Recent Articles

Spring Hope Commissioners decided to include a three cents property tax increase on the proposed 2014-2015 Fiscal Year Budget at the regular meeting on Monday night.
A public hearing was held on the budget Monday night at the board’s regular meeting.
Town Manager John Holpe brought the suggestion of a tax increase at a budget meeting last month, suggesting an increase could help with maintenance issues. However, commissioners initially shot down the idea.

Nash County fire fighters reunited with a fire victim they rescued from a fire in his burning  apartment  in Spring Hope on December 28, 2013.
Marvin High spent three months at the Chapel Hill Burn Center recovering from second and third degree burns.  
Spring Hope Fire Chief David Shelton said he received a call from High saying that he would like to meet the fire fighters who saved his life. 

Nashville residents will see a five percent sewer increase in the new budget year, as the town is passing down the increase from the City of Rocky Mount.
Nashville Town Manager Preston Mitchell told council members on Tuesday night, at the board’s regular meeting, that they had received information that Rocky Mount was increasing its rates by five percent. Mitchell said, as the town has done in the past, it is recommending the increase be passed on because the town cannot absorb it.

Middlesex Commissioners are proposing a two-cents property tax increase, which will bring the town’s property tax rate to 52 cents per $100 valuation.
The proposed 2014-2015 budget was presented to commissioners last Tuesday morning at a special budget meeting. The budget was presented at around $1.3 million. That budget does not include the two cents tax increase, which was proposed at a second budget meeting held on Monday night.

The Nashville Fire District Auxiliary hosts a Reverse Raffle each year as a fundraiser for the fire department. All proceeds support the Fire Department’s Life Safety and Injury Prevention Program. This year’s event was held on Friday, May 30 at Nash Community College.
Only 300 tickets are sold for the event. Tickets are $100 each and ticket buyers are treated to dinner and a chance to win $10,000. Other monetary prizes are also given out at the event.

The Town of Red Oak approved an $841,000 annual budget on Monday despite concerns about how state legislative actions may affect the bottom line. The budget for the 2014-2015 fiscal year includes projected revenues of $100,000 from franchise and utility fees that have been repealed by the state legislature. However, Red Oak Commissioners are hoping that the expected sales tax revenues of $600,000 will increase due to new legislation proposing the addition of sales tax on utilities.

An injury to personal property was reported on 5/23/14 at 3440 Watson Seed Farm Road
A financial card fraud was reported on 5/23/14 at 4119 Sheep Pasture Road
A recovered stolen property was reported on 5/23/14 at 9273 Saralissa Lane
An assault on a female was reported on 5/23/14 at 6212 Reams Road

INCIDENTS
A larceny and breaking and entering a motor vehicle was reported on 5/25/14 at Crescent Meadows Drive
A larceny (shoplifting) was reported on 5/27/14 at Auto Zone, 105 Nashville Commons Drive
An obtaining a controlled substance by fraud was reported on 5/27/14 at CVS Pharmacy, 101 W Washington Street

The Honors College at East Carolina University recently held a luncheon at the Benvenue Country Club for area high school guidance counselors and administrators.
Representative from Nash Central, Northern Nash, Rocky Mount High, Southern Nash, Rocky Mount Preparatory School, Rocky Mount Early College, Faith Christian School and Rocky Mount Academy were in attendance.

 Jessica Rogers of Nashville is among 20 incoming freshmen selected for the prestigious EC Scholars program at East Carolina University.
 The four-year merit scholarship recognizes outstanding academic performance, commitment to community engagement and strong leadership skills. Recipients receive a scholarship for four years, along with a stipend for study abroad, for a total value of approximately $61,000.

Rebecca Winstead, a sophomore nursing major from Nashville, was among approximately 1,400 Bob Jones University students named to the Spring 2014 Dean’s List.
To qualify for the Dean’s List, students must earn a 3.0 grade point average.

James Steven Warren, of Rocky Mount), was one of the graduates during the 2014 spring commencement ceremonies at Texas State University. Warren received a bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing Engineering.
Texas State is an emerging research university located in the Austin-San Antonio corridor on the edge of the Texas Hill Country.

The season of good old fashioned family reunions is here!  Dorothy, Audrey, and Suzy Pearce and Madgie Macklin had a great time Saturday, May 31 spending time with family.  The Tant-Pearce Family Reunion was held at Corinth Baptist Church in Nashville.  Monroe Tant and Larry Kearney organized this reunion, the first one in about 25 years.

The choir sang “In My Life Lord be Glorified” for the call to worship. Pastor Ronnie Whitehouse welcomed everyone and prayed the prayer of invocation. Hymns of worship were “Holy, Holy, Holy” and “I will sing the Wondrous Story.” Algie Jones, Jr. led the congregational singing. Prayer concerns were shared. Bobby Farmer prayed for these concerns.

Peachtree folks gathered for worship on a beautiful June morning.  Pastor Whitehouse greeted those present.  Sanctuary flowers were given by Jane May in memory of her husband, Perry May.
The sermon was titled ‘Close Doesn’t Count in Salvation.’ The prophetic scripture was found in Matthew 24:36-41.The truths that Pastor Whitehouse presented were that when Christ returns, it will be sudden and final.

Sunday School at Beulah Church of Christ began on Sunday morning at 9:45, followed by church service at 10:45. It was announced that there would not be any Sunday night services during the summer months. Those services will resume in September.

Casey Strickland was recently named the NC Holstein Association’s 2014 Distinguished Junior Member. Each state chooses an outstanding member of the Junior Holstein Association. The selection is based on participation at the National Convention, showing cows and other community service participation. The recognition earned her a free trip to the National Holstein Convention in late June.

Victoria N. Bass graduated May 10, 2014 from Halifax Community College with an Associate Degree in Dental Hygiene. She is the daughter of Robert A. Bass and Lisa B. Webb of Nashville.

ROCKY MOUNT - James “Sonny” Speight Batts, Lt. Col. USAF, ret., 79, passed away Friday, May 30, 2014. He was born May 19, 1935 in Nash County to the late John David and Bertha Davis Batts.  He was preceded in death by his parents and also his siblings John David “JD” Batts, Jr., Charles Bennett “Bud” Batts, Evelyn Caroll “Sis” Batts Rhea, Harvey Talmadge “Tab” Batts, Chester Morris “Sambo” Batts, and Mickey Donald Batts.

Mildred Mills Vick, 86, passed away Sunday, May 25, 2014.  She was born in Harnett County, October 4, 1927 to the late Richard Terry and Ruby Bell Ayers Mills. In addition to her parents, Mildred was preceded in death by her husband, Paul A. Vick; son, Dannie Vick; grandson, Len Vick; great grandson, William Carter; five brothers and a sister.

Marcelene Tharrington, 75, passed away Thursday, May 29, 2014. She was born July 20, 1938 in Franklin County to the late Thomas and Julia Moore Stallings.

James “Jimmy” Earl Gold, 72, passed away Tuesday, May 27, 2014.  He was born in Baltimore, MD July 26, 1941. He was preceded in death by his father, Mac Gold and brother, James “Mac” Gold.

Mary Elizabeth Hicks, 65, of Roanoke Rapids, died on Friday, May 30, 2014.

Kinston - Cassandra Ann Jenkins, 56, died May 24, 2014. 

ENFIELD –– Willie “Ricky / Willie Gulf” Whitaker, Jr., 59, died May 24, 2014.