Recent Articles

MIDDLESEX- One man is dead and another charged with his murder after a shooting the night of April 21st in Middlesex.
Marcus Jamar Toney, 33, of 3795 Brantley Road was pronounced dead at the scene despite life-saving efforts made after the incident, which occurred before Nash County Sheriff's deputies and other law enforcement agencies responded at 10:59 p.m. to a reported shooting.
An April 22 NCSO press released stated that Toney was found at his Brantley Road residence suffering from a gunshot wound to the groin.

MIDDLESEX- Two men and one woman from Middlesex are being held in the Nash County Detention Center after their arrests April 16th during a drug bust at their home.
Taylor Austin Proctor, 27, and Valentina Elena Gonzalez, 19, face multiple felony drug trafficking charges after they were found in possession of 70 grams of methamphetamine and 272 dosage units of heroin inside their home at 3511 Bryantown Road, Middlesex.

RALEIGH - Both of Nash County's state legislators, Senator Lisa Barnes and Rep. Allen Chesser, have been seated on a new state subcommittee designed to investigate prisoner releases during COVID by then-governor Roy Cooper.
An April 20 press release from Barnes stated that a joint legislative commission on Governmental Operations: Subcommittee on Prisons was announced that day by Senate Leader Phil Berger (R) of Rockingham and House Speaker Destin Hall (R) of Caldwell.

Jackie Pridgen of Nashville, center, holds a box with milkweed, salvia and a tomato. She is assisted by Master Gardeners Karen Bessey of Rocky Mount, left, and Deborah Webb of Sandy Cross, right.

SPRING HOPE - Spring Hope's Downtown Development Board, newly revitalized with the addition of new members, wants the town website to become "more user-friendly" and plans to add its own affiliated page.
Max Cohen, Elle Browder, and Chris Jones, the newest members, were active and vocal during their first meeting April 20th. The trio joined relative newcomers Brian Wood and April Barner, who came on board in February, along with Lori Harris, Chair and Brandi Jobe, Vice-Chair. Pam Brantley, commissioner, is an ex-officio or non-voting board member.

DERRS "Rock Stars," recognized with medallions for volunteering multiple years, stand together for a photo at the DERRS 2026 Volunteer Appreciation Dinner. From left: Nancy Blount, Bruce, Cathy Earp, Sheryl Love-Johnson, Gregg Beck, Antonia Vital, Ed Sexton and Ivan Price.

There were hints back in January. It was one of those typical North Carolina weeks when it was 45 early in the week and near 80 at the end. I knew something wasn't right.
I cranked the dial on the dash from red to blue on my Honda and was greeted with a warm blast. It just takes it time to switch over to cold air, I thought. It never did.

Congratulations to the Nashville Chamber of Commerce 2026 Distinguished Citizen recipient William Wallace and to Junior Achievement Award winner Corbin Clark.
The turnout at last week's award ceremony for Mr. Wallace is plenty of evidence of this man's impact on Nashville. Nash Arts Center seats were filled across the room with people to celebrate the award presentation to Mr. Wallace.
Though I do not know him personally, I've heard his name countless times over the last 30 years, usually when we published features of a new Eagle Scout.

This photo published in The Nashville Graphic on August 22, 1968. ABC Chief Alfred Joyner is shown unpacking 679 gallons of distilled liquor found at a still site on the Beverly Privette farm in the Peachtree Community. Joyner said he thought it was the largest still ever found in Nash County.

"Jesus replied, 'If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.' " (John 14:23)
Last weekend, our grandson went to church with us. We had a baptism service where they baptized 2 adults and 5 teenagers that had recently accepted Christ into their lives. Our church celebrates baptism by immersion. Easton's church celebrates baptism by sprinkling.
Well, Easton was just in awe. Since it was following the morning service, Easton got as close as he could and watched with great interest.

