CASTALIA - Castalia has a new town clerk assisting with the town's operations.
Former town clerk Marlita Thompson left on December 15 after serving the role for three years, since November 2019.
She said she looks forward to engaging in future opportunities life has to offer and will miss being Castalia's town clerk.

Nashville's Town Council has approved a special use permit that will allow four duplex homes to be constructed on North Clarendon Drive.
Dustin Faithful has already constructed several two-family dwellings on the opposite side of the street, with the homes currently under construction and nearing completion. Faithful is now planning to build four more of the duplexes on the other side of the street.

Sisters Harmony and Kalaya Harris chat with Santa and the Grinch in the Walmart parking lot in Nashville last week during the Santa Cruise-Thru event.

Town officials, police and firefighters escorted Santa Claus and the Grinch, a holiday odd couple, around Nashville last week.
The planned stops included several neighborhoods, businesses, a church parking lot and downtown.
Participating were the Nashville Parks and Recreation Department, Nashville Police Department and the Nashville Fire Department.

A Bailey woman involved in a Nashville homicide case years ago has been on the lam since absconding from probation earlier this year.
Madison Deann Johnson, 26, dropped out of sight of authorities in October after being released from prison on drug-related convictions.
Prior to ghosting law enforcement, Johnson spent three months at North Piedmont Correctional Center for Women in Lexington on convictions of drug possession.

The N.C. Association of Black High School Alumni is releasing its first book.
"History of Black High Schools in Northeastern North Carolina" is a compilation of works from various writers from 15 different all black schools in Rocky Mount and Nash County along with surrounding counties including Edgecombe, Franklin, Halifax, Hertford, Pitt and Wake.

LANSING

The deep negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the local economies of Nashville and Spring Hope is coming into painful focus.
The pandemic and resulting shutdown drove a dozen businesses into the ground, ended more than 100 jobs, canceled signature festivals and paused new projects including a major hotel in Nashville and restaurants in Spring Hope, according to officials in both towns.

The Town of Nashville is moving forward with clearing two lots in its Business Center to pave the way for new industries to come to town.
At the board's December 6 meeting, council members approved awarded a contract to Wollett Farms, LLC out of Red Oak to grub and clear the two industrial lots on Industry Court. The two lots total around 12 acres.

BAILEY -- A police officer under investigation related to time card fraud has been exonerated by the town, but asked to seek employment elsewhere.
Evan Sokolove, 30, has settled with the town board for an undisclosed amount of money under the condition he resign as a police officer, a job he held since July.
As part of the agreement, Sokolove will cooperate in the town's investigation into alleged maleficence on the part of Police Chief Cathy Callahan.

A discharging a firearm into an occupied dwelling/moving vehicle was reported on 12/18/22 at 13328 S NC 581, Bailey
A breaking or entering or breaking out of motor vehicles was reported on 12/23/22 at 2106 Living Stone Drive, Rocky Mount
A second degree trespassing was reported on 12/18/22 at 2306 Old White Oak Road, Nashville

INCIDENTS
A fugitive from justice was reported on 12/19/22 at S First Street at E Old Spring Hope Road, Nashville
A warrant service was reported on 12/24/22 at 237 Macon Drive, Apartment 318, Nashville

Three Six Builders Corporation to Norma Campos and Kaylie Jandres; Cedar Run, Lot 17; $360,000
Robertson-Ceco II Corporation, Robertson-Ceco Corporation and The Ceco Corporation Core Co. To Four Rivers Properties, LLC and WG Rocky Mount, LLC; 19.51 acres; $5,145,000

BUILDING PERMIT
(COMMERCIAL)
Antonio Davis; 11287 E Finch Avenue; renovation/alteration; $17,000

"Do your utmost to come before winter." (2 Timothy 4:21)
Now that Christmas is over, our thoughts quickly turn to the year ahead. The truth is January can be one of the most depressing months of the year. Credit card bills come in from all that Christmas overspending. Winter means that we have very few days over the next couple of months that will permit us to pursue all those outdoor activities that we enjoy.

Harold Ross started The New Yorker magazine years ago in small offices, with little equipment.
One day in a restaurant downstairs he met Dorothy Parker, one of the magazine's first writers.
"What are you doing here?" he asked. "Why aren't you upstairs working?"

The Nashville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department has selected four winners in its Christmas Decorations Contest. Pictured is the winner for the "Anything Goes" Display. The house, at 704 S. Creek Drive, displays big, bright inflatables wishing everyone a Merry Christmas.

A manger scene is the highlight of this yard decoration at 404 E. Church Street, which won Best Religious Display in the town's decoration contest.

With no love for the Grinch, the Hester sisters, from back to front, Hadley, Brinley and Kayley, pose with Santa in the parking lot of Nashville Methodist Church in Nashville last week during the Santa Cruise-Thru event.

Kids wait for Santa and the Grinch to arrive at the Nashville Community Building in Nashville last week for the last stop of the Santa Cruise-Thru event.

Y'all know what the calendar says. A new year is upon us.
That means almost everyone has made or will make New Year's resolutions.
Some resolutions won't make it an hour, and some will just be words on a piece of paper or stashed in the Notes sections of phones to be laughed at later.

I never thought I'd be cranking out another column for this space but here I am, sitting at Jo Anne's desk, trying to decide which crazy story to share about my new life as a stay-at-home mom!
I have lots of crazy stories!

FIREMAN'S ASSOCIATION OFFICERS - This photo originally published in The Nashville Graphic January 24, 1974. Five new officers were elected to head the Nash County Fireman's Association.