Wendy Wilson, Brenda Brown and Wayne Doll are not seeking re-election to the Nash-Rocky Mount Board of Education.
Filing ended for the five available Board of Education seats on Friday, August 3.
Wilson has served District 2 since 2014. Two have filed to run for the seat. Monica Hathaway, of Elm City, and Dean Edwards, of Bailey, both filed for the District 2 seat on Thursday and Friday of last week.

GATHERING -- Youth from four Castalia churches joined together on Saturday to sing "We All Bleed the Same" during the first annual Castalia Fun Day in the Park.

The skies were clear on Saturday after a week of rain, making for a perfect first Family Fun Day in the Park, which was held Saturday at Castalia's Community Park.
Castalia churches hosted the event, which featured entertainment, food, vendors and a bookbag giveaway for youth.
Rev. Victor Fenner, pastor of Castalia Missionary Baptist Church, said up to 250 people came out on Saturday. Over 100 bookbags were given away to area school-aged youth.

Nashville's Town Council approved two rezoning requests that will pave the way for a national auto parts store to build on East Washington Street.
The Hutton Team, LLC, out of Chattanooga, TN, requested property at 626 E Washington Street and a portion of 203 Aviation Avenue be rezoned from R-10 (residential) and R-4 (high density residential) to B-1 (General Business).

The Nash-Rocky Mount School System has set tentative dates for town hall forums on the new proposed elementary school.
The Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools Board of Education, along with the Nash County Board of Commissioners, are looking at consolidating Cedar Grove Elementary School, Swift Creek Elementary School and Red Oak Elementary School into one, newly built school.

Nashville's Town Council was presented with new Christmas decorations on Tuesday night.
Amy Beasley, who is a member of a committee appointed by Municipal Service District (MSD) Committee Chair Dylan Bunch, showed council members a sample of a decoration on Tuesday and said she wanted the board to see what the committee had been working on.

Spring Hope will be getting a DMV Tag Agency Office/DMV License Plate Agency.
A new DMV Tag Agency Office will be on its way to Spring Hope.
President of the Spring Hope Chamber of Commerce Jan Mills said the town has been approved and selected to receive the office.

Two Nash County employees were recognized on Monday for their efforts in saving the life of a Bailey resident.
Junika Jones and Roxanne Hill were in the Town of Bailey on June 29 around 4 p.m. when they came across and unconscious person on the porch of a home. The two called 9-1-1 and immediately administered CPR until emergency workers arrived.

A long-time band director for Nash-Rocky Mount Schools was recently named the leader of a Rocky Mount private school.
The Faith Christian School Board of Directors recently announced that Erik Harris would serve as the Head of School. Harris was chosen after an extensive search following the resignation of Dr. Edward Bunn.

The Rocky Mount Police Department have made an arrest in one of two homicides that occurred last weekend.
Officers responded to an aggravated assault call in the 4300 block of Carrol Avenue on Sunday, July 29. Upon responding, officers found 32-year-old Cerron Fox, of Rocky Mount, who had been stabbed. Fox was taken to Vidant in Greenville, where he died from his injuries.

Area youth pastors are hoping to cover local schools in prayer before school starts.
The Youth Pastors Coalition is hosting its annual "School Prayer Walks" for Nash County public and private schools August 19, 20, 21 and 22.
Pam Bailey, who serves as the Director of the Youth Pastor's Coalition, said the event has been held for several years now.

The Nash UNC Health Care Foundation Board of Directors recently voted to allocate grant funding to five community organizations. A combined total of $275,000 in funding was distributed among the following recipients: Nash County Emergency Services, Nash Community College, the Hope Initiative, the Harrison Family YMCA and the Opportunities Industrialization Center (OIC).

Nash County Planning and Inspections issued the following building permits from July 30 through August 3.

An exceeding the posted speed, littering and possession was reported on 7/29/18 at Benvenue and Thomas Betts Road
A maintaining a place for a controlled substance, possession of a schedule II controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia was reported on 7/29/18 at 119 E NC 97 and King Mini Mart

INCIDENTS
An involuntary committment service was reported on 7/29/18
A trespassing and larceny was reported on 7/30/18 at Wal-Mart, 1205 Eastern Avenue

Nash County Commissioners denied a rezoning request on Jordan Road after neighboring residents expressed their opposition.
The request came before Commissioners on Monday at the board's regular meeting.
The request was made by the property owners Doris Jordan Worthington and Oliver Wendell Worthington, who live in Statesville, and by Cecil Williams, Jr., the prospective purchaser and developer.

