By:
GEOFF NEVILLE, Graphic Sportswriter
ROCKY MOUNT -- Such are Nash Central’s upgraded softball expectations that a tinge of disappointment followed a campaign that featured a share of the Big East Conference regular season championships, a league tournament crown and a second-round appearance at the Class 3-A State Playoffs.
But NCHS coach Gary Smith hoped for a bit more than the Lady Bulldogs’ postseason exit last Tuesday against Havelock.
ROCKY MOUNT -- In their first season under the leadership of Coach Pat Smith, members of the 2012 Rocky Mount Academy Eagles Varsity baseball team soared to old heights once again as they returned to the NCISAA state baseball tournament recently.
In their last NCISAA appearance in 2010, they had an early exit in round one to Southlake Christian Academy.
WOODBRIDGE, VA. – The Potomac Nationals scored three runs in the first inning, and held on for a 4-2 win in front of 5,116 on Sunday afternoon in Class A Carolina League diamond action at G. Richard Pfitzner Stadium in Northern Virginia.
The Mudcats (21-21) dropped to .500 with the loss. The Nationals improved to 18-22.
By:
CHARLES ALSTON, Graphic Correspondent
ROCKY MOUNT -- Ben Gay and Absorbine Jr. might have been in short supply around town after Rocky Mount’s Alumni Baseball Game at Gryphon Stadium last Saturday afternoon.
Forty-two former Rocky Mount baseball players, ranging in age from 18 to 63 (the youngest -- RMHS graduating seniors Damian Smith and Collin Watson; the oldest, Class of ‘67 alums and 63-year-olds Eddie Joe Lynch and Doug Roberson), gathered to play the last Rocky Mount High-related game ever on a field that was laid out in 1920.
NASH COUNTY -- Here are updated results from the Nash County Parks and Recreation Department’s Spring Sports Season:
GREENVILLE -- The East Carolina University baseball team will take aim on its first post-season league title since 2002 when it opens play as the No. 6 seed at the 2012 Conference USA Baseball Championships presented by Trustmark, at Trustmark Park in Pearl, Miss.
ELM CITY -- County Line Raceway, as everyone knows made a schedule change to bring in the Ultimate Super Late Model Series last Saturday night.
With top stars such as Chris “Smokey” Madden, Casey Roberts, Casey Barrow and Daniel Baggerly on tap to show up, a lot of the local boys would also make the attempt to make the big show tonight.
GREENSBORO -- Southern Vance High School hoops skipper Mike Rotolo has finalized his roster for the 2012 North Carolina Coaches Association East-West All-Star Boys Basketball Game.
Rotolo will serve as the head coach for the East Team at the annual event, which is scheduled for July 16 at the Greensboro Coliseum.
GREENSBORO -- No. 13 North Carolina State punched its ticket to the 2012 Atlantic Coast Conference Baseball Championship as the third seed, equaling its highest seeding for the tournament since 1993, according to the pairings announced Sunday by the conference office.
Who would believe a children’s choir from our Rocky Mount area would give concerts in such places as the Washington DC’s National Cathedral, NYC’s Riverside Church, Phildelphia’s Church of the Holy Trinity, Charleston’s Piccolo Spoleto Festival, and Williamburg’s Bruton Parish and that they would sing with symphony orchestras and symphonic band?
By:
Michele A. Cruz, Graphic Correspondent
Since February 2012, the Nash-Rocky Mount Schools (NRMS) system has been in a hiring freeze. But Dr. Anthony Jackson, NRMS superintendent, said this freeze and the creation of a new associate superintendent position are two different issues, as he is in the process of reorganizing the administration, effective July 1.
Last week, the NRMS board approved the hiring of Dr. Eric Cunningham for the newly created associate superintendent of facilities and operations position.
By:
Amanda Clark, Graphic Staff Writer
Nash County Commissioners will soon consider adopting an updated animal control ordinance.
