Recent Articles

Brianna Kaitlynn Winham, daughter of Brian and Amy Winham, has been awarded this year's Ann MacPherson Weaver Memorial Scholarship at Rocky Mount Academy. Currently a 10th grader at Northern Nash High School, Winham will attend RMA in the fall on a full-tuition scholarship, valued at over $45,000 for four years.
The Weaver Scholarship was established at Rocky Mount Academy in 1986 in memory of a 1984 RMA graduate who had succumbed to cancer earlier that year.

Hobgood Academy has released its Honor Roll and Principal's List for the third six weeks of school.

Rocky Mount Academy presented "The Magical Land of Oz" on March 26th and 27th. The play was RMA's largest production and included 50 cast and crew members ranging from 5th to 12th grades.

Children enjoyed a special Easter Storytime at Harold D. Cooley Library after an Easter Egg Hunt at Glover Park Monday morning.

Chelsi Morris prepares to taste one of her Easter eggs.

Little Logan Wiggs bites into one of his Easter eggs.

Nadia Cooper, Kailyn Hendricks, McKenna Cooper and Ja'Kaila Hendricks are all smiles at the annual Easter Egg Hunt held at Glover Park Monday.

Duke Energy and Nash Community College (NCC) have announced a $249,926 investment from the Duke Energy Foundation. The funds will be used to develop the NCC Robotics Training Lab.
The Lab will feature hands-on robotics training in process and logistics controls, control wiring, instrumentation, and motors and controls skills preparing students for positions in packaging and handling or mechanical assembly.

Anna Laurel, co-anchor of ABC Channel 11's 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Eyewitness News, will host the city of Rocky Mount's 5th annual Paws in the Park and Dog Park Grand Opening.
Laurel, who started her broadcast career in Missoula, Mont., has worked with ABC 11 since 2013. She has also worked in Phoenix where she reported and filled in at the anchor desk for KPNX 12 News.

Rotarian and President Elect, Richard Sykes, at left, stands with Da'Jha'Rhea Baines, at right. She spoke at the DoubleTree Hotel during a recent meeting about how the Boys and Girls club has helped her and how much of a positive impact it has had on her life.

The weather for Easter Sunday was just about perfect. It was a little frosty for the early sunrise services but the sun shone beautifully for the rest of the day. It was warm as families gathered for church and lunch together later- perfect weather for the children to hunt Easter eggs.
Peachtree folks gathered at the church for worship. Sanctuary flowers were Easter lilies given by Jerry and Melba Hobgood in memory of their parents. Pastor Whitehouse's sermon topic was "You Have Nothing to Fear". The Scripture passage from Acts 2:24-32 was read by Ricky Tucker.

Put in a bad spot, the apostle Paul defended himself against his detractors as follows. "I admit to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect I do serve the God of our fathers, believing everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets; having a hope in God, which these men cherish themselves, that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked" (Acts 24:14-15).

Congratulations to Jenna Smith and Haley Joyner, 2 youth who attend Red Oak United Methodist Church, who were inducted into the National Honor Society on Monday, March 23. We are very proud of Jenna Smith and Haley Joyner.
On March 24 members of the Tale Talk Book Club enjoyed their meeting to discuss Monster by Frank Peretti. The next meeting is scheduled for May 19 at Red Oak United Methodist Church. The group will discuss Gifted Hands by Ben Carson, MD.

I would like to thank all the people that have called or told me in person how much they enjoy reading about Aventon. Just recently, Nancy Fisher from Graham, NC and Nan Strickland from Nashville called me with sweet comments. Nancy said our news was the first thing she read when her new Graphic arrived. Thank you ladies, you made my day. I would also like to thank all the people that don't like the Aventon News and haven't said anything to me. Bless your heart. I am mighty thankful to you too.

Emissions tests for cars and trucks are no longer necessary to protect air quality in more than half the counties where state testing is currently required.
That was the conclusion of a study the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources provided the General Assembly recently.
Legislators in 2013 directed DENR to conduct a study on whether all of the counties covered under the motor vehicle emissions testing program are needed to meet and maintain current and proposed federal ozone standards in North Carolina.

ROCKY MOUNT -- Even with a shorthanded lineup, the Northern Nash Knights had no problem defeating backyard rival Nash Central last Thursday afternoon in a Big East Conference boys tennis showdown at the NCHS Courts.
Northern Nash swept the six singles matches before tracking on a trio of doubles triumphs en route to a strong 9-0 decision.
The Knights dropped only 19 games in the combined six singles matches -- and just three games in doubles play.

WILSON- Baseball's superstitious nature is never more evident than when a pitcher is working on a no-hitter -- which was the case Monday for Northern Nash's Derrick Carter.
It's an unwritten rule that the no-hitter isn't discussed by anyone on the team, with the fear that it might ultimately jinx the pitcher.

RED OAK -- There's something about playing the Bunn Ladycats that brings out the best in the Northern Nash girls soccer team -- at least during the second half of action.
Earlier in the season, Northern broke open a tight game with an effective second-half flurry and went on to defeat Bunn.
During last Thursday's rematch at the NNHS Soccer Complex, a similar fate was repeated as the score was tied at halftime.

Northern Nash's Derrick Carter (right) is greeted after finishing off his no-hitter on Monday afternoon versus Eastern Wayne.

ZEBULON -- The Carolina Mudcats, the Class A Advanced affiliate of the Atlanta Braves and member of the historic Carolina League, have announced their tentative opening day roster as assigned by the Atlanta Braves for the 2015 season at Five County Stadium in Zebulon.
The roster consists of 12 players that spent time with Atlanta's previous Class A advanced affiliate, the Lynchburg Hillcats in 2014.
It also features five players who will make their Braves' organizational debut this season with Carolina.

MARYVILLE, TENN. -- North Carolina Wesleyan College's baseball team picked up a 16-14 victory over Maryville College last Saturday afternoon to avoid a three-game league sweep on the road.
Sophomore Kaelan Jacobs blasted a two-run homer in the eighth inning to give the Bishops just enough offense to pull off the victory.
The Bishops plated 11 runs in their first three at-bats thanks, in part, to four RBI from senior Marcus Kornegay.

WILSON -- Southern Nash bounced back from a first-round loss and defeated Oakwood School on Monday by a 9-6 margin at the Golden Leaf Baseball Invitational at historic Fleming Stadium.
The triumph halted a five-game losing skid for the Firebirds, who are now 9-6 overall.
Southern Nash never looked back after plating nine runs in the top of the first stanza of action.

ELM CITY -- A beautiful spring day was filled with a roar of engines in Elm City as County Line Raceway cranked up its 2015 regular season last weekend.
A parking lot full of cars and fans kicked off the afternoon with the track's annual car show for the fans.
Over 30 drivers and teams participated.
Roary the County Lion, CLR's track mascot, and his special guest, the Easter Bunny, made an appearance for the kids and handed out treats for the kids.

Chandler Johnson prepares to unleash a serve at No. 1 Singles for Nash Central High School.

Northern Nash's Derrick Carter (swinging) fouls off a pitch during Monday's decision over Eastern Wayne as part of tournament action at Fleming Stadium.