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The American Red Cross continues to experience a severe blood shortage that is negatively affecting blood product availability across the country. Donors of all blood types - especially type O and those giving platelets - are urged to make an appointment to give now and help ensure hospital shelves are stocked with blood products over the Fourth of July holiday and beyond.

North Carolina's egg prices were steady on small, lower on the balance when compared to last week. Supplies of medium were fairly heavy, while large were fairly light, and extra large were moderate to meet a moderate demand. The North Carolina weighted average price quoted
Thursday, June 24, for small lot sales of delivered, cartoned, grade "A" eggs was 104.45 for Extra Large, 101.72 for Large, 84.31 for Medium, and 82.00 for Small eggs.

ROCKY MOUNT -- It was fitting that Nash Central High School's athletic season would come to an end last week with the performances of Tralon Mitchell and Colin Johnson at the Class 2-A State Track and Field Championships.
Mitchell, a sophomore, burst onto the NCHS sports scene early in the spring as he excelled on the football gridiron for the Bulldogs.

Nash Central High School's representatives at the Class 2-A State Track and Field Championships at North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro were (l to r) Coach Ricardo Jerome, Coach Teonna Hill, Pole Vaulter Colin Johnson, Sprinter Tralon Mitchell and Coach Danasia Pitchford.

Nash Central High School sophomore sprinter Tralon Mitchell (left) took on some high-quality competition in the Boys 100 and 200 at last weekend's Class 2-A State Track and Field Championships on the campus of North Carolina A&T State University.

Colin Johnson competes in several sports for Nash Central High School -- and was a participant in the Boys Pole Vault event at last weekend's Class 2-A State Track and Field Championships at historic Aggie Stadium in Greensboro.

RED OAK -- Northern Nash's upward swing on the baseball diamond featured a strong 2021 season in the always-competitive Big East Conference.
The Fighting Knights fielded a young squad under Coach Joey Keefe, but showed plenty of promise for the future by posting a quality 7-5 overall record to go with a 5-5 worksheet in Big East action.

STANHOPE -- The names remained the same, but the path was quite different this time around for the Southern Nash High School wrestling squad.
Three Firebirds -- Jadel Davis, Luke Coble and Terrence Raspberry -- were able to qualify for the second straight season to compete in the Class 3-A Wrestling Championships.

BURLINGTON -- After a second-place finish at the Class 3-A East Regionals, Northern Nash's Chloe Harrington capped off her superb season with a strong run at the annual Class 3-A Girls Tennis State Championships last weekend at the Burlington Tennis Center in Alamance County.
Harrington, a talented junior, had roared through the Big East Conference with an undefeated mark before making it all the way to the regional finals.

KINSTON -- Joe Gray Jr. hit his Low-A East leading eleventh home run of the season, but Down East starter Mason Englert held the Carolina Mudcats to just one run and one hit over six strong innings as the Wood Ducks took Sunday's series finale 6-2 at historic Grainger Stadium in Kinston.
The Low-A East Central-leading Mudcats (28-18) ended up finishing with a split in their six-game series with the Wood Ducks (27-20).

STANHOPE -- Brian Batchelor's first season as the Southern Nash High School head football coach will begin August 27 with a non-conference home game against the Corinth Holders Pirates.
Batchelor being in charge won't be the only change for the Firebirds as they will be competing in a newfangled split Big East Conference along with fellow Class 3-A schools Northern Nash, Rocky Mount and Franklinton, along with Class 2-A squads Bunn, Louisburg, Roanoke Rapids and Nash Central.

Standout athletes such as pole vaulter Andrew Thompson helped the Southern Nash Firebirds claim the 2021Big East Conference Boys Track and Field Championship this spring. The Firebirds were coached by veteran skipper Sterling Leonard.

NASH COUNTY -- It's become an annual tradition for Northern Nash High School to send a Boys 3200 Relay Team to the Class 3-A State Track and Field Championships.
History repeated itself last weekend in Greensboro as Northern was once again represented by a 4x800 quartet at the states.

David Brake, a retired Nash County sheriff's deputy, has announced his plans to run for the office of sheriff in 2022 as a Democrat candidate. He retired in May 2020 from the sheriff's office at the rank of major after 30 years of criminal justice service to the state.
"I still have a lot to offer the community," Brake told The Graphic. "I have a deep concern for the citizens of Nash County. I would like to focus the sheriff's office more locally and less on the national and state level."

Nash County Public Schools has announced the hire of Yolanda Wiggins as the district's Director of Professional Learning and Special Programs.
Wiggins attended East Carolina University and earned her Bachelor's of Arts Degree English/Writing. She obtained her Master's Degree in School Administration from North Carolina State University.

The Nash County Board of Commissioners unanimously voted to accept the county's first installment of the American Rescue Plan Grant funds, totalling $9 million, at their meeting Monday afternoon. The second $9 million is expected to be received next year.
These federal funds are apportioned from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, which President Joe Biden signed into law in March this year.

Castalia's town board held its monthly meeting, including a public hearing, June 15th which was rescheduled from June 1st due to not having a quorum.
The public hearing was held for public comment on the town's proposed FY22 $212,000 operating budget. No one from the public was present to speak.
After the public hearing, Mayor James Alston reported he anticipates soon after FY22 begins, the town will receive American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 grant funding.

MASTER MUNICIPAL CLERK - Janice Evans, Certified Municipal Clerk to the Nash County Board of Commissioners, is presented with a certificate by Board Chair Robbie Davis, from the North Carolina Association of Municipal Clerks declaring her a Master Municipal Clerk. Evans received the certification upon completing all requirements through the UNC School of Government at Chapel Hill. Davis commended Evans on her dedicated service to the board since 2012.