RED OAK -- The town council voted this week to approve an increase for off duty deputies patrolling within the municipality.
Mayor Levell Langley said he isn't thrilled with a $10 an hour hike, bringing the hourly pay to $40 for deputies working in town.
"It gives me a little heartburn," Langley said during Monday's town meeting.

SPRING HOPE -- A practically defunct board in Spring Hope has materialized from obscurity to rubber stamp plans to move the town's library.
The move is necessitated by the town's goal to renovate the building that currently houses the library to create an event center using an $800,000 rural transformation grant from the state.

The former Galatia AME Church on Alston Street was converted to a grocery store. Photo courtesy of "The History of NASH COUNTY North Carolina," by Richard L. Mattson.

The past five years have been a turning point for the 19th-century Galatia African Methodist Episcopal Church as it undergoes a process of restoration, rebuilding, and redemption both structurally and congregationally.
Galatia's roots began in 1870 when the Rev. L.B. Clark organized brush arbor church meetings.

NASHVILLE - The Town of Nashville is looking at another avenue to keep citizens informed.
The town will soon introduce a "Talking Nashville" Podcast, which will keep citizens informed of what's happening in and around Nashville.
The bi-weekly podcast was introduced to Nashville's Town Council last month by Code Enforcement Officer Shawn Lucas.

Local authorities are warning of scammers who pretend to be law enforcement officials.
"The Sheriff's Office, nor any other law enforcement agency, will call you and tell you that you have a warrant or missed jury duty or whatever, and require you to pay money in the form of prepaid debit cards, PayPal, Bitcoin, gift cards or whatever.

NASHVILLE - Questions remain as to why a young girl who died of a severe beating last week wasn't removed from the home of her grandmother, arrested in her death, after a previous beating that left the child unrecognizable.
Christal Lane, 8, died Feb. 7 of blunt force trauma to the head, according to an arrest warrant for 72-year-old Patricia Ann Ricks.

With his fourth book on sale now and decades of newspaper columns under his belt, Michael Brantley is a household name in Nashville.
"A Southern Season: Rural Stories" with stories about growing up in Nash County is on sale wherever books are sold.
Brantley, 53, is an assistant professor at Barton College in Wilson. He has been a professional writer since he began working at The Graphic at 15.

Rocky Mount Police discovered a firearm on a six-year-old boy at Fairview Elementary School on Tuesday.
A Rocky Mount Police School Resource Officer was notified by administrators at Fairview Elementary School around 10:47 a.m. that a juvenile was in possession of a firearm.
A preliminary investigation by the officer revealed that a six-year-old boy had an unloaded 9mm handgun in his backpack.

THIRD GRADE - A/B HONOR ROLL
Luke Barwick, Penelope Bass, Calvin Bullock, Joseph Cooper, Alice Currier, Bradley Edwards, Connor Egan, Ethan Hawkins, Abigail Knight, Faith Knox, Leilana Little, Liam Long, Poppy Taylor, Alyssa Torres and Makhii Waring

A Nash County Farm Service Agency employee was recently recognized as the "Employee of the Quarter."
USDA Farm Service Agency employee Hattie Alston was recognized as the District #6 Employee of the Quarter for the 4th quarter of 2022.
Alston became employed with the Nash County FSA Office on April 7, 2014, as a Program Technician. She was promoted to Farm Loan Analyst in May 2015.

SIXTH GRADE - A HONOR ROLL
Aaliyah Atkinson, Laila Barlow, Kasen Batts-Wood, Pearson Bissette, Abigail Chandler, Lydia Edgerton, Humberto Escobar, Nevaeh Evans, Lila Hancock, Liyah Harris, Lana Hasan, Ava Hicks, Amber Johnson, Chase Lancaster, Peyton Long, Evan Mallory, Corey Mercer, Gabrielyn Rundle, Zoe Sauls, Jayden Spruill, Myles Thompson, Ryan Turner, Jason Velazquez-Diaz, Kaiden Webb and Trinadi Williams

SIXTH GRADE - A HONOR ROLL
Avery Bass, William Brantley, Nicholas Carmelle-Brinkley, Zoe Comerford, Noah Gibson, Jonathan Guzman-Aguilera, Elisabeth Hacker, Ryan Hammett, Grace Leake, Kaleb Mills, Kameron Price, Lauren Renfrow, Caleb Sykes and Presley Watkins

TENTH GRADE - A/B HONOR ROLL
Nahjea' Cole

NINTH GRADE - A HONOR ROLL
Bariah Alzughbi, Isabel Barnes, Antonio Battle, Trevion Cook, Maylee Garner, Hannah Garris, Ramsey Harris, Layla Hasan, Harry Liu, Ava Lloyd, Casiya Lynch, Ella Mallory, Tambe Mboumien, Arleth Mireles-Martinez, Elijah Moore, Ethan Price, Joshua Ricks, Griffin Sauls, Kaydin Shook, Lilly Teets, Anh Tran, Destiny Walston, Kenidrin Waring, D'Aries Wilkins, Landen Williams, Emma Williamson, Kylie Wills, Israella Woodard and Jr. Zavalza-Barrios

