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LIBRARY - Alexis Pennington checks out a model of a Starfish on Friday at Cooley Library during a "Touch Tank" presentation by Rhana Paris, an Educator with the NC Aquarium. Paris presented a program on ocean invertebrates at the library. Following the presentation, attendees were allowed to touch the different animals Paris brought to show youth, which included a mollusk, a horsehoe crab, a starfish and a short spined sea urchin.

The Town of Castalia is gearing up to host its annual Fourth of July Festivities, which are set this year on Saturday, July 1st.
Typically, the town holds the event on July 4th unless it falls on a Sunday,
This year, however, Castalia Town Clerk Angie Elliott said the event was moved to the Saturday before July 4th due to the schedule of the fireworks company.

Rocky Mount will host the annual Business and Professional Women (BPW) organization's annual conference this weekend.
The Rocky Mount and Nashville BPW Clubs are hosting the 98th convention of the North Carolina Federation of Business and Professional Women's Club at the Country Inn and Suites in Rocky Mount.
In addition to handling its routine business, the convention will also include the Young Careerist and Career Woman of the Year Competitions.

Nash County Commissioners approved a $500,000 contract with the Wooten Company following a closed session on Monday afternoon.
The contract was for engineering services related to the Northern Nash Water Project. The contract was in the amount of $501,500 and is subject to review by the county attorney.

A water line break caused the Nash County Courthouse to shut down last Thursday and Friday.
The leak happened around 3 last Wednesday afternoon, said Mike Tolson, Nash County Public Facilities and Utilities Director. The leak started on the third floor and was caused by some routine maintenance that was going on. Tolson said during that maintenance, a pipe busted.
"Unfortunately if you are going to have a leak, it was in the worst spot on the top floor," he added.

The Twin Counties Partnership for Healthier Communities will host a health summit from 6 to 8 p.m. on June 26.
The event will be held at the Booker T. Theater on E. Thomas Street in Rocky Mount. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and a light meal will be provided.
The event is free to residents of Nash and Edgecombe counties - interested participants can register at tinyurl.com/HealthSummit17 or by calling 252-972-6958. The first 50 participants at the event will receive a free water bottle and those who pre-register will be included in special door prize drawings.

Thanks to lucky birthday numbers, James Johnson of Rocky Mount will start his 69th year with a $109,619 Cash 5 jackpot.
"I've been using the same numbers for three years," Johnson said. "I always use a combination of my birthday, my wife's birthday, and my grandchildren's birthdays."
He couldn't believe it when he found out his win beat the odds of 1 in 749,398. He matched all 5 numbers in the June 6 drawing.

It's that time of year when those who chose to shake off the winter blues, cabin fever and short days and embraced spring by planting stuff are starting to see the fruits of their labor.
It's also that time of year when the garden battles begin.
We are knee deep into the quagmire at home. Our version of the enemy is the Japanese beetle.

Just when you're excited about summertime finally getting here bringing lots of sunshine and warm weather - Murphy's Law -- the AC goes out!
And ours here at The Graphic did just that a couple weeks ago. A part had to be ordered and the delivery was projected to take 6-7 days. We were not at all worried because the forecast was for 67-70 degree overcast days. The office and mail room were tolerable with fans. The part was scheduled to arrive on Wednesday which meant we would have our a/c back on just in time for the warmer forecast.

Dear Editor: RE: PRAISE TO CHIEF BASHORE'S HOPE INITIATIVE
As a citizen of Nash County, I want to express an in depth gratitude to Chief Tom Bashore, District Attorney Robert Evans, District Attorney Josh Stein, and the entire NC Department of Justice co-horts for creating the HOPE Initiative which saves lives.

EASTERN STAR OFFICIALS VISIT -- This photo originally published in The Graphic on August 27, 1974. Hoyt B. Nichols and Mrs. Hazel A. Lane (first row, left) District Eastern Star officials, pose with officers of the Nashville Chamber 332 during a visit.

Cadets from Nash Community College's 49th Basic Law Enforcement Training academy graduated Wednesday, May 31 in the NCC Brown Auditorium. Martin Victor McKoy, Sr., retired captain from Rocky Mount Police Department, addressed the graduates. "Matters of great importance to us are never performed casually," McKoy said. "Each of these young men certainly exuberates honor, pride and courage."

