Brooke Simpson (Contributed photo)

Brooke Simpson has captured the hearts of America with her performances on the talent competition The Voice but Simpson had the heart of this area long before.
Simpson is from the Hollister area and a member of the Haliwa-Saponi Tribe. She has strong ties to her community and is well known in Nash County as well.
Simpson's dad, Mike Mills, said his daughter has been singing for a long time.

Cedar Grove Elementary School combined the holidays with physical fitness last Wednesday afternoon with a Jingle Walk.
The event was held in conjunction with Walk to School Day, which is intended to promote health, wellness and physical fitness.
This is the third year Cedar Grove has participated in the Walk to School event.

Many who know Tolie B. Harrison know her simply as "Ma Tolie."
On Sunday, friends and family came together to celebrate Harrison's 100th birthday at a special banquet in Rocky Mount.
Harrison was born on December 12, 1917. She was raised in Nashville on Barnes Street and has lived in Nashville her entire life. Harrison lived in the Brooklyn Community for 80 years.

Town Council Chambers at Cooley Library were transformed into a Winter Wonderland on Saturday night.
The town's Library Department, along with Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources, hosted Santa Storytime and the Polar Express.
Despite the snowfall earlier in the day, the event brought out a crowd.

Weather last Friday caused the Old Fashioned Christmas in Spring Hope to be postponed until this Friday.
The event will be held Friday, December 15 from 5:30 until 8 p.m. in Downtown Spring Hope.

Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools (NRMPS) has been approved to open the Center for Industry, Technology, and Innovation (CITI) High School in collaboration with Nash Community College. The Joint Advisory Committee recommended five Cooperative Innovative High School applications to the State Board of Education, the State Board of Community Colleges and the University of North Carolina (UNC) Board of Governors for approval to open with funding for the 2018- 2019 school year.

Nashville's Cooley Library will host a Great Cookie Bake Off and Christmas Ornament Making event on Saturday, December 16 from 1 until 3 p.m.
Cookies must be baked before coming to the library, said Library Director Emily Enderle.
"The mayor's wife will be our cookie judge," Enderle added.

The Town of Red Oak is hosting its first ever Christmas Cookie Exchange on Friday.
Town Clerk Tracy Shearin said she was trying to come up with something fun for the community to do around the holidays.
"I wanted to do something to encourage the community to get together," Shearin said.

Levell Langley (sworn in as mayor)

The regular meeting of the Town Board of Red Oak on Monday was brief. The board heard an update regarding the town's new website, and re-elected officials were sworn in.
Town Clerk Tracy Shearin gave the update on the website, saying that the cost would be much lower than previously thought. LT Web Design (out of Enfield) will design the new site - redoaknorthcarolina.com. Launch date is set for the end of January.

INCIDENTS
A larceny was reported on 12/4/17 at 110 Sara Drive
An uttering a forged instrument and possession of counterfeit money was reported on 12/5/17 at Walgreens, 703 E Washington Street
An involuntary commitment service was reported on 12/6/17 at Nashville Commons Drive

A larceny from a building was reported on 12/3/17 at 130 N Old Carriage Road
A breaking, entering and larceny, larceny of a firearm and damage to personal property was reported on 12/3/17 at 2010 Lindsay Road
A fraud was reported on 12/4/17 at 5852 NC 48

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

Fire fighters responded to a truck fire of I-95 South on December 5th.

Firefighters were faced with thousands of small dinosaurs all over the highway on Tuesday, December 5th.
Nash County E-911 Center received calls for a tractor trailer fire on 1-95 South at mile maker 130. Fire Departments from Station 4 West Mount and Station 15 Coopers were dispatched.

Teacher Assistant Susan Corbett walks with Makenzie Lee, Hannah Walker and Sanil Lynch (L-R) during Cedar Grove's Jingle Walk last Wednesday.

Victoria Hill wears her festive holiday attire as she walks around Cedar Grove's playground as part of the school's Jingle Walk 2017.

Fifth grader Destiny Wallace participates in the Jingle Walk last week.

Mykenzie Richardson and Raegan Waltz (L-R) walk together during the Jingle Walk last week.

Teachers also participated in the Jingle Walk at Cedar Grove, wearing their best holiday attire. Pictured is second grade teacher Nadia Strickland.

Fifth graders Yusef Williams, Mason Moore, Lucas Valencia and Xzavien Harrison (L-R) hold the banner at the start of the Jingle Walk 2017.

