Recent Articles

Spring Hope celebrated its 49th Pumpkin Festival last weekend offering all of the traditional events including a recipe contest, a pumpkin creations contest for kids, parade, food, crafts, live bands and giant pumpkin entries for the Giant Pumpkin & Watermelon Weigh-Off which is a sanctioned event of the Great Pumpkin Commonweath.
Pictured above, little Za'Kai Lucas, 5, sports his face painting while watching the parade.

Nashville's Town Council is slated to give final approval to the newly updated Town of Nashville Comprehensive Plan at the next regular meeting on October 19.
The town's Planning Board recommended approval on the 101-page plan at their meeting Wednesday, September 29.
The plan will serve as an official policy document, which will guide community development and shape the town's future.

Ground was broken Friday for what was, at first, intended to be a multi-housing development. That idea quickly changed direction to restoring a century-old historical building near the railroad into a campus of retail, restaurants, a pavilion, farmers market and apartments.
Michael J. Hurt, a Franklin County developer, said when he eyed the property he intended to build homes but when Nashville Town Councilman Kate Burns encouraged him to consider revitalizing the corner, he accepted the challenge.

Municipal elections are less than a month away and all three candidates for Nashville's Town Council are ready to serve the citizens of Nashville.
A candidate forum was held last Thursday for the three candidates seeking the two open seats on the board.
Kate Burns and Larry Taylor are incumbents on the board hoping to retain their seats for another term while newcomer Eddie Thomas has tossed his hat into the ring.

The American Tobacco Exchange smells of musk, dust and the aromatic perfume of freshly cured tobacco. A procession of tobacco farmers, mostly older, can be seen walking down the aisles of tobacco bales, bartering and buying 'bacca' as they call it, at the company's auction, in Wilson, every Wednesday until the first week of November.
"60, 50, 40 ..." Auctioneer David Griffin can be heard calling bids to the procession of men buying the tobacco.

I try not to get too caught up in what famous athletes and actors have to say. But when they start messing with history, it's too much to hold back.
A comment by an NBA player recently pains me greatly. While I don't follow the league as closely as I did in the 1980s when Bird, Jordan, and Magic held the stage, I am still a Boston Celtics fan.

Though it's been many moons ago -- I recall my first few days at a newspaper. I can still remember the smell of the composition room where typesetters were cranking out printed copy on a Compugraphic typesetting system. At that time it was pretty much state of the art. Strips of slick paper would stream from the printer which had to be allowed to dry for a bit before you streamed them through a rolling hot wax machine so it would adhere to the pages during the layout process.

This photo was found in The Nashville Graphic's 1988 archives. Former Nashville Police Lieutenant Ray Goodwin (right) is shown making a set of finger prints for a youth during an event held in Nashville as part of a child safety program.

Nash County has applied for a grant that will help with the establishment of an upcoming pet treat company.
According to the county's director of economic development Andy Hagy, the 2021 Community Block Grant Economic Development Block Grant (CDBG-ED) will support the renovation of The Crump Group, a Canadian manufacturer of all-natural, limited ingredient pet treats.

Stalking reported at 100 N Boddie St., on 9/27/21
Possession marijuana paraphernalia, possession marijuana less than 1/2 oz reported at 1731 Hunter Hill Rd., Rocky Mount on 9/29/21
Recovered property reported at 1786 Fountain Branch Rd, Rocky Mount on 9/29/21

Boykin first cousins and their spouses gathered recently to celebrate their Boykin kinship at the Boykin Family Farm in Nash County. The Boykin cousins' grandfather, William Woodson "Bill" Boykin, owned the first drugstore to have a storefront on Main Street in the Town of Bailey. Boykin Drug Company was incorporated April 1912.

Ever wondered exactly what questions to ask a potential life partner before tying the knot? This concept is explored in-depth in author and playwright Lenette Britt's latest book "An Ice Cream Sundae Marriage."
She calls those questions "Ice cream sundae talk," which is deep conversation a person should have to find out who their potential husband or wife really are. Many are uncomfortable asking their date a question which requires a candid response.

Southern Nash High School cheerleaders ride in the Spring Hope Pumpkin Festival parade.

Nash County 4-H members, volunteers and staff are shown with their 910 pound pumpkin at the Spring Hope Pumpkin Festival weigh-in Saturday morning.

Harper and Willow Williams win the Champions of the Field Award for their huge sweet potato entry at the Spring Hope Pumpkin Festival.

Kayla Hall, 10, gets her face painted at the Spring Hope Pumpkin Festival.

North Carolina Wesleyan College recently welcomed Jordan Stone as Multimedia Coordinator on Friday, October 1, 2021. Stone has gained comprehensive multimedia and production experience over the last three years as the Young Adult & Production Pastor at Midpoint Church in Middlesex, North Carolina.
In his new role with Wesleyan's Office of Marketing & Communications, Stone will provide strategy and lead the production of photography and videography needs within the department.

Nash County Detention Center Jail Administrator Captain Robert Bowen, who is also a 30-year North Carolina National Guardsman serving as a Sergeant Major, recently participated in a change of command ceremony held in Fayetteville where he was promoted to Command Sergeant Major. Command Sergeant Major Robert Bowen took responsibility as the Command Sergeant Major of the 1-252 Armor Regiment.

This week, Matthew Stafford - quarterback for the Los Angeles Rams - tied a record made by Kurt Warner from 1999. I guess it's true when they say records are made to be broken.
When they mentioned Kurt Warner yesterday, I remembered him rushing to the stands to give his wife a victory kiss after his St. Louis Rams won the Super Bowl in 2000.

Peripheral vision. Some people lose their peripheral vision or the ability to see from side to side when looking straight ahead. This ability is vitally important when applying for your driver's license. I saw how this loss of vision affected my wife's father as he grew older and battled cancer.
Sometimes we can have 20/20 vision and still miss so much that is all around us. I have said on numerous occasions, "we usually see what we're looking for."

Congratulations to Robby and Shannon Johnson Gault on the birth of their son, Cross Douglas on September 22! Proud grandparents are Doug and Sue Ella Johnson. Proud great-grandmother is Barbara Sue Edwards!
The Red Oak United Methodist Church will have their Brunswick Stew Sale on Saturday, October 9. If you purchased tickets you can pick up stew at 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm.

Last week we were looking at the first sermon from Peter to the world. It's a sermon rich in theology, where we'd be wise to continually receive what is proclaimed in these words.
Within this sermon is a confession of who Jesus is that will echo throughout church as it is the foundation upon which the church is built.
Let's dive in.

We at Peachtree Baptist Church praised God for allowing all he has given us.
The sanctuary flower arrangement Sunday was presented to glorify God.
Mrs. Jane May, Pianist, played a beautiful solo of patriot music.

Kavitha Investments, LLC to Edwin Hyler and Cynthia H. Hyler; outparcel C on Highway 43 (Benvenue Road); $2,635,000
Veronica Rodriguez and Sixto Tovar Rodriguez to Salvador Diaz and Maria Veronica Diaz; property in Bailey; $55,000
3MR Limited Partnership to Department of Transportation; permanent drainage/utility easement

Building Permits
Commercial
H. Leigh Ballance, Jr., 135 Commerce St., Shell/Foundation