Recent Articles

SPRING HOPE - Spring Hope area business owners should be seeing invitation flyers soon to a social media workshop session November 12, courtesy of Downtown Development board members, who also plan to use the event to kickstart a survey designed to gather input on what local businesses need and to begin building a facebook group as a business collective.
Meeting Oct. 21, the DDB set the workshop date as 6 p.m Nov. 12 at the town hall, chosen for its ability to record and broadcast local meetings.

NASHVILLE- A well-loved and respected local son and businessman, R. "Scott" Braswell Jr., has passed; visitation will be Saturday, Oct. 26, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Nashville Methodist Church.
"Scott and his whole family were great givers," said Brenda Brown, Nashville Mayor, who characterized Braswell as one of a line of visionaries, "always able to see down the road."

NASHVILLE - The Annual Children's Christmas Celebration and Bicycle Parade, along with multiple smile-making activities is set for Dec. 7, the first Saturday in December, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. in Nashville.
Koy Worrell, Parks and Rec Director, asked for and received permission at the Oct. 15 town council meeting for a special event permit, with the following lineup:
-2 p.m. crafts, games, a bounce house, food vendors and live music from a local choir in front of the Nash County administration building.

RED OAK - Red Oak's much-celebrated fourth annual Veterans' Day Service is coming up at 11 a.m. Nov. 9 at the W.B. Ennis Park.
Todd Winstead, a Red Oak resident and retired Marine, went over initial plans at the Oct. 14 town council meeting, although a few final details have yet to be worked out. The Red Oak Rotary club will be assisting.

The entire Facilities and Operations Maintenance team is honored as NCPS Heroes at the September Board of Education meeting, along with a tribute to former NCPS Maintenance Supervisor, the late Shannon Davis, who passed August 23. "As I walked around the schools this whole week, I see Shannon Davis' fingerprint everywhere. He's gone, but that legacy for NCPS lives forever. Carey (Davis), to you and your family, thank you for allowing him to be with us for all these years.

It was a fall afternoon probably twenty years ago when my daughter and I pulled a small sapling out of the pine straw we'd spread around the house.
"Why don't we plant this baby tree and see if it will grow?" I said.
As a preschooler, Holly was excited about most things. I dug a hole and then held the little sweet gum in place while she carefully packed the dirt around the base.
Over the next week, we watered the little tree regularly. I told Holly that if we kept jumping over it every day, we'd always be able to jump over it.

Our hearts and prayers go out to the Scott Braswell family upon the loss of an incredible example of humanity and a community champion.
Though I probably didn't meet Scott Braswell face-to-face but a few times in my lifetime, I can attest to the many great things he did, and what kind of person he was.
Scott, having longtime health issues, was hardly ever in the spotlight or mingling around at area events.

This photo published in The Nashville Graphic on June 3, 1954. Pictured above, with their advisor, Miss Jackie Cockrell, left are seven Nashvlle High School FHA girls who traveled for a week's stay at White Lake.

As helpful as our smartphones are, we still have to deal with glitches when Wi-Fi fails, cell phone signals drop out, or the phone stops working for no apparent reason. But while man-made gadgets can and do fail, prayer never fails. Let's consider these for truths about prayer.
1. Prayer is talking with God.
It's easy to complicate prayer. There is a place for detailed, theologically-precise definitions of prayer.

Welcome to Greg, Jackie, Amelia, Clara, and Jesse Bunch who joined the Red Oak Baptist Church family!
The Baptist Men enjoyed their monthly breakfast together on Sunday, October 20.
Enjoy some family time on the farm! Fisher Pumpkin Farm will have Family Farm Festival. Event will be held at 10:30 am - 6:00 pm on Saturday, October 26. Come out for food, hayrides, sheep shearing, cow milking, ice cream, animals, and kids' games.

Grant Program Overview
NC AgVentures is an NC State Extension grant program that provides grants to North Carolina family farms, and community organizations such farmer associations and farm co-ops to develop new and innovative agricultural projects which will increase farm profits. This is a great opportunity for any producer who is thinking of diversifying, improving, or expanding their operation.

