The Nash County Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating a Sunday night fire at Batchelor’s Tavern in Spring Hope.
The fire was reported on Sunday evening, January 25th, around 11 p.m. said Nash County Deputy Fire Marshal John Frazier. A Spring Hope Police Officer noticed the fire and reported flames coming from the roof of the sports bar.
Frazier said Spring Hope firefighters, with help from Stanhope and Momeyer Fire Departments, were able to get the fire under control and extinguished with 45 minutes but the fire did a lot of damage to the long-time establishment.

The Nash County Sheriff’s Office and Nash County Sheriff Keith Stone recognized deputies last week during a promotional ceremony.
The ceremony was held last Wednesday, January 21st in the Commissioner’s Room at the Claude Mayo, Jr. Administrative Building in Nashville.

Social work has been a profession Donna Boone has been interested in since she was in high school.
Though she’s served with Nash County’s Department of Social Services for over 30 years, she said she never imagined she’d end up being in charge.
On Monday, Boone, of Nashville, was sworn in as the Director of Nash County Social Services.

The Nashville Graphic is introducing officers of the Nashville Police Department each month as part of an “Officer Spotlight” series.  The articles are featured the last Thursday of each month  to help Nashville residents get to know the officers who protect and serve their communities.

Sunday was a special day for members of Red Oak Baptist Church, as the church celebrated the dedication of its new Family Life Center.
The building is a result of hard work, planning and lots of prayer, said Reverend Larry Bostian during a special service.
“After years of praying, planning and hard work, we are gathered today to dedicate our Family Life Center,” he said.

A man heavily involved in giving back to the Nashville community passed away last Friday.
 Joseph Paul Shaw, Jr., 80, passed away, Friday, January 23, 2015.
He was born April 12, 1934 in Dunn to the late Mary Penny Shaw and Joseph Paul Shaw, Sr. His maternal grandparents were Mary Franks and Jesse Penny. His paternal grandparents were Naomi and Henry Shaw.

Luther Dexter Barbee, former Nashville Councilman and a charter member of Nashville’s Birchwood Country Club, passed away on Friday, January 23. He was 87 years old.
He was born June 25, 1927 in Nash County to the late Luther Franklin and Jeanette Pridgen Barbee.
Barbee was a member of Nashville Baptist Church.

A two-year-old alerted his family to an early morning fire in their home Saturday, helping the family safely get out of the home.
Nashville Firefighters responded to the fire, at 2634 Highway 58, at around 6:30 a.m. on Saturday, January 24.
Upon arrival, firefighters found smoke coming from the home.

INCIDENTS
A larceny was reported on 1/20/15 at 804 Old Wilson Road
An obtaining money/property by false pretense and possession of counterfeit money was reported on 1/21/15 at 106 West Nashville Drive

A breaking and entering was reported on 1/19/15 at 5672 Bend of the River Road
A larceny and theft of money/personal items was reported on 1/19/15 at 6096 Bones Cut Off Road
A damage to property and animal cruelty was reported on 1/19/15 at 7037 Little Creek Road
A larceny was reported on 1/19/15 at 172 Pine Street

Nash County Planning and Inspections issued the following building permits from January 19 through 23. 

A meeting hosted by the Nash County Agricultural Center on Tuesday brought in a full house as more than 150 citizens came to learn more about the their options concerning the proposed pipeline coming through Nash County. Three officials spoke at the meeting: Theodore Feitshans, an attorney and professor at North Carolina State University; Guido van der Hoeven, an extension economics specialist at North Carolina State University; and Charlie Tyson, Nash County Cooperative Extension Director.

“You are part of a special group. Only three out of 20 people who apply to be a police officer actually become one. This job is a calling. You should be proud,” Rocky Mount Police Department Lieutenant Larry Neal Boone told Nash Community College’s newest crop of heroes. Boone addressed the Fortieth Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) Academy at NCC sharing wisdom from his own career experiences with the eleven graduates, “Be an ambassador for your department.

Greg Manning, of Nashville, was elected to a three-year term on the board of directors of the North Carolina Soybean Producers Association at the 48th annual meeting in Durham on Jan. 16, 2015. Manning will represent Edgecombe, Halifax and Nash counties.

Appalachian State University recently released its graduation list for the Fall 2014 Semester.
A total of 196 graduate students and 1,003 undergraduate students received degrees during ceremonies held in December.

