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Family, friends, co-workers and even strangers paid tribute last Friday to Deputy Jared Michael Allison, who died in the line of duty on Thanksgiving.
Allison's life was remembered during a funeral service, which was followed by a procession through Rocky Mount and Nashville.
Allison died from injuries he sustained during a car accident while trying to stop a motorcycle who was driving recklessly on Wesleyan Boulevard in Rocky Mount. He passed away on December 1.

Brothers Adam Alzer, Tariq Alzer and Samira Alzer stand with a law enforcement flag to show support for Jared Allison. The boys' father is a police officer in Rocky Mount. Graphic photo by Amanda Clark

The Rocky Mount Fire Department shows support for Jared Michael Allison during his funeral services on Friday.

Over half of students in the Nash County Public School System are failing one or more classes, school system officials reported to school board members on Monday.
The information was presented during an update on the school system's reopening plan.
The school system plans to welcome middle and high schools students back to in-person learning on January 11.

Nashville's Chamber of Commerce held its annual Christmas event Saturday modified to social distancing standards. Santa and Mrs. Claus were seated indoors while children remained outdoors communicating via special North Pole walkie talkies. Pictured above, Gilannie Barragan talks to Santa.

The Nash County Sheriff's Office is investigating a domestic disturbance that resulted in a homicide Sunday morning.
The sheriff's office was dispatched to 4678 Pine Street in Battleboro around 10:15 a.m. on Sunday, December 6 in reference to an unconscious subject.
While enroute to the home, deputies were advised that the children of the residence had gone next door to a neighbor's house and stated that their mother, 34-year-old Tiara Laquan Dzikowski, had been stabbed by the suspect, Alexander Dayton Dzikowski, 33.

North Carolina will begin a modified stay-at-home order on Friday, December 11 in attempts to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Governor Roy Cooper made the announcement on Tuesday during a press conference.
The Order requires people to stay at home between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. and will take effect on Friday, December 11 and will be in place until at least January 8, 2021.

The Nash County Sheriff's Office has reported a missing person from Middlesex.
Andre Jesus Raya, 21, of Planer Mill Road, Middlesex, was last seen on Friday afternoon, December 4.
Raya is described as being 6" in height, weighing 135 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes.
He drives a 1997 Mazda Protege with registration plate "PMF-9821."

A longtime dry cleaning and laundry business will shut its doors at the end of the month.
Tim Evans announced last week that he is retiring from Acme Cleaners and Laundry in Nashville.
The business has been around for almost 78 years.
Evans' father, Warren Evans, opened the business in March of 1943.

Nashville's Town Council approved moving forward with the process of closing a portion of Elm Street so Nash County could build an addition to its detention center.
The request to close a portion of Elm Street was first brought before the board on September 30. Nash County Director of Public Utilities and Facilities Jonathan Boone presented plans for a detention center expansion to council members and asked that the town permanently close a portion of Elm Street to accommodate the new facility.

Nash County Commissioners have officially approved moving forward with phase three of a high speed internet initiative started back in 2018.
Commissioners unanimously agreed to award a contract for phase three, option two of the high speed internet initiative to CloudWyze.
The approval is subject to review by County Manager Zee Lamb and County Attorney Vince Durham.

One Spring Hope commissioner is proposing the town establish an ordinance for operating golf carts after a near close encounter he had with one.
Commissioner Ricky Tucker requested the need for golf cart regulation after almost hitting one during the summer. Tucker said he was coming home from work around 11:30 p.m. one night when he almost hit the small vehicle on McLean Street.

A warrant service was reported on 12/3/20
A defraud/obtain money/property for medical assistance was reported on 11/30/20 at 100 N Boddie Street, Nashville
A warrant service was reported on 12/5/20 at 100 N Boddie Street, Nashville

Building Permit
(residential)
Denise Everette; new single family; $94,296.61
Denise Everette; new single family; $118,045.11

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is launching a pilot program to deploy COVID-19 testing in K-12 public schools to quickly identify students and staff who may have the virus to help slow its spread.
Local education agencies including public school districts, charter school networks or individual charter schools currently offering any in-person instruction -- either Plan A or Plan B -- are eligible to apply.

December may be the season of giving - but it's typically a challenging time to collect enough blood donations. Add in a pandemic, and this year could be even tougher than usual. That's why the American Red Cross is urging those who are feeling well to give the gift of life by donating blood or platelets this holiday season.
The need for blood doesn't stop for holidays. Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, more than 1 million blood transfusions will be given in the United States.

Diabetes or "diabeetus" as the late Wilford Brimley used to call it on those heartfelt commercials, finally ran me down.
I fought a good fight for four years, almost naming a new form of the disease -- Fake Diabetes. The conversation with high level doctors at UNC went like this:
Me: I don't have real diabetes. I only have it because of the medicine you gave me. I have Fake Diabetes.

This has truly been a unique holiday season.
It's been a bit challenging for me to slip away and do the things I need to do to prepare for the holidays. Between stores closing earlier and just finding the time, I'm extremely behind on getting prepared for Christmas this year.

Even with COVID restrictions and precautions, Nashville's downtown area has proved to be a place people still want to be!
During a recent conversation I was asked what could be done to bring some life to downtown.
I simply asked that person had they truly spent any real time in downtown over the past years?

This photo originally published in The Nashville Graphic on April 17, 1975 of the Northern Nash pitching staff.

Dear Santa,
I hope you are good. I would like for Christmas:
BB Gun, Monster truck
Batman Cave, Tablet

THANKS for RESCUES! If Rescues were puppy mills, applications would be processed immediately, because mills are in it just for the money and want them sold quickly, so they can breed more! However, Rescues' first job is to find the best match, the best home for the dog (or cat) and to care for it. After all, they have invested not only donated funds but probably their own money, not even taking in account all the time needed to run to vets and take care of the pet.

Members of Bethel Heroes Chapter 636, United Daughters of the Confederacy recently delivered Christmas gifts to the Veterans Residential Services of Wilson. Gifts will be given to needy veterans and their families on the 15th of December. Pictured (L-R) is: Brenda Dorsett, Yvonne McLamb, Claudia Baker, Helen Sharpe, Donna Boykin and Edith Whitby.

"But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered." (Romans 6:17)
I understand exactly what the Apostle Paul meant when he said, "You used to be slaves to sin". But I didn't understand it until I was born again. Salvation gave me a whole different perspective about the life I used to live.

The Christmas story is all about new life, but perhaps not in the way you are thinking.
Now, as a reminder, this new series is about going deeper in the Christmas story, or learning what Christmas really is all about, biblically-speaking anyways.
When God created Adam, he did it in the most unique and beautiful way.