Recent Articles

ROCKY MOUNT - Calling Nash Community College's Vet Med Tech program the best of five in the state, and the only one located in the central and eastern portion, NCC President Lew Hunnicutt presided at a ribbon-cutting May 3 of the new Braswell Veterinary Medical Technology Building.
Nearly seventy people were in attendance for the event, including current and former students, legislators on the local and state level, building architects and constructors, and guests of honor Scott and Marylou Braswell, for whom the building is named.

A 31-year-old Rocky Mount man has an upcoming court appearance on Christmas Day to answer charges that he stole from his own grandmother.
Bradley Baines of 3405 Woodbrook Drive was arrested April 10 on three felony charges: Financial Card Fraud, Obtaining Property Under False Pretenses and Exploitation of An Older or Disabled Adult.
The older adult in question is Baines' grandmother, Shirley Ellis, with whom he lived. Listed in court records as a witness is Kimberly Puckett.

Call for service at 1008 Maudis Rd., Bailey on 5/1/24
Larceny felony reported at 10147 Cone Rd., Middlesex on 4/29/24
Larceny from construction site reported at 13325 Taylors Mill Rd., Middlesex on 4/30/24
Obtain property by false pretense reported at 134 Hunts Way, Spring Hope on 4/29/24

INCIDENTS:
Larceny by employee reported at 242 N. Eastpointe Ave., Nashville on 5/4/24
Larceny after breaking and entering; felony breaking and/or entering reported at 300 Essex Rd., Nashville on 4/29/24
Driving while license revoked, impaired revoked; DWI reported at mile marker 459 US 64 E on 5/3/24

NASHVILLE - While the proposed Nash County budget includes money to replace nine or ten vehicles for the Nash County Sheriff's Department, a $420K grant just in from the FY24 NC Office of State Budget and Management is providing enough funding for six to eight more, depending on the type of vehicles considered.
Donna Wood, Nash Finance Officer, filled commissioners in at their May 6 regular board meeting, requesting approval for an amended capital project ordinance, the "Nash County Sheriff Vehicles Project Ordinance," to make funds available to the Sheriff's Department for the purpose of buying additional cars.

A foam paint-roller intended for use by children is being recalled because of high lead levels in the roller's handles.
The Nash County Health Department is putting out an alert to parents about the May 2 recall of "Creativity Street Foam Pattern Rollers", made in China and imported for Dixon Ticonderoga. The rollers were sold online through Amazon, Walmart, StaplesAdvantage, and MacPhersonsArt from September 2023 through January 2024 for about $15.

NASHVILLE - A gathering on the Courthouse steps in Nashville May 2, the National Day of Prayer, was held to conduct the Nash County Prayer Service, with about fifteen in attendance
The welcome and invocation, beginning at noon, were delivered by Reverend J. Kenneth Byrd, Jr., Pastor of Nashville Baptist Church, followed by a call to prayer taken from II Samuel 22:29-31.

NASHVILLE - "Project Sandy" is the code name given to an existing Nash County ag company that is looking to invest $9.5 million in a new facility and create four new full-time jobs.
The jobs are expected to have average salaries of $55,000.

Last week's split-personality weather was a memo from Mother Nature that we might be in for a brutish summer.
I went from hoodie to frantically digging through my dresser for cut off t-shirts and jorts.
I've written about our how our summers feel like someone microwaved a wet towel and threw it over my head. This often means thermostat battles are emerging in public spaces and private homes everywhere.

Blooming Festival weekend is finally here! No, I didn't forget I wrote about this exact happening last week. This week's column is a completely separate angle of the 27-year event.
While you're enjoying the sounds and sights of the festival whether chomping down on the delicious festival cuisine, visiting the carnival, watching the famous Blooming Festival Parade, or dancing in the street and enjoying an incredible line-up of music, please remember there are people here in your community who work extremely hard to make this weekend happen.

TEN-YEAR SERVICE AWARD - This photo originally published in The Nashville Graphic on August 10, 1967. Howard Wilson of the Holly Grove Community (left) receives a certificate for ten years of continued service with the Nash County Soil Conservation Service from David L. Dixon, area soil conservationist from Raleigh.

I remember that day like it was yesterday. It was a cold January day, 63 years ago. And while I was only in the second grade, I knew a lot more about what was going on than they thought I did.
As I looked across the school playground, I saw one of my mama's best friends talking to my teacher. I just stood there, frozen in my steps. Even though they were out of earshot, I knew exactly what they talking about. She was telling her that my mama had just died.

If Paul were alive and could see the church in the United States today, he would send us a letter too." So true! And he did actually. Through God's Word, Paul's letters are written to each and every one of us. In Chapter 4 of Romans Paul reminded the church in Rome about Abraham. He wrote, "Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, 'So shall your offspring be.' Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead - since he was about a hundred years old - and that Sarah's womb was also dead.

Congratulations to James and Amanda Hurst on the birth of their daughter, Darcey Rose Hurst, on April 27! Proud grandparents are Pat and Melinda Griffin!
Red Oak Baptist Church welcomes Audrey Lewis, Ray and Cindy Everette, and Justin and Allison Harrell to the church family! Also, Fletcher Williams, son of and Allison Williams, was baptized on Sunday, May 5!
Women in Action missions group will meet at 6:30 pm on Tuesday, May 14 in the main building of Red Oak Baptist Church.

A new genealogy book, Hollywood Cemetery Obituaries Middlesex, North Carolina, 1863-2024, has recently been published by James A. and Margaret B. Bailey.
Hollywood Cemetery, also known as the Middlesex Cemetery, is located about three-fourths of a mile south of downtown Middlesex on the east side of Highway 231. The cemetery has approximately 950 burials.

Singlewide; 5989 Janice Ct., Bailey; Sharon Yepiz; $3,000
New single family dwelling; 5095 Wildlife Rd., Castalia; Dean Holland; $195,000
New single family dwelling; 5027 Wildlife Rd., Castalia; Dean Holland; $219,000
Detached accessory structure; 7890 Doughtie Rd., Bailey; Nathaniel Dupree; $26,944.60

Chloe Marie Agan, daughter of Jeff and Erin Agan, has been awarded this year's Ann MacPherson Weaver Memorial Scholarship at Rocky Mount Academy (RMA.) Currently an eighth grader at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Agan will attend RMA in the fall on a full-tuition scholarship, valued at approximately $62,000 over four years.
The Weaver Scholarship was established at Rocky Mount Academy in 1986 in memory of a 1984 RMA graduate who had lost her life to cancer earlier that year.

Nash Community College is excited to welcome Dr. Levy Brown, a visionary and strategic-thinker, as the new Vice President of Student Services.
"Team Nash is very excited to have Dr. Brown back in North Carolina, but more importantly at NCC," said Dr. Lew K. Hunnicutt, president of NCC. "His easy-going nature and leadership style will propel Student Services to new heights."
In this role, Dr. Brown will oversee the Student Enrollment Services and the Success Network and set direction for Student Services programs and activities.