Nash Community College is hoping bond money will assist the college in building more facilities on campus and moving the Nash-Rocky Mount Early College into a more permanent spot as well.
Nash Community College President Bill Carver requested approval from the Nash County Board of Commissioners last Monday for the construction of a new 26,000 square foot engineering and cosmetology facility to house classrooms, faculty offices, support space and laboratories.

FRINK

The Nash County Sheriff's Office arrested two last week in connection with stolen lottery tickets.
Deputies responded to the West Mount Food Mart on January 4 around 11 p.m. in reference to a larceny of lottery tickets. One of the responding deputies passed a vehicle matching the suspect's vehicle and turned around. When deputies tried to initiate a traffic stop, the vehicle, a black 2011 Infinity FX3, began to speed away and a vehicle pursuit ensued. The pursuit came to an end when the vehicle, driven by 26-year-old Halie Tina-Marie Frink, of Nashville, struck a Nash County Sheriff's Office vehicle, ran into a field and became disabled.

A student at Northern Nash High School was arrested after drugs and a weapon were located in his vehicle.
According to a press release by Nash-Rocky Mount Schools, an investigation was done by administration and law enforcement on the male student. The investigation found that the student was in possession of several illegal items, including marijuana and narcotics in his vehicle. Ammunition to a firearm was also found during the initial search and a subsequent search uncovered a firearm in the vehicle.

JOHNSON

The Nash County Sheriff's Office made an arrest last week on a 2013 breaking and entering.
The breaking and entering occurred in May 2013 on Bend of the River Road.
Megan Brooke Johnson, 22, of Spring Hope, and Timothy Ray Martin, 22, of Bailey, were both charged with the breaking and entering.
According to the Sheriff's Office the case was solved thanks to a DNA match that came back from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation Crime Lab.

Sgt. Greg Adams and the Nash County Sheriff's Office were ready to accept the retirement of long-time K-9 Deputy Sasha after an aggressive cancer caused her to lose her left front leg.
But Sasha had other plans.
After undergoing some testing, Sasha proved that she was not ready to retire just yet.

As soon as warmer weather hits, construction is slated to begin on Nashville's "Walkable Community Project."
Nashville's Town Council approved two contracts with Newcon last Tuesday night for construction of the project.
The sidewalk project is a part of the town's long-range plans of making the town more pedestrian friendly. Several years ago, the town wrapped up a similar project, where sidewalk was installed on Washington Street, from the Kangaroo gas station to Dos Hermanos as well as in front of Just Save.

A Nash Central High School student improved the baseball field at Red Oak Middle School as part of his Eagle Scout project.
Tanner Rhodes received the Eagle Scout designation on December 7 at First Presbyterian Church in Rocky Mount. His Scoutmaster, Tim Lane, presented Rhodes with the Eagle Scout rank.
Eagle Scout is the highest advancement in Boy Scouting. In 2013, only around seven percent of all Boy Scouts, or 56,841 scouts, earned the Eagle Scout rank.

Nash County Commissioners were told on Monday to prepare for a 10 to 12 percent decrease in property values next year.
Bob and Fred Pearson, of Pearson's Appraisal Service, presented an update on the revaluation process at a recessed meeting held Monday morning.
Pearson's Appraisal Service is working on a revaluation for Nash County, which will be effective by January 1, 2017. Revaluations must be conducted at least every eight years in each county.

The Fellowship of Christian Athletes Club (FCA) at Nash Central High School in partnership with the Youth Pastor's Coalition is holding the 4th annual After Exam Jam Concert on January 23rd at Red Oak Baptist Family Life Center starting at 6 p.m. This event is a fundraiser for the club the college and camp scholarship programs it sponsors.
The other FCA groups in Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools have also been given the opportunity to sell tickets in order to raise money for their own club members to receive scholarships for FCA camps.

INCIDENTS
A possession with intent to sell/deliver marijuana, possession of stolen property, all traffic except DWI, driving while license revoked and failure to appear was reported on 1/5/16 at 1038 Eastern Avenue, in the parking area of Highway 64 Marketplace
A possession of marijuana was reported on 1/5/16 at 1206 Eastern Avenue, in the parking area of Wendy's

A breaking, enetering and larceny was reported on 1/4/16 at 5465 Macedonia Road
A possession of drug paraphernalia was reported on 1/4/16 at 4408 Oak Level Road
An assault on a female was reported on 1/4/16 at 5841 US 64A
A possession of marijuana was reported on 1/4/16 at 4101 Sunset Avenue

Nash County Planning and Inspections issued the following building permits from January 4 through January 8.

I love God. I love God for many reasons and one of them is the fact that one of the first glimpses we get at our Creator is Him playing in the dirt (Genesis 2:7). Imagine a God so spectacular, so joyful that He plays in the dirt, a God so loving that he even put his hands in the dirt to bring mankind into existence. Most of the "gods" of the earth are too prideful and elegant to touch dirt - not our God, not the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob - He plays in the dirt!

