Recent Articles

Veterans were recognized last week and again on Monday at several events throughout the county.
Three Nash-Rocky Mount schools participated in events honoring veterans last week.
Last Wednesday, students at Southern Nash Middle School held a Veterans Appreciation Service at the school. Sixth graders have been participating in a special program for many years.

Middlesex Public Works Supervisor Dale Bachmann has resigned from the Town of Middlesex, Mayor LuHarvey Lewis announced on Monday night at the board’s regular meeting.
Commissioners unanimously approved Bachmann’s resignation. Bachmann, who also serves as a commissioner, abstained from voting.

The Nash County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents of a person calling citizens pretending to be a law enforcement official.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, the subject is making phone calls telling citizens they missed jury duty and will be arrested if they don’t pay money to a Paypal account.
The individual has used the name Major Wilson, Badge number 72, the Sheriff’s Office said.

Seven Nash County communities joined together on Saturday for fellowship at the annual Community and Rural Development Banquet.
The event was bittersweet for Anna Deans, a member of the Nashville Willing Workers who has served for several years as President of the Community and Rural Development Council. Deans has resigned as President and will not serve in 2014. She said she will, however, continue to help the organization.

INCIDENTS
A hit and run was reported on 11/4/13 in the Mucho Mexico parking lot, 921 Eastern Avenue
A damage to property (vandalism) was reported on 11/6/13 on S First Street

A larceny of a motor vehicle was reported on 11/4/13 at Exit 30, off of US 264 Eastbound
A larceny of copper wire was reported on 11/5/13 at 4937 Community Drive
A domestic violence was reported on 11/5/13 on Taylors Mill Road
Counterfeit money was reported on 11/5/13 at 8168 Taylors Store Road

ROCKY MOUNT –– Cleo Jr. Parker, 58, died November 2, 2013.

ROCKY MOUNT ––Frank Earl Williams, 62, of Rocky Mount, died on Saturday, November 9, 2013. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by the Rocky Mount location of H.D. Pope Funeral Home.

Robert Perry Leonard “Pie”, passed away on Sunday, November 10, 2013. He was 73. Born in Franklin County on January 18, 1940 he was the son of the late Willie and Wilma Gupton Leonard.

Guy Dempsey Davis, Jr., 60, passed away Saturday, November 9, 2013. Born May 5, 1953, he was the son of Guy Dempsey and Peggy Hackney Davis. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Bobby Ray Davis.

Ruth Elizabeth Arrington Walker passed away on Saturday, November 9, 2013. Born January 11, 1916, she was the daughter of Sarah Henrietta Draper and Henry Peter Arrington. In 1937, she married Maurice Walker.  In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by Maurice, her sister, Mary Hoyle, brother, Ben Arrington, son-in-law, Marvin Sherron, and grandson, Michael Sherron and his wife, Lynn.

Morrison Webb Farmer, Jr., (Buddy) son of the late Morrison Webb Farmer Sr., and Gladys Winstead Farmer passed away on November 5, 2013. He was born September 17, 1949 in Wilson County. He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Betty Jones of Elm City.

Mary Adeline Wester Rapoza passed away on November 6, 2013. She was the daughter of John Harvey Wester and his wife Mary Frances, both of Franklin County.  She is preceded in death by brothers, Perry Wester, John Harvey Wester Jr., June Wester; and sisters, Margaret Johnson and Rachael Newcomb; husband Thomas Frank Rapoza, and  sons Wade Rapoza and Rex Rapoza.

Beulah Denton Baker, 73, passed away November 9, 2013. She was born in Nash County on May 5, 1940 to the late Vance Gillis and Tamer Elizabeth Pollock Denton. She was also preceded in death by her brother, Raymond Denton.

Brian Booth returned last month from a spiritual retreat that left him renewed yet energized.
Booth, Director of Cooley Library, attended Saint Anselm Abbey in Washington, D.C., where he spent nine days living the life of a monk. Booth spent much of his time in silence, focusing on prayer and community service during his stay.
Monasteries are not new to Booth. He has lived in a monastery several times in year’s past, once for a year and a half.

Nash Central Middle School has announced its first Six Weeks Honor Roll

Thankfully, it was hard to miss Veterans Day this week, or the birthday of the U.S. Marine Corps.
In recent weeks, there have been local dinners, dedications and ceremonies for those who have served our country in the armed services. There was a piece on CBS’ Sunday Morning about the Vietnam Memorial (The Wall) in Washington, D.C., and there was a final gathering of three of the four surviving raiders who bombed Tokyo in 1942 with Lt. Col. James Doolittle.

On Monday, Veterans Day, while almost all of my Facebook friends were posting about how grateful they were for our veterans, I had one friend, a guy I went to high school with, post something extremely hateful towards our veterans and the holiday that recognizes them.
My first thought was, “did he really say that?” and then I just stared at the computer screen for a minute, trying to decide whether I should respond, “unfriend” him, or just ignore him.

Did you vote?
Only 7.82 percent of Nashville’s 3,976 registered voters went to the polls last Tuesday to cast votes for town council members. The low voter turnout isn’t surprising, but that doesn’t make it okay. Typically when there are people running for state seats or a national seat, the turnout is much higher. But we should remember that  people who sit on Nashville’s Town Council are elected officials who can make a huge impact on our lives right here in town.

I would like to address an issue involving peddlers or solicitors in the Town of Nashville. 
You hear a knock on the door…but you are not expecting any visitors…whom could it possibly be you wonder?  Upon peering out the front window you see an unidentified individual with a clipboard in their hand patiently waiting for you to open the door.

CHAMPIONS OF 1962 ––This photo originally published in The Graphic on March 8, 1962. Pictured are the champion Bailey girls who won tournament honors with a winning streak of 102 games. From left to right, kneeling: Kay Strickland, Linda Lamm, Maxine Liles, Nancy Brannon, Sue Lamm and Susan Bissette. Back row: Teresa Creech, Kate Skinner, Betty Doris Temple, Linda Brantley, Faye Carroll, Alma Cummings and Margaret Haskins.

As Nash Health Care Systems plans the budget for the coming year, the uncertainties of the current health care situation make accurate predictions difficult, explained Al Hooks, CFO. At the November board meeting held on November 7, Hooks said that the new health care exchanges offered through the new Affordable Care Act were a “wild card” that made budgeting a challenge.

The overall percent of proficient students in the Nash-Rocky Mount Schools (NRMS) system fell below state percentages for the 2012-13 school year.
Data released at the end of last week by the NC Department of Pubic Instruction (NCDPI) shows the NRMS system’s total combined scores under state proficiency percentages by 10 to 14.4 percent. Proficiency, as defined by evaluators, means scoring at or above grade level.

The Town of Nashville and Nash County are still panning out details for a new EMS station that will be located in Nashville’s Business Center.
Nashville Town Manager Preston Mitchell told council members last Wednesday during the board’s regular meeting that county officials had made several requests regarding water lines for the new facility. Mitchell said the county was also unsure of the type of facade the building would have.