NINTH GRADE - A HONOR ROLL
Eliana Andrade, Jayden Baggett, Rylee Brewer, Ny'Jai Brinkley, Tamya Coppedge, Jayda Daniels, Aubria Davis, Josh Day, Carlos Dunn, Angelique Garcia, Garrett Gardner, Avion Gavin, Devonta Jenkins, Gracyn King, Liam Kopf, Sophia Langley, Blake Lewis, Emily McFerren, Jamarius Nicholson, Amelia Nieves, Bryleigh Posey, Benjamin Randolph, Necolus Rhodes, Sunny Robinson, Morgan Smith, Dashea Williams, Derrick Williams and Dominic Wozniak

NINTH GRADE - A HONOR ROLL
Gregory Young

THIRD GRADE - A HONOR ROLL
Elijah Arrington and Jay'ceon Harrison

THIRD GRADE - A HONOR ROLL
Eric Fernandez, Noah Monteith, Genesis Sherman, Sophie Sims and Katelyn Walters

The Shelter has been short staffed for a long time. In particular, there is no on-site supervisor.
Being short-handed has created coverage issues and sometimes the Shelter has closed during the public open hours for an emergency. Phones go unanswered and messages not responded to.

Most Christians understand the old law of sowing and reaping all too well. My son, however, came to understand it in a real and personal way when he was 13. It gave me an excellent opportunity to remind him just how much biblical principles continue to have application and meaning in our lives. It was also a way to share an important spiritual truth with you about God's love for us.

Red Oak Baptist Church welcomes Trish Wright and Paul and Beverly Mayring to the church family
Women in Action missions group met on Monday, February 13 at Red Oak Baptist Church.
The Baptist Men will have their monthly breakfast on Sunday, February 19 at 8:30 am.

Edgecombe Community College recently announced its President's List for the Fall 2022 semester. The following full-time students earned a 4.0 grade point average, placing them on the President's List.
President's List students include Jocelyn Brumley, of Bailey, Thomas Lane, of Elm City, and Davonte Arnold, Terrence Baker, Keziah Battle, Rasheen McKinnies and Jasmine Wooden all of Rocky Mount.

Leaders from North Carolina Wesleyan University (NCWU) and Nash County Emergency Services (NCES) met on Thursday, February 9 on the University's campus to sign a partnership agreement offering educational opportunities to employees of NCES. The alliance allows employees and their immediate families to develop practical skills they can apply to their careers through certificate, undergraduate and graduate degree programs at NCWU.

The Dunn Center at North Carolina Wesleyan University has been the recipient of multiple grants that will allow for the renovation of various spaces in the facility. The Dunn Center opened in 1996 with many of the spaces still in their original form.
The DeLeon Carter Foundation has donated $14,000 for the renovation of the Sweatt Courtyard, located adjacent to the Carlton Board Room.

Two counts of resisting arrest/hinder and delay and misdemeanor domestic violence protective order was reported on 2/8/23 at 11005 Walker Lane, Whitakers
A financial transaction card fraud was reported on 2/10/23 at 11166 Simms Road, Bailey
A domestic disturbance was reported on 2/9/23 at 296 Pine Street, Nashville

INCIDENTS
A possession of cocaine was reported on 2/5/23 at 1205 Eastern Avenue
A criminal receipt of goods fraudulently was reported on 2/5/23 at 475 W Washington Street

BUILDING PERMIT
(RESIDENTIAL)
Donald Boyette; 4555 US 264A; detached accessory; $6,500
Francisco Luzano Silverio; 13143 Thrasher Court; new single family; $80,000

N.C. Cooperative Extension, Nash County Center, has a 10-week paid internship available from May 18th through July 27th. The selected intern will be required to attend an orientation tentatively scheduled for April 23, 2023. This position is a 40-hour work week and will work out of the Nash County Center located at 1006 Eastern Avenue in Nashville.

More than 3,500 students will compete in the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission's 45th annual Youth Hunter Education Skills Tournaments (YHEST) in March. Events will include shotgun, archery, rifle, orienteering and a written hunting skills exam.
Locally, for District 3, a tournament will be held March 18, Rose Hill Sporting Clays and Hunt Reserve, Nashville

Chick-Fil-A has announced it will soon be offering a chicken sandwich made out of cauliflower.
I don't remember reading about this in Revelation, but I swear it might be a sign of the end times.
There is a verse in Ecclesiastes about eating your food with gladness. Biting into what I thought, was a chicken sandwich and getting cauliflower is not gladness.