Sure enough, Christians unequivocally believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried;
He descended; on the third day, he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
And we could say that, in light of the evidence presented here, over the last several months, Christians are rationally warranted to believe in such things based upon the considerable, compelling evidence that exists.

ARE YOU A COMPLAINER?
We have traced Nehemiah's steps since he was in Persia. He became burdened concerning the situation in Jerusalem, with the walls now in shambles. He takes on the task of traveling to Jerusalem to organize the rebuilding efforts and then the opposition begins. Opponents like Sanballat and Tobiah oppose the workers' efforts and mock their labors to rebuild.

David Brantley and Sons, Inc. to Axel Vinico Salazar Cristales and Rosa Elida Salazar; 2.03 acres
Jo Ellen Lane Ewing to Eric Wade Smith; Saddlebrook Subdivision, Phase 1-B, Lot 107
William Michael Griffin and Rebecca Griffin to Mirna Guadalupe Alvarado; .50 of an acre and .15 of an acre
Randy C. Flowers and Angela H. Flowers to Brandi Ezzell and Ann T. Ezzell; Lot 10

Second degree kidnapping; physical assault with sexual motive; assault on a female reported at 100 N. Boddie St., Nashville on 4/17/26
Missing persons reported at 11066 Kevin Lane, Wilson on 4/16//26
Identity fraud reported at 1158 Stonybrook Lane, Nashville on 4/17/26
Forgery-notes, checks, securities reported at 13019 Semper FL Lane, Zebulon on 4/15/26

NASHVILLE - An appeal contesting a Nash County designation about a dangerous dog- in this case, a 100-pound Presa Canario, or possibly a Cane Corso, that has attacked four people- was overthrown April 16th in a lengthy quasi-judicial hearing in the Nash County administration building.
"Chops," the dog, is being held at the Nash County Pet Connection Center after he was surrendered by his owner, 29-year-old Nicholas Alan Vester of Battleboro, March 19 as part of a bond agreement relating to criminal charges that were filed against Vester in connection with the latest bite incident.

ROCKY MOUNT - The 9th annual Scripture Ride, a biker event dedicated as a fund-raiser to send youth to summer camp, roared through parts of Nash County for several hours Saturday, April 18th.
Organized at the Shenandoah Baptist Church, 3894 Shenandoah Drive, Rocky Mount, the event drew 70 participants, with uncounted others turning out just for the raffle and lunch.

RED OAK- Following the town of Nashville and soon, Nash County, the town of Red Oak is raising its sewer rates to keep up with a 15% rise imposed by the city of Rocky Mount.
"We need to go up 15% on (the sewer rates) but we're still not breaking even," commented Levell Langley, Mayor, at the April 13th town council meeting.
Langley said the town basically got into the 'sewer business' to support the school; Red Oak Elementary, Red Oak Middle School, the Fire Department and First Bank & Trust Co. of Virginia are all sewer customers, while the total number of customers is 18, Langley said.

NASHVILLE - The people have spoken concerning their wishes for Stoney Creek Environmental Park- and now Parks and Rec is on it, having formulated a master plan reflecting most voted-on priorities and come up with funding plans.
Koy Worrell, Parks and Rec Director, presented details for three phases of park development in the "Stoney Creek Environmental Park Master Plan" at the April 15 town council meeting.

NASHVILLE - The much-anticipated question of what business would be going into 608 Western Avenue, the site of a renovated home owned by Michael Hurt that was recently rezoned to Office & Industrial, has been answered: it's going to be leased by the Nashville Police Department.
"We haven't had enough space in our police station to house our police investigators for a number of years," states the approved agenda item at the April 15 town council meeting.

I've got a significant birthday this week. How can that be, you say? Didn't this space just contain a birthday celebration just a few weeks ago? The one where the lady at church referred to me as "one of the young people"?
It was a glorious time I want to hold onto. But this week marks 10 years since a doctor shook me awake and said, "Happy birthday, Mr. Brantley." At UNC Hospital, they call the day you get a transplant "your new birthday."