I hope everyone had a great week and enjoyed the warm weather along with a few days of more rain. This week I feel we would receive a few really cold days so please stay out of the cold as much as possible. As I read last week's Graphic, one article especially caught my attention and brought a lot of memories of my school days at Red Oak Elementary and also Red Oak High School. I graduated in 1958 and I realize I have been out of school 58 years now. Time really seems to fly as we get older. The news stated the old girls dormitory across from Red Oak Elementary School is going to be demolished.

On another beautiful Sunday morning, Pastor Whitehouse welcomed those who had gathered at the church to worship. Sanctuary flowers were given by Janice and Bobby Sykes in honor of their great-grandsons, Jackson Helman and Samuel Sykes. The choir sang "Holy Ground" under the direction of the pastor and accompanied by Jane May.
The pastor chose as his sermon title, "Bent Knees; Confessing Tongues". The scripture from Philippians 2:6-11 was read by Jerry Hobgood.

Last year was an amazing year for Red Oak United Methodist Church! During 2015, new ministries were started, and previous ones continued to grow.
Red Oak United Methodist Church hosted the very first meeting of Jacob's Friends, a ministry that aims to provide social interaction and activities for children and young adults with special needs as well as offer support to their parents and caregivers. The group attended the Nashville Blooming Festival, the Spring Special Needs Carnival in Raleigh, and The Lion King Jr. at the Dunn Center in Rocky Mount.

The Myrtle Carter Henry Scholarship was recently endowed by the DeLeon Carter Foundation at Nash Community College to assist students with the resources needed to train and prepare for their chosen careers. Since its partnership in 2001 with the College, the Board of Directors have made an impact for the Nash/Rocky Mount area on campus through the Myrtle Carter Henry Amphitheater with fountain and the digital marquee on campus.

Rocky Mount High School recently announced that four seniors in the Class of 2016 have advanced to the next round of the prestigious Morehead-Cain Scholarship Competition for UNC Chapel and the Park Scholarship Competition for NC State University.
Both scholarships are very competitive and highly selective. To advance to the second round of the application process is a significant honor and achievement.

Rotarian President Richard Sykes, at left, stands with Chrystal Kowack, formerly of AAA Travel, who spoke at Doubletree of Rocky Mount on vacations, tips, and her new company, Taste for Travels. The next Rotary meeting is January 25.

Thursday, January 14 from 2:30 until 6:30 p.m. at Momeyer Ruritan Club, 4812 Momeyer Way, Nashville
Saturday, January 16 from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. at Union Hill Missionary Baptist Church, 1104 Taylor Store Road, Nashville
Wednesday, January 20 from 12 until 4 p.m. at Eaton Corporation, 8171 Planer Mill Road, Middlesex
Saturday, January 23 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church, 652 Raleigh Road, Rocky Mount

During the Dec. 14, 2015 Rocky Mount City Council meeting, Mayor David Combs presented a proclamation to the ladies of AKA, proclaiming December 19, 2015 Chi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Day in honor of their 90th Anniversary.

Mu Chapter members of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, sang carols for Autumn Care residents during the holiday season. Picture (standing in front) is Diane Day. Back row, left to right) are Beth Credle, Tunisia Bullock, Tobey Worthington, Reba Fulghum, Elaine Christianson, Pat Taylor, and Beth Wingfield.

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission, in conjunction with the city of Rocky Mount, will host events during the month of January honoring the legacy of one of the most prolific civil rights figures in history, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The overall theme for this year's events is "Wait No More."
The pinnacle event of the month will be the 28th annual Unity Breakfast on Monday, Jan. 18, 2016 starting at 7 a.m. with breakfast at the Dunn Center for the Performing Arts on the campus of North Carolina Wesleyan College.

AgCarolina Farm Credit announces twenty-seven college scholarships are available and will be awarded in the coming months.
The Raleigh-based farm lender has long been a supporter of young and beginning farmers and others who live in rural North Carolina. College scholarships are just one component of the Young and Beginning Farmer Program at AgCarolina Farm Credit. Ag loans, special loan programs, educational seminars, and financial sponsorships to help young and beginning farmers succeed are also provided by the agricultural lender.

Nash Community College recently announced the following students achieved academic honors during the 2015 Fall Semester.
To qualify for the Dean's List, students must earn a perfect 4.0 grade point average (all A's) while taking 12 or more semester hours. Students who qualify for the Honor Roll must earn a grade point average of 3.3 or above and be enrolled in 12 or more semester hours.

I'm not going to lie: I was glad to see 2015 put in the rear view mirror. While I did have my first book published, there were some dark days last year.
But now, we have a new year filled with optimism, and some really strange weather so far. If you don't get stuck in my yard on your vehicle, you've already had a good day. In this spirit, I've compiled, a bit belated, my resolutions for 2016:

Well, it's 2016 and hopefully the Town of Nashville will finally see its sidewalk project come to fruition!
The project has been a long time coming and has faced numerous delays but I think town officials are hopeful that this will be the year the project gets completed.
It'll be a great project for the town, as it'll add sidewalk on Washington Street, from First Street all the way to Wal-Mart on Eastern Avenue. Sidewalk surely enhances a town but also makes it a more pedestrian friendly place, which is always a good thing.

