J\'s Place, pictured here, a bar in downtown Spring Hope, became the site of a ruckus Saturday that included a hit and run and gunshots. Graphic photo by Lindell Kay

SPRING HOPE -- Police accused a Nashville woman of hitting people with her car during a chaotic altercation at a downtown bar over the weekend.
Myasia Oglesby, 25, is charged with two counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill and one count of hit-and-run resulting in property damage. She received a $30,000 bond.
Oglesby surrendered to law enforcement on Tuesday, according to a news release by Spring Hope Police Chief Nathan Gant.

Retired Northern Nash High School Coach Bobby BT Dunn (at left) celebrated his 85th birthday with Gov. Roy Cooper (at right) and hundreds of other former students and players in Brown Auditorium at Nash Community College on Saturday.

Retired Northern Nash High School coach Bobby BT Dunn celebrated his 85th birthday Saturday surrounded by hundreds of well-wishers including former student Gov. Roy Cooper.
Cooper honored Dunn, the school's boys basketball coach in the 1970s and '80s, by calling him his "coach, teacher and friend" during an event held in Brown Auditorium at Nash Community College in Rocky Mount.

The Town of Nashville is looking at ways it can fund its portion of a streetscaping project for Barnes Street.
The town has been awarded $675,000 for a Rural Transformation Grant from the NC Department of Commerce's Rural Economic Development Division. The grant funds will be used for streetscaping Barnes Street.
The town hired professional grant writer Cara Rogers with Dorner Grant Consultants to write the grant application.

The Nashville Blooming Festival wants to see your masterpiece!
The festival, organzied by the Nashville Chamber of Commerce, traditionally holds a contest for each year's t-shirt design. The contest is open to all Nash County residents, no age restriction.
Your original design should depict elements of the Nashville Blooming Festival.

98-year-old Roy Jernigan parachutes out of a plane on his birthday. His daughter Linda Jernigan and granddaughter April Lintner also made the jump in Southport on Tuesday. Contributed photo

A circus performer, wartime naval captain, long time gospel preacher and now at 98, a one-time skydiver - Roy Jernigan has always lived life to the fullest.
Born and raised in Bailey, Jernigan labored on the family farm through the Great Depression, signed up for the Navy in 1942, survived three wars, worked at the White House and celebrated his birthday Tuesday by jumping out of a perfectly good airplane. He's flown in aircraft before, but had never jumped out of one until he took that ultimate leap in Southport earlier this week.

A felony larceny was reported on 1/18/23 at 102 W Bridges Street, Battleboro
A misdemeanor larceny was reported on 1/16/23 at 10735 E NC 97, Rocky Mount
A warrant service was reported on 1/21/23 at 1151 Aventon Gin Road, Whitakers

INCIDENTS
A larceny after breaking and entering and felony breaking and entering was reported on 1/16/23 at 161 Nashville Commons Drive
A death investigation was reported on 1/17/23 at 128 Circle Drive

BUILDING PERMIT
(RESIDENTIAL)
Luke Fortner; 9100 Byron Court; new single family; $250,000
Luke Fortner; 9122 Byron Court; new single family; $250,000

The Nashville Police Department raised money for the Special Olympics with a "cover the cruiser" event Saturday on West Washington Street in Downtown Nashville. Pictured (L-R) is: David Boykin, Damon Brantley, Natalie Long, Kirsten Pierce and Mike Long. Officers thanked everyone who supported them including Baked and Brewed Coffee House. Money raised will go to the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics North Carolina.

Nash Community College recognized five students for completing a firefighter certification series at a ceremony held at the NCC Continuing Education and Public Services Building on Wednesday, January 11, 2023. Nashville Fire Chief Chris Joyner was the guest speaker at the ceremony. The course met four nights each week and one weekend a month from August 1, 2022 through January 8, 2023.

Oxford House and Trillium have opened a new residence in Rocky Mount to serve eight men.
Oxford Houses are a clean and sober housing option for individuals in recovery. With an average of eight beds per house, there are more than 2,000 Oxford House beds in North Carolina.

