall from his Knights' boys soccer squad.
But while McCarthy has always been patient when it comes to player development, one aspect of the sport he cannot tolerate is unnecessary mental mistakes.
McCarthy felt like that intangible cost his club a potential victory last Thursday during a home matchup against the Bunn Wildcats.

STANHOPE -- Taking on a strong Corinth Holders club, the Southern Nash Ladybirds were competitive last Thursday in non-league volleyball action.
But the Lady Pirates were still able to come away with a 25-15, 25-15 and 25-12 triumph over Southern Nash.
Service was a strong point for the Ladybirds, were offered an 87-percent effort from the stripe.
Top servers for Southern Nash were Sarah Daw, Hailey Allen, Casey Strickland and Stephanie Atkinson.

ZEBULON -- Jacob Schrader hit a score-tying home run in the third and Joey Meneses was 3-for-4 with two RBI as the Mudcats defeated the visiting Hillcats 5-3 in Carolina's final home game of the 2015 Class A Carolina league baseball season on Sunday afternoon at Five County Stadium.
The victory prevented a four-game sweep by the Hillcats (70-63, 37-26) and lifted the Mudcats (67-65, 33-30) to a league-best 42-29 home record.
Schrader and Meneses were both 3-for-4 in the game and combined to drive in three of the Mudcats' five runs.

ROCKY MOUNT -- Nash Central's Lady Bulldogs have picked up three tennis victories to start the season, including a 7-2 triumph last week over Tarboro in non-conference court action.
Now 3-0, the Lady Bulldogs put their perfect mark at stake Wednesday on the road at North Johnston in Kenly.
Results from Nash Central's decision over Tarboro are as follows:

Southern Nash defenders try to wrap up a Beddingfield runner during last Thursday's football showdown at Firebird Stadium in Stanhope.

(L to R) Jaquay Mitchell, Lamont Strickland and Zack Foster served as Southern Nash's captains during last Friday night's home football game against the Wilson Beddingfield Bruins at Firebird Stadium. The Firebirds were 23-14 winners and will remain at home today to tangle with the Bunn Wildcats. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. in Stanhope.

Northern Nash's Josh Daniels (left) rises to head the ball during his club's home contest last Thursday evening against the Bunn Wildcats.

RED OAK -- Frustrated by his performance on the American Ninja Warrior reality show last year, Mike Cook came up with an effective solution to train for a pending return trip to the program.
He built his own course in the backyard of his home in Red Oak.
"I just got addicted to the show,'' Cook said. "It's a lot harder than it looks on TV.''

NASHVILLE -- The Nashville Academy of Martial Arts, under the direction of Sensei Allen Clark, recently held Belt Testing Sessions at the NAMA Facility.
The Tiny Tots were tested last Thursday, while other testings took place last Saturday.
A list of students earning advancements was as follows:

FAYETTEVILLE -- The USA South Athletic Conference has released its 2015 fall preseason coaches polls for soccer, volleyball and cross country.
North Carolina Wesleyan's men's and women's soccer teams earned 3rd- and 5th-place billings, respectively, with each squad receiving one 1st-place vote.
Volleyball was given a 6th-place billing in the league's North Division, while cross country was picked 9th overall.
In men's soccer, 5th-year head coach Frankie Taal's squad tied for 3rd in its poll, picking up 78 total points in the voting.

Peachtree folks were happy to welcome back Pastor Whitehouse. He had been out for several weeks, recovering from knee replacement surgery. His recovery has gone really well.
Sanctuary flowers were given by Robert Sykes in honor of his wife, Amy, upon the occasion of their wedding anniversary.
The Adult Choir sang "I'll Fly Away", directed and accompanied by Jane May. The solo was sung by JoAnn Blankenship.

If you thought the summer at Red Oak United Methodist Church was busy, wait until you see what they have planned for fall.
Red Oak United Methodist Church held a blessing of book bags and students on Sunday, August 23. Ninety-eight people were in attendance - that is a record setting Sunday! After worship everyone enjoyed lunch in the Community Building. Also, after worship, the participants of the inaugural Fruit of the Spirit Summer Reading Camp were presented with a new book bag full of school supplies.

STANHOPE - Southern Nash football coach Brian Foster wasn't necessarily thrilled with his club's performance last Friday night in its home opener against the Wilson Beddingfield Bruins.
But Foster has been around long enough to know that you have to take a victory when it comes your way -- regardless of the circumstance.
Pictured (Above): IT'S TIME FOR 23. Southern Nash's Jaquay Mitchell picks up yardage for the Firebirds during last Friday night's home victory against the Beddingfield Bruins. Southern Nash will host backyard rival Bunn today at 7 p.m.

Ruth Siler, 73, passed away on Wednesday, September 2, 2015. Funeral arrangements are pending and have been entrusted to Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home & Cremation Services.

Johnny "Richard" Kennedy, Jr., born September 3, 1965, passed away August 27, 2015.

WINSTON-SALEM - Tyrone Earl Holmes, 52, of Winston-Salem, died on August 25, 2015 in Winston-Salem.