I recently bumped into an old friend from my high school marching band days. We talked about the good times we had and lessons we learned marching under the direction of the legendary Roland Shaw at Southern Nash High School in the early 80s and how fortunate we were to also study under the leadership of Randy Barham when Mr. Shaw moved away. My friend and I quickly agreed how we were pretty sure those days prepared us for a lot more in life than we had ever expected back in those days.

Dear President Obama:
There is an empty chair at the dinner table in a lot of American homes, and while we can collect data and come up with many reasons that are legitimate, that does not bring back the person that is absent from the dinner table because of gun violence. Thank you, President Obama, for having the sensitivity to remember the hundreds of lives, over 30,000 lost in America every year, due to gun violence. This is a large number of our people dying too soon at the end of a gun.

There was a RARE situation at the Shelter this week. We ended up with more empty kennels than usual on Friday. Sadly, it came at the loss of several lives when, earlier in the week, the Shelter was so FULL that some DIED that were adoptable. Might could have been adopted, had people came. There is a pawfect fit for any person that cares. Sometimes, it just takes more time, which the homeless pets in an animal control facility don't have enough of.

AWARD WINNERS - This photo was originally published in The Graphic March 3, 1981. Nash Central Junior High School's team took first place in the dairy cattle judging contest held by the Nash-Edgecombe Future Farmers of America Federation. Receiving a trophy from Ed Baker, Rocky Mount branch manager of Coble Diary, are team members, from left: Raymond Hunter, Barbara Langley, Ray Wood, Scarlett Jones, Stanley Robinson and Scott Wood.

HAPPY RETURNS. Nash Central High School's Myah Johnson races toward the finish line during last Friday afternoon's Big East Conference Swim Meet at the Harrison Family YMCA in Rocky Mount.

ROCKY MOUNT - Following a long hiatus for the holiday break, the Big East Conference swimmers returned to the pool last Friday to begin the second half of the 2015-16 campaign.
Wilson Fike withstood challenges to take first place in the girls standings with 135 points and second place in the boys team event with 146 markers at the Harrison Family YMCA Pool.

MAKING A MOVE. Nash Central High School's Kevin Dardin (top) takes control of this match against Roanoke Rapids as part of last Saturday's action at the Louisburg Duals at the Louisburg High School Gymnasium in Franklin County.

LOUISBURG -- Coach Shon Johnson thinks his Nash Central High School wrestling squad is peaking at the right time heading into most important part of the campaign.
With the Big East Conference Dual and Individual Championships looming later this month, the Bulldogs have been busy preparing for those moments.
That preparation including a visit to Franklin County last Saturday to take part in the annual Louisburg Duals at the Louisburg High School Gymnasium.

ROCKY MOUNT -- North Carolina Wesleyan College's softball squad will have a local flavor this season when the Bishops open their 2016 campaign on Feb. 23 on the road with a fast-pitch doubleheader at West Virginia Wesleyan College.
North Carolina Wesleyan College's 2016 fast-pitch softball schedule is as follows:

NASH COUNTY -- Rocky Mount dominated the Big East Conference football season -- and would go on to win a thiller over South Point to claim the Class 3-A State Football Championship.
So it was no surprise when the league announced its 2015 All Big East Conference Team -- and the Gryphons swept the top honors.
Leading the way for Rocky Mount was Coach of the Year Jason Battle, who guided the Gryphons to state supremacy.

ROCKY MOUNT -- Behind a game-high 19 points from senior Devontae Williams, the North Carolina Wesleyan College men's basketball team picked up a 70-64 victory over Ferrum College last Saturday afternoon in Everett Gymnasium on the NCWC campus.
Williams knocked down the first four shots he took to help the Bishops forge an early 12-2 lead that they would not relinquish.
Thanks to Williams' hot start, NCWC was able to take a 37-24 advantage into the half. Ferrum, however, did not go down without a fight and used a late 9-0 run to get a close a two, 56-54, at the 6:23 mark.

NASH COUNTY -- Listed are results from Week One of the Nash County Parks & Recreation Department's Basketball Season:

STANHOPE -- Southern Nash High School's boys basketball squad picked up a key early victory in the Big East Conference schedule last Friday.
The Firebirds moved ahead to stay in the first period and never looked back en route to defeating Wilson Fike by a 63-53 total at the SNHS Gymnasium.
Making their way through Fike's zone defense, the Firebirds delivered 21 points in the initial stanza of action.
Southern Nash would increase its early cushion to as many as 12 points against the Golden Demons.

Northern Nash's Allison Womble competes in an event as part of last Friday's Big East Conference Swim Meet at the Harrison Family YMCA in Rocky Mount.

Among the Nash Central High School standouts from last Saturday's action at the Louisburg Duals Wrestling Tournament in Franklin County was (above) Joshua Brice. (Graphic photos by Geoff Neville)

Nash Central's Langdon Norris sprints ahead in a freestyle event as part of last Friday's Big East Conference Swim Meet at the Harrison Family YMCA in Rocky Mount.

Action was plentiful last Friday afternoon as the Big East Conference continued its 2015-16 swim campaign at the Harrison Family YMCA Pool in Rocky Mount. Among the competitors from the event was (above) Sam Howell (Southern Nash).