Ruritan National District Governor Jeff Neese (at left) congratulates Raven Carpenter after swearing him in as President of the Oak Level Ruritan Club for the 2018 year.

Oak Level Ruritans gathered on Monday for their annual holiday celebration and installation of officers for the upcoming year.
Jeff Neese, Ruritan District Governor, visited the club to help install the club's new officers and to offer words of wisdom and inspiration to the club.
"We have the best civic organization in the world," Neese said. "They help people and they put it back in the community."

Captain Henry King of the Rocky Mount Police Department recently received recognition from Secretary of State Elaine Marshall. King, in conjunction with the Secretary of State Task Force and local officers, had been investigating an individual who was trafficking in counterfeit Viagra and Cialis medication.
Promoted to captain earlier this year, King oversees the Criminal Investigation Division (CID).

Kathy Russell Moore, President of the NC Chapter of Honor and Remember, speaks at the annual banquet last month at Nash Community College.

The strength of our nation is our military. The strength of our military is our soldiers. The strength of our soldiers is our families. The military recognizes that no one has given more for our nation than the families of the fallen.
On November 11, several hundred people from across the state gathered at Nash Community College's Brown Auditorium to honor five specific families with Honor and Remember Flags by the North Carolina Chapter's President Kathy Russell Moore.

David Stephen Mitchell recently released his debut novel, "We Hold These Truths."
In the novel Mitchell grants the reader unprecedented access to the provocative world of code-switching African-American Ivy Leaguers and the dark underbelly of Southern race politics as seen through the eyes of Al Carpenter, who struggles to quare the hopeful outcome of President Obama's 2008 election with the prospect that many Americans don't actually want the change they clamored for.

Governor Roy Cooper recently announced 39 new appointments to various state boards and commissions.
"These North Carolinians bring dedication, skills, and years of experience to our state boards and commissions," Governor Cooper said. "I appreciate them using their time and talents to serve North Carolina."

Well we are halfway there as we continue to wait during this Advent season. With two Sundays down and two Sundays to go, today is a great chance to reflect once more on what this season truly means. In other words, how are you preparing your heart to celebrate the birth of Jesus, but also, and perhaps more importantly for you today, how are you preparing your life for the second coming of Jesus - because fellow Follower of the Way, He is coming back.

Virginia Glasgow was hospitalized last week and is now home.
Dorothy, Audrey, and Suzy Pearce enjoyed Christmas lunch with family in Selma on Sunday, December 10.
Need Christmas gifts wrapped? Remember the youth of Red Oak Baptist Church will have a gift wrapping fundraiser on Saturday, December 16 between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm.

On a surprisingly bright and sunny morning, following an icy and frigid night, Peachtree folks gathered for worship. Pastor Whitehouse chose as his sermon title, "The Gift that was Indescribable." It was based on Colossians 3:1-3. As we think of the great gift of Jesus, we want to share gifts with those who are less fortunate than we are. This is the season for giving to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for Foreign Missions.

I was looking for what appears to be an "unusual grocery item" the other day, and the manager of the store told me he couldn't get the item, but I should try a Red & White.
My mind immediately went to our area's most famous -- and perhaps last franchise, now that I think of it -- Smith's Red & White in Dortches.

Unless you live under a rock, you are aware that there is a giant building being built in Nashville right across from the Graphic office.
Nash County is adding onto its courthouse, making additional space for the courthouse but also for the sheriff's office, and clerk of court office.
It's been interesting to watch the process come along.

Dear Editor:
The debate about health care and health insurance has been framed by those who support government paid health care and health insurance as an access issue. Everyone has access to health care and health insurance so access is not the issue. The issues is who pays for the health care and health insurance. Not who has access.

SAFE DRIVERS -- This photo was originally published in The Graphic on December 3, 1981. Nashville Postmaster James Muse, right, is pictured presenting safe driving awards to five postal workers.

Z MAN. Zonovan Knight had a spectacular season in the backfield in 2017 for the Southern Nash Firebirds. (Photo Submitted by Anthony Barham)

STANHOPE -- Southern Nash's domination of the Big East Conference was complete during the 2017 football season -- on both sides of the ball.
The Firebirds rolled through five league opponents by a combined score of 248-31.
The closest final tally Southern Nash experienced in conference action this fall was a 35-7 drubbing of Rocky Mount.