The Nash-Rocky Mount Board of Education approved new administrators on Monday during their regular meeting.
The new administrative assignments are effective for the 2018-2019 school year.
Craig Tedford was named the principal at Spring Hope Elementary.

Marie Morgan (at right) helps Ta'Miya Basemore with writing last week during a Summer Reading Camp.

Ten Red Oak youth recently spent three weeks brushing up on their reading skills while attending the fourth annual Fruit of the Spirit Summer Reading Camp.
The three-week camp includes youth from Red Oak and Swift Creek Elementary Schools and is for grades K-3.
Red Oak United Methodist Church has been hosting the camp for four years now.

Nash-Rocky Mount Schools has released its Honor Roll lists for the fourth semester of the 2017-2018 school year.
The following students at Red Oak Middle School made the A or A/B Honor Roll.

Nash-Rocky Mount Schools has released its Honor Roll lists for the fourth semester of the 2017-2018 school year.
The following students at Nashville Elementary School made the A or A/B Honor Roll.

Nash-Rocky Mount Schools has released its Honor Roll lists for the fourth semester of the 2017-2018 school year.
The following students at Northern Nash High School made the A or A/B Honor Roll.

Nash County Sheriff's School Resource Officer Jessie Wade leads students to safety during an active shooting drill at Nash Central High School on Tuesday.

Area law enforcement agencies gathered on Tuesday for a training exercise at Nash Central High School.
The Active Shooter Training was hosted by the Nash County Sheriff's Office.
The training began with a briefing at Nash Community College and then followed with a real-life scenario, which was played out by student volunteers as well as other volunteers. As part of the scenario, an active shooter was at the high school and an officer had been shot.

Nash-Rocky Mount Schools has released its Honor Roll lists for the fourth semester of the 2017-2018 school year.
The following students at Nash Central High School made the A or A/B Honor Roll.

Nash-Rocky Mount Schools has released its Honor Roll lists for the fourth semester of the 2017-2018 school year.
The following students at Nash Central Middle School made the A or A/B Honor Roll.

Nash-Rocky Mount Schools has released its Honor Roll lists for the fourth semester of the 2017-2018 school year.
The following students at Nash-Rocky Mount Early College High School made the A or A/B Honor Roll.

Wesleyan College's project Mobile Computer Lab has been selected for funding for the 2018-2019 program year. The funds from this grant award are supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) as administered by the State Library of North Carolina, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. The grant funds will help create a Mobile Computer Lab which will be located in Pearsall Library on campus.

CATS/KITTENS! ~ They are at risk of death if they end up at the Shelter. Some never even come to the adoption floor because they aren't tame. It is everyone's fault who don't spay/fix their cats and let them roam, making babies. It isn't that expensive, especially at one of the clinics. Not only can you help that cat, you will save generations of cats just by the fact that they are unborn.

The Gospel of John was the last Gospel that was written. As such, it has several accounts that are not found in any of the other three Gospels. It was as if the Apostle John looked back at the life of Jesus and decided to be sure he included those special moments that did not deserve to be left out of the Gospel story.
One of those moments can be found at John 13.

I recently spoke with someone who was at a doctors appointment and the doctor discovered a heavy build-up of earwax in both ears. The patient responded, "I knew I couldn't hear well for some reason."
Last Sunday, I shared a message from Jonah chapter one:

Sunday morning was beautiful and sunny, following a week of rain and storms. Peachtree folks were happy to gather at the church for worship.
Sanctuary flowers were beautiful roses, arranged by Melba Hobgood. They were given in memory of Linwood May's sister, Frances Marlene May, who as a young child was fatally injured in an automobile accident as she was waiting to board her school bus. This incident occurred on December 4, 1941.

The children and chaperones from Red Oak Baptist Church had a great time at Camp Caraway last week even though they had some rain! They enjoyed worship, missionary Jungle Jen who serves in the Amazon, Bible study, skills classes, recreation, and more!

