Recent Articles

NASHVILLE- Longtime Nash County Commissioner Fred Belfield Jr., who turns 90 this year, has announced plans not to run for re-election to represent District 2 on the board of commissioners.
Belfield, of Rocky Mount, entered his 7th term of office in 2022 at the age of 87. He began his service as a county commissioner in 1998, eventually chosen as Chair in 2012.

Shameeka Wade, Interim Nash County Tax Administrator, center, takes the oath of office administered by Janice Evans, Clark to the Board, right. Wade's mother, Sandra Tillery, holds the Bible, left.

RED OAK- Saturday's heat didn't deter the enthusiasm of those who love classic tractors or cars, spread out and shining in the field at W.B. Ennis Park for the Red Oak Classic Tractor show on Friday, Sept. 5th and Saturday, Sept. 6th.

Levi Wolfe (left) of Rougemont and Ethan Liles of Middlesex sit on a John Deere tractor at the Red Oak Classic. Graphic photo by Nancy West-Brake

Trent Updyke of Nashville pauses to show off his face paint tiger stripes. Graphic photo by Nancy West-Brake

NASHVILLE - Nash County Public Schools has got its testing data back for the 2024-2025 school year, reporting the best school performance grades (SPGs) and the highest proficiency totals in the last ten years.
An SPG score is based 80% on Performance (achieving Proficiency) and 20% on growth from EOG or EOC scores.
Nearly 74% of Nash Schools received an A, B, or C in SPGs, with 12 schools exceeding growth and six meeting growth.

NASHVILLE - In an attempt to "clean up" inconsistent land use in Nashville, the first of several parcels targeted for rezoning has been paused to have its application reworked amidst concerns voiced by nearby residents.
Requested Sept. 2 for rezoning to Industrial were three small adjoining lots belonging to Braswell Milling, a division of Braswell Family Farms, located at 117 E. Rail Street, 813 S. Alston Street, and a lot with no address on S. Alston.

NASHVILLE - The first Nash County opioid settlement monies to be actually spent in the community is on its way, with two $200,000 contracts with local agencies approved Monday by county commissioners.
Assistant County Manager Tia Foula said members of the Opioid Settlement Advisory Council had settled on two agencies - Road 2 Recovery LLC and Project Momentum, Inc.- to begin providing services to individuals who are using or have suffered from opioid use.

The Nashville Fire Department will host an open house at its new station on 1520 Oak Level Rd. from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 13. A ribbon cutting will be held at 11 a.m. The event is open to the public.

NASHVILLE - A continued partnership between a local environmental group and the town of Nashville just got a major shot in the arm from the Duke Energy Foundation, who has granted $25,000 for ongoing project work at Stoney Creek.
North Carolina Wildlife & Outdoor Recreation Foundation (NCWORF) of Red Oak, which secured a $200,000 Environmental Enhancement Grant in 2024 to purchase 48 acres for Nashville to add to its Stoney Creek Environmental Park, along with a $300,000 NC StRAP (Streamflow Rehabilitation Assistance Program) grant

NASHVILLE - Two of the four people arrested in connection of the August 31st shooting death of Nashville resident Calvin "Chucky" Akeem Ellis have had court appearances in Nash County, with probable cause hearings scheduled in one week, but little information is available on the other two.
Ellis was transported to UNC Nash Hospital after the Sunday incident at 713 Smith Street, where he died of multiple gunshot wounds, reports stated. The initial 9-1-1 call came in at 2:41 p.m.

SPRING HOPE - While the 2025 North Carolina Pumpkin Festival is set for a new location- at the Spaulding Family Resource Center- Oct. 3 and 4th in Spring Hope, dates have been set for two other events, one new and one old, downtown this fall.
Coming up later this month on Friday, September 26th and Saturday, September 27th, the Clifton Chapel Church of Christ will be holding its first community revival on church grounds, located at 217 S. Poplar Street.

NASHVILLE - The issue of how to handle shipping containers in the town of Nashville remains unresolved, with another move by council members Sept.2 to table the issue.
No fewer than three versions of a text amendment to cover permitted shipping container uses have been brought before town officials since local businessman Chris Sandy, owner of Build Right Supplies, initiated an amendment change request.

SPRING HOPE - A new ordinance designed to protect the town's commercial districts from blight is on the drawing table at Spring Hope, including potential future fees for registering a vacant property.
A consideration of the "Vacant Buildings Ordinance Draft" was on the agenda at the Sept. 2 board of commissioners' meeting, but action was tabled based on a request from Andrew DeIonno, town manager, who said it was still being re-worked and was not ready for adoption.