Nash County Health Director Bill Hill brought the ordinance before commissioners at their regular meeting last Monday. Hill said the ordinance is a revision of a previous one that was adopted in 1986.
“This ordinance that we have now....it’s about 26 years old,” Hill said. “It was adopted July 1, 1986 so I think it was due a rewrite, a revision and possible a repeal and completely new set of rules and regulations.”
By:
Amanda Clark, Graphic Staff Writer
Further investigation has led officials with the Nash County Health Department to identify norovirus as the agent responsible for a recent outbreak of gastrointestinal illness.
Last week, officials were investigating whether the outbreak was related to Ribeyes Restaurant in Nashville after the Health Department received numerous reports of gastroenteritis that was possibly linked to the restaurant. The reports first began last Thursday, May 3.
By:
Amanda Clark, Graphic Staff Writer
Blooming Festival organizers say this year’s festival was the best yet.
The 16th annual Nashville Blooming Festival wrapped up on Saturday night with a performance by the Band of Oz.
Amy Beasley, one of the co-chairs for the event, said this year’s festival brought out the largest crowd she’s ever seen.
The Town of Spring Hope was one of 11 communities recently accepted into the NC Small Towns Economic Prosperity Program, also known as NC STEP.
The NC STEP program helps revitalize small towns through a combination of community coaching, economic planning and targeted grants. It is designed for municipalities with less than 7,500 people within the state’s 85 rural counties.
Nash Central High School students will present the play “Bye Bye Birdie” at the Imperial Centre in Rocky Mount May 17, 18 and 19 at 7 p.m. and May 20 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $5 in advance and $8 at the door. Pictured, Jake Ferry as Conrad Birdie, performs a song while surrounding by adoring fans during a dress rehearsal on Monday.
By:
Amanda Clark, Graphic Staff Writer
Newborn babies in need of specialized care can now receive it locally, as Nash General Hospital recently celebrated the addition of a Special Care Nursery.
The Nash Health Care Board of Commissioners, along with staff from the Nash General Women’s Center, recently celebrated the new addition on May 3 with a ribbon cutting ceremony.
May is the start of another busy season for Nash Arts.
An art show is being hosted at Nash Arts during the month of May to coincide with the Blooming Festival. The exhibit will feature various subjects in colored pencil and ink by Otis Chancey of StudiOh! 10 of Rocky Mount, “Preserving Your Family History” charcoal dust portraits by Marilyn Williams of VanGo Arts Studio & Gallery of Rocky Mount, & ceramics and pottery by Barbara Sullivan of Krafty What-Knots Ceramic Studio of Spring Hope.
ARRESTS
De’Shawn Jamal Williams - 5/9/2012 - charged with breaking and entering and felony larceny
Kasie Evans - 5/2/2012 - charged with simple assault
Jessica Leigh Chappell - 5/2/2012 - charged with driving while intoxicated
Civilian Sydney T. Gerald, daughter of Ruth M. Barnett of Cordova, Tenn. and Terrance N. Gerald, of Rocky Mount, recently enlisted in the United States Navy under the Delayed Entry Program at Navy Recruiting District, Raleigh.
The program allows recruits to enter the Navy and take up to one year to complete prior commitments such as high school.
Annie Gardner Cook age 91 passed away on May 9th, 2012.
James Earl Battle, 53, of Rocky Mount, died on Tuesday, May 8, 2012.
ROCKY MOUNT –– A. O. Davis, 70, of Rocky Mount, died on Saturday, May 5, 2012, at Nash General Hospital in Rocky Mount.
ROCKY MOUNT –– Hattie Raye Horne, 85, of Rocky Mount, died on Wednesday, May 9, 2012.
ROCKY MOUNT –– James Thomas Phelps, 73, passed away on Monday, May 14, 2012. He was born November 28, 1938 in Nash County to the late Thomas Reuben and Annie Harris Phelps.
