By:
GEOFF NEVILLE, Graphic Sportswriter
NASHVILLE -- Only 11 years old, Chance Puckett experienced a once-in-a-lifetime journey a few weeks ago to the 2013 College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska.
A rising sixth-grader at Nash Central Middle School, Puckett developed an affinity for the North Carolina State University Wolfpack at a young age.
By:
GEOFF NEVILLE, Graphic Sportswriter
ROCKY MOUNT -- Most area fast-pitch fans though Nash Central High School’s loss in the second round of the Class 3-A State Softball Playoffs was the end of an era for one of the county’s most decorated batteries.
But Central’s Lindsey Sharpe and Caley Bass were destined to make one final diamond appearance together at the Powerade North Carolina State Games, which were held last week at Wingate University near Charlotte.
GREENSBORO -- Rosters have been released for the upcoming North Carolina Coaches Association East-West Girls Soccer All-Star Game.
The event will be played July 23 at 6:30 p.m. at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro Soccer Stadium. The boys game will follow.
SALEM, VA. -- The Carolina Mudcats took advantage of some early command problems from the Salem Red Sox’s prospect Henry Owens, and scored three runs early.
The Mudcats then held on late for a 5-3 victory Sunday evening at LewisGale Field in a Class A Carolina League baseball matchup.
Recently graduated Caley Bass was effective at home plate both with her bat and glove during her softball career with the Nash Central Lady Bulldogs. Bass and Nash Central teammate Lindsey Sharpe were able to participate in the Powerade State Softball Games near Charlotte last week. Bass will attend the University of North Carolina-Wilmington in the fall.
By:
Amanda Clark, Graphic Staff Writer
Spring Hope Commissioners granted a special use permit on Monday night for a biomass plant to locate in the former American Rockwool Plant.
Commissioners amended the town’s zoning ordinance in December to allow biomass plants in a heavy industrial zone/special use district with a special use permit. But at that time, commissioners were hesitant to issue the special use permit until more information was known.
By:
Amelia Harper, Graphic Correspondent
Red Oak Commissioners unanimously approved a solar farm ordinance that will govern the installation of such facilities in the town limits. The move came after a public hearing held in conjunction with the town’s regular town meeting on Monday, July 1.
Red Oak Commissioner Barbara Tyre said that the town decided to develop the ordinance in response to the fact that several citizens in the area had received letters soliciting the lease of their land for this purpose.
By:
Amanda Clark, Graphic Staff Writer
Nashville Boys and Girls Club Director Marisa Harley always gets excited when she talks about her work with kids.
That excitement is likely what led Harley to be named the North Carolina Business and Professional Women (BPW) Young Careerist of the Year.
By:
Amanda Clark, Graphic Staff Writer
Descendants of Willie B. and Fannie E. Harrison will converge at Rose Hill for the family’s 40th Harrison-Boddie reunion.
The reunion is significant, not only because it’s the 40th year the family has met, but because it’s the first time it’s being held at Rose Hill, where the Harrison-Boddie’s family’s roots began.
Filing for municipal elections will start on Friday, July 5 and run for two weeks.
All candidacy filing forms and fees, including those that are mailed, must be received by the Nash County Board of Elections by noon on Friday, July 19.
By:
Amanda Clark, Graphic Staff Writer
Trevor Thomas recently became the first blind person to hike the Mountain-to-Sea Trail and Nashville was one of many stops along the way.
Though Nashville is not a part of the Mountain-to-Sea Trail, Thomas camped out in the backyard of friend and Nashville resident Cheryl Burke. Burke was one of many friends who helped Thomas along the way.
By:
Amanda Clark, Graphic Staff Writer
The rain is expected to end just in time for Castalia’s July Fourth festivities, which will kick off with the car show at 9 a.m.
Craft and Food Vendors will open at 11 a.m. and the parade will begin at 2 p.m. followed by the welcome and Citizen of the Year Presentations at 4:45 p.m. Entertainment will kick off at 5 p.m. and fireworks will conclude the festivities.
A Castalia man was arrested last week on charges of trafficking opium.
The Nash County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Divison conducted a vehicle stop on June 27 on a pickup truck on US 64 at Old Carriage Road. James Allen Woodruff was driving the vehicle.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, 17 Oxycodone pills and a plastic bag containing marijuana were found on Woodruff.
By:
GEOFF NEVILLE, Graphic Sportswriter
RED OAK -- Leonard Allen has been selected as the new baseball coach at Northern Nash High School.
Allen, who spent the past four years at Bunn, announced his resignation Tuesday morning to accept the head coaching position at NNHS.
Later in the day, BHS Principal Robin Faulkner announced that Chris Cullom, a two-year assistant at Bunn, would succeed Allen.
The West Virginia mission team from Red Oak Baptist Church accomplished their goal of demolishing an old house ahead of schedule and returned home last week. This project will make room for the church to construct a picnic shelter so they can reach out to the community and lead them to Christ.
By:
Amanda Clark, Graphic Staff Writer
A Nash County Sheriff’s Deputy will soon travel to Houston, Texas to be recognized as the National Law Enforcement Officer of the Year.
Miste Strickland was nominated by Nashville’s American Legion Post 110 for the honor.
James Ervin, a member of Post 110, said Strickland exemplified all the qualities the American Legion looks for in candidates for the award.
By:
Amelia Harper, Graphic Correspondent
A Castalia commissioner now stands convicted of drug-related felonies, according to court documents. However, it seems that there are no immediate plans to remove him from the town’s board.
According to documents filed at the Nash County Courthouse, Clarence Bender, Castalia commissioner and one-time Democratic NC Senate candidate, pled guilty to charges of attempting to traffic opium by sale and attempting to traffic by delivery.
By:
Amanda Clark, Graphic Staff Writer
A Highway Patrolman from Nashville has been charged with assault after a domestic incident last Monday morning.
Officers from the Nash County Sheriff’s Department responded to a home outside of Nashville on Monday, June 17 around 9:19 a.m.
By:
Amanda Clark, Graphic Staff Writer
Former Congressman and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Bob Etheridge made a pit stop in Rocky Mount last week to sound the alarm for public schools.
“Bells are tradition to sound the alarm,” Etheridge said. “Today we are sounding the alarm because it’s time to pay attention to what’s happening in Raleigh. We are sounding the alarm for public schools.”
By:
Amanda Clark, Graphic Staff Writer
A grant will enable Cooley Library to offer patrons access to twice as many computers.
Library Director Brian Booth said the library was notified recently that it had received two grants, a Technology Grant and a Literacy Grant. Both grants will be shared with Braswell Memorial Library in Rocky Mount.
By:
Amanda Clark, Graphic Staff Writer
Nash County residents can count on another successful July Fourth if they plan to spend it in Castalia.
Organizers of the annual event said this year’s event will be extra special, as the parade will once again pay tribute to veterans.
Anna Joyner, who serves as the Parade Coordinator, said this year’s Grand Marshal’s will be Sgt. Linwood “Pee Wee” Harper, of Castalia, and Private First Class Herman Strum, of Spring Hope.
By:
Michele A. Cruz, Graphic Correspondent
Most Nash-Rocky Mount Schools (NRMS) staff believe the Career and Technical Education program is the number one “most important school educational program” in the system, according to this year’s Site-Level Climate (SLC) Survey results. Second and third in importance to staff are art and music education and advanced academic programs, respectively.
INCIDENTS
A possession of counterfeit money and larceny was reported on 6/17/13 at Murphy’s Express
A breaking and entering a commercial was reported on 6/17/13 at the Birchwood Country Club Pro Shop, 901 Birchwood Drive
