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RED OAK -- Shon Johnson is off to a late start this season in his role as the Nash Central High School wrestling coach.
That's not necessarily a bad thing, though, as it means Johnson and some of his performers have been busy helping the Bulldogs make the Class 3-A State Football Playoffs.
Johnson is also an assistant football coach at NCHS in addition to his mat duties. And his wrestling lineup will feature plenty of footballers once an effective transition is made between the sports.

STANHOPE -- The Rocky Mount High Gryphons ended the historic football season for the host Southern Nash Firebirds by knocking them out of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association Class 3-A State Playoffs with a 27-21 win last Friday night at Firebird Stadium.
Rocky Mount used a punishing ground attack that racked up 324 yards rushing. This, combined with a solid defensive effort, spelled the end for Firebirds, who closed at 12-1 overall.

RED OAK -- There are some familiar faces this season within the Northern Nash High School wrestling program.
They just aren't in the same positions anymore.
In the past, Corey Mercer has been in charge of the successful program, and even helped the Knights win the Big East Conference Championship four years ago.
But Mercer, due to increased responsibilities with his full-time job, stepped down as Northern's head coach in the off-season.

CHAPEL HILL -- The North Carolina High School Athletic Association has announced its game times and sites for the state football championship games.
Here is a complete gridiron schedule:
• Class 1-A -- Dec. 17 at 11:05 a.m. at Kenan Stadium, Chapel Hill
• Class 1-AA -- Dec. 16 at 7:35 p.m. at Kenan Stadium, Chapel Hill

FAYETTEVILLE -- The USA South Conference has released it postseason awards in the sport of football with 60 student-athletes garnering accolades.
Led by First Team selection Malik Adams at wide receiver, the North Carolina Wesleyan College Battling Bishops had eight players earn recognition.
Adams follows up last season's Offensive Player of the Year award with his third straight First Team honor.
The Selma native caught a league-leading 11 touchdowns this season and ranked first in receiving yards per game (97.9).

MARIETTA, OHIO -- Junior KeChae Parker scored 18 points on Sunday afternoon to help lead her North Carolina Wesleyan College Bishop women's basketball team to a 64-57 win over Penn State-Behrend in the 32nd Annual Jim Meagle Turkey Shoot, hosted by Marietta College.
Parker, who netted 13 points in Saturday's opening round loss to Bethany, was named to the All-Tournament team for her efforts.

LOUISBURG -- Louisburg College's football team ended its season with an undefeated mark.
The Hurricanes beat nine teams - the best record in 11 years of competing.
The young men who brought home the wins are rightfully proud of their accomplishments.
They were honored during Louisburg College's basketball game Nov. 21.

NASHVILLE -- Laura Thompson's quest isn't just about building a successful volleyball program at Nash Central Middle School.
Well beyond that, Thompson is also interested in making a difference in the philosophical attitude toward the sport in the area.
Nash County doesn't have much of a tradition in volleyball, but that will change soon if Thompson has anything to say about it.
For the past five years, Coach Thompson has been methodically turning the Nash Central program into a powerhouse -- a trend she hopes will continue as her players advance to the high school level.

NASH COUNTY -- Wilson Hunt's Tiffany Rowe and Rocky Mount's Michelle Gainey have received the top honors this season in Big East Conference volleyball.
Rowe, who led Hunt to the regular season championship, was the pick for the Big East Coach of the Year.
Hunt went a perfect 10-0 in the conference to go with a 13-7 overall worksheet.
Gainey was tabbed as the Player of the Year after helping the Gryphons reach the Class 3-A State Playoffs.

Southern Nash High School quarterback Matthew Hampton tosses the ball to a running back during last Friday night's home playoff setback against Rocky Mount.

Southern Nash's Michael Zimmerman (with ball) tries to avoid a sack attempt during last Friday night's home football playoff loss versus Rocky Mount.

Northern Nash's Jarvis Battle tries to escape a hold during last Tuesday's action at the annual I-95 Duals Wrestling Tournament at the NNHS Gymnasium in Red Oak.

Northern Nash's Dillon Joyner (left) came within a single victory at the regionals last year of qualifying for the Class 3-A State Championships in Greensboro.

Northern Nash's Jordan Whitaker (top) delivers a pinfall during last Tuesday's mat action at the annual I-95 Duals Wrestling Tournament on the NNHS campus.

Youth will be the main focus of Nashville's Christmas Celebration on Saturday.
The celebration will kick off around 4 p.m. on the steps of the Nash County Courthouse with festive music from the Nash Central High School Chorus and Red Oak Middle School Band.
Following the music, a children's parade will follow.

The Nash-Rocky Mount Board of Education was cautioned to work on preserving its fund balance in future budgets.
Dale Smith, of Anderson, Smith and Wike, PLLC, presented the audit report to the Board of Education during their November 7 work session. The report was for the year ending June 30, 2016.
Smith said overall, there were no significant internal control weaknesses found in the report.

Things will be noticeably different for the Town of Bailey on December 1.
Long-time Clerk Becky Smith will officially be retired.
Smith's last day was on November 30.
Smith started part-time with the Town of Bailey in January 1991. In July 1994, Smith was hired on full-time when Betsy Boykin left to go work for the Town of Spring Hope.

Every Monday, Nan Strickland can be found at the Nash County Senior Center in Nashville playing BINGO with friends.
This past Monday, November 21, Strickland was surprised with a birthday celebration when she arrived.
And rightly so, as Strickland was celebrating her 101st birthday.
Friends from the Senior Center put together a surprise party for Strickland and had snacks as well as a cake.

An update on capital projects was on the list of topics covered at a recent meeting between Nash County Commissioners and the Nash-Rocky Mount Board of Education.
The two boards meet twice a year as part of a signed agreement.
Shannon Davis, Director of Maintenance for Nash-Rocky Mount Schools, provided information on Nash Community College's Building C, which would eventually house the Nash-Rocky Mount Early College High School program.

Sandra Drum, the former Public Information Officer for Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools, was recently awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine by North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory.
The Order of the Long Leaf Pine was created in 1963 and is considered one of the most prestigious awards conferred by the Governor of North Carolina. It is presented to individuals who have a proven record of extraordinary service to the State of North Carolina and their communities.

The Nashville Graphic is introducing three new officers of the Nashville Police Department this month as part of an "Officer Spotlight" series. This week's article features Officer Caleb Shockley. Two more officers will be featured over the next two weeks to help Nashville residents get to know the officers who protect and serve their communities.

Nash County Commissioners again voted to disengage with Eastpointe but this time, agreed to align with Trillium Health Resources.
A resolution was unanimously approved on November 22, following a closed session that occurred after a joint meeting with the Nash-Rocky Mount Board of Education.
Once the resolution is approved in Raleigh, Trillium would take over the management of Medicaid, state and county-funded specialty health benefits for Nash County residents.

Two Nash-Rocky Mount high schools are raffling off a playhouse just in time for the holidays.
Students in trade and industrial classes at Nash Central High School built the playhouse. The efforts were sponsored by the Rocky Mount Home Builder's Association.
Matt Brown, Youth Apprenticeship Coordinator for Nash-Rocky Mount Schools, said this is the first year Nash Central High School has had a SkillsUSA Club.

Nash County Sheriff's Office officials discovered the body of a man on Monday morning who had died from an apparent suicide.
According to the Sheriff's Office, Captain Todd Wells and Captain Dennis Wooten were traveling down Highway 43 when they noticed a vehicle sitting in a path across from the Rocky Mount Memorial Gardens with the driver's door open.
Contact was made with the vehicle and Wooten and Wells found the body of a white male lying on the ground with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.