INCIDENTS
A larceny after a breaking and entering and breaking and entering a residential was reported on 6/12/17 on Aubry Court
A damage to property (Vandalism) was reported on 6/13/17 at 1349 First Street Extension
A larceny of a motor vehicle and breaking and entering a motor vehicle was reported on 6/14/17 at Fellowship Church, 1114 S. First Street

An assault was reported on 6/11/17 at 8794 Red Oak Battleboro Road
A weapon surrender was reported on 6/11/17 at 5068 Wildlife Drive
A larceny of a motor vehicle was reported on 6/11/17 at 6614 Winters Road
A probation violation was reported on 6/11/17 at 202 N White Street

Nash County Planning and Inspections issued the following building permits from June 12 through 16.

Nash-Rocky Mount Schools has released its Honor Roll lists for the third semester of the 2016-2017 school year.
The following students at Southern Nash High School made the A or A/B Honor Roll.

Mayor David Combs and the Rocky Mount City Council recently recognized the heroism of Joyce Parker and Milton Batts. The two helped to rescue a bedridden woman from her home during a fire. Pictured (l-r) Fire Chief Mike Varnell, Joyce Parker, Milton Batts & Mayor David Combs.

Hardee's Furniture Warehouse, located on Hwy 301 South of Sharpsburg has been recognized by La-Z-Boy for selling more La-Z-Boy sofas, chairs, love seats, and recliners than any La-Z-Boy Comfort Studio in Eastern North Carolina. Hardee's Furniture has been serving its customers for 36 years with the largest selection of name brand furniture in the area. Vanise and Deborah Hardee started the company in 1981 and have been blessed with great employees and loyal customers.

The Coopers Ruritan Club has been providing scholarships to area youth for many years.
Last Thursday, the club recognized its latest scholarship recipients, Michaela Vick and Casey Proctor.
Vick received the Coopers Ruritan Scholarship while Proctor received the E. C. Pearce Scholarship.
Ken Powell presented Vick the Coopers Ruritan Scholarship.

Nash County farmers Dean and Debbie High of High Farms have won the opportunity to direct a $2,500 dollar donation from the America's Farmers Grow Communities program, sponsored by the Monsanto Fund, to Bailey Area Ministries.
Bailey Area Ministries will use the funds to fight rural hunger by purchasing food for the pantry that feeds over 70 families per month.
"We can not thank the Highs enough for remembering the food pantry with this donation," said, Amy Pearson, Bailey Area Ministries treasurer.

The Coopers High School Alumni Association held their 84th annual banquet on April 22 at the Coopers School gymnasium. President Brenda Eason Brewer welcomed guests recognizing the oldest alumni, Ruth Lindsey Parker, class of 1938, and Blanche Joyner, class of 1947. Tony Joyner, alumnus, entertained guests.

Keith Stone, Sheriff of Nash County, completed the Executive Leaders Program at Naval Postgraduate School's Center for Homeland Defense and Security June 8.
The goal of the Executive Leaders Program is to enhance senior leaders' capacity to develop policies and strategies while strengthening working relationships across the jurisdictional boundaries of regions, agencies, local-state-tribal-federal governments and the private sector. Students study the interdisciplinary concepts comprising homeland security.

Coopers Ruritan Club presents a check for $1,260 to the Nash County Relay for Life co-chairs. The donation is from the Pink Adirondack Chair Raffle. All Nash County Ruritan Clubs helped sell tickets. Pictured (left to right) are: Mike Glover, Coopers Ruritan Vice-President; Dale Joyner, Relay for Life co-chair; Yvonne Jones, Relay for Life co-chair; and Steve Williams, Coopers Ruritan President.

Coopers Ruritan Club is sponsoring a 4-H child to attend summer camps. Mike Glover, Vice President of Coopers Ruritan Club, presents a check to Sandy Hall, Nash County Extension Director for the sponsorship.

Ruritan District Governor, Jeff Neese (middle) presents the Blue Ribbon Award to West Mount Ruritan Club. Receiving the award is past president Wayne Outlaw (left) and current president Buck Pittman (right).