Nash County Commissioners Gwen Wilkins (left) and Sue Leggett unveil a portrait of Zee Lamb.

Zee Lamb's retirement as Nash County's county manager became official Tuesday.
Lamb became the county manager in December 2013 and has served the county for eight years. He attended his last commissioners meeting last week and will soon be relocating to Kitty Hawk.

Nashville Library Director Tikela Alston is hoping to receive a technology grant that will increase digital literacy for library patrons.
Nashville's Town Council gave the go ahead last week to apply for the Adaptive Technology Grant through the State Library of North Carolina.
Alston said if received, the grant would be used to purchase around $26,900 in technology needs for Harold D. Cooley Library.

Youngsters and adults alike around Nash County enjoyed a snow day Saturday with some areas receiving up to 4.8 inches.
Pictured above is "Mr. Blizzard," who seems to be ready for a little Valentine's Day fun, was constructed by Gina Lovegrove of Nashville.

Pictured above, Corbett Tyson and Samuel Smith's dog "Marshall" enjoys a little taste of snow.

A former Nashville dry cleaning business is in the process of having its soil analyzed for contamination.
Nick Shore, project manager of AECOM, an infrastructure consulting firm, said contamination has been found in the soil at the former location of Acme Cleaners on South Boddie Street in Nashville. The contamination stems from dry cleaning solvents, he said.

Nash County Health Department Director Bill Hill said COVID cases in the county have slightly decreased however hospitalizations are still increased.
He said over the past week there has been 1,854 new cases which brings the county to 24,545 confirmed cases.
"I'm expecting to still see some decreases, hopefully in the new cases as we go forth next week and we'll see where it goes from there," Hill said.

Nash UNC Health Care in Rocky Mount announced last Thursday that due to a sustained high COVID patient census, all non-urgent "elective" surgeries that require an overnight stay in the hospital after surgery will be postponed indefinitely, effective Monday, January 24.
Patients will be contacted by their care team if their procedure is affected by the postponement and needs to be rescheduled.

JJE-Rental Properties - Rocky Mount, LLC to Fresh Property Group, LLC; 520 Dexter Street, Rocky Mount; $31,000
Gail Langley Parks and Daniel J. Parks to Gregory L. Ashley and Teresa T. Ashley; one acre
Orlando L. Moore to Orlando L. Moore Revocable Living Trust and Orlando L. Moore; one-third interest in 12.43 acres located at 6942 Bunting Road, Nashville

The Nashville Police Department assisted Rocky Mount Police Department's Special Operations Division with executing a warrant on Hammond Street in Rocky Mount last week which led to an arrest.
During the search of the residence, officers seized 57.6 grams of Marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and a firearm.

Building Permits
Residential
Jesse Brown, 2661 Green Rd; renovation/alteration; $45,000
Donald Poland, 4979 Joe Ellen Rd; Addition (covered); $47,000

Incidents
Simple possession schedule VI controlled substance; carrying concealed weapon was reported at mile marker 457 US 64W on 1/21/22
Failure to maintain lane control; hit and run, failure to stop; driving while licenses revoked/not impaired revoked; exhibit/surrender license was reported at 518 Indian Trail, Nashville on 1/22/22

Warrant service reported at 100 N. Boddie St, Nashville on 01/21/22
Firearm by felon reported at 1280 Benvenue Rd, Rocky Mount on 01/16/22
Larceny misdemeanor reported at 130 N. Old Carriage Rd, Rocky Mount on 01/19/22

The deadline to submit applications for AgCarolina Farm Credit's college scholarships is approaching.
Scholarships are awarded to students attending North Carolina State University, the University of Mount Olive, and North Carolina A&T State University. In addition to the college and university scholarships, there are scholarship opportunities for FFA and 4-H students residing within AgCarolina Farm Credit's territory.

The Hearthside Crafters show was held in November at the Wilson Agricultural building. The show is held annually near Veterans Day. A quilt made by April Fletcher was raffled with all procceds given to the Veterans Residential Services. Presenting the Donation is April Fletcher, organizer of show, Claudia Baker, Executive Director of Veterans Residential Services of Wilson, and Jane Tyson, Organizer of Show. Missing are Elaine Blizzard and Cheryl Glover both organizers of the show.

Dr. Dan Crocker, a retired local physician and Chairman of NC Wesleyan's Board of Trustees, has donated $100,000 to support North Carolina Wesleyan College's RN to BSN program. The gift will provide funds for nurse faculty, nursing scholarships and other program developments to enhance this new degree option.
Scholarships will be awarded to new students who begin the program in summer or fall 2022.

A pastor of mine made an observation several years ago that bothered me.
He remarked that an alarming percentage of people who attend church are not saved. As I looked around, I realized that God's the only one who can really tell the difference.
Jesus said, "Ye shall know them by their fruits." (Matthew 7:16) But it's hard to tell sometimes because "religion" can fool you.

Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water. Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching. (Hebrews 10:22-25, CSB James 4:8 also beckons us to draw near to God just as the priests in the Old Testament would draw near to God in the temple sanctuary.

Due to the past inclement weather, Red Oak Baptist Church will be extending the deadline for greeting card fronts for St. Jude's Ranch for Children. They will now accept cards through Sunday, January 30 and then they will be shipped to St. Jude's.
The youth of Red Oak Baptist Church will be going on a ski trip on Friday, January 28 following school. Pray for them as they travel.

Let's just talk about male dogs! Real men fix their pets. They don't have to prove anything. Speaking from a woman's point of view, we prefer men who care enough about their pets to have them fixed.
Did you know that it helps prevent testicular cancer, if done before 6 months old? Plus, fixed pets will bond better with your family.

Everyone loves snow cream including Sarah Dorsey and Chaya Harrelson who are pictured taking a break from outdoors to enjoy the sweetness of their snow creme.

N.C. Senator Lisa Stone Barnes and Solomon Pruitt take a selfie after building a snowman.

Harper Grace Cooper is all wrapped in pink for a snow picture.

Asher Joyner gears up to ride in the snow.

Macie Leigh Johnson gets ready for a little sledding.

Stop -- put that fork down and ask yourself an important question: are you eating a climate-friendly diet?
Now for 90 percent of the Soap Box readers, at least three or four bean-related jokes are going to come to mind. One of my daddy's favorite limericks that he recited whenever he could convince my mama to cook navy beans comes to mind.

It's certainly been a week, or actually two, of happenings around the newspaper office!
If you've read this column consistently over the past year you know that we've lost some very well seasoned long-time staff members due to retirement. One in the newsroom, the other in sales.

33 YEARS AGO - This photo originally published in The Nashville Graphic on February 22, 1989 of snow piled up on the sidewalk in front of Peoples Bank which was located on the corner of Washington and Boddie Street when the new Nash County Courthouse now sits.