Recent Articles

Nash Community College celebrates 50 years of student success this year and is planning once again record commencement exercises for May.
The Adult High School and General Education Development (GED) commencement ceremony will be held Thursday, May 11, 2017 at 6:00 PM in the Nash Community College Brown Auditorium. Pam Gould, Executive Director of Strategic Twin-Counties Educational Partnership (STEP), will deliver the address for the Adult High School and GED graduation ceremony.

The Baby Bulletin -- an e-newsletter filled with valuable information for women who are expecting, the fathers, and their families -- is now available as a free, public service from Nash Women's Center.
The newsletter is sent out weekly and offers guidance and advice, links to local services and online resources, and lets subscribers send their questions to the center's consultants in complete privacy.

You gotta love technology, right?
No matter how old, or young, you are, chances are technology has benefitted you in one way or another.
The folks in Raleigh that make decisions that affect us seem to think technology is great too! And yet again, they are trying to get rid of public notices in newspapers. Well actually, I think they did just get rid of public notices in newspapers.

We all know you can't believe everything you read on the internet.
But we sure can get irritated about it.
I've had just about enough of the bashing of Rocky Mount (and, sometimes, even Nashville) on so-called "community" pages on social media that claim to provide a service.

RMA MVPS -- This photo originally published in The Graphic on May 26, 1983. Pictured are the most valuable players for Rocky Mount Academy.

Twin County Community Pride, Inc. recently hosted a Portrait Installation Reception at The Twin County Hall of Fame. Pictured are the five living 2016 Inductees, left to right, Jean Almand Kitchin, Patsy Gilliland, Dr. Reid Parrott, Lela Chesson, and Rev. Richard Joyner who attended. Family members of deceased Inductees were also invited and several attended. Nominations for 2017 Induction are due by 5 p.m. April 30. For more information call 252-977-1438.

PORT Health Services, a 501-C organization, provides a continuum of care for consumers seeking mental health and substance abuse services. Eastpointe LME has contracted with PORT Health Services to provide substance abuse prevention services in Nash County. Prevention staff provide educational classes in the Nash-Rocky Mount School System which serve to increase protective factors and decrease risk factors. Staff also provides parenting classes which address the skills needed to increase parent or guardian ability to address issues facing our youth.

Kevin and Nadia Strickland of Nashville announce the birth of their daughter, Paisley Rein Strickland, who was born at Nash General Hospital in Rocky Mount on April 7, 2017. She was 8 lbs, 4 oz. and 19 3/4" long. Maternal grandparents are Joyce and Charles Strickland of Nashville and Memrie and Mohamed Ibrahim of Rocky Mount.

Monday, May 1 from 2:30 until 6:30 p.m. at the Sharpsburg Fire Department, 300 Taylor Road, Sharpsburg
Saturday, May 6 from 9:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. at Capital Ford Lincoln, 2012 Stone Rose Drive, Rocky Mount
Tuesday, May 9 from 3 until 7 p.m. at Stony Hill FWB Church, 9649 Stony Hill Church Road, Middlesex

Pictured, Fran Bunn, Zone Governor for the Rocky Mount Durham District of Ruritan National (far right), installs new members for the Coopers Ruritan Club. Pictured with Bunn is (from L-R) Tommy Tyson, Sharon Jones and Brenda Baker.

In American history, many days are regarded as pivotal, and there are very few more important than April 3, 1968, the night the Civil Rights Movement lost its greatest leader, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In a gripping reimagining of the events, "The Mountaintop" depicts King's final night.
Set entirely in room 306 of the Lorraine Motel, the critically acclaimed play comes to the Booker T. Theater for three performances, April 27 through April 29 at 7:30 p.m. and one matinee performance on Sunday, April 30 at 2 p.m.

Spring Hope's Chamber of Commerce hosted its third annual 5K last Saturday, April 22nd with just under 200 runners participating.
The event included a 5K with 125 registered runners and a one-mile run with 50 runners registered.
Race Director, Chris Wheaton, said the number of runners was down slightly this year due to factors such as spring break and other events.
"It's hard to say what affects the numbers, it was spring break for Nash County and the weekend after Easter," he said. "But we were still very pleased."

The Nash County Sheriff's Office partnered with several organizations to host the first ever Community Food Giveaway on Saturday morning.
Around 8,000 pounds of food were given to Nash County residents, said Captain David Brake of the Nash County Sheriff's Office.
Brake said the idea came during a conversation between him and Lisa Greene, the marketing director for Zaxby's. Greene was talking to Brake about a program Zaxby's participates in.

