Recent Articles

Dear Holly,
Even though I've been teasing you by pretending I didn't remember your birthday is this week, I know that you know better. Maybe it has been teasing, or maybe it has been something in my subconscious pulling hard on time to slow down. Maybe it is my survival instinct trying to protect me from a post-driver's ed world.

There are certain events I cover each year that I look forward to going to. One of them is the Boys and Girls Club Youth of the Year event.
It's inspiring to attend and hear the stories each of these youth have to tell. The stories aren't always happy but they always seem to have a happy ending and that happy ending is always the same; the Boys and Girls Club changed their life.
This year's event brought back two of last year's winners; Da'Jha'Rhea Baines and Jaylyn Addison.

Put away the pencil, toss away the remnants of the legal pad, and turn off the lights. Ben Casey, Pamlico Community College's Director of Public Affairs retired last week and I already miss him...and the missing has just begun!
I started as the College President in early August, 2009. I recall that first day on campus, meeting a lot of different folks, but my first meeting with Ben is one of the more memorable events, as he arrived at my door with camera in hand and said, "This is a picture I've been waiting a long time to take."

PROPER INSTRUCTION --This photo was originally published in The Graphic on February 20, 1969. Atlee Gulley, Nashville Fire Chief (wearing white hat) demonstrates the proper uses of a nozzle on a fire hose to members of Nashville and Stoney Creek Fire Departments.

INCIDENTS
An obtaining a controlled substance by fraud, possession of marijuana and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon was reported on 3/23/15 at 163 Nashville Commons Drive
A hit and run was reported on 3/23/15 at Wal-Mart, 1205 Eastern Avenue

Nash County Planning and Inspections issued the following building permits from March 23 through March 27.

A four-year investigation into cocaine trafficking led Rocky Mount Police to arrest two men last week.
Members of the Rocky Mount Police Department and agents with the Federal Drug Enforcement Agency arrested Elliett Sharp, 36, of Rocky Mount, and Antonio Dickens, 45, of Sharpsburg, were arrested on March 25 and charged with trafficking cocaine.
Investigators believe the two are responsible for a major cocaine distribution operation that affected several cities in Eastern North Carolina.

"Abortion is becoming obsolete." It was a message from the evening's speaker, Kirk Walden, as surprising to some as encouraging to others who braved snow, slush and black-iced roads to attend the annual Pregnancy Care Center Banquet held February 24th at Englewood Baptist Church. "The national sentiment about abortion has changed so much that a majority of Americans now support limitations on abortion," Walden said.

Nash Arts Center will welcome the Willie Painter Band to its stage Thursday, April 9th as part of its Nashville Showcase Series. The show begins at 8 p.m. Tickets are $17 for general admission, $15 for Nash Arts members.
The band is noted for playing a mix of danceable blues with a nod towards swinging jazz and an eclectic selection of rock and pop tunes. The Willie Painter Band consists of four veterans of the Triangle music scene.

UPS recently announced 62 elite drivers from North Carolina were among 1,445 newly inducted worldwide into the Circle of Honor, an honorary organization for UPS drivers who have achieved 25 or more years of accident-free driving.
Locals inducted include Edward Earp and William Smith, both of Spring Hope and Douglas Stilley of Rocky Mount.
North Carolina boasts 357 active Circle of Honor drivers with a combined 10,051 years of accident-free driving.

Tim and Jeanette Riggins announces the engagement of their daughter, Melanie Jene' Riggins, of Spring Hope, to James Lafayette Matthews, IV, of Henderson. He is the son of Lisa and Kirby Ayscue and Belinda and James Matthews, III, of Henderson. A May 23, 2015 wedding is planned.

Michael Palmer of Rocky Mount received his Bachelor of Science, IT - Networks Design and Management Emphasis from Western Governors University (WGU).
The university held its 28th semi-annual commencement ceremony in Orlando on February 7 and celebrated the graduation of more than 6,700 graduates.
The university awarded 4,071 undergraduate and 2,657 graduate degrees in business, information technology, K-12 teacher education, and healthcare professions, including nursing.

