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RALEIGH- A revised bill about Foster Care, HB 612, passed its second reading in the NC Sentate May 6. Its primary sponsor is Rep. Allen Chesser of Nash County.
House Bill 612, "Fostering Care in NC Act," has heavy support, with 72 house members co-sponsoring the legislation and 83 state-based organizations also behind it, including the Foster Family Alliance of NC.
"This is a long overdue reform, something that the General Assembly has been working on for the better part of a decade now," said Rep. Chesser.

SPRING HOPE- In conjunction with a town brochure currently in production, a new train-centered logo has been developed by members of the Downtown Development Board (DDB), and will be presented to town commissioners for their approval.
The new design, featuring an off-centered, front-facing old-style steam engine with green highlights in front of a terra-cotta colored background circle, was unveiled at the April 21st DDB meeting. It can be viewed at the 45-minute time stamp of the meeting's You Tube recording, which is posted on the town website.

NASHVILLE- Nash County school bus drivers are crossing their fingers that they'll receive a pay raise as part of the upcoming NCPS budget, but took it a step further Monday to plead their case to county commissioners.
A small but vocal group of drivers were invited to come to the podium after commissioners realized that the group wanted to be heard, with Wayne Outlaw, board chairman, re-opening the public comment portion of the meeting to accommodate them.

Elks Lodge #1038 in Nashville recently completed a project donating $2,000 and service hours to A Touch of the Father's Love food ministry in Momeyer. Pictured above, Cindy Puckett (left) and Brenda Brown unpack boxes of eggs.

Barnes Farming Corporation and Barnes Land Corporation to Carson B. Barnes Revocable Trust, Carson B. Barnes and Delbert Heick; .73 acres
Janice Forsythe Hartley to Hamilton Moore; 109 Bayridge Court, Rocky Mount
JEC Construction Incorporated to Joseph William Principio and Antoinette Nicole Principio; Henri's Place Subdivision, Lot 3; $316,000
Arun Dutta to Mujalli Empire, LLC; South First Street, Nashville; $30,000

This photo published in The Nashville Graphic on June 25, 1964. Bill Joyner (left) and Tom Wilson, representing American Legion Post 110, present a basket of fruits to C.H. Cox, a member of the Post whose health didn't permit him to attend meetings. The post sent best wishes for a return to good health along with the basket.

Sometimes, unexpected, small things can make my day.
As the semester winds down, things can get chaotic as students are trying to get everything in and professors are trying to get everything graded.
One of my best and brightest students that I've had multiple times over the last three years came into class last week and started digging into her bag with a determined look.

As I write this column, a handful of volunteers are working, some almost around the clock, to finish the last minute details for the 27th Nashville Blooming Festival. Like many events organized by non-profit organizations, volunteers and commitment are hard to come by.
This year's event, as it has since 1997, will open with all details finished and that same handful of folks running constantly throughout the event to make sure all goes as planned. Many of them wearing multiple hats before and during the event.

This photo was submitted by Craig Pridgen. The photo was taken at the Blooming Festival in 2011. Craig (left) is pictured with Gero Joyner who was known and loved by many. Gero loved to dance and his favorite song was "Every Time I Roll The Dice," by Delbert McClinton. Gero passed away January 2012

Several year ago, I was involved in a misunderstanding that turned out to be a real source of embarrassment.
The particulars are not important because the embarrassment had nothing to do with the nature of the misunderstanding. I was embarrassed because the circumstances that surrounded the incident made me look as if I was the farthest thing from a Christian.
I know that I didn't say what others were told I said. Those type of statements cut directly across my Christian principles.

Have you ever known someone who brought a smile to your face whenever you thought about him or her? (If you're married, you should probably say "yes.") Have you known someone who, when you prayed for him or her, you couldn't help saying, "Thank you, God, for this person"?
That's how Paul feels about the church in Philippi. In Philippians, his letter to them, he says, "I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy" (Phil. 1:3). He mentions his love, affection, and thankfulness for them throughout this letter (1:7-8; 4:1).

Several from Red Oak Baptist Church attended the North Roanoke Baptist Association Spring Meeting on Thursday, May 1 at Sunset Avenue Baptist Church. Dr. Robin Fisher gave the welcome and Rev. John Hamm, Director of Missions, presented his report and introduced the speakers. Krissy Watson, Baptists on Mission Dental Ministry Coordinator, shared information about the medical/dental ministry and encouraged churches to sign up to have the buses in their area. She also had 1 medical bus and 1 dental bus on site for guests to tour. Krissy and her husband attend Oakdale Baptist Church where her husband serves as pastor.

Four Nash County commissioner terms are expiring next year, in 2026, and two people have come forward indicating interest in challenging incumbents.
Jerry Barnes of Red Oak said he has filed a letter of intent with the Nash Board of Elections to run for District 7, currently occupied by Robbie Davis.
Robert Cordell of Rocky Mount has opened campaign finance paperwork to run for County Commissioner District 2, currently occupied by Fred Belfield, Jr.
Davis and Belfield, along with Gwen Wilkins (district 6) and Wayne Outlaw (district 5), all have four-year terms that expire in 2026.

SPRING HOPE - A woman is dead and a man in critical condition after a possible murder-suicide attempt Tuesday afternoon in Spring Hope. In addition, a sheriff's deputy was hurt in an accident en route to the scene.
According to the Nash County Sheriff's Office (NCSO), a call came in around 1:50 p.m. April 29, 2025, about possible gunshots heard in the 7200 block of Lancaster Store Road.