Recent Articles

Keith Stone was officially sworn into office on Monday afternoon, along with over 100 of his command staff, sworn staff and detention center staff, most of who are returning personnel.
Stone was elected in November to serve as Nash County’s Sheriff, taking the place of Sheriff Dick Jenkins.
He was sworn in on Monday with his wife, Karen and three daughters, Carolina, Frances and Emma, looking on.

Spring Hope Commissioner Bill Newkirk has resigned from the town board, effective immediately.
The three-term commissioner announced his resignation in a letter to Town Manager John Holpe. Holpe presented the letter to Mayor Buddy Gwaltney, who announced the resignation on Monday evening at the board’s regular meeting.
Holpe said health issues are the primary reason for Newkirk’s resignation. Holpe said Newkirk felt like it wasn’t right to continue to serve on the board when he couldn’t attend meetings.

Two Nashville Police Officers were recognized on Tuesday night for their heroic actions in rescuing three people from a house fire.
Nashville Police Chief Tom Bashore and Nashville Mayor Donald Street recognized Sergeant George Bottoms and Officer Wayne Boykin with a Lifesaving Award at the Nashville Town Council’s regular meeting on Tuesday night.

There will be another new face on the Nash-Rocky Mount Board of Education, as LaShawnda Washington defeated incumbent Robert Bynum in run-off races held Tuesday.
In addition, Wayne Doll defeated Steve Williams in Tuesday’s run-off race. Doll had previously defeated incumbent Bonnie Batts in the November races but due to the tight race between Doll and Williams, a run-off was requested.

A training exercise Tuesday morning helped prepare numerous Nash County agencies on their response if a person in Nash County becomes affected with Ebola.
Scott Strufe, Nash County EMS Program Manager and Training Officer, said the drill may never become a reality. However, Strufe added, it was better to be prepared.

With Thanksgiving barely in the rearview mirror, it is already December 1. This can mean only one thing: soon, TV news people will be doing countless stories on how lots of people are out shopping at malls for Christmas gifts.
This also means it is time for the Soapbox to help you help yourself make the holidays low stress. So, we present out 2014 Christmas Gift Buying Guide:

While other, larger news media outlets are reporting on the unrest in Ferguson, Missouri following the announcement of the grand jury not deciding to indict an officer, The Graphic this week has an article of a different nature.
Two Nashville Police officers recently went into a burning house to save three people.
I’m sure the three whose lives were saved are thankful for those officers, who risked their lives to do something that was really their decision.

Dear editor:
In the United States, we have always prided ourselves in our right to practice any religion freely and celebrate religious holidays without interference from our government- a right that many other countries in the world simply do not have.

NEW BROWNIE SCOUTS –- This photo was originally published in The Graphic on November 11, 1976. These 14 girls were inducted as Brownie Scouts in Nashville’s Girl Scout Troop 474 at investiture ceremonies at the Nashville Baptist Church.

Nashville’s Christmas Celebration, which is sponsored by the Nashville Chamber of Commerce, will be held Saturday, December 6.
Events will kick off at 4 p.m. on the courthouse steps with performances by the Nash Central High School Chorus and Red Oak Middle School Band.

ROCKY MOUNT - Willie “Rounder Pop” Battle, 89, died on Monday, November 24, 2014.

SPRING HOPE - Bobby Matt Daniel, 79, passed away November 27, 2014. He was born November 28, 1934 in Wake County. He was the son of the late, James Matt and Annie Daniel. He was preceded in death by his wife, Ella “Janice” Daniel of 51 years, nine sisters and three brothers.

ROCKY MOUNT - Carolyn Rose Leathers, 74, of Rocky Mount, died on November 29, 2014.

ROCKY MOUNT - Isham Sanders, Sr., 93, of Rocky Mount, died on November 27, 2014.

ROCKY MOUNT - Vincent Tyrone Lynch, 51, of Rocky Mount, died on November 23, 2014.

Terry Virginia Bennett, 64, passed away, November 23, 2014.  She was born December 1, 1949 to the late John and Maude Phillips Thomasson. In addition to her parents, she is predeceased by her brother, Johnny Thomasson.

Toni Annette Carey, 49, passed away, Sunday November 23, 2014. She was born October 15, 1965 in Nash County. Toni was preceded in death by her father, Jettie Harrison Carey.

Bobby Gene Jones, 75, passed away, Tuesday November 25, 2014. He was born May 12, 1939 in Wilson County to the late Thurman, Sr. and Clara Jones.  In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his wife, Linda Wyndham Jones, a son, Dennis Allen Jones and a sister, Judy Ezzelle.

Jeanette Batts Batts Bell passed away November 25, 2014.  Born Myrtle Jeanette Batts in Wilson County on November 29, 1932, she was the youngest child of Jerry Lawrence Batts and Mary Bama Robbins Batts. Her parents and three older brothers, Lawrence (Pete), James Earl and Leon Feutrell, preceded her in death. Her first husband, David O. Batts, died in 1995, and in 2003 her second husband, Ephraim Wright Bell, passed.

James L. “Pappy” Manning, 79, passed away on November 26, 2014. He was born September 15, 1935 in Pitt County to the late Lindsey and Lovie Harris Manning.  In addition to his parents,  James was  preceded in death by his wife, Bertha T. Manning, and his brother, Landris Manning.

Benjamin Kilgo Gardner, Jr., 75, passed away, Friday November 28, 2014. He was born July 10, 1939 in Franklin County to the late Benjamin K. Sr. and Beulah Griffin Gardner.

James Edward Vick, Sr., 80, of Spring Hope passed away Tuesday, December 2, 2014.

Mary Cooper, 60, passed away November 28, 2014.

David Lee Harvey, age 75, passed away on November 25, 2014. Born in Detroit, Michigan on May 2, 1939, he was the son of the late Stephen A. Harvey and Ethel Browning Harvey. David was predeceased in death by his brother, Jim Harvey and a sister Caroline Morris.

ROCKY MOUNT - Lieutenant Colonial Lathan Nelson Leggette, age 90, passed away on Monday, November 24, 2014. He was born on September 13, 1924 near Robersonville in Martin County to the late Henry and Martha Leggette.