A local teacher recently appeared on a popular game show with her husband and his family.
Chaurita Dawson-Herring, an exceptional children's teacher at Cedar Grove Elementary School, served as the team captain for her family on the "Family Feud," which first aired last Monday, September 10. In a surprise twist, the Herring family was brought back on the show a second time, which aired on Friday, September 14.

Fifty-two inmates from Nash Correctional Institution celebrated the beginning of a new, educational program that will result in a four-year Bachelor of Arts degree.
A convocation was held earlier this month to launch the second year of the NC Field Minister Program at Nash Correctional, the only program of its kind in the state.
The 52 inmates selected to participate in the program will receive a Bachelor of Arts in pastoral ministry degree, with a secondary emphasis in counseling and psychology. Those who graduate from the program will be able to use the degree to help other inmates across the state.

Nash County's Clerk of Superior Court has received an award named in her honor.
Rachel Joyner received the inaugural Rachel M. Joyner Award during the annual Elected Clerk's Summer Educational Conference, which was held last month in Wilmington. The award was presented by former Clerk of Court and now practicing attorney Andrew Whitley, of Wilson.

Nash County Commissioners agreed on Monday to invest over $300,000 in a pilot program that will expand high-speed internet to unserved areas of the county.
The agreement comes after years of pursuing different avenues to provide rural residents with access.
Patsy McGhee, Assistant to the County Manager and Grants/Intergovernmental Relations, presented the agreement to commissioners during a meeting on Monday.

The first of three town hall meetings was held on Tuesday night at Swift Creek Elementary School.
A majority of the Nash-Rocky Mount Board of Education as well as Nash County Commissioners attended the town hall, along with around 20 others.
The first 15 minutes of the meeting were spent providing information on the three schools considered for consolidation.

Hurricane Florence spared Nash County from any major damage, allowing emergency officials to instead assist other counties who are still experiencing the effects of the storm.
Though Florence weakened to a Category 1 storm before making landfall last Friday morning in Wilmington, the hurricane still brought heavy wind and torrential rainfall to North Carolina.

Nash County has discontinued its membership in the Down East HOME Consortium.
Commissioners voted to not continue membership in the consortium on Monday.
The Down East HOME Consortium was formed in 1995 as an entity of local governments in Edgecombe and Nash Counties to receive annual HOME program funding from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development for repair and construction of housing for low income households.

John Manning and Anne Bradshaw take time to unwind in a Red Cross shelter hosted by Englewood Baptist Church in Rocky Mount, after a grueling few weeks. John recently lost his job and Anne was diagnosed with breast cancer the same day. Now, the couple seeks refuge from Hurricane Florence. "We have to lean on each other," John said. Anne smiles and adds, "Thank God for the Red Cross. Everyone has been so gracious and kind."

The Harrison Family YMCA in Rocky Mount will host its 2nd Annual Chance for All Color Run 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run Fundraiser on Saturday, September 22nd at North Carolina Wesleyan College. Registration will kick off at 7:30 a.m. along with color kit pick up, family games/activities, and fun with sponsor vendors. The legendary Mascot Dash, which was carried over from the original Glow Run at the Rocky Mount Wilson Airport, will begin at 8:15 a.m.

North Carolina First Responders had a busy week between dodging hurricane, tornadoes, working fires and water rescues. Many of the roads in North Carolina are still closed due to flooding including Interstate I-95.
On Sunday, September 16, Maccelesfield Fire Chief Teddy Stamatis had just left his home to go shopping when a fire call came in for a working fire at his Macclesfield Fire Station.

Students from Nash County, Franklin County, Vance County, and Johnston County Sheriff's Offices recently completed Detention Officer training at Nash Community College. The certification includes 179 hours of training designed to train qualified participants to function as officers in detention facilities. The course is governed by the North Carolina Sheriffs' and North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commissions.