Sadly, many dogs go missing and are never found. One of the stories we hear all the time is "I just let them go out to potty and they didn't return." Guess why.
First of all, if your dog isn't spay/neutered, they are apt to go looking for love in all the wrong places. When that happens, there are a lot of dog fights with injuries or death, not even counting the ones lost to being killed or hurt in the road.

An acclaimed Steinway artist will return to Cherry Hill on Sunday, April 30th at 3:00 PM. Vincent van Gelder delighted his Inez audience in 2016 with his virtuosity, and this year's performance promises to equal the first.
Vincent van Gelder was born in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. He studied at several academies and universities in Holland, Latvia, and the United States, receiving two masters and subsequently a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in piano performance from the University of Missouri.

North Carolina Coastal Pines recently annnounced that Samia Bulluck of Rocky Mount is the area top seller for the 2017 Girl Scout Cookie Program. Bulluck sold 3,100 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies in the annual cookie program that ended in March. Ashley Zipko of Rocky Mount, placed second with 2,294 boxes sold and Alice Benbow of Rocky Mount placed third with 1,812 boxes sold. The 2017 Cookie Program was held January 14 - March 5, 2017.

Nash Community College has been honored with 2016 Tree Campus USA® recognition by the Arbor Day Foundation for its commitment to effective urban forest management. In the photo, North Carolina Forest Service Nash County Ranger Bill Lewis (right) presents the award to Ken White, NCC Master Gardener.
"Students are eager to volunteer in their communities and become better stewards of the environment," said Matt Harris, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. "Participating in Tree Campus USA sets a fine example for other colleges and universities, while helping to create a healthier planet for us all."

The 2016 Ambassador Award was given to the Nash Community College Student Wellness Center. In the photo, Director of Student Wellness Marbeth Holmes and Associate Vice President of Community and Governmental Affairs Dr. Keith Smith accept the honor given by President Dr. Bill Carver. From representing the Twin Counties at the White House to sponsoring a problem gambling logo design contest to weekly special interest support groups, daily counseling, free tax services, and more, the Student Wellness Center helps the campus support the whole student.

Lauren Marie Phillips has been placed on the Deans List for the Fall semester 2016 at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in NYC. She will have successfully completed her A.A. Degree in Communications Design in May 2017 and has recently been accepted into the FIT Fabric Styling BFA program for the upcoming Fall semester.

I'd like to begin our time together this week by asking you a question, my dear neighbor,
"What are the inlets for your life?" What I mean is, what are the rhythms of your life, what molds you into the person you have become, or are becoming? Every single image bearer, whether we realize it or not, has inlets to our life, there are currents that mold us into the person that we are today. These inlets sometimes bring change and other times resist change at all cost.

On a chilly, drizzly Sunday morning Peachtree folks gathered at the church for worship. Sanctuary flowers were given by Catherine Gupton in memory of her husband, G.B.
In lieu of a traditional sermon, the Adult Choir presented a musical sermon, a cantata titled "Champion of Love" under the direction of Pastor Whitehouse. It was created and arranged by Craig Adams.

The Baptist Men of Red Oak Baptist Church enjoyed their monthly breakfast meeting on Sunday, April 23.
Girls, moms, and leaders will be traveling to Camp Mundo Vista in Sophia, NC for the 21st annual Mother/Daughter Overnight Camp sponsored by the North Roanoke Baptist Association WMU. Over 123 campers and staff will be attending the camp including 19 from Red Oak Baptist Church. This is a missions camp for girls in grades 1-12 and their mothers.

The community is invited to the Second Annual Blue Fest at Nash Community College on Saturday, April 29.
The festival will include the Third Annual Run for Knowledge 5K, inaugural Disc Golf Scholarship Tournament and additional short activities tied to college programs. A Student Expo will be held to exhibit academic work well done. Blue Fest is for the entire family and there will be activities of interest for everyone.

The Wesleyan Dance Team took first place at the Epic Dance Nationals "Reach the Beach" competition in Ocean City, Maryland. The judges commended the team on their energy, choreography, and enthusiasm.
According to Cheer and Dance Coach Kayla Wygal, most teams practice every day in college gyms with professional choreography.

FERGUSON
U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Moneca S. Ferguson graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas.
The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.