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One of the last encounters with Jesus before He enters Jerusalem is recorded in Mark 19:1-10
You perhaps remember learning a song about him years ago, maybe in Sunday school or a Vacation Bible School.
"Zacchaeus was a wee little man - And a wee little man was he - He climbed up in a sycamore tree - For the Lord he wanted to see."
Zaccheaus was short in stature and people following Jesus made it impossible for him to see Jesus. Well, what do you do when you face these obstacles?

Several ladies enjoyed the Nash County Spring WMU meeting on Monday, March 9 at West Edgecombe Baptist Church. The meeting included the call to order by Kay Turner, chairperson, and minutes from the last meeting shared by Beverly Perry, secretary/treasurer. The Nash County WMU Banner was passed this year from Audrey Pearce, WMU Director at Red Oak Baptist Church, to Ben Mary Bradley, WMU Director at West Edgecombe Baptist Church. There was also a time for churches to share projects and upcoming events, and missionaries John and Pat Gordy. John and Pat shared stories from the field in China and Africa.

Despite a "no" from the Planning Board, Castalia's Board of Commissioners gave a local developer the green light last Tuesday night, unanimously approving a rezoning of the vacant Family Dollar building on Main Street.
The unanimous vote transitions the property from retail (B-1) to light industrial (L-1). While the move technically raises the floor for what can be built on the site, board members argued that the town's permit process provides enough oversight to block businesses--like vape shops or gaming halls--that wouldn't benefit the community.

NASHVILLE - A decided lack of trust on the part of some members of the public permeated a recent public hearing on a rezoning application to turn a house into office space. Nearby residents were vocal at both the March 3rd council meeting and an earlier planning board meeting, stating that they are afraid the developer is going to try for apartment complexes.
In the end, the application was withdrawn in favor of submitting a new one asking for conditional rezoning.

BAILEY - Under warm sunshine at the edge of a field that sits atop one of the highest geographical points of Nash County, a community of stakeholders participated March 5th in groundbreaking for the new Southern Nash Middle School.
Among those participating in the 11 a.m. event were five sixth-graders at the current SNMS, who will walk the halls of the new school when they become 8th-graders.

SPRING HOPE - In order to combat the problem of people erecting cemetery stones across plot lines, town officials are considering issuing permits to ensure correct placement.
Clinton Hedgepeth, cemetary contractor, said at the March 3 board of commissioners' meeting that there was a problem at both Meeks and Oak Dale cemeteries with incorrect stone placement.

NASHVILLE - A man who affected generations of young people in Nashville has been recognized with an official proclamation from the town.
The late Bobby Thomas ("Coach B.T.") Dunn, who passed away Dec. 23, 2025, was recognized and celebrated at the start of the March 3 town council meeting.
Members of Dunn's family- his wife, Hattie Ghrael, son Bobby Dunn Jr., and niece Angela Pompey stood front and center with Larry Taylor, councilman, as Taylor presented them with a framed copy of the proclamation as it was read by Brenda Brown, Mayor.

Newspaper man, college professor, voracious reader, detective of history, wicked humorist and writer: Michael Brantley, Graphic Soapbox columnist, could also be described as a Renaissance man with many talents and areas of knowledge. His latest achievement, though, is the publication of a fifth book, a nonfiction, about an 1800s-era North Carolinian whose exploits "come off the page like an action movie," Brantley said.
The book title names its subject: Captain Otway Burns: Privateer, Legislator, and Naval Hero of the War of 1812 .

NASHVILLE - An organizational meeting for Nashville's 'America 250' plans attracted a small group with lots of ideas, but town officials are hoping for a greater turnout at the next community planning meeting planned March 19.
Lou Bennett, town clerk and town liaison for the as-yet-unformed committee, presented a power point March 4th in the council chambers at Cooley Library that provided an overview of the volunteer-driven event and why Nashville should celebrate.

The registration deadline for the annual Down East Senior Games, which officially closed March 10th, has been extended through this weekend, but participants will have to register online.
The Down East Senior Games, one of 54 local games sanctioned by North Carolina Senior Games, are open to residents 50 years of age and older from Nash, Edgecombe, Halifax, Wilson, and Northampton Counties.

Castalia's leadership duties were split in two last Tuesday night as the town navigates the absence of Mayor James Alston. While the Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to transfer mayoral authority to Mayor Pro Tem Lynn Hale, a separate vote handed the gavel to Commissioner Marvin Wood to preside over the town's public meetings.
The dual-leadership arrangement follows Mayor Alston's decision to step back from his duties to focus on health issues.

NASHVILLE - Members of the Nash Central Middle School Quiz Bowl team have won not only the regional title but finished first in the state for the Middle School "Pony" division.
According to NCASA (North Carolina Association for Scholastic Activities) 2025 final standings, Nash Central Middle School was one of 15 school teams, with 33 high school teams, competing across nine divisions in the virtual quiz bowl league. More than 200 players were involved, fielding a total of 2,500 questions.

A group of Nash County middle-schoolers will be travelling to Boone later this month to compete at the state level in Odyssey of the Mind.
Taryn Vitale, Rebekah Kibbe, Sarah Monroy, Ana Pilar Martinez Rios, Isabella Aguirre, Tanya Sasser and Ellerse Bandin, students at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School, took first place in their division at the Coastal North Carolina Regional Competition Feb. 25th. They will compete at Appalachian State University in the state championship March 28.

Last weekend, I was able to attend the largest national writer's conference in the country.
It was in Baltimore and the last time I went, almost a decade ago, it was in Washington, D.C. I knew I did not want to make that drive up I-95.
That left two options, flying or taking the train.
It's been documented in this space over the years how I feel about flying.

This photo published in The Nashville Graphic on June 6, 1968. Members of the masonry class at Nash Central High school erect a wall around a sign that was put in front of the school. Supervising the work is John E. Jenkins, masonry instructor (in white jacket) and looking on from the far left if R.K.. Corbett, principal.

NASHVILLE - The clock is ticking on sidewalk work before the Blooming Festival parade, but town officials have awarded a contract for the job.
Randy Lansing, town manager, told council members March 3rd that bids for the work were received from 13 contractors, with a $144,791.90 contract awarded to Marshall's Construction, Asphalt, & Concrete, LLC of Nashville.
The sidewalk replacement job was budgeted for $145,000, with $105,000 coming from Powell Funds and $40,000 from the Municipal Service District Fund.