SPRING HOPE -- The State Highway Patrol continues to investigate the circumstances that left a truck submerged in a pond and two people dead inside.
Authorities confirmed that Joshua Autrey, 14, and Milton Ray Vick, 38, were found dead inside Vick's Dodge Ram truck, which apparently ran off the road and into the water.
The vehicle was found shortly after Autrey's family reported him missing at about 7:15 p.m. on Feb. 5.

The Town of Nashville is fronting the money for a school resource officer at Nashville Elementary School after being left out of discussions with the Nash County Public School System.
The school system was awarded a grant that funds additional school resource officers at elementary and middle schools in the district. The school system already has officers in the district's high schools.

A Nashville grandmother is accused of beating to death her young grandchild Tuesday.
Patricia Ann Ricks, 72, of Dutchman Road, faces charges of first-degree murder and child abuse with serious injuries in the death of her eight-year-old grandchild. Ricks is jailed without bond.
The child died of severe injuries on the way to the Emergency Department at Nash UNC Health Care, said Maj. Eddie Moore of the Nash County Sheriff's Office.

NASHVILLE - The Town of Nashville's Harold D. Cooley Library is now mobile.
Grant funds have helped the library purchase a customized book bike to help promote library programs and services beyond the physical walls of the library building.
The library was awarded a $15,000 State Library of North Carolina Bright Ideas Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) Grant in 2022 to purchase the book bike.

WEST MOUNT - Nash County commissioners want another month to mull over approval of a funeral home in the mostly residential West Mount area.
Davis-Little Funeral Home has asked the county board to rezone 3.94 acres on the east side of South Halifax Road so it can build a new funeral home facility.
Commissioner Wayne Outlaw, who represents District 5 where the funeral home would be built, made a successful motion during Monday's county meeting to table the request until March.

NASHVILLE - A Rocky Mount man shot himself in front of the Nash County Courthouse in Downtown Nashville last week.
Jaiwon Raiheem Lynch, 28, suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound and was transported to the hospital on Friday, according to authorities.
His condition remains unknown.
At 11:47 a.m. on Feb. 3, officers responded to a call of shots fired on West Washington Street downtown, said Nashville Police Chief J.T. Winstead.

Chandler James will return home to Nash County with his band to perform at the 25th annual Nashville Blooming Festival as the opening act for headliner Tyler Farr. His long-time sidekick, Meredith Davis Johnson, will perform prior to James and also join James for a few homecoming tunes on the stage.
That's not the only exciting news for James.

The Nashville Chamber of Commerce Blooming Festival committee has announced the 2023 entertainment lineup including this year's headliner Tyler Farr.
Farr is known for his back-to-back number one singles, "Redneck Crazy," "Whiskey in My Water," and "A Guy Walks into a Bar."
His album, "Suffer In Peace" followed suit, also making its debut in the Top 5 on both the Billboard Top 200 Albums and Billboard Country Albums charts, which made Farr the only solo male Country artist in a decade to have his first two studio albums debut in the Top 5 on the Billboard 200 chart.

An identity fraud was reported on 2/2/23 at 100 Sandy Hill Court, Sharpsburg
Three counts of consuming alcohol beverage being 20 years, simple assault and burning of personal property was reported on 2/4/23 at 12284 Anderson Road, Spring Hope

INCIDENTS
A damage to real property was reported on 2/2/23 at 100 East Evans Street
A misdemeanor hit and run and failure to stop was reported on 2/4/23 at 1052 S First Street

BUILDING PERMIT
(COMMERCIAL)
Maria Malone - Cloudwyze; 470 Swift Creek School Road; miscellaneous; $10,000
Maria Malone - Cloudwyze; 9880 NC 33; miscellaneous; $10,000

THIRD GRADE - A HONOR ROLL
Jackson Barnes, Saniyah Evans and Jonah Moore

BAILEY -- The town's police chief has been fired after a three-month suspension over alleged time card fraud.
Cathy Callahan, 64, was terminated by the town's board of commissioners during a special meeting last week.
The town fired Challahan for "failure to meet town standards," said Town Administrator Joel Killion.

BAILEY -- Nash County deputies have arrested an out-of-state man accused of trafficking heroin on the highway.
Miguel Aburto Canela, 38, of Baltimore, Maryland, faces charges of trafficking heroin possession and transportation, and maintaining a vehicle for the purpose of narcotics. He received a $3 million bond.

A state judge is set to serve as the keynote speaker at this year's local GOP convention.
Jefferson Griffin, a Nash County native, appellate judge and candidate for the North Carolina Supreme Court, will speak at the Nash County Republican Party 2023 Precinct Meetings and County Convention scheduled for March 9.

