Recent Articles

RALEIGH- The North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center has received a grant of $6.38 million from Lilly Endowment Inc. through its Ministry in Rural Areas and Small Towns Initiative.
The aim of the initiative is to provide resources to help churches in rural areas and small towns enhance the vitality of their ministries and strengthen the leadership of the pastors and lay leaders who guide them.

RALEIGH - The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is accepting grant applications for the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, which aims to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in the marketplace. Nonprofits and government agencies wishing to apply have until March 10 at 5 p.m.
The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program is managed by the department, through anticipated funding by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Eligible projects must involve fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, culinary herbs and spices, medicinal plants, nursery, floriculture or horticulture crops.

NASHVILLE - A Nashville man is in jail on a $76,000 secured bond, awaiting a grand jury appearance on five felony counts of sexual exploitation of children related to child pornography.
Andrew Grey Leonard, 37, of 6100 Taylors Store Road, was arrested December 9, 2024, after an investigation by the Nash County Sheriff's Department, beginning with a cybertip of an ICAC (Internet Crimes Against Children Case) through the State Bureau of Investigation.

A lot of unbelievers don't associate evil with Satan. Christians also fail to connect the evil we see in others with the devil. Isn't it interesting that the confusion we experience about the real source of evil also comes from Satan himself? I think that's what the Apostle Paul meant when he said, "For God is not the author of confusion". (I Corinthians 14:33)

The city of Smyrna, known today as Izmir in Turkey, holds a significant place in Christian history, particularly through the lens of the early Christian church mentioned in the Book of Revelation. The church at Smyrna, one of the seven churches addressed by Jesus Christ through John in Revelation 2:8-11, stands out for its resilience amidst persecution.

Julian B. Gassaway III, Astrid B. Gassaway, Daniel G. Gassaway, Pamela R. Gassaway, Jane Gassaway Ayers and George Douglas Ayers Jr. to Linda E. Fisher; 45.9 acres; $370,000
Kristen Marie Ivory and Andrew J. Ivory to Raymond McElheny and Dianne McElheny; Village Square Subdivision, Block A, Lot 9
Willie Mae Avent to Gloria Avent-Kindred, Gloria Avent Kindred; .715 acres

NASHVILLE - For the second time in two months, the Nashville town council has voted to table a decision on rezoning two chunks of land off Cooke Road in the light of heavy local opposition to proposed land improvements for a Ripe Revival food processing and educational complex.
The council voted unanimously Feb. 4 to table while asking two requests of Will Kornegay, Ripe Revival founder and CEO: for more research to be done about how to mitigate potential biohazard risks to a nearby poultry farm and for Kornegay to address potential issues of noise and light pollution from a planned outdoor amphitheater at the complex.

ROCKY MOUNT - Red Oak native and longtime Agriculture advocate Bobby Jo Fisher was honored with the top award from the North Carolina Department of Agriculture, "The Ambassador of Agriculture," during the second annual Agriculture Forum Jan. 29 at Nash Community College.
Steve Troxler, North Carolina Agriculture Commissioner and keynote speaker for the event, said Fisher deserved recognition for his "lifelong commitment to Nash County, to agriculture in the regional, and as Chairman of the Nash County Soil & Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors for 35 years."

NASHVILLE- A request to rezone 7 acres of A-1 Agricultural land to B-1, business, for UNC Nash to put in a 10,000-square-foot medical offices building near the 64 interchange, has been approved by Nashville town planners and the Nashville Town Council.
The undeveloped parcel in question, which is part of a larger tract that belongs to 3MR Limited Partnership, is on Red Oak Road close to US 64 and falls within the town of Nashville's ETJ.

NASHVILLE - A rezoning request for a new, 72-lot subdivision on Peachtree Hills Road, Spring Hope, was turned down by Nash commissioners Feb. 3, but does not preclude the possibility of a somewhat smaller, scaled-down version at the same location, as permitted under current zoning.
L.D. Land Holdings LLC, the current owner of about 129 acres near the Franklin County line on both sides of Peachtree Hills Road and along the south side of Savage Road, requested conditional rezoning from A1 to RA30 for higher-density, single family homes.

NASHVILLE - A new policy addition that would permit public school students to voluntarily attend off-campus religious instruction during school hours has been drafted, with Nash County School Board members directed to screen it for potential revisions and possible adoption at the next full board meeting March 3.
While the policy had no discussion when shared with the full board by Steve Ellis, Superintendent, at the Feb. 3 meeting, Ellis asked board members to review it and submit any changes to him before the Feb. 24 committee meetings.

NASHVILLE- Building improvements underway at the old Nashville Furniture Store, which occupies both 125 and 127 W. Washington Street, have been recommended to receive Façade Grants, based on action taken by the Downtown Strong Advisory Board at their Jan. 27 meeting.
Larry Hyde, property owner, showed board members a framed photograph of the building dating from 1959, and submitting a 'scope of work' document outlining how much he has currently spent.

ROCKY MOUNT -- Nash County Public Schools (NCPS) invites all students and their families to the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Showcase: Map Your Journey: Discovering Educational Pathways to Careers. The showcase, hosted in partnership with Nash Community College and area business partners, offers an evening of hands-on career exploration. The event will take place Thursday, Feb. 13, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Nash Community College's Brown Auditorium.
"We are excited to invite all NCPS stakeholders to our showcase," Superintendent Dr. Steve Ellis said.

Y'all might have seen this week that celebrity groundhog Punxsatawney Phil saw his shadow and that supposedly means six more weeks of winter.
That's right: an overgrown rat, cared for by people in tails and top hats, is trotted out to predict the weather once a year for large crowds. A lot of folks get worked up about it.
For the many of us, there is a collective, "What the $%^@?" After all, what does a groundhog know about the weather? I'd offer "not much."