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When I was saved in 1991, one of the first outward and visible signs of my salvation was found in the Bible. Shortly after my salvation experience, my pastor encouraged me to read my Bible and begin with the Book of John. I was stunned when I opened the scriptures. The verses jumped off the page. The Holy Spirit had removed the blinders. My Bible now had real meaning. Jesus hit the nail on the head when he said of the lost, "He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God." (John 8:47)

RED OAK - The State Department of Environmental Quality has chosen a remedial clean-up plan for the Red Oak Landfill, nearly three months after the mandated time period for public comment ended October 23, 2023.
The 14-page report, obtained on request by The Graphic and titled in part "Hearing Officer's Report and Recommendations" was completed by Ryan Channell, DEQ Pre-Regulatory Landfill Supervisor.

NASHVILLE - More new houses and higher home values are two causative factors for an anticipated adjusted increase in residential revaluation figures for Nash County, with appraisers relaying an average property value increase of 55.3% for residential properties.
A raise of 42.7% has been assessed for commercial properties, and 34.5% for agriculture properties. The overall across-the-board increase in assessed value from revaluation will likely be in the range of 40-45%.

NASHVILLE - Nash County 4-H hosted a "Fiesta" to celebrate the accomplishments of youth and volunteers during the 2023 year.
Many awards were presented during the evening, which included a buffet style Mexican dinner to tie into the "Fiesta" theme. Among the many awards presented was a new award given in memory of a long-time 4-H supporter who recently passed away.
The Red Hat Outstanding 4-H'er in Memory of Mr. Sonny Brantley was presented to Page Strickland.

The Club of the Year Award went to the Feathers N Fur Club, led by Brenda Wind and Molly LaHay. The club has been around since 2016.

Samuel Currin receives the Junior 4-H'er of the Year Award. The award is sponsored by the Strickland family, left to right, Page, Susanne and Glenn Strickland. Pictured far right is Amy Ormond, 4-H Program Assistant.

Mindy Proctor (left) receives the 4-H Volunteer of the Year Award. The award in given in memory of Peggy Enroughty and in honor of Joseph Enroughty. Pictured right is their daughter, Susan Enroughty.

NASHVILLE - A "goer": the phrase comes to mind when visiting Pauline Thompson Battle of Nashville, who celebrated her 103rd birthday at her Sykes Road home Jan. 23, 2024.
Battle, lovingly tended in a warm hospital bed set up in the family living room, frequently napped as her story was told by two of her children, Maxine Thornton of Georgia and Michael Battle. Michael Battle, who used to live next door, moved in with Miss Pauline after her husband of 71 years, Henry Battle, died in 2011.

NASHVILLE - Nash County's premier grant-hunter, Patsy McGhee, has retired after more than thirty-three years in local government, but promises that her replacement, Emily Moore, is "ready."
McGhee, County Grants and Intergovernmental Relations Administrator, was recognized at the Jan. 22 Nash County Board of Commissioners meeting for her 21-plus years with Nash County, in anticipation of her Jan. 30 retirement party.

NASHVILLE - Nashville is promoting from within for its next Planning Director: Code Enforcement Officer Shawn D. Lucas was named as Planning-Director-to-be at the Jan. 30 town planning board meeting by outgoing Planning Director Sherry Moss.
Lucas wears multiple hats: he currently serves on the Nash County Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors, is Code Enforcement Officer for the towns of Nashville and Spring Hope, and is Zone Administrator for the towns of Bailey and Elm City.

ROCKY MOUNT - A moving play by Red Oak playwright Marilyn Barner Anselmi, "You Wouldn't Expect," is returning for a local show, laden with accolades and awards, both national and international.
"You Wouldn't Expect" to be performed at the Dunn Center of North Carolina Wesleyan University Feb. 1-3 at 7:30 p.m., followed by a 2 p.m. performance Sunday, Feb. 4, is Anselmi's most produced play of the eighteen she has written. It was first performed at Nash Arts in September and October of 2012.

Third graders at Coopers Elementary School received a special visit from Sparky the Fire Dog as part of the annual award's presentation, where Coopers Fire Fighters present plaques to winners of its Great Escape contest. Each year, during Fire Prevention Week, fire fighters visit the school and speak with students about fire safety. The week also coincides with the student's social studies lesson, where they learn map skills and are able to use what they learn to draw their own fire escape plans. This year's winners were Maya Wilder (above) and Peyton Duke.

NASHVILLE - Ongoing work to expand water lines in the northern end of the county in order to reduce dependence on the City of Rocky Mount will get a boost from a new well if a new grant from the state and federal government is approved.
Currently, treated water from the Tar River and from the Tar River Reservoir that is sold to Nash County travels up a water main along North Halifax Road and is metered through a water meter vault owned and operated by Nash County just north of Hunter Hill Road, according to Jonathan L. Boone, Deputy County Manager.

I mentioned recently that 2024 started with a bang at my house.
The flu hit my two sons, we had one trip to the ER, one flooded aquarium and the feral-cat-in-the-house debacle that was recounted in great detail in this space.
Well, my wife Kristi said to hold her proverbial beer and had foot surgery.
Like any true adult, she let this foot issue go on for years until the pain went from "uncomfortable" to "Bowie knife through the bottom of her foot."

This photo was originally published in The Nashville Graphic on April 6, 1967. These members of Coopers Ruritan Club won first place in the Civic Club Judging competition at the livestock show and sale at the Eastern Carolina Livestock Arena. The trophy was presented by the Rocky Mount Chamber of Commerce.

A grassroots organization with the goal of empowering poor and working-class people, Down Home North Carolina, attracted a crowd of twenty at its first "listening session" in Nash County Saturday at the Nashville Town Chambers.
Based in Burlington, NC, and starting in 2017, Down Home North Carolina has chapters in nine counties, including Pitt, and is working to start dialogues about local issues in hopes of developing citizen involvement and leadership in local government decisions.

A Meet & Greet event Jan. 25 by the Nash County Democratic Party featuring democratic candidates for the upcoming 2024 primary election drew a crowd of nearly sixty, with thirty-eight more attending via zoom, at Rocky Mount's Station Square.
Nineteen candidates or elected officials were on hand in person, while another four sent video messages and two sent representatives to speak on their behalf.