ARRINGTON

Nash UNC Health Care has appointed three new members to its Board of Commissioners, to fill seats left open by the departures of Melvin Mitchell, who served for nine years, Dr. Ivan Peacock, who served for nine years, and Robbie Green, who served for three years.
New board members Kenneth D. Arrington, Brian Brantley, and Terri Sharpe started their terms after being sworn in at the January 5 board meeting.

The Nash County Board of Commissioners has donated a surplus patrol car and ambulance to local educational institutions.
Nash Community College will receive a 2014 Dodge Charger with approximately 157,544 miles. The vehicle still has lights and siren installed with a fair market value of less than $10,000, according to information provided by county officials.

As we look at the earthly ministry of Jesus as recorded in the four gospels, we see Jesus focusing on three primary relationships. His priority was clearly on His relationship with His heavenly Father. That relationship was foundational to His relationships with His disciples and those who were without a saving relationship with Christ. The unity of the church refers to the union of the people of God, in all their various distinctives and expressions, bound to God and to one another by the gospel.

Everyone's invited to a Soup and Sandwich lunch fundraiser on Sunday, February 12 immediately following the morning worship at Red Oak Baptist Church. Cost is $5 per person and funds will go toward the summer missions camps for youth and children. The youth will be traveling to MFUGE in Louisville, Kentucky in June.
Your Choice Resource Center will be having their annual Celebrate Life Banquet on Thursday, February 16 at Englewood Baptist Church. Doors open at 5:30 pm and program begins at 6:00 pm. Dinner will be served. Cost is $25 per person. Registration is available online.

One of my favorite pastors once told me, "The Holy Spirit is a gentleman. He does not go where he is not wanted." I wonder if this statement could be applied to what's happening in our country today.
There is no doubt that God placed a hedge of protection around this country for many years. However, I'm beginning to think it's gone now. We have pushed him out of our schools, our county courthouses, and in some case, out of our churches.

Isaiah Dwane Jones, of Castalia, is one of 339 Mars Hill University students named to the Honor Roll of the Academic Dean at the end of the fall 2022 semester. To qualify for the Dean's List, students must earn a grade-point average of 3.5 on a minimum of 12 semester hours, and carry no grade below a C.
Mars Hill University is a premier private, liberal arts institution offering over 30 baccalaureate degrees, as well as master's degrees in criminal justice, elementary education, teaching, and management.

Western Carolina University recognized more than 2,000 students named to the Chancellor's List and Dean's List for Fall 2022.
Greyson Huneycutt and Magnolia Lewis, both of Nashville, were named to both the Chancellor's List and Dean's List.
To qualify for Chancellor's List, students must achieve a GPA of 3.8 or higher while completing 12 or more credit hours.

Since the beginning of the year in Nash County, only 16 people have been hospitalized with only four patients being treated in intensive care with a ventilator.
Local public health officials report that there were 128 cases during the week ending Jan. 16, which is down from 248 cases the prior week.
A total of 58% of the county's population has been vaccinated, but only 14% of them have received a booster shot.

Nancy S. Parker, a 1970 graduate of North Carolina Wesleyan, has fully funded the new Nancy S. Parker Endowment at NCWU. The scholarship will be awarded to NCWU students, preferably majoring in Math or Education, from Halifax or Northampton Counties in North Carolina.
After graduating from NC Wesleyan with a bachelor's degree in Math, Ms. Parker went on to become a middle school and high school Math teacher with the Roanoke Rapids Graded School District for 30 years.

DUMPED DOGS, NOT STRAYS. When someone doesn't want a dog, they should either find another home or a Rescue or take to the Shelter where we will work to find an Adopter or a Rescue. However, some people are lazy and literally don't care. That includes some breeders (backyard or otherwise), who are in it for the money and when the puppies get too big and they can't sell them or the parents get old or sick... some of them will dump them.

I'm going to warn you up front that this week's column is mostly me bragging. There is also some pretty racy content, including several mentions of underwear.
However, this column is also about greatness and how to get there, so if you can handle it, I'm sure there's a point somewhere and probably some serious life lessons.
Over the years, I've heard many speakers talk about greatness. I generally got the idea that when I reached greatness, I'd know it.

