Nash County Public Schools will continue another month of mask mandates for its students.
Board of Education members voted Monday night 6-5 in favor of keeping the mask mandate.
Many parents were present speaking out against the mandate while some staff, particularly bus drivers, encouraged the board to continue the use of masks.

Nashville's Christmas Celebration was held in downtown Saturday featuring a children's bicycle parade and contest, activities for children, and the arrival of Santa Claus.
Snowflakes fell on Boddie Street while children enjoyed making crafts and holiday activities.
Pictured above, Naomi Ricks prepares to walk in the parade. Ricks won first place, receiving $50, for the most creative entry.

Nashville's Town Council approved a construction plat for a new 58-lot subdivision just outside the city limits on Tuesday night.
The subdivision, Breedlove Road Subdivision, is being developed by local developer Marvin Shearin.
Shearin is proposing to construct the 58-lot, R-15 low-density residential subdivision on 63 acres of land just north of Breedlove Road. The property is partially in Nashville's extraterritorial jurisdiction.

Nash County Health Department Director Bill Hill said COVID cases in the county have increased.
He said over the past week there has been 139 new cases which brings the county to 15,571 confirmed cases. According to Hill, the amount of cases has not been that high since mid-October.

Nash County Public Schools (NCPS) board members approved a $1.8 million employee retention bonus package Monday night which will pay each full-time eligible employee $750 in December. Part-time staff will receive half the payment.
Non-eligible staff include the superintendent, assistant superintendents, executive directors and directors.

GRAHAM

Three men who severely beat up and hospitalized a Nash County auto mechanic after he confronted them for attempting to steal from his neighbor's yard have been arrested.
Mark Boykin of Boykin Auto Performance in Bailey was assaulted and then hospitalized for his injuries after approaching the three men attempting to steal a dump trailer from his neighbor's yard around 11 p.m. November 11.

Gwaltney is presented with the Old North State Award Monday night as he retired from his seat of Mayor of Spring Hope. Graphic photo by Kendra Jones

Emotions rode high as Spring Hope citizens said goodbye to two elected officials who will no longer be serving on the town's Board of Commissioners.
Former Mayor Buddy Gwaltney and former Commissioner Ricky Tucker have served the town for the final time at Monday night's meeting.
Gwaltney, who did not run for the mayoral seat in the recent municipal election, has officially retired. He has been on the board since 2001, serving the town as mayor for 20 years.

Incidents
Shoplifting concealment goods reported on 12/04/21
Speeding and driving while impaired reported on 12/04/21

Nash County firefighters rushed to extinguish a blaze that broke out at a home in Nashville Tuesday afternoon.
Crews from Nashville, Red Oak, and Castalia Fire Departments were called around 3:30 p.m. to the burning home on Leonard Road. They were able to control the flames in less than 30 minutes.

Larceny after breaking and entering reported at 10476 Camp Charles Rd, Bailey on 12/03/21
Resisting arrest/hinder and delay and warrant service reported at 11465 Hedgepeth Rd, Castalia on 11/28/21
Damage to real property reported at 119 E NC 97, Wilson on 12/03/21

Candidate filing for the 2022 primary elections began Monday but were delayed a day for those wishing to file for US House, NC Senate and NC House seats.
A court order temporarily suspended filing for state seats Monday but another order was issued Monday evening for filing to resume.
The order came about in regards to litigation that recently redrawn state district lines are representation of gerrymandering.

Joshua Larry Diehl, 50, of Spring Hope, has been charged in a criminal investigation of several breaking or entering and larcenies of logging equipment from Asplundh Tree Experts LLC on South Old Franklin Road.
The Nash County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigations Division has been working on the case since September 27th.

Nash County Public Schools has released its Honor Roll lists for the first grading period of the 2021 -2022 school year. The following students at Nash-Rocky Mount Early College made the A or A/B Honor Roll.

Nash County Public Schools has released its Honor Roll lists for the first grading period of the 2021 -2022 school year. The following students at Red Oak Middle School made the A or A/B Honor Roll.

Nash County Public Schools has released its Honor Roll lists for the first grading period of the 2021 -2022 school year. The following students at Rocky Mount High School made the A or A/B Honor Roll.

Nash County Public Schools has released its Honor Roll lists for the first grading period of the 2021 -2022 school year. The following students at Southern Nash High School made the A or A/B Honor Roll.

Nash County Public Schools has released its Honor Roll lists for the first grading period of the 2021 -2022 school year. The following students at Southern Nash Middle School made the A or A/B Honor Roll.

Nash County Public Schools has released its Honor Roll lists for the first grading period of the 2021 -2022 school year. The following students at CITI High School made the A or A/B Honor Roll.

Building Permit Commercial
Mitchell Ayers, 1100 S NC 581; new construction; $1,500,000

Mary Jordan and Mary M. Jordan to Philander Jordan; one acre
Betty Smith Brown to Tyrone L. Smith and Keturah L. Breeden; 529 Avent Street, Rocky Mount
Bullock & James Investments, LLC to Shonquez Nelson; 121 Grange Street, Rocky Mount; $56,000

My father told me once that the best thing you could ever leave your family was a good name. I have repeatedly impressed this upon my children while they were growing up.
When my son was in middle school, I had an opportunity to teach him a valua-ble lesson about the importance of a good name. In fact, it even had a spiritual truth with it. Don't tell him, but we both learned something that night.