Nashville's Chamber of Commerce is seeking nominations for its annual Distinguished Citizen of the Year event.
This year's event is set for Thursday, March 30 at 7 p.m. at Nash Arts. The guest speaker for the event is Dr. Lew Hunnicutt, President of Nash Community College.
The Distinguished Citizen Award is presented to a citizen or business person from the Nashville area that strives to make the community a better place.

Mary Etta Tyson Long and Tony M. Long to Jasper Gray Tyson Jr.; property in Rocky Mount
Hubert M. Hughes to Henry Alston Jr.; Lot 2, Block C, Kandemor Subdivision
Little Bear Creek Properties B, LLC to T&R Builders of North Carolina, Inc.; Lot 30, Beaver Creek Subdivision, Phase 2B

THIRD GRADE - A HONOR ROLL
Lily Collins, Justin Coppedge, Kaidence Costa, Tiana Farr, Adeline Hancock, Caroline Harvey, Matthew Joyner, Joshua Minchew, Lylah Mitchell, Brynlee Moore and Ryleigh Price

SIXTH GRADE - A HONOR ROLL
Makayla Bakerman, Sara Bakerman, Christopher Bass, Charlotte Burns, Haven Carter, A'dia Cash, Bella Dillane, Harmony Dupree, Elin Johnson, Lily Johnson, Addyson McGuire, Alexis Pennington, Casey Rouse, Cierra Saputo, Robert Schwarz, Hayden Strutton and Na'Keira Walker

THIRD GRADE - A HONOR ROLL
Katherine Comelli, Gavin Edwards, Bentley Gibson, Brooklyn Gibson, Aryana Rivera, Carter Shoffner, Marley Shore, Sydney Smith, Kyle Trull, Vanessa Vizueth Jahuey and Ella Wilks

THIRD GRADE - A HONOR ROLL
Destiny Baker, Victoria Estrada, Ava Hinnant, Nolan Honabach, Bryson Lynch, Brianna Reyes Recinos, Jimena Roblero Hernandez, Luke Thorne, Ariana Valladares Velazquez and Francis Vicente Franco

The local Red Cross is asking for help.
"Our need for volunteers is urgent and continues to evolve with the coronavirus health crisis. Opportunities include supporting blood donations and virtual volunteer positions you can do from home," said Glenn Daniels, a disaster program specialist in the Rocky Mount Office of the American Red Cross.

In a ceremony held on Wednesday, January 18, 2023, nine cadets were honored for completing Nash Community College's Basic Law Enforcement Training program. As the college's 71st BLET Academy, these individuals participated in rigorous physical and classroom state commission-mandated topics and methods of instruction. They learned about topics related to legal, criminal, juvenile, civil, traffic, investigative, patrol, custody, court procedures, emergency responses, ethics, community relations and more during the twenty-one-week academy.

ROCKY MOUNT
2/1/2023: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Faith Christian School, 1333 Faith Christian Drive
2/8/2023: 1:30 p.m. - 6 p.m., First Baptist - Rocky Mount, 200 South Church Street

WHAT AN INDOOR CAT MISSES OUT ON:
~ Being hit by a car, fatally or badly injured with no help.
~ Being trapped and taken to the Shelter, risk of euthanasia.
~ Fighting with wild and domestic animals, such as racoons or other cats.

"You cannot serve both God and money." (Luke 16:13)
It's income tax time. You'll soon be receiving your W-2 or 1099's and getting your receipts together to prove what you did with all that money you made last year. Why not take a spiritual accounting, too. What did you do last year for the Lord with all that money and talent he gave you?

Come enjoy soup and sandwiches at Red Oak Baptist Church during the Soup and Sandwich Fundraiser on Sunday, February 12. Lunch will be immediately following the morning worship service. Tickets are $5 per person and funds benefit the youth and children's summer missions camps.
There will be an Outdoorsman Banquet at Red Oak Baptist Church in the Family Life Center on March 4.

Part Of our purpose statement at Castalia Baptist Church announces that we exist to glorify God. But how do we accomplish this?
The succinct, simple and direct mandate of Scripture is that "whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Cor 10:31). All of God's creation is to be absorbed with putting the glory of God on display. When the angels announced the Savior's birth, they were joined by the heavenly host, glorifying God (Luke 2:14).

You know you wanted to take a shot at that Chinese "weather" balloon that made its way across the Pacific, then the continental United States and then to the coast of North Carolina where it met its destined fate.
That was the first thought that popped into my head when I saw the photos, especially when the target looked so inviting.
People got really worked up about that balloon.

I've been given a lot of advice since having kids. A lot of that advice has come in handy but none of that advice has truly prepared me for what life with a pre-adoscent boy would be like.
It's hard to explain really.
Boys are snuggly and sweet yet disgusting and mean.