NASHVILLE- Gas Pro LLC, operating on owner-occupied lot in an R-40 residential district in Bailey, has been approved for continued operation under a special use permit, with the proviso that zoning inspection will be done in six months.
Walker Johnson, business and property owner of just over 2 acres that sits at the entrance to the Pearson Acres Subdivision, was amenable to the added condition, stating "I have nothing to hide."

I was trying to make a point about being specific with a freshman writing class. We talk about how dates aren't usually helpful, and even the word "summer" can be vague.
Most of the class are not from North Carolina, so I was asking when it starts to get hot where they're from. I then asked the two or three Tar Heel natives when it gets hot in North Carolina and got maybe the perfect answer.

I decided to take a break from the pile of work staring at me from my office desk Saturday morning. I chose to slip over to see a few of our neighbors in Spring Hope and actually lay an eye on the happenings such as the Depot construction.
Our ace reporter Nancy West-Brake has been steadily covering the Spring Hope Town Council meetings just as thoroughly as she does our own council meetings here in Nashville.

Dear editor: The Board of Directors and supporters of the Red Oak Area Historic Preservation Society express our sincere appreciation to all who attended the 2025 Red Oak Classic. The event is the annual fundraiser for the renovation of the historic Red Oak Teacherage now over 100-years-old.
We greatly appreciate the generous sponsors, faithful hardworking volunteers, and advertisers in the community support ad book who made it possible for us to host the event.

This photo published in The Nashivlle Graphic on Nov. 29, 1977. Members of Girl Scout troops 420 and 665 of Red Oak visited Nash Rest Home in Nashville to present cards and fruits to residents. Left to right are Melissa Collier, Christy Spain, Adrienne Vester, Julie Dozier and Mattie Savage, resident of the home.

Jesus gave us the real key to healing: "Just believe".
The problem is there are a lot of Christians who don't believe that God heals anymore. I used to be one of them. However, God has brought too many accounts of healing my way for me to continue to doubt his healing power.
Several years ago, for example, a friend called me and asked me to pray for his granddaughter.

Preaching at a crusade in Calgary many years ago, Reverend Billy Graham told the story of a man in the mountains of western North Carolina who was driving down the road one day. He approached a directional sign and because he didn't appreciate the direction it pointed him to take, he literally got out of his car and repositioned the sign to point in another direction.

Dorothy, Audrey, and I attended the Patterson Family Reunion on Saturday, Sept. 6 in Henderson. The annual reunion was held at South Henderson Pentecostal Holiness Church. It was well attended with some new faces this year. It was also good to have some young children and teens attending and wanting to learn about their family. There was also time to visit with family and someone had brought some old pictures as well. Everyone enjoyed the covered dish lunch which included many delicious foods such as potato salad, corn pudding, butter beans, ham, fried chicken, deviled eggs, and pear salad.

Last week, we began to investigate the Jewish claim of a coming Messiah throughout history. In fact, we listed some seventeen ancient prophetic historians who recorded prophecies of this King and Messiah. Bible scholar John MacArthur notes that these prophecies begin in Genesis, in the Garden, with God cursing Eve. It is in this first promise (Gen 3:15) from God of a messiah that we learn He will be the seed of the woman (cf Gal 4:4) who will destroy Satan (1 John 3:8). He will be the great prophet of whom Moses wrote (Duet 18:15-22; Acts 3:22-23).

Peacemakers will host its annual Picnic for Peacemakers fundraiser at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 2nd at Englewood Baptist Church.
"We really look forward to this event every year," Peacemakers Executive Director Jesse Lewis said. "It's a time when we can get together with friends and supporters to celebrate all that God has done in our community over the last year, and get energized about what is coming next."

Mondale Cobb to Michelle L. Cobb; 3413 Merrifield Road, Rocky Mount
David Brantley and Sons, Inc. to Ryan Wesley Welch and Leah Caitlyn Welch; 5.77 acres
Sergio Saldana Arenas and Esperanza De La Cruz Tolentino to Medina Realty, LLC; .13 acres; $95,000
Mary Wright, William Wright Jr., Elizabeth Barnes, Susan Barnes, Donisha Barnes, Haywood Sumner and Briana Sumner to Mary Wright; property in Nash County