Nash-Rocky Mount Schools has released its Honor Roll lists for the fourth semester of the 2017-2018 school year.
The following students at JW Parker Middle School made the A or A/B Honor Roll.

Thursday, August 9 from 12 until 6 p.m. at Englewood Presbyterian Chruch, 100 South Englewood Drive, Rocky Mount
Friday, August 10 from 11 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. at Englewood Presbyterian Chruch, 100 South Englewood Drive, Rocky Mount
Friday, August 10 from 12:30 until 5:30 p.m. at Golden East Crossing Mall, 1100 N Wesleyan Boulevard, Rocky Mount

What do you know about the nitrogen cycle in a fish tank?
Have you ever seen a rubber nosed pleco?
Did you know fish need a gallon of water for every inch of body length?
Yeah, I didn't know that stuff either until this past year.

While everyone else seems to be dreading the start of school, I admit, I'm a bit excited.
In fact, I'm counting down the days, the hours, the minutes.
I've enjoyed the summer time with my boys, don't get me wrong. But, I'll be glad to get back to more of a routine, even if it is a crazy one.

If the Board of Governors meetings were broadcast they would become the top rated reality show on TV. There's something for everyone - humor, pathos, conflict, and, occasionally, a nugget of wisdom. Such was the case with the latest meeting.
While discussing a new chancellor at Western Carolina University, Board member Tom Fetzer, posed a question many have asked.

This photo originally published in The Nashville Graphic on January 27, 1972. Employees of merchants at Tarrytown Mall were dressed to fit the occasion during the annual Sidewalk Sale.

CARRYING THE LOAD. Nash Central's Israel Brown works on his ball skills during a recent football practice session.

ROCKY MOUNT -- Funny how a football team's strengths and weaknesses can change drastically from one season to the next on the high school level.
Back in 2017, Nash Central put up unbelievable, unprecedented numbers on offense while rolling toward the Eastern Plains Conference championship -- thanks in part to the heroics of record-setting quarterback Travis Griffin.

TAKING A BREAK. Northern Nash High School football player Manny Warren gets some hydration during a practice session last week at the NN campus.

RED OAK -- Andrew Farriss feels like he has a one-year head start on other new football coaches in the area.
That's because Farriss is taking over the gridiron program at Northern Nash -- where he spent last fall as an assistant.
"The biggest thing for me is that last year allowed me to see what we did and didn't have as far as a program and what we needed to get better at,'' Farriss said.

STANHOPE -- Southern Nash's Robbie Kennedy has received one of the state's most prestigious honors.
Kennedy, a Wilson native who has spent nearly two decades at SNHS, has been selected as the head coach for the East Boys Basketball Team at next summer's North Carolina Coaches Association's East-West All-Star Game.

ZEBULON -- Braden Webb struck out eight over six scoreless innings and Ryan Aguilar hit a solo home run in the second, but the Carolina Mudcats lost a two-run lead in the seventh inning while falling to the Hillcats 3-2 on Monday night at Five County Stadium in a Class A Carolina League baseball contest.
Webb ended up with a no-decision in Monday's diamond series opener, but did so after turning in one of his best starts of the 2018 campaign.

RED OAK -- Prediction surprises were few Monday when the Big East Conference held its annual Media Day on the campus of Northern Nash High School.
Probably the biggest suspense was which program between area powers Rocky Mount and Southern Nash would be tabbed as the team to beat in the league's always-competitive football standings.

ROCKY MOUNT -- The first annual Nash UNC Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Kick-Tober Fest Kickball Tournament will be held Oct. 6.
The double-elimination format will be held from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. and will feature 16 teams with 8-15 players per squad.
Food trucks will be on site, and all proceeds will benefit Nash UNC's Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Assistance Fund.

GREENVILLE -- The 24th Annual Meet the Pirates event, East Carolina University's preseason football fanfest, is scheduled for Aug. 18 at Bagwell Field inside Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium from 6-8 p.m.
Activities will once again be open to the public, family friendly and free for all in attendance.

Nash Central High School's Tyriq Bryant (with ball) refuses to fumble away the pigskin as part of a strip tackling drill during a recent football practice on the NCHS campus.

Nash Central High School line coach Mark Wooten explains a blocking drill to his players during a practice session last week on the NCHS campus. The Bulldogs will take part in the Wilson Fike Jamboree this Friday night.