YOUNG FARMER OF THE YEAR - This photo originally published in The Nashville Graphic Thursday, January 15, 1970. Reese Dillard, at left, representative of Carolina Power and Light Company, presents Bobby Fisher, center, with the Outstanding Young Farmer Award for 1969.

A CENTRAL SLUGGER. Peyton Langley provides a big-time bat in Nash Central's loaded softball lineup -- and she will hope to continue that success at William Peace University in Raleigh. (Photo Submitted by Meryn Johnson)

ROCKY MOUNT -- As a three-spot star, Peyton Langley has been a year-round contributor to Nash Central High School's athletic success during her prolific prep career.
In the fall, Langley has served as a star outside hitter for the Lady Bulldogs' volleyball squad, which has enjoyed an amazing renaissance over the past few years under veteran Coach Heather Thompson.

FAMILIAR FACE AT THE DAWG POUND. Todd Brewer has returned to Nash Central High School and will serve as the head softball coach this spring for the Lady Bulldogs in the always-strong Big East Conference.

ROCKY MOUNT -- Jack-of-all trades Todd Brewer has worn many coaching hats during his career, but he's never guided a softball program -- at least on the high school level.
That is currently changing at Nash Central High School as Brewer has been named the Lady Bulldogs' softball skipper -- and is leading the potential-rich club through spring preseason practice drills.

SOUTHERN NASH HIGH SCHOOL STANDOUT LANDEN BAKER

STANHOPE -- Red and blue are the preferred colors inside the Southern Nash High School Gymnasium, but black and gold were en vogue last Wednesday as part of a signing ceremony that featued football stars Dustin Hall and Landen Baker.
Both players inked deals with schools sporting that color motif -- Baker with Wake Forest University and Hall with the University of North Carolina-Pembroke.

RED OAK - The train kept rolling for Northern Nash last Friday night, as the Knights' boys basketball team picked up its 22nd win of the season and improved to a spotless 22-0 on the season with a 79-63 defeat of Big East Conference foe Franklinton.
A highly-anticipated matchup saw the Red Rams bring a 17-2 record into Northern, with the Knights winning the previous matchup at Franklinton on Jan. 6 at a 61-54 margin.

SOUTHERN NASH'S JERMIA WALKER

STANHOPE -- Jermia Walker to the rescue.
That's been a common theme within the Southern Nash High School girls basketball program during Walker's storied four-year career as a star point guard.
And it was relived once again last Tuesday as Walker came through in the clutch, helping the Ladybirds escape with a tight 32-31 victory over Bunn in a key Big East Conference showdown at the SNHS Gymnasium.

NASH COUNTY -- Listed are updated scores from the Nash County Recreation and Senior Services Youth Futsal League:

AND THE WINNER IS. Bunn's Alex Monks was victorious in his match during last Saturday's Class 2-A Dual Team State Championship matchup versus Newton-Conover.

GREENSBORO -- Admittedly, Bunn High School encountered a happy-to-be here situation at the 2022 Class 2-A State Dual Team Championships as the Wildcats reached heights nowhere near previously imaginable.
During that historic run, Bunn claimed the Class 2-A East Regional title at home to qualify for a state finals matchup with a powerful Bandys club.

ZEBULON -- The Milwaukee Brewers have announced that Victor Estevez will return as manager of the Carolina Mudcats for the 2023 season.
Estevez leads a Carolina field staff that will include Pitching Coach Michael O'Neal, Hitting Coach J.J. Reimer, Bullpen Coach Jorge Ortega, Development Coach David Valdez, Athletic Trainer Myles Fish and Strength and Conditioning Specialist Jonah Mergen.

ROCKY MOUNT -- When the clubs played earlier in the season, the star-studded Rocky Mount Lady Gryphons soared to an early lead -- and then had difficulty putting away a feisty Franklinton squad in Big East Conference girls basketball action.
FHS stayed somewhat within striking distance during that outing and even had a few chances to come within single digits before the Lady Gryphons tacked on a late cushion to win by 16 points.

SOUTHERN NASH'S DUSTIN HALL SIGNS WITH UNC-PEMBROKE

Southern Nash's Jermia Walker (with ball) drives for two points for the Ladybirds during last Tuesday night's home girls basketball victory against rival Bunn High School.

After the success of last year, more cars will roll into town in April for the second annual Spring Hope Car Classic.
Set for April 29, organizers planned a larger event than before with 200 to 300 cars and 800 to 1,000 spectators.
Sponsored by the Spring Hope Chamber of Commerce, the car show is set to run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. with beach and top 40 music and around four food vendors.