Mu Chapter officers, of Delta Kappa Gamma International, initiated a new member, December 9, 2014.  Pictured (L-R) is: Mu Chapter President, Tobey Worthington; New Mu Member, Tunisia Bullock; Vice-President, Reba Fulghum; and Secretary, Anita Wesche.

College Foundation of North Carolina to offer a free college financial aid workshop for Nash County students and their parents on Tues., Feb. 3 at 6:30 p.m.
How will you pay for college for your child or yourself?  College Foundation of North Carolina (CFNC) can help you figure it out.

The Pregnancy Care Center Board of Directors recently announced Kirk Walden as the 2015 Celebrate Life Banquet keynote speaker.  If you are ready to create a true culture of life in America, Kirk brings a captivating perspective on how the battle will be won in this generation.
The Celebrate Life Banquet will be held at Englewood Baptist Church on Thursday, February 19th at 7 p.m. 

Fields and Cooper, PLLC, recently announced that Trey Barnette has joined the law firm. He was recently admitted to the North Carolina State Bar and is licensed to practice in North Carolina.
Barnette earned his Juris Doctor at Campbell University’s Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law and his B.A. from North Carolina State University.

On a bright and sunny Sunday morning Peachtree folks gathered for worship.  Pastor Whitehouse greeted those present.  Sanctuary flowers were given by Ann and Niki Cannon in memory of Ann’s husband and Niki’s father, Jim Cannon.
The sermon was brought by Rev. Joel Story, guest preacher.

Everyone greatly enjoyed the book club discussion Tale Talk on January 20 at Red Oak United Methodist Church.  The group discussed The Book of Lies by Brad Meltzer. Their next Tale Talk meeting is scheduled for March 24 when they will discuss Monster by Frank Peretti.
Women in Action met at Red Oak Baptist Church on Thursday, January 22.

The tiny infant in an incubator struggled for breath. An urgent call went to the hospital chaplain. “Please baptize my baby.” Death came quietly. Young teenagers sped through a railroad crossing under the glare of lights from an oncoming engine, the blare of a screaming horn, and the screech of wheels grinding on the tracks.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden recently announced the availability of more than $18 million in funding to help educate, mentor and enhance the sustainability of the next generation of farmers. This support is available through the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP), administered by USDA’s National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA).

Girl Scouts from Troops 611 and 3249 served refreshments to senior participants after the annual Christmas Light Tour, held on December 18th, 2014. The tour was hosted by the City of Rocky Mount at Nash Community College.

Congratulations to Cranford Keffer. Cran got his learners permit last week! Yeah!
Mary Ann Holland visited her sister Carol Carter and her family last week in Knoxville,Tennessee. Carol is teaching Mary Ann to quilt.

Monday, February 2 from 3 until 7 p.m. at Planet Fitness, 1271 Cobb Corners Drive, Rocky Mount
Tuesday, February 3 from 3 until 7 p.m. at Stony Hill Free Will Baptist Church, 9649 Stony Hill Church Road, Middlesex
Wednesday, February 4 from 9 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. at Tri-County Industries, 1250 Atlantic Avenue, Rocky Mount

I think my seven-year-old had the right idea early last week when he realized it was almost time for the Super Bowl.
“Daddy, is there any way we can DVR the game and then just watch the commercials and skip the game parts?”
I thought it was Lowell’s best idea since he suggested we acquire a pet monkey to be our butler. Or that we instill a Blizzard machine in the kitchen.  Or that we put a flea collar on his brother to better control him.

For those of you anxiously awaiting the annual Year in Review section we normally publish the end of January –– we will include the special edition in  next week’s Graphic.
Unfortunately, due to some unforeseen issues this week, we got a bit behind –– even more so than usual!
I left the office Friday afternoon fully expecting to be back in the office Saturday to layout the Year in Review section and take care of some other things that  desperately needed my attention.

Dear editor:
Another Obama State of the Union address – another big disappointment. Obama stated …. “we need more taxes so we can help the middle class” –  that’s just more Obama BS.

LONDON MILLS GROUND-BREAKING –– This photo originally published in The Graphic February 24, 1977. Sanford Laitman, president of London Mills, and his youngest daughter, Allison, turn the first spadefuls of earth for the new London Mills plant during a ground-breaking ceremony.

IN CONTROL. Northern Nash’s Manuel Sanchez gains an advantage against Southern Nash’s Saul Orduna during last Saturday’s action at the Big East Conference Dual Team Championships at Nash Central High School in Rocky Mount.