DRAWING A CROWD. Nash Central High School's Tarod Brown (with ball) tries to operate around the Southern Nash defense last Friday night.

ROCKY MOUNT -- With an opportunity to pull out a victory, the Nash Central Bulldogs simply couldn't come up with enough defensive stops to hold off a last Southern Nash threat during the clubs' first boys basketball meeting of the season two weeks ago.
That wasn't an issue in last Friday's rematch as the Bulldogs were stern on the defensive end beginning in the second period -- and never relented.

NCHS' KAYLA MITCHELL

STANHOPE -- Nash Central left a few things to chance with its inconsistent performance two weeks ago during a road girls basketball meeting at Southern Nash.
Thanks to some threeballs from the Ladybirds, Nash Central needed some late heroics to re-establish control en route to securing what had been an expected victory -- though it was much more difficult to obtain than had been originally thought against a rebuilding Southern Nash contingent.

NASH CENTRAL'S DESTINY ANSTEAD

NASHVILLE -- Nash Central Middle School had hoped to get off to a quality start to its much-anticipated girls basketball season in the always-competitive Tri-County Conference.
But Parker's Diovian Graham had other ideas.

ROCKY MOUNT -- Nash Central High School certainly made the most of its first gridiron season in the Eastern Plains Conference.
The Bulldogs went 10-3 overall and 4-1 in the EPC -- and were part of a three-way tie for the regular season championship.
Central, coached by Chris Lee, would eventually reach the second round of the Class 2-AA State Playoffs before falling at Randleman.

ROCKY MOUNT -- Wilson Fike's girls and Wilson Hunt's boys were the team winners at the latest Big East Conference Swim Meet, which was held last Wednesday at the Harrison Family YMCA in Rocky Mount.
In addition to five of the Big East member schools, other participants included Nash Central, SouthWest Edgecombe, Tarboro and Wilson Beddingfield.

ROCKY MOUNT -- The North Carolina Wesleyan College women's basketball team dropped a pair of contests last weekend, falling to Averett University at home on Friday before dropping a non-conference tilt at Lynchburg College on Sunday.
Last Friday versus Averett, the Cougars took advantage of a poor shooting performance by Wesleyan in the first half to forge a 39-17 lead at the break.

RALEIGH -- Now in his 22nd season as head coach of the North Carolina State University baseball program and one of just 15 active coaches with 1,000 or more career wins, Elliott Avent announced the team's 2018 schedule Wednesday morning.
The Wolfpack's slate is highlighted by six games versus teams that advanced to the 2017 College World Series (CWS) and 16 games against NCAA Tournament teams from a season ago.

GREENVILLE -- East Carolina University baseball fans will get a chance to meet the 2018 Pirates up close and personal on Feb. 10 as ECU will host its 2018 Pirate Baseball Banquet inside Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum.
Greenville Mayor and ECU alum P.J. Connelly (2004-05) as well as former ECU Pirate hurler Cory Scott (1999-2000) will serve as keynote speakers, while WNCT-TV Sports Director Brian Bailey will emcee the annual event.

CHAPEL HILL - The North Carolina High School Athletic Association conducted its 104th annual Football State Championships last Saturday at four different sites across the Tar Heel State.

Faith Christian School's 2017 baseball and boys soccer teams were recently recognized by the City of Rocky Mount. The Rocky Mount Council adopted and presented a resolution congratulating the varsity baseball squad (above) on its Carolina Independent Conference regular season crown, along with the North Carolina independent Schools Class 2-A State Championship. Pictured are (l to r) FCS head coach Greg Clifton; players Sam Mills, Chase Johnson and Alex Crosby; assistant coach Al Carter and Rocky Mount Mayor David W. Combs.

DANVILLE, VA. -- Nash County stars Montre' Cash and Raymond 'Goody' Bullock have made instant impacts as members of the Averett University men's basketball squad.
The freshmen have helped the Cougars to an early 5-2 record and have started in each contest.
Cash, a guard from Nash Central, is third on the team in scoring at 8.9 ppg to go with 3.4 rebounds, 10 assists and six steals.

Nash Central's Shya Lucas (2) tries to flick a rebound away from a Parker Middle player.

In the estimation of Nash Central High School boys basketball coach Renny Taylor, junior guard Chris High (with ball) enjoyed one of the best all-around games of his career last Friday night as the Bulldogs defeated rival Southern Nash.