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Products we use in our everyday lives come from plant and animal byproducts produced by America's farmers and ranchers

Pictured above, Nashville Firefighters (Station 14) and Rocky Mount Firefighters (Engine 6), stand on NC 64 looking down I-95 as they salute fallen Atlantic Beach Fire Chief Adam Snyder, whose body was being returned to his home after passing away from injuries due to a snow skiing accident at Wintergreen Resort in Virginia. Virginia State Police escorted the chief's body to North Carolina followed by a North Carolina Highway Patrol escort.

Rocky Mount High School's Gryphon Theatrical students perform "Mamma Mia!," a Greek Island comedy that features the 1970s music of ABBA. On the eve of her wedding, a daughter's quest to discover the identity of her father brings three men from her mother's past back to the island they last visited 20 years ago. This sets the scene for a hilarious series of assumptions and miscommunication until the identity of the true father is revealed. This musical blockbuster fills the theater with joyful music and dancing that celebrate life, love and family.

Here is some advice: if you're in a store and see me in the checkout line, run.
Get in another line.
The line I am in is not the line you want to be in. Trust me.
It doesn't matter if it is a big box store, the convenience store, any number of grocery stores, or the concession stand line at the ball game.

Wednesday, March 13 marked a pretty important milestone in my life.
It was my 13-year anniversary of being a reporter at The Nashville Graphic.
Thirteen years!
It doesn't seem quite that long (most days anyway!).

On March 20, 2019, the Harold D. Cooley Library will be celebrating its Go Live Day as it officially joins the NC Cardinal Consortium. Cardinal consists of 141 member libraries throughout North Carolina who are dedicated to expanding access for patrons by sharing resources with other libraries. In preparation for this momentous transition, the library staff has had to perform an inventory of their 20,000+ items as well as a full weeding of outdated materials, and a rebarcode of all items. All of the old library cards have had to be replaced as well.

This picture originally published in The Nasvhille Graphic on April 29, 1971. The Children's Museum in Rocky Mount displayed a large brown bear as one of its many exhibits. The museum was reported as having 85,000 visitors in 1970.

How do we know if we're spiritually drifting? The Bible certainly acknowledges that it can happen. But what are the early warning signs that we are moving away from God?
Maybe today's column doesn't apply to you. How about your spouse, your friend, or your child? Were they once closer to the Lord than they now appear? Before you turn the page, see if you recognize warnings in the life of someone you love.

The Baptist Men will have their monthly breakfast on Sunday, March 17 at 8:30 am at Red Oak Baptist Church.
The Women in Action will meet on Tuesday, March 19 at 6:30 pm at Red Oak Baptist Church. Their mission action project for this month is collecting pet supplies for My Sister's House. My Sister's House is a shelter for women, children, and men who are survivors of domestic violence and abuse.

Members of Bethel Heroes Chapter 636, UDC and Micajah Pettaway Chapter of DAR delivered Christmas gifts to the veterans living in the Men's Christian Fellowship Home for Veterans. Men in the home are honorably discharged Veterans from the Armed Forces and are homeless at the time of admission. This is the third year that these chapters have donated gifts to assure that these men are not forgotten at Christmas as well as other times throughout the year.

Okay fellow followers, we are in the homestretch of our "Sanctity of Life" series. I'm thankful you have stuck with me thus far. Let's pick up a prayer from Ephesians as we start, "I do not cease to give thanks to you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you..." (1:16-18a).

Martyn Lloyd-Jones once said, "The glory of the gospel is that when the Church is absolutely different from the world, she invariably attracts it. It is then that the world is made to listen to her message, though it may hate it at first."
I'm currently preaching through the Sermon on the Mount as recorded in the Gospel of Matthew beginning in chapter 5.

The Peachtree Baptist Church Congregation and friends met Sunday a nice warm day.
The Sanctuary flower arrangement Sunday was presented to glorify God by Dianne Tucker in honor of her husband, Ricky.
Sunday School: Fran Bunn welcomed the Sunday School gathering.

North Carolina Wesleyan College held its second annual National Society of Leadership & Success (NSLS) Induction Ceremony at The Dunn Center for the Performing Arts. Seventy-five student leaders were inducted in the organization, the nation's largest leadership honor society.
The Wesleyan chapter seeks to foster personal reflection, goal setting and leadership development amongst its members. The focus this fall was to lead new students through completion of the national requirements to become fully inducted members.

The Coopers Ruritan Scout Leader Service Award was presented to Charles and Linda Etheridge at the February meeting of Coopers Ruritan Club. Pictured (L-R) is: Peggy Winstead, Secretary, Charles Etheridge, Linda Etheridge and Steve Williams, President.

Ruritan 4H Leader Service Awards were presented to Jane Tyson and Cheryl Glover at the February meeting of Coopers Ruritan Club. Pictured (L-R) is: Peggy Winstead, Secretary, Jane Tyson, Cheryl Glover and Steve Williams, President.

The State Highway Patrol honored 55 sworn and 11 civilian members recently during a promotional ceremony held at Colonial Baptist Church in Cary.
The ceremony began with an invocation offered by Pastor Steve Stadtmiller followed by the singing of the National Anthem by Trp. Joey Garrett. Offering welcome and remarks to those in attendance, Colonel Glenn McNeill Jr. spoke of the expectations required by each individual rank.

WILSON -- Looking for a few subtle differences between Southern Nash's girls soccer program from 2018 to 2019?
Well, there aren't any. In fact, nothing about the Ladybirds resemble where they were last spring -- and where they could possibly go this season.
Certainly, Southern Nash is experiencing a 180-degree turnaround within the program, which was winless in 2018.

ROCKY MOUNT -- Nash Central High School continues to field competitive girls soccer squads every spring -- but this season promises to be a bit more of a challenge for veteran head coach Ryan Ruiz and his Lady Bulldogs.
That's because Nash Central was hard-hit by graduation last year, including the likes of long-time keeper Anna Shaye Thompson (now playing at Charleston Southern University) and leading scorer Linzi Long.

WILSON -- During his high school days, Cameron Avery was a star quarterback at Wilson Fike -- and he hopes to bring some of that toughness and intensity to the Northern Nash girls soccer program.
Avery is one of the youngest coaches in the area, and he is learning on the job about soccer as he guides the Lady Knights this spring for the first time.

Northern Nash's Janiah Godley (right) races toward the ball during last Saturday's victory over Pasquotank at The Brittany Girls Soccer Showcase at Gillette Park in Wilson.

Nash Central's Sarah Radjail (right) gains possession for the Lady Bulldogs during last Saturday's contest at The Brittany Girls Soccer Showcase at Gillette Park in Wilson.

Nash Central's Kendall Proctor (9) tries to win a ball against Elizabeth City Northeastern as part of last Saturday's The Brittany Girls Soccer Showcase at Gillette Park in Wilson.

Northern Nash's Charlize Evans makes a quick turn to gain possession for the Lady Knights during last Saturday's action at The Brittany Girls Soccer Showcase in Wilson.

GREENVILLE -- Turner Brown paced No. 14 East Carolina University's 14-hit attack going 3-for-5 with a pair of triples and scored twice as the Pirates completed the weekend baseball sweep over Marist, 10-5, Sunday afternoon at Lewis Field inside Clark-LeClair Stadium.
With the win, the Pirates improved to 12-5 on the season while the Red Foxes dropped to 4-8.