Recent Articles

Mildred Joyner Weeks passed away  June 6, 2014. Mrs. Weeks, 101, was born in Rocky Mount on December 31, 1912 and was the daughter of the late William Dorsey Joyner and Mattie Hales Joyner and the widow of George Lafayette Weeks.

Ethel Leigh Moore Ray passed away Thursday, June 5, 2014. Born in Edgecombe County on May 2, 1918, she was the daughter of the late Lonnie Polk Moore and Matilda Hughes Moore. She was also predeceased by her husband, William Otfel Ray; half-brothers, Jerry, Jimmy and Billy Perry; sister, Helen Shorb; half-sister, Lois; and son-in-law, Walter E. Judkins.

Dennis Hall Raper, age 84, passed away June 6, 2014. He was born in Wilson County on July 15, 1929 to Pearl Joyner Raper and Barney Robertson Raper. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his daughter, Teresa Gale Raper Turner. Dennis was also preceded in death by his sister, Hazel Raper Odom; and brothers, Jennings, Charles, Graham, and Donald.

Lessie Harris, age 80 of Spring Hope, passed away Sunday, June 8, 2014.

Christine Whitley Carraway, 92, of Middlesex passed away Saturday, June 7, 2014.  Funeral services will be conducted 3 p.m. Wednesday at Lee’s Chapel Baptist Church, 14518 Taylors Mill Road, Middlesex.  Interment will follow in Hollywood Cemetery, Middlesex.  The Rev. Kenneth Benton and Rev. Terry Freeman will officiate.

Talent, hard work and dedication are three essential elements to becoming a great writer.  For nine Academically and Intellectually Gifted (AIG) students at Nashville Elementary, possessing those elements have helped them become published authors. 

Nashville Elementary Kindergarten Accelerated Reader winners are Steven Jeans and Riley Brewer.

Nash Arts Center announces its summer calendar as follows:
-Earth, Wind & Water featuring the works of Andrea Horton-Morton & Wendy Ferguson-Whitehead. Exhibit: June 10-July 10. Reception: June 12: 6-8PM (Free Event)
-African American Music Trail Book Event featuring Bill Myers, Sherry Winston, and William McLaughlin June 13: 7-9PM (Free Event)

Any father understands and sympathizes with the father of Bowe Bergdahl.
Many fathers find the father of Beau Bergdahl repulsive.
More people should be asking more questions about this prisoner-for-terrorists swap.
All people should hate the politics of playing with people’s lives.

School is out, for the most, part, and kids and parents and teachers can all breathe a big sigh of relief.
So can I.
This school year has not been a pleasant one for me.
Our school system, Nash-Rocky Mount Schools, has implemented some things that have made my job a lot harder.
Some of the things I agree with.
Others, I do not.

OFFICERS INSTALLED –– This photo was originally published on Thursday, November 16, 1972. New officers of the Beta Theta Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma were installed and three new members were initiated at ceremonies held in Spring Hope.

INCIDENTS
An identity theft and fraud (credit card/atm) was reported on 6/2/14 at L&L #9, 972 Eastern Avenue
A possession of counterfeit money was reported on 6/3/14 at Friendly Check, 510 S Barnes Street
A damage to property (vandalism) and breaking and entering a commercial was reported on 6/3/14 at the ABC Store, 1206 Eastern Avenue

A breaking, entering and larceny of a residence was reported on 6/2/14 at 4852 US 264 A
A breaking, entering and larceny of a residence was reported on 6/2/14 at 4849 Mullen Road
Recovered property was reported on 6/2/14 on Bobbit’s Trail
A failure to change the address of a sex offender was reported on 6/3/14 at 4883 Oakwood Drive

Castalia board members held a  special budget workshop meeting May 19 at which time the board discussed each line item in the general fund, water fund and the recreation fund.
According to the minutes of the May 19 meeting the board is proposing a recreation fund of $15,150; a water fund budget of $114,238;  a general fund budget of $502,578 which includes $346,300 for the park covered by grant funds.

A Rocky Mount woman is reaching out to other women who have experienced the pain of abortion.
Abortion is a topic rarely discussed, especially among the women who have experienced it and Melissa Griggs hopes women in the community will reach out to her to discuss what they are going through.
Griggs started Unchangeable Love around a year ago and recently quit her job to work with the ministry full-time.

Wednesday, June 11 from 10 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. at Nash Health Care Systems in the auditorium, 2460 Curtis Ellis Drive, Rocky Mount
Thursday, June 12 from 12 until 6 p.m. at Englewood Presbyterian Church, 100 South Englewood Drive, Rocky Mount
Friday, June 13 from 11 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. at Englewood Presbyterian Church, 100 South Englewood Drive, Rocky Mount

First graders from Nashville Elementary School took a field trip to Nashville’s Harold D. Cooley Library last month, on Wednesday, May 21. Students were given a tour of the library and then were treated to a special storytime. Pictured above, Sheri Maxwell (at left) shows students where Accelerated Reading (AR) books are located for the different age groups.

Nash Community College Math Professor Dina Pitt of Rocky Mount is the recipient of the 2014 J. Edgar and Peggie T. Moore Excellence in Teaching Award.
The Excellence in Teaching Award nominees are chosen through a peer and a student evaluation process from all full-time faculty members each year.

U.S. Navy Ensign Laura A. Collier, daughter of B.W. & Ann Collier, graduated from the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD on Friday, May 23, 2014 and was commissioned as an Officer in the U.S. Navy.  Ensign Collier successfully completed four years of intensive academic, physical, and professional training, resulting in a Bachelor of Science Degree with a major in Oceanography.  

COMMUNITY SERVICE –– Girl scout troop 3249 of Red Oak cleaned, prepared, and planted flowers around the flag pole at W. B. Ennis Memorial Park in Red Oak in April. This was just one of their many Earth Day projects for the month of April. Pictured from left to right are: Raven Davis, Laura Brown, and Hannah Tollefsen.

Two area students are spending their summer at Carney & Company this year. The Rocky Mount advertising agency recently announced Jacy Barnes and Isaiah Eckenwiler as their 2014 summer interns. The positions were created to give young professionals in the local community an opportunity to learn more about marketing and advertising and gain real world experience.

Chowan University officially recently announced the President’s List honorees for Spring ‘14.
President’s List winners are full-time students who have accomplished a grade point average of 3.8 or better for the semester. This distinction will become part of their official record.

The newly created Bulldog Alumni Community Scholarship Fund was able to fund scholarships for three Nash Central High School seniors. Kevin Jones, a Nash Central High School graduate, had the idea to start the scholarship and with classmates, was able to do so. This year, the scholarship raised over $3,000 and was able to give three students $1,128 each in scholarships.

Nash County Ranger Bill Lewis with the North Carolina Forest Service presented the City of Rocky Mount with the Tree City USA and the Tree Line USA awards during the City Council meeting on Tuesday, May 27, 2014.
The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation, in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters.