Appointed Nash County Commissioner Gwen Wilkins has secured her seat on the board by winning her first election for the position.
Wilkins, a Democrat, received 2,878 votes or 60.96% with Turner Votipka, a Republican, receiving 1,843 votes or 39.04%.
Wilkins, a 67-year-old retiree, was appointed last year to serve out the term of the late Mary Wells.
"I wish Mary was here to see it," Wilkins said.

BARNES

The midterm election turned out to be a mixed bag for Nash County lawmakers.
State Sen. Lisa Barnes won her race for N.C. Senate District 11 while Rep. James Gailliard lost his re-election bid for N.C. House 25, defeated by newcomer Allen Chesser.
Barnes, 56, said she's grateful for the opportunity to continue serving the citizens of her district.

Nash County Sheriff Keith Stone will continue his fight against gangs, guns and drugs into a third term.
Stone handily defeated longtime deputy David Brake in Tuesday's election with Stone receiving 21,956 votes or 61.80% to Brake's 13,570 votes or 38.20%.
"It's easy to run a campaign on the performance of these deputies," Stone told a packed house at a results watch party the Elks Lodge in Nashville.
Stone said his investigators have more cases in federal court than any other agency in eastern North Carolina.

BAILEY -- The town's top law enforcement officer has been placed on leave during an internal investigation.
Police Chief Kathy Callahan and Officer Evan Sokolove are at home with pay while town officials look into alleged malfeasance related to salary documentation.
"The Chief and Officer in question have been placed on a paid administrative leave while the town conducts an internal investigation," said Town Attorney Ryan King with Fields & Cooper of Nashville.

NASH COUNTY - While not as prevalent as the past few years, catalytic converter theft continues to be a problem in Nash County.
Most converter thefts come in spurts, said Maj. Eddie Moore with the Nash County Sheriff's Office.
"You will usually get one or two thieves who start hitting multiple locations," Moore said. "Once we arrest them, it dies down for a while, until someone else comes along. We have only had a few thefts this year so far, compared to other years where we got hit significantly."

NASHVILLE - A long-time teacher and coach said a swimming pool is needed in the Town of Nashville.
Grover Battle came before town council last Tuesday suggesting council members consider a swimming pool for residents.
"Our kids need a recreational swimming pool," Battle said.
Battle said there were many reasons a pool was beneficial. Learning to swim was an important life skill, Battle added.

NASH COUNTY - Commercial and residential growth is growing across Nash County, according to the folks who work to attract businesses to the area.
Projects underway in Nash County include 2.5 million square feet of industrial space to be developed with a potential of $300 million in investment and $2.1 million in potential future tax revenue meaning up to 800-1,000 potential jobs, said Andy Hagy, the county's director of economic development.
"We want growth that's good," Hagy said. "We don't want smokestacks."

Geese are reportedly causing problems in the Birchwood Subdivision and residents are hoping the town will step in to help.
Nashville Police Chief J.T. Winstead brought wildlife experts to speak to town council members last week about the issue. Winstead told council members that the geese are bringing coyotes into the neighborhood. Winstead said the issue caused the residents of a home on Beechtree Drive to sell.

The state highway division responsible for Nash and surrounding counties has a new leader.
Keith Eason is now engineer for the N.C. Department of Transportation's Division 4, which encompasses Nash, Edgecombe, Wilson, Halifax, Johnston and Wayne counties. As such, Eason will oversee around 400 NCDOT employees.

The second annual Pig at the Depot in downtown Spring Hope doubled in size this year with the addition of craft vendors to the event. Local churches raised $7,000 selling barbecue plates with Pilot Baptist Church winning the cook off contest.

The following results are votes cast in Nash County

The following results are votes cast in Nash County
State winners noted*

Nash County Soil and water incumbants are re-elected

NASHVILLE - Nash County commissioners removed a recommendation to allow smaller residential lots before approving a 10-year land use plan on Monday.
The board voted 5-2 to adopt the Comprehensive Land Use Plan, which sets a strategy for residential growth patterns for years to come.
Cut out of the final plan in Commissioner Dan Cone's successful motion is language that would allow 20,000-square-foot residential lots.

NASHVILLE - The Town of Nashville Municipal Service District Plan is complete but advisory board members want more information before moving forward with recommending the plan for approval.
A draft of the plan was presented on Monday at the Downtown Nashville Strong Advisory Board meeting.

SPRING HOPE -- Buddy Gwaltney voted more times as a fill-in town commissioner Monday night than he did as mayor for two decades.
The town board unanimously appointed Gwaltney to serve the remaining 11 months of the unexpired term of Commissioner Prudence Wilkins who resigned due to health issues.

A Rocky Mount man with a history of drunken driving died in an alcohol-related wreck in Red Oak late last week.
Wesley Greene, 30, died at the scene on West Castalia Road near Sykes Road at around 11 p.m. Friday night when he crossed the centerline, overcorrected, crashed off the right side of the road into a tree and overturned, according to a dispatcher with the N.C. Highway Patrol.

For his own safety, the Nash County Detention Center is housing a suspect in an out-of-county triple homicide.
Dekota Ray Locklear, 23, of Lumberton, faces three counts of first-degree murder, two counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon, discharging a weapon in a vehicle to incite fear, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He's being held without bond.

ROCKY MOUNT -- A city man stands accused of beating to death his girlfriend's young child.
Isaiah Jasane Miller,19, faces charges of first-degree murder and child abuse inflicting serious bodily injury in the death of 15-month-old Aiden Silver.
Officers responding to the Oct. 23 call on York Street were told the child had fallen down.

The deer pictured here found its way into Rocky Mount High School and caused some major damage before police and N.C. Wildlife were able to get it to leave. No one was injured in the late October incident.

Wow... the floodgates were opened, and the Shelter received several small litters of kittens this last week. We certainly hope that they are fixing the moms! There are affordable clinics, where it would cost less than $100. Many vets offer special discounts also. We hope that you will consider adding a new family member, there are plenty of choices!

"Just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do." (I Peter 1:15)
Several years ago, I was involved in settlement negotiations over some litigation that had been working its way through the courts for a lengthy period of time. I realized while sitting through an afternoon of discussions that the very principles - which originally prompted the lawsuit - had somehow gotten lost among all of those lawyers.

I can remember many, many years ago reading a very fascinating story in Luke's gospel that has stayed with me as one of those passages that lingers in my mind, and the Spirit of God brings it back to me. It comes in chapter 17 of Luke, and verse 11. "And it came about, while He was on the way to Jerusalem, that He was passing between Samaria and Galilee" - up on the north part above Jerusalem - "and He entered a certain village.

Red Oak Baptist Church welcomed Michael and Holly Partyka to the church family!
Had a great day Sunday, October 30 for the Community Trunk or Treat! There were lots of trunks from Red Oak Baptist Church, Red Oak United Methodist Church, Red Oak Rotary, and others from the area, lined up at Ennis Park to greet and treat the children and families.

D.R. Horton, Inc. to James Edward Brannon II and Lora Sue Brannon; Olde Mill Stream Phase I, Lot 19
Mable W. Johnson to Nash Rentals, LLC; 105 Juniper Court, Rocky Mount
Michelle Heywood, Michelle Heywood Richardson and Jerrell Richardson to Mason Barnes and Haley Tanner; Section 3, Westry Crossing, Block A, Lot 32

BUILDING PERMIT
(COMMERCIAL)
Joshua Godwin; 3392 S Old Carriage Road; miscellaneous; $29,000
Brian Colbert; 890 Birchwood Drive; new construction; $20,000

Three counts of assault/strangulation and assault on a female were reported on 11/3/22 at 11082 Kevin Lane, Wilson
A larceny from an auto and injury to property to obtain nonferrous metals was reported on 11/3/22 at 12656 W NC 97, Zebulon
A misdemeanor larceny was reported on 10/31/22 at 14730 Watson Seed Farm Road, Whitakers

INCIDENTS
A possession of an open container, consuming alcohol in the passenger area, driving while license revoked, impaired and driving while intoxicated was reported on 10/30/22 at S NC 58, Nashville
A damage to real property was reported on 11/5/22 at 101 West Nashville Drive

In the last month, North Carolina barbecue and a well-known hot sauce have come under attack from deeply troubled individuals.
Some think that inflation, the threat of nuclear war, social decay and high gas prices are major global worries.
Ok, so maybe they are, but these food issues are real problems, too.
Last week, a woman pitched a hissy fit in Clyde Cooper's Barbecue in Raleigh because she said her barbecue wasn't fully cooked.

I don't know if new and improved is always best - but I've always been one of those people who love to hang on the old and the past.
Obviously we can't do that with all facets of life. What worked 30 years ago in medicine, education and business don't work so well now. Especially in business due to the ever-so-changing technology we have to keep up with. And aren't we glad we've had advancements in medicine where things today are treatable or manageable - some things even curable.

CHRISTMAS MAIL - This photo originally published in the Nashville Graphic on December 25, 1958. Mail was stacked high in the Nashville Post Office a few days prior to Christmas as the Christmas rush hit its peak. Sorting the mail, from left to right, are Bill Alsup, Tommy Bunn and Mrs. Bob Stanfield. The rush subsided Christmas Eve.

The newest exhibit to grace the walls of the Gravely Art Gallery in The Dunn Center at North Carolina Wesleyan University is The Study of Composition by Nick Dupont. A talented, local sophomore at Rocky Mount Academy, this will be his first time ever exhibiting his photography to the public. This eye-catching exhibit is free and open to the public running from November 17, 2022 through January 31, 2023. A reception will be held on opening night from 5 - 7 p.m.