Recent Articles

It may seem like it’s too early to be talking about it, but Nash County’s Relay for Life will be here before you know it!
Unbelievably, it’s already mid-February so April will come fast.
I was speaking with someone last week about Relay for Life and how the number of teams registered for this year are much lower than usual. Just over 30 teams have registered so far. Typically, there’s at least double that but usually much more.

Monday was a day to celebrate and acknowledge Braswell Foods and its commitment to Nashville.
The Braswell family and their staff have always been very loyal and supportive of Nashville and the people here. They have funded many local projects and events, and volunteered on many committees. You see the company’s logo on many things such as Relay for Life, and The Nashville Blooming Festival to name  a couple, but they’ve never been one to ask for the spotlight or public gratitude for their generosity.

TROPHY PRESENTATION ––This photo originally published in The Graphic on April 22, 1965. Five local scouts are pictured admiring a trophy which was presented to the troop in memory of a former scout and scout leader, Edward Griffin. Making the presentation are Raymond Batchelor (left), chairman of the scout committee, and Donald Winstead, scoutmaster.

My nephew, X, is a talented, lovable, intelligent and very gifted athlete.  His parents have spent large sums of money travelling all over the country allowing him to compete in organized, track competitive events.  He is a small fry seventh grader who just moved to a new school.  On Thursday, January 17, he came home sick.  By Friday, he literally could not walk. 

Five students from Nashville received their bachelor’s degrees from North Carolina Wesleyan College in Rocky Mount during the college’s December 14 Commencement, held in the Dunn Center for the Performing Arts.
The students and their majors were: Ashley Robbins Boulden, psychology; Kali Latrice Bryant, computer information systems; Shawna Bryn Jones, business administration; Michael Jerome Williams, religion; and Sonya Renee Williams, criminal justice.

Navy Midshipman Laura A. Collier, daughter of Bernard W. and Ann W. Collier of Nashville,  recently selected her first ship assignment during a Ship Selection ceremony at the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md.
Collier is scheduled to report to USS Anzio (CG-68).

Fifteen Nash Health Care nurses recently completed a new leadership development program, equipping them to face the demands and challenges of nurse management in a rapidly changing health care environment. These graduates were recognized during a ceremony that commended them for their dedication to excellence.
“We have a lot of talent at this organization,” said Leslie Hall, senior vice president and chief nursing officer of Nash Health Care.

David and Stephanie Viverette of Nashville announce the engagement of their daughter, Tracey Lynne Goldbach, to James F. Crane Wood, both of Nashville. He is the son of Ricky and Garlene Wood of Spring Hope. The wedding is planned for March 15, 2014 at Macedonia Baptist Church.

Cedar Grove held its first spelling bee event on Wednesday, February 5.   Third through Fifth grade students participated in the spelling bee.  The winner of the spelling bee will represent Cedar Grove and participate with other Nash-Rocky Mount schools in a spelling bee that will be held at the Dunn Center at NC Wesleyan College on March 20, 2014.

Pitt Community College recently announced its 2013 Fall Semester Graduates, Dean’s List and Honor Roll students.
 Locals named to the Dean’s List include Kendall A. Goldbach and Chelsea L. Jones, both of Nashville, Jan H. Sullivan, of Middlesex, Maria L. Faticia and Darian J. Mingia, both of Spring Hope and Johnny R. Harrell, of Whitakers.

Serving a student population of around 16,400 with over 2,000 employees, the Nash-Rocky Mount Schools administration gave the community an opportunity to express opinions on their Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) and provide other information for the system’s review in a survey given in December 2013. A little over 1,000 people participated in this survey, over 800 of which were employees (77 percent).

Chowan University officially announced the Fall 2013 semester’s Dean’s List honorees.
Locals named to the Dean’s List include Kristen Shuford, of Nashville, Timothy Batchelor, of Middlesex, Channel Brown, of Whitakers, Trevor Marshall, of Middlesex and Sierra Jones, of Elm City.
Rocky Mount residents named to the Dean’s List include Kellie Durham, Israel King and Qwenton Pippen.

Wednesday, February 12 from 8:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. at Nash Community College, 522 N Old Carriage Road
Thursday, February 13 from 12 until 6 p.m. at Englewood Presbyterian Church, 100 South Englewood Drive, Rocky Mount
Friday, February 14 from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. at Englewood Presbyterian Church, 100 South Englewood Drive, Rocky Mount

WE HAVE SOME EXCELLENT NEWS!
The Shelter has agreed to move some items around so that we can buy a new cat cage stack, similar to the stainless steel ones they have. This will double the capacity on the adoption floor, from 5 to 10!
*Doing the HAPPY Dance*

Wesleyan College has announced the second annual Rotary International children’s art exhibit to be held February 20, 2014. This year’s exhibit is titled “Rotary Changing Lives.” A reception for the children, their families, teachers and administrators from participating schools and for regional Rotarians will be held Thursday, February 19 from 5:30 – 7:30 pm. in the Wesleyan College’s Civic Gallery at Wesleyan College’s Dunn Center.

The North Roanoke Baptist Association WMU Leadership Team met at the associational office on Saturday, February 8.  Plans were discussed for upcoming events.  Marilyn Boone, Area Director, and Audrey and Suzy Pearce, Children’s Missions Consultants, attended.
The women led the worship service at Red Oak Baptist Church during WMU Focus Sunday on February 9!

We were happy to have 86 in Sunday school today. It sounds like Sunday school is a dying organization in many churches today. Our attendance is not what we would like for it to be, but it was better today than usual.
Our choir sang “Let’s Just Praise the Lord“ for the call to worship. Pastor Ronnie welcomed everyone and prayed the prayer of invocation.

Pastor Whitehouse began the morning worship with the ordination of Believer’s Baptism for Chloe Scott.  It was a beautiful service.  He then greeted and welcomed those present.  The adult choir sang “In Remembrance of Me”.  The pastor then led in the observance of communion with the assistance of the deacons.

UDC Bethel Heroes Chapter 636 member Donna Boykin and her husband Jimmy recently attended the Lee/Jackson dinner hosted by Bethel Heroes. Donna served as a greeter and Jimmy carried and  posted the Confederate flag.  Both were dressed in clothing from the 1860s era.

ROCKY MOUNT -- Any team, regardless of the sport, its going to find it difficult to secure a victory without its best player.
It’s hard to think about Nash Central High School girls basketball without senior star Ni’Ya Styles, but the Lady Bulldogs were forced to play without her during last Wednesday’s key home Big East Conference matchup versus Southern Nash.

Nash Central’s Myia Spivey (right) isn’t about to give up the ball during last Wednesday’s home girls basketball event against Big East Conference rival Southern Nash.

ROCKY MOUNT -- From experience, Northern Nash veteran girls basketball coach Grover Battle understands that the true character of a team isn’t judged by how it looks during lopsided victories.
Instead, the way a club holds off a worthy foe -- and is still able to win -- shows if a team is able to handle the rigors of the postseason.

Northern Nash’s Alexus Hill (left) tries to keep the ball despite strong defense from Nash Central’s Michaela Nelms during last Friday night’s Big East Conference girls basketball game.

Nash Central’s Alexia Jones makes a strong move toward the basket last Friday night.

Northern Nash’s Kiana Thomas (left) gains possession of the ball during last Friday night’s Big East Conference triumph at Nash Central.