INCIDENTS
A larceny was reported on 9/10/18 at 105 Wheeless Circle
A larceny was reported on 9/16/18 at Ribeyes Steakhouse, 104 Nashville Drive

A missing person was reported on 9/9/18 was 2481 Woodruff Road
An injury to real property, breaking and entering and felony larceny was reported on 9/9/18 at 5574 Stanhope Methodist Road
A traffic stop was reported on 9/10/18 on Interstate 95 Soutbound

Nashville's Cooley Library is continuing its quest to find new programs that cater to all its patrons.
The library will introduce its first meeting of a Cooking Club on Wednesday, September 26 from 2 until 3 p.m. The theme for this month will be a Fall Harvest Theme.
Library Director Emily Enderle said she has been collecting ideas throughout the year from emails and social media.

Nash County Planning and Inspections issued the following building permits from September 10 through 14.

A Wilson man has been arrested for a homicide that occurred on London Church Road last month.
Nash County Sheriff's deputies responded to the 9000 block of London Church Road, Wilson, on August 26 in reference to a report of shots fired occurring a residence.
Upon arrival, deputies were met by a large crowd loitering outside the home.

The 47th Annual Pumpkin Festival is set for October 5 and October 6 in downtown Spring Hope. The official kick-off to the festival is the 2018 Miss Pumpkin and Little Miss Pumpkin Queen Pageant which will be held on Saturday, September 29th 6:30 p.m. at the Spring Hope Elementary School. The reigning Miss Pumpkin Queen Abby Darak and our Little Miss Pumpkin Queen Jacey Lucas will be bidding their farewell as a new Miss Pumpkin Queen and Little Miss Pumpkin Queen will be crowned to serve as ambassadors of the festival.

For Edward Rackley of Nashville, a stop at a McDonalds drive-through to pick up dinner for his kids led to more than a fast food takeaway.
Rackley, who works in the fencing business, stopped by Dollar Country on West Nashville Drive in Nashville on Saturday and purchased the new $200,000 Back Scratch ticket. He then swung by the nearest McDonalds drive-through to get dinner for his kids.

Twin County Community Pride, Inc. is pleased to announce the 15th annual Class of Inductees to the Twin County Hall of Fame. This year's class of ten includes an author and painter, an educator, the 'King of 'Barbecue, two groundbreaking female business owners, two married couples of medical doctors, a veterinarian, a 30-year Little League Coach and a military and public safety officer.

Local Government Federal Credit Union (LGFCU) has announced the addition of Scott Parker, Deputy Commissioner - NC Division of Motor Vehicles, to its Tar River Advisory Council which includes Nash, Edgecombe and Wilson counties.
Parker will be an integral part of LGFCU's volunteer-driven initiative not only to educate people on the benefits of credit union membership, but also to relay feedback to the board of directors regarding available/potentially available products and services, delivery of service and member needs.

"For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace." (Romans 6:14)
It sure is great living under grace. But just because we live under grace, that doesn't mean I can sin and move on with life as if nothing happened. It means that God will accept me in spite of sin in my life. Now that's forgiveness with a capital "F"!

Praise God From Who All Blessing Flow. We serve an Awesome God. He has protected us and the surrounding communities during this storm.
Let us not forget those families that have lost loved one, their homes, and all the volunteers that have to come to help us. Prayers are lifted up to them all.
It was a rainy and windy Sunday morning at Peachtree. Those faithful that could make it to church were there for Worship Service.

What is your concept of God? I ask because your concept of God determines everything. What many of us do is put together a box for God, maybe without even realizing it. We've created a box that is manageable, a box that isn't too big for us to get our arms around, and that's where we've put God. We want a box that we can carry comfortably, a box that fits where we need it to fit.

Hi fellow followers. I pray you are well and living in the abiding peace that comes from knowing Christ as Lord and Savior. This is a difficult time for all of us in North Carolina. For many of us we are thanking God that, for the most part, we were spared up here in the northern part of Eastern NC. However, when we look at the pictures and see the videos of the aftermath in places like New Bern, Swansboro, and Goldsboro - our hearts break.