What would be different in our churches,, in our families, and in our communities if the church would become fervent and persistent prayer warriors?
Persistent prayer is perhaps the weapon our enemy Satan fears the most. This is why he will try and discourage us ftom praying if we don't see a breakthrough right away.
In the Bible we see numerous characters that prayed for years before they saw something happen.

The following is my devotion from "early. A morning gathering for finding deep peace." It appeared on Facebook Live on December 6, 2021.
Jesus told the disciples in John 6:29 that we disciples are to do the work of believing in the One the Father has sent. What does this mean, to "do the work of belief?"
To do the work of belief in God is to live out a life of active trust, to engage in practical theology, to live in holy love, to abide in perfect peace.

The Peachtree Baptist Church Congregation gathered to worship and to celebrate the Second Sunday of Ad-vent, The Candle of Peace. Pastor Gene gave a reading on the Candle of Peace.
The Sanctuary flower arrangement today is presented to glorify God by Fran and Bobby Bunn, as a reminder of the magnificent gift from the Father to all of us, His Son, Jesus Christ.

Despite the fact that it is going to hit the low 70s this week, it is time to be getting in the Christmas spirit.
I'm doing my part. After the Hanging of the Green at church and then the Lighting of the Luminaries and Lessons and Carols at Barton College, I'm starting to feel it.
I even cooked my post-frost pot of collards and will likely be working on a bowl when you read this column. It was a big pot.

Nashville's long-time traditional Christmas Celebration was a big hit Saturday. As mentioned in this column a few weeks back, the event has long been hosted by the Nashville Chamber of Commerce however the chamber and the town's parks and rec department partnered to offer additional activities this year.
I also mentioned with the partnership new people were placed at the helm organizing the event from both organizations.

This photo originally published in The Nashville Graphic on December 2, 1987. J.B. Manning at that time had helped with Nashville's Christmas decorations for 38 years. He was known for all of the artistic decorations which to this day are still placed on the battleship island in downtown Nashville.

NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY'S ZONOVAN 'BAM' KNIGHT

RALEIGH -- Zonovan Knight has carved a career niche as a running back, but he's also developed a new area of excellence during his time with the football team at North Carolina State University.
Knight, a Southern Nash alum who is a junior at NC State, still stars in the backfield for the Wolfpack.

NASH COUNTY 14-UNDER BOYS ALL-STARS / SWAC STATE SOCCER CHAMPIONS

NASH COUNTY -- A total of seven teams in different age groups represented the Nash County Parks and Recreation Department at the recent Statewide Athletics Committee Soccer Tournament this year.
Nash County was able to claim championships in three divisisions -- 8-Under Girls, 10-Under Girls and 14-Under Boys.

NORTHERN NASH'S SEAN PHILLIPS DRAINS A JUMPER

LOUISBURG -- It didn't take long for newcomer Louisburg High School to claim a signature victory in the Big East Conference boys basketball scene.
One game, in fact.
Louisburg, playing in front of an energetic home crowd, opened its Big East slate in style by edging perennial powerhouse Northern Nash by a 56-54 margin in the first meeting between the two schools in recent memory at the historic LHS Gymnasium.

ZEBULON -- The holiday season is in full swing and the Mudcats have a new holiday ornament and ticket package ready just in time for those looking for fun gift ideas.
The new holiday package is $100 and includes a Mudcats' themed holiday ornament and 10 undated box seat ticket vouchers for the 2022 season at Five County Stadium.

NASH COUNTY -- Here is the master schedule for the 2021-22 Big East Conference Basketball Season (league games only):

STANHOPE -- Southern Nash opened its Big East Conference boys basketball schedule on Tuesday with a convincing 71-44 home decision against the Nash Central Bulldogs.
Southern, coached by Robbie Kennedy, opened the outing with a 17-3 surge and never looked back en route to registering the league conquest.

NASH COUNTY 10-UNDER
GIRLS ALL-STARS
SWAC STATE SOCCER CHAMPIONS

Parade participants are dressed in holiday colors for Bailey's Christmas Parade. Graphic photo by Cassidi Hinson

Parade participants prepare for Bailey's annual Christmas Parade Saturday. Graphic photo by Cassidi Hinson

Apparently Nash County Sheriff Keith Stone apprehended The Grinch while visiting the Bailey Christmas Parade Saturday. Graphic photo by Cassidi Hinson

Justin "JJ" Taybron, 4, sits with Santa Claus during Nashville's Christmas Celebration. Graphic photo by Jo Anne Cooper

Olivia Stone, the Polar Express entry, wins $25 as one of the three runner up prizes in the parade Saturday. Graphic photo by Jo Anne Cooper

Ryker Gupton gives Santa her Christmas wish list. Graphic photo by Jo Anne Cooper

Naomi Ricks helps Nashville Mayor Brenda Brown light Nashville's new Christmas Tree Saturday night. Graphic photo by Jo Anne Cooper

Nashville's Fire Department delivered Santa to downtown on their ladder truck. Graphic photo by Jo Anne Cooper