When Corbin was just a little boy, probably one or two, we got him two chickens from the feed store on the corner of Washington and Barnes Streets. He named one of the chickens Buster.
It was our first experience with chickens and we quickly discovered, Corbin is a chicken kid. Buster and Corbin connected and Buster became his best friend. I have several pictures of him hanging out with Buster, riding his little power wheel with the little chicken, playing in the dirt with the chicken nearby looking on.

TIRE WINNER - This photo originally published in The Nashville Graphic on Thursday, June 19, 1980. Joan Pridgen (at left), of Castalia, was the winner of a set of four tires from the North Nashville Ruritan Club at a drawing.

SOUTHERN NASH HIGH SCHOOL SWIMMER CARLEE BECKHAM (Swim Photos Submitted by Meryn Johnson)

ROCKY MOUNT -- The Big East Swim Championships will be held today, and the team winners appear to be up for grabs -- at least on the girls side.
The Big East's squads have been exchanging nail-biting jousts in close girls action for the past two months ahead of today's league finale at the Harrison Family YMCA. According to Nash Central veteran head coach Kyle Bain, the ultimate girls champion is anybody's guess.

SOUTHERN NASH\'S JORDAN VICK

STANHOPE -- A not-so-funny thing happened to the Southern Nash Firebirds on their quest for one of the top spots in the Big East Conference boys basketball standings.
Following a 12-0 start to their schedule, including four triumphs versus league opponents, the Firebirds ran into an uncharacterstic four-game losing skid that temporarily halted Southern Nash's conference plans.

NASH CENTRAL FRESHMAN JAKAYLA GAY

STANHOPE -- It would have been easy to write off Nash Central's 2022-23 girls basketball season after an 0-8 start -- especially considering the rebuilding process the young Lady Bulldogs are currently undertaking.
But NCHS veteran head coach Terri Cash has a way of squeezing out improvement from her club as the campaign progesses -- an intangible that is once again on display this winter.

BUNN WRESTLER DAMARION WATKINS BIG EAST MVP

FRANKLINTON -- It was just another day at the office for the Bunn High School Wildcats -- which meant the rest of the Big East Conference might as well have called in sick.
Bunn, which has morphed into an area mat dynasty in recent years, defended its team crown last Saturday at the annual Big East Wrestling Championships, which were held at the Franklinton High School Gymnasium.

LOUISBURG -- Coming off their best-ever season, the Louisburg College Lady Hurricanes will feature an all-new lineup when they kick off the 2023 softball campaign on February 11 at home against Region X opponent Florence-Darlington Tech.
Last spring, the Lady Hurricanes once again claimed the region regular season and tournament championships while qualifying for the nationals -- and closing with an impressive 47-5 worksheet.

NASH COUNTY -- Listed are updated Nash County Recreation & Senior Services Youth Futsal Scores:

ROANOKE RAPIDS -- When someone thinks of Roanoke Rapids High School softball, the first name that comes to mind is Carleen Goodwin -- and for good reason.
Goodwin, a Nash County resident and former standout at North Carolina Wesleyan College, coached the Yellow Jackets for 32 years before retiring in 2013.
Already a member of the RRHS Hall of Fame, Goodwin received another honor last October when the on-campus softball facility was named 'Goodwin Field'.

NASH COUNTY -- Here are updated Nash County Adult Basketball League Scores:

Jermia Walker scores two more points for Southern Nash last Friday night against rival Nash Central.

Southern Nash High School's Landen Baker grabs a rebound for the Firebirds during last Friday night's home victory against the Nash Central Bulldogs.

Southern Nash's Anastasia Fields (with ball) drives while being pursued by Nash Central's Lydia Hill during last Friday night's game.

SOUTHERN NASH'S EMILY TERRY

NASH CENTRAL'S PEYTON LANGLEY

Ripple Effects Rocky Mount will host its second bi-annual "Love Beyond Walls" Gala on Saturday, February 11 at 6:30 p.m. The gala will be held at Nash Community College in Brown Auditorium.
The gala will celebrate the past two years of impact and make connections to the community at large.
Guests will spend a night dining and dancing.