The "Walk of Remembrance for Steps Never Taken" is a local celebration of life established to honor all children lost to miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant demise. The 6th annual walk will be held at 3 on Sunday afternoon, September 30, starting at the Bryant T. Aldridge building on the Nash UNC Health Care campus.
"The Walk of Remembrance is about celebrating the lives of these precious babies, however short they may have been," Mary Strickland, Director of Nash Women's Center, said.

The Rocky Mount Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. will sponsor its bi-annual Jabberwock Program for eligible young women who are high school juniors and seniors and plan to attend college. An informational session will be held September 30 at 4 p.m. at the Opportunities Industrialization Center located on 402 E. Virginia Street, Rocky Mount. The young ladies and their parents/guardians are invited to learn more about the scholarship program and the process. For more information call 252-822-3529

It seemed strange to think and then say that I was thankful for a flat tire that I had to change in the remnants of a hurricane.
But that's where I found myself late Sunday afternoon in a deserted parking lot.
My daughter, a refugee from Hurricane Florence like most eastern North Carolina college students, was home. She left for church in her old, but reliable car.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The following is a letter penned by Ms. Hazel Valentine of Nashville just after Hurricane Hazel hit the area in 1954. Ms Valentine lived to be 101 years old. She passed away May 13, 1997. The letter is addressed to her son, Jim, who was in the military. Ms. Valentine's granddaughter ironically stumbled across this letter just days before Hurricane Florence was forecast to hit our area as a possible category 3 or 4 storm.

As we prepare for and recover from Hurricane Florence and its devastation, there are a number of ways we can all be prepared. We're all thinking about our emergency kits, food, batteries, and keeping safe, but here are some things to be aware of before and after the storm.
The state of North Carolina is currently in a state of emergency. That means our price gouging law is in effect and will remain so for at least 45 days.

PUNT, PASS AND KICK WINNERS -- This photo originally published in The Graphic on October 17, 1968. These 17 boys were named winners in a punt, pass and kick football. Trophies were awarded in each age group from 8 to 13.

OFF TO A GREAT START. The Southern Nash Firebirds are 4-0 to begin the 2018 high school football season with impressive wins over West Johnston, Bunn, Green Hope and backyard rival Nash Central.

NASH COUNTY - When the high school football season kicked off back in August, it was a widely considered belief that the Big East Conference would be a top-heavy league.
That's because Southern Nash and Rocky Mount were expected to be conference powerhouses -- and for good reason.
Southern Nash blitzed through the Big East last year while claiming its second consecutive league championship.

NASH CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL'S JADEN PITTS

NASH COUNTY -- Due to poor weather and subsequent potential flooding, Nash County's high school football teams are experiencing plenty of postponements and cancellations.
Some games may never been made up, while others have already been rescheduled.

ZEBULON -- The Carolina League has announced its honorary year-end All-Star team and the Carolina Mudcats, the Class-A Advanced affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers, have announced that pitcher Luke Barker was voted as the league's relief pitcher of the year.
Barker went 6-4 and pitched to a 2.21 ERA while leading the Carolina League with 20 saves and 38 games finished.

WILSON -- The Wilson Tobs will host a College Prospects Camp on Oct. 24 at historic Fleming Stadium.
The event will run from 4-8:30 p.m., with Barton College head coach Jim Chester and East Carolina University assistant coach Hunter Allen serving as instructors.
All participants must be unsigned high school seniors, juniors or sophomores. Players will take part in a thorough skills evaluation process.

Northern Nash High School, led by quarterback Davontae 'Crank' Wiggins, will have two games during a five-day stretch -- Friday at SouthWest Edgecombe and next Tuesday at home versus Northeastern.

The Town of Nashville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department's Creekside Music Series will kick back off on Friday, September 21 at 6:30 p.m.
The series was last held in April but took a break during the summer months.
Alexa Rose will be the featured entertainment for Friday. Rose, of Asheville, is referred to as an original folk and Americana singer.