I wrote a story last week on Nashville's Police Department wanting to put their officers in Nashville Elementary School. Nashville Police Chief J.T. Winstead seemed a bit irritated with school officials because the school system didn't bother to include Nashville's Police Department in the conversation about school resource officers in the schools, specifically Nashville Elementary.

GOVERNOR'S SCHOOL NOMINEES - This photo originally published in The Nashville Graphic Thursday, March 5, 1970. Six Southern Nash students were selected as nominees to the Governor's School. Four of the six are pictured. Pictured (L-R): Charles McCallister, Debbie Barnes, Rhonda Dummit and Jennifer Bass.

NASH CENTRAL'S ADDISON ROUGHTON

ROCKY MOUNT -- In what was expected to be a rebuilding year, the Nash Central Bulldogs still made quite an impact in the pool this winter under the direction of veteran head coach Kyle Bain.
After a strong finish in the Big East Conference, the Bulldogs stayed in the water to take part in the Class 1/2-A East Regionals two weeks ago at the Triangle Aquatic Center in Cary.

NORTHERN NASH HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL TEAMMATES (L TO R) KENO JONES AND CARSON JENKINS

RED OAK -- 2022 marked one of the most successful football seasons in Northern Nash High School's history, with the Knights posting a 15-1 record and securing their second Eastern Regional Championship which resulted in a berth in the Class 3-A State Championship game at NC State's Carter-Finley Stadium.
With historic teams comes historic players, which Northern's roster was scattered with in 2022.

SN'S ANASTASIA FIELDS

STANHOPE -- After edging ever-improving Northern Nash by just three points six days earlier, the Southern Nash Ladybirds knew things weren't going to be easy Monday during the rematch as part of the opening round of the Big East Conference Girls Basketball Tournament.
That assessment proved to be correct as the pesky Lady Knights hung around for most of the game before the favored Ladybirds were able to pull away down the stretch en route to earning a 47-38 decision at the historic SNHS Gymnasium.

NNHS' ALLEN BARNES DURING FOOTBALL SEASON

RED OAK -- It's been quite a senior year for Northern Nash High School's Allen Barnes -- at it isn't over yet.
Back in the fall, Barnes, a linebacker, helped the Fighting Knights win the Class 3-A East Regional Football Championship en route to competing in the state title contest.

ZEBULON -- The Carolina Mudcats are hiring.
The Mudcats will host their annual job fair event on February 18 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at historic Five County Stadium in Zebulon.

NASH COUNTY -- Here are updated Nash County Adult Basketball League scores:
• B4l 45: Dwyane Brinson 10, Michael Brinson 9, Chase Mountford 6, George Williams 5, Jaquan Simmons 18
Cummins 29: Robert Arnold 9, Corey Crowell 5, Devon Weaver 15

BRIDGEWATER, VA. -- The North Carolina Wesleyan University baseball team defeated Bridgewater 5-4 last Saturday afternoon.
The Bishops were able to hold off a late comeback from the Eagles to sweep the opening weekend series.
Wesleyan had several players with multi-hit games, including Luke Chung, who went 3-4, and Jean Legreca, who went 2-3 with a walk.

Southern Nash High School's Jermia Walker (with ball) elevates for a basket during the Ladybirds' home victory over NorthernNash on Monday in Big East tourney action.

(L to R) Southern Nash's Precious Richardson and Northern Nash's Calise Moore try to gain possession during Monday evening's Big East Conference tourney matchup.

Five Northern Nash High School varsity wrestlers recently qualified for the Class 3-A Girls Regional Wrestling Tournament. Pictured are (L To R) Jenna Romero, Elizabeth Daniels, Amaya Marshburn, Ayaan Diallo And Cara Brake.

Pictured above (L-R): Prom Queen Doris Lucas and King William Long pose together during Monday evening's prom at the Gardens of Nashville, a retirement and assisted living facility on Eastern Avenue in Nashville. The prom is held annually around Valentine's Day. Contributed photo

A certain scent permeates throughout professor Michael Brantley's office. Perhaps it's the aging books furnishing the shelved alcove along the wall, or the creaky wooden paneling that holds it all together. Maybe it's just Brantley. The cause doesn't matter, but the story it tells is important. This is the smell of knowledge and curiosity, mixed with a hint of mischief -- an ode to a man who's made a life out of spinning yarns.

A Winter Backyard Birds program will be held on Feb. 18 from 10-11 a.m. The event will be held at the Nash County Arboretum located at 1006 Eastern Ave., Nashville.
The program is free to learn about bird identifcation and how to use birding apps. Projects include making your own pipe cleaner bird feeder and also learn about bird-friendly plants to create a backyard habitat.

A Celebration of Pollinators will be held Saturday, June 24 from 9 a.m. - 12 noon at the Nash County Arboretum located at the Nash County Agriculture Center, 1006 Eastern Ave., Nashville.
The event is offered by the Nash County Master Gardener volunteers.