ROCKY MOUNT -- It was almost a formality that Rocky Mount would be crowned as the title holder at last Saturday’s Big East Conference Dual Team Wrestling Championships.
But the real suspense came in the battle for the second spot in the league, with Northern Nash and Southern Nash jousting for No. 2 -- which carries with it an automatic berth into the Class 3-A State Team Playoffs.

KAYLA’S QUEST. Nash Central’s Kayla Mitchell (with ball) drives to the basket during last Thursday’s road victory against Rocky Mount Middle.

ROCKY MOUNT - After a first period that didn’t live up to the usual standard, Nash Central Middle School’s girls more than made up for it in the second quarter.
During that decisive stretch, the Lady Trojans held Rocky Mount scoreless en route to taking the lead for good.
Nash Central would go on to top the Lady Ravens by a 31-13 margin in a key Tri-County Conference basketball matchup at the old Rocky Mount High School Gymnasium.

RED OAK -- The Red Oak Middle School Tigers moved one step closer toward earning a playoff berth in the Tri-County Conference with a boys basketball victory last Thursday against Phillips Middle.
Playing at home, the Tigers won in convincing fashion by a 66-24 margin at the ROMS Gymnasium.
Red Oak has lost just twice this season, with both setbacks coming against non-league foe Toisnot out of Wilson.

CHRIS CLINGS TO THE BALL. Nash Central’s Chris High (left) drives past a Rocky Mount defender during last Thursday evening’s boys basketball showdown.

ROCKY MOUNT -- As sloppy as the first half might have been, it closed with Nash Central Middle School clutching a 3-point advantage.
The second half was much more uptempo and exciting, though the Trojans weren’t overjoyed about the closing act.
Instead, Nash Central saw Rocky Mount rally for a 42-40 triumph in a Tri-County Conference boys basketball showdown last Thursday evening at the historic Rocky Mount High School Gymnasium.

ROCKY MOUNT -- Southern Nash needed to overcome a dose of negative history last Friday if the Firebirds hoped to erase a two-game losing skid in the Big East Conference boys basketball standings.
Standing in the way of the Firebirds was Rocky Mount -- a club that Southern Nash hadn’t defeated in at least the past 15 years.

GREENVILLE -- The East Carolina University baseball team held its first official spring practice under first-year head coach Cliff Godwin last Friday afternoon at Lewis Field inside Clark-LeClair Stadium.
Under cold and wet conditions, Godwin and his staff guided the Pirates through a three-hour workout consisting of a five-inning intra-squad scrimmage before closing out the day with a coach-pitch scrimmage.

NASH COUNTY -- Here are results from Week Two of the Nash County Parks and Recreation Department’s Youth Basketball Season:

ROCKY MOUNT -- The men’s basketball team of North Carolina Wesleyan College swept a pair of USA South Conference games over the weekend, downing Huntingdon by a 92-63 score last Saturday and knocking off LaGrange by an 83-73 tally on Sunday.
Junior Shannon Huff paced the Bishops with back-to-back double-doubles, averaging over 14 points and 10 rebounds per league contest.

TRULY A JOB WELL DONE. An area officiating crew featuring Nash County resident Tim Walker (second from right) worked the Class 4-A State Football Championship Football Game in December.

NASH COUNTY -- The North Carolina High School Athletic Association’s State Football Championships show off the state’s top gridiron talent -- but that high-level skill doesn’t stop with the players.
North Carolina’s best referees are chosen to work those prestigious games -- and an area crew was in action in December at the Class 4-A State Finals in Winston-Salem.

ELM CITY -- Working off of last season’s momentum, County Line Raceway has released its 2015 schedule of events. 
This season will feature five weekly divisions including Late Model, Limited Sportsman (formerly Thunder & Lightning), Super Stock Four Cylinder, Pure Stock V-8 and Pure Stock Four Cylinder. 
The Open Wheel Modified division will also appear one weekend per month. 

MAT MASTERS. Among the performers at last Saturday’s Big East Conference Dual Team Championships were (above) Northern Nash’s Jordan Whitehead.

MAT MASTERS. Among the performers at last Saturday’s Big East Conference Dual Team Championships were (above) Southern Nash’s Brandon Farris and Northern Nash’s Tyrees Wiggins.

Nash Central’s Jordan Lynch (right) makes a strong move toward the basket during last Thursday’s boys basketball contest versus Rocky Mount Middle.

(L to R) Nash Central’s Bryant Weber (right) grapples for position against a Rocky Mount wrestler during last Saturday’s Big East Conference Dual Team Wrestling Championships. The annual mat event was hosted by Nash Central High School.

