Recent Articles

A Red Oak family and a Spring Hope man are both homeless after recent structure fires.
Bryant Fisher, Nash County 9-1-1 Director, said a call was received at 12:26 p.m. Friday, Feb. 2, for the Red Oak fire on 3645 Kimberly Jo Drive, part of the Shiloh subdivision.
Nash County G.I.S. records report the home's owners as William Joseph Evans and Lashonda Charlett.

Three months after the state installed an interim Director, Nash County's Department of Social Services is back under local leadership with the appointment of Ms. Denita DeVega as the new Director.
DeVega, who has 25 years' experience in public service and advocacy, was introduced to the Nash County Board of Commissioners Feb. 5 by County Manager Stacie Shatzer.

A first-generation Nashville family farm has been recognized at the state level with the award of Farm Family of the Year.
Leggett Farming Partnership, owned by Brent and Sue Leggett, received the award Feb. 2 from the North Carolina Tobacco Growers Association at the Southern Farm Show in Raleigh after having been nominated by the Tobacco Growers Awards Committee. The NCTGA, Brent Leggett said, is an advocacy group that promotes tobacco farmers and looks out for them at the state, federal and international level by providing needed information.

Spring Hope's signature event, the Pumpkin Festival, might not be held in downtown Spring Hope in 2024.
LeaAnne Hahnel, representing the Chamber of Commerce, addressed town commissioners Feb. 5, bubbling with excitement about new upcoming events including "Doggy Days" in the Spring, a Car Show and a potential event for 2025 called "Romance in Spring Hope."
Doggy Days, Hahnel said, is still being planned, but could potentially include dog agility demonstrations or competitions in addition to adoption events.

A surprise local visit by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt to Nash County Wednesday morning resulted in the unexpected announcement that Nash has been approved to receive 40 million in Lottery funds to build a new Southern Nash Middle School, with an 1100 student capacity, in three to four years. It will be the largest school grant that Nash County has ever received.

After 45 years with the Coopers Fire Department, Shelton Baker, still employed at 67, is retiring from fire duty and looking forward to more time with a fishing pole. Firefiighter Baker was honored with an inscribed clock plaque at the Coopers Fire Dept Christmas party.
"Shelton Baker has served in every compacity from firefighter, board of directors, LT, Captain and Chief. Really hate to lose him. He has been a mentor to me over the years," said Eric Boone, Chief of Coopers Fire-Rescue Department.

Jarrett Moss (left) was named Firefighter of the Year at Coopers Fire and Rescue. Pictured with Moss is his father, Jamie Moss.

The early voting window for the upcoming 2024 March 5th Primary begins Feb. 15 and ends March 2.
During the early voting period, Nash County voters may cast a ballot at either of two voting sites: the Nash County Ag Center at 1006 Eastern Avenue, Nashville, or Braswell Memorial Library at 727 N. Grace Street, Rocky Mount. Eligible individuals may register and vote at the same time.

Nash County's most promising new sites for future business development, the 500+ acre Ammons site in Middlesex, will be receiving a $500,000 boost from the North Carolina Railroad Company.
Andy Hagy, Nash Economic Director, shared the news at the Feb. 5 Nash County Commissioners' meeting along with Connor Christensen, Economic Development Program Manager for NCRC.

Castalia's new town clerk has hit the ground running since being appointed to the position last month.
Tracy Shearin was voted in by Castalia's Board of Commissioners in January and sworn in on Tuesday by Mayor James Alston.
"You're officially the town clerk for the Town of Castalia," Alston said after swearing Shearin in.
Shearin is a familiar face, having served as clerk for the Town of Red Oak prior to her appointment in Castalia.

Nashville's Chamber of Commerce is seeking nominations for its annual Distinguished Citizen of the Year event.
This year's event is set for Thursday, March 28 at 7 p.m. at Nash Arts.
The Distinguished Citizen Award is presented to a citizen or business person from the Nashville area that strives to make the community a better place.

A proposed townhouse development off Liberty Drive has been approved by the Nashville Town Council, but only with a reduction of units and a list of conditions imposed by town officials on the developer.
ACE Needham, LLC, owned by Alex Ivey and Eric Ogilvie, requested a special use permit last month which included a lengthy evidential hearing, with the Council acting as a quasi-judicial board and involving the gathering of "legally acceptable evidence" such as traffic studies, maps, and photographs of surrounding properties.

These are the times that try men's souls -- at least men who aren't obsessed with professional football.
Because there is a two-week break between the conference finals and the Super Bowl, the Sports Industrial Complex runs out of interesting stories in about three hours. By the end of the week, I suspect they'll be talking about what breed of dog the players would be if they could become a dog.
The good thing for me is that I don't have live television any longer and removed a major sports station from my radio presets.

This week's report that longtime firefighter and rescue worker, Shelton Baker, has retired after serving 45 years at Coopers Fire and Rescue most certainly proves that time indeed flies by.
Having grown up in the Coopers Community, with three much older sisters, Shelton Baker was no stranger to the Green family. As mentioned in an earlier column, small communities of yesteryear kept classmates close-knit.