The fact that there are approximately three million children stolen and sold into the sex trade and forced labor annually is a staggering statistic. Stolen and enslaved, these children's lives become one of depravity, slavery, and violence with no end in sight. Their only future is a bleak cycle of abuse, disease, and hopelessness. Once considered a problem primarily in third world countries, human trafficking has now spread its tentacles into every geographic region and neighborhood within the U.S.

A rabies clinic sponsored by the Nash County Health Department will be held on Thursday, April 2, 2015 at the Nash County Animal Shelter located at 921 First Street Extension in Nashville, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
North Carolina Rabies Law states that all cats and dogs over the age of four (4) months must be vaccinated for rabies.

Thursday, April 2 from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. at Kaba Ilco Corp
Friday, April 3 from 12:30 until 4:30 p.m. at Golden East Crossing Mall, 1100 North Wesleyan Boulevard, Rocky Mount
Friday, April 3 from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Outback Steakhouse, 210 Gateway Boulevard, Rocky Mount
Monday, April 6 from 3 until 7 p.m. at Bethlehem Baptist Church, 305 South Halifax Road, Rocky Mount

North End Missionary Baptist Church will hold a women's conference on May 1 at 6 p.m. at the Gateway Convention Center in Rocky Mount.
The keynote speaker will be Dr. Cynthia Hale, the founder and pastor of Ray of Hope Christian Church in Decatur, Georgia.
Dr. Hale is revered locally, nationally, and internationally for her leadership, integrity, and compassion.

"I love my church" services will begin at Beulah Church of Christ on Sunday, April 12. We invite everyone to attend these services and learn why you love your church.
On Wednesday night, there was a bible study that paralleles the Sunday messages. Make plans to attend both Sunday and Wednesday as we learn more about how to be the church rather than attend the church.

Red Oak United Methodist Church concluded their Lenten Bible Study "Who is Jesus?" on Friday, March 27 at 6 pm discussing the sixth chapter of the Renegade Gospel: The Rebel Jesus by Mike Slaughter.
Everyone is invited to celebrate Easter at Red Oak Baptist Church and Red Oak United Methodist Church!

If people are married more than once, which spouse will they have in heaven? Some religious lawyers asked Jesus this kind of question. They wanted to trip up the Master. Jesus turned the tables on them. "You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven" (Matthew 22:29-30).

On a cold and windy March morning, Peachtree folks gathered for worship at the church. Sanctuary flowers were given by Debbi and Roy Carawan in memory of her mother, Lottie Stallings, and her cousin, Paula Joyner.
Pastor Whitehouse's sermon for Palm Sunday was titled "You Can't Sit on the Fence Forever". It was based on Luke 19: 28-44. Palm Sunday is the beginning of Holy Week, which climaxes with the Resurrection on Easter Sunday. This week is the unifying event of many world religions.

ROCKY MOUNT -- Nash Central enjoyed one of its best-ever girls soccer campaigns two years ago -- and slipped back into rebuilding mode last spring.
Central is back on the rise again as the Lady Bulldogs are building from the back forward. And with freshman standout Anna Shaye Thompson occupying the net, that seems to be a smart strategy.
Thompson made several key saves Monday, but visiting Northern Nash was eventually able to deliver a 2-1 victory over the Lady Bulldogs in a key Big East Conference soccer showdown.

LOUISBURG -- With its tricky crowned greens, few courses in the area can be as confounding as The River Golf Course at Lake Royale in Franklin County.
Frustration can build at The River with increasing adversity, and the Big East Conference golfers were destined to be tested both mentally and physically during Monday afternoon's 18-hole match.
The River's difficulty quotient was increased because of wind and wet conditions following a rainstorm earlier in the day.

Northern Nash's Zack Ward sends a putt toward the hole as part of Monday afternoon's Big East Conference golf event at The River Golf and Country Club at Lake Royale in Franklin County.

Nash Central High School's Joseph Cook rips a huge drive on the 17th hole at The River Golf and Country Club as part of Monday afternoon's Big East Conference links event.

STANHOPE -- Southern Nash's early-season penchant for slow starts wasn't going to be wind-aided during last Thursday's home soccer contest against non-league opponent SouthWest Edgecombe.
SWE won the coin flip and opted to play the opening half with a favorable, gusting wind.
The put the Ladybirds at a quick disadvantage for the first 40 minutes, and the Lady Cougars would even jump ahead in stunning fashion.