Nash Central’s Naudika Howard (with ball) is fouled during the Lady Trojans’ victorty last Thursday afternoon at Rocky Mount Middle School.

Agnes “Marie” Moss, 72, passed away, Thursday, January 22, 2015. She was born February 21, 1942 in Nash County to the late Austin and Claudia Barefoot Carpenter. She was preceded in death by her husband James Riley Moss, and sisters, Susie Frazier, Faye Proctor and Joyce Proctor.

ROCKY MOUNT - Barbara Jean Gupton, 52, of Rocky Mount, died on January 18, 2015.

ROCKY MOUNT - Claretha Edwards, 97, of Rocky Mount, died on January 22, 2015.

ROCKY MOUNT - Dorothy Mae Hawkins, 66, of Rocky Mount, died on January 26, 2015.

HOLLISTER - Eveyln “Jean” Silver, 77, passed away on Saturday, January 24, 2015.

Gladys Davis Bryan, 94, passed away on Tuesday, January 20, 2015.  Born in Edgecombe County on February 11, 1920, she was the daughter of the late Orville Gorham Davis and Lessie Davis.  She was predeceased in death by her husband, Claude Tate Bryan, Jr., in 1981, whom she was married to for 39 loving years.

Glenna Marsh Ball, 84, passed away on Monday, January 26, 2015. Glenna was born on November 20, 1930, to Creed O. and Lelah Hovatter Marsh in Nestorville, WV.

NASHVILLE - Harvey Taylor, 83, passed away on Friday, January 23, 2015.

Jasper Thomas Davis, 85, passed away on January 24, 2015.

NASHVILLE - Joseph Paul Shaw, Jr., 80, passed away, Friday, January 23, 2015. He was born April 12, 1934 in Dunn to the late Mary Penny Shaw and Joseph Paul Shaw, Sr. Paul’s maternal grandparents were Mary Franks and Jesse Penny. His paternal grandparents were Naomi and Henry Shaw.

ROCKY MOUNT - Larry Darnell Cooper, 58, of Rocky Mount, North Carolina, died on January 21, 2015.

ROCKY MOUNT - Linwood Lee Darcus, 55, of Rocky Mount, died on January 24, 2015.

KITTRELL - Linwood LeMay, 59, passed away on Friday, January 16, 2015.

NASHVILLE - Luther Dexter Barbee, 87, passed away, Friday, January 23, 2015. He was born June 25, 1927 in Nash County to the late Luther Franklin and Jeanette Pridgen Barbee. Luther was preceded in death by three sisters, Rachel Barbee Stokes, Hazel Barbee Teague and Alene Barbee.

Mamie Smith Rose, 75, passed away on Sunday, January 25, 2015. She was born in Nash County, on September 12, 1939 to the late Lummy Smith and Effie Harrell Smith. She was preceded in death by her husband, Tommie Rose; son, Jeffrey Thomas Rose; sister, Louise Pittman and brothers, John E. Smith, Roscoe Wayne Smith and Bart Smith.

Margie Woodcock Clark, 79, of Rocky Mount, died Saturday, January 24, 2015. She was predeceased by her husband, Ben Clark, Jr.; a son, Samuel Jones; sisters, Viola Thompson and Mildred Johnson; and brothers, Elbert Woodcock, Avy Woodcock and Buddy Woodcock.

ROCKY MOUNT -  Marjorie House Davis, 84, passed away on Sunday, January 25, 2015. She was born on February 28, 1930 to the late Jesse and Julia House in Johnson County, North Carolina.

KITTRELL - Mary Queen E. Perry, 69, passed away on Thursday, January 15, 2015.

ROCKY MOUNT - Otis Williams, 63, of Rocky Mount, died on January 26, 2015.

Patricia Gail Casey Joyner, 66, passed away on Sunday, January 25, 2015. She was born in Nash County, the daughter of the late Allen Jay Casey and Margaret Jackson Casey. She was preceded in death by one brother, Roy Jackson Casey.

Phillip William Smith, 61, passed away Saturday, January 24, 2015.

LOUISBURG - Shirley A. Davis, 65, died on Tuesday, January 13, 2015.

ROCKY MOUNT - Shirley Mae (James) Walker, 72, of Rocky Mount, North Carolina, died on Monday, January 19, 2015.

Vera Hilliard Mann, 93, of Whitakers, passed away on Wednesday, January 21, 2015.