Nash County 4-H presents 4-H Surf & Turf fundraiser on Saturday, Nov. 9 from 6-10 p.m. at Wollett Mill Pond, 9965-A Red Oak Rd., Red Oak. The meal will include steak and shrimp, 3 different sides, roll, tea, dessert and live music by Tom Baker. There will be a cake auction and 50/50 raffle. Tickets are $50 each and proceeds will benefit the Eastern Carolina 4-H Livestock Show & Sale. Call for tickets: 252-641-7821, 252-459-9810 or 252-583-5161.

Tony Whitaker, Chantise D. Bullock and Chantise D. Whitaker to Tony Whitaker, Chantise D. Bullock and Chantise D. Whitaker; 105 Abbington Court, Rocky Mount
Heather Lynne Pratt to David Wayne Pratt; 9625 Seven Paths Road, Spring Hope
Patricia Pearl Williams and Kenya Marcela D'Jon to Patricia Pearl Williams and Kenya Marcela D'Jon; 211 North First Street, Nashville
Christopher S. Moody and Kara L. Moody to Sahil Kumar; lot 8

Detached accessory structure; 4615 Lakeview Lane, Elm City; Ryan Hudlow; $27,000
Singlewide; 1657 Glenn Way Nashville; Brian Bartholomew; $10,000
Renovation, alteration; 1510 Ford Rd., Nashville; Michael Whitson; $27,000
Renovation/alteration; 13425 Eagle Ridge Dr., Zebulon; Mayra Gonzalez; $9,000

Damage to state or local government property; 100 N. Boddie St, Nashville 10/6/24
Missing persons; 11134 Red Oak Rd., Whitakers on 10/12/24
Warrant service; 11192 Old Lewis School Rd., Middlesex on 10/8/24
Child abuse-misdemeanor; possession schedule I controlled substance - felony; manufacture marijuana; 12969 Etheridge Rd., Whitakers on 10/6/24

It's been said everyone ought to have to work at least one day in retail or fast food just to get a better understanding about how customers can sometimes "act like they ain't got no sense."
I can update that old saying by suggesting that everyone try selling something online.
After several years break, I've gone back to selling things online on Facebook Marketplace, eBay, Sideline Swap, and even Mercari. It's part of the Mother of All Decluttering Projects.

NASHVILLE - Despite a 48-signature petition in opposition, Nash leaders have approved conditional rezoning for a new Dollar General Market store for the West Mount area, to be built next to the West Mount Ruritan Club and just east of the intersection of West Mount Drive and S. Halifax Road.
Adam Tyson, Nash County Planner, made a presentation to county commissioners at the Oct. 7 meeting, relaying the conditional zoning request to re-zone 1.64 acres to be cut out of a larger undeveloped tract owned by the John C. Barnes Irrevocable Trust.

NASHVILLE - While the managing company of one of Nashville's Commerce Park lots is banking on NCDOT as a tenant, town council members have tabled a request for a time extension until they see the state has signed a lease.
Philip Jones, President of Legacy Development Group of Spring Hope, asked for a time extension to complete construction of a shell building, originally slated for completion by January of 2025, until June 30, 2026, citing a "lengthy bidding and approval process" for securing the long-term lease agreement.

BAILEY- A Civil War field amputation, a demonstration of a turn-of-the-century embalming techniques, and a hands-on use of tools in a cadaver lab: the latest in a new horror movie? Nope. Just part of "Twilight at the Museum," a spooky season twilight event at Bailey's Country Doctor Museum on Saturday, Oct. 12.
About sixty people paid for a $5 ticket to attend the surprisingly family-friendly tour for the special event, the second time ever offered (and the first time since Covid) at the Museum, located at 7089 Peele Road, Bailey.

Early voting locations:
1) Nash County Ag Center, 1006 Eastern Ave., Nashville
2) Braswell Memorial Library, 727 Grace St., Rocky Mount
3) Nash County Medpark Building, UNC Nash Hospital Campus, 500 Nash Medical Arts mall, Rocky Mount
4) Mt. Pleasant Community Building, 7637 Harris Rd., Bailey