The Nash County Public School's Board of Education denied, in a 7-4 vote, the Nashville Police Department's request to provide a full-time school resource officer at Nashville Elementary School.
The school system instead agreed to move forward with utilizing the Nash County Sheriff's Office to provide school resource officers at the school.

This year looks to be the biggest yet for homegrown country music star Chandler James.
The Nashville native who now lives and records in Music City has won a statewide competition in North Carolina, released new singles, and is scheduled to perform at area festivals including the 25th annual Nashville Blooming Festival. He even has steady gigs along Music Row in Nashville, Tennessee.

A rezoning request was approved with a 3-2 vote by Nashville's Town Council that will pave the way for a Dollar General to be built just outside of the city limits.
The request to rezone 2.51 acres of a 23.83-acre tract was brought before town council last month by Glandon Forest Equity, LLC. The property is located on the northwest corner of Oak Level Road and East Old Spring Hope Road in the Town of Nashville ETJ jurisdiction. The property owner is Ronnie Burnette.

After months of discussion, Nashville's Town Council has agreed to move forward with accepting grant funding for the Barnes Street Streetscape Project. The vote was split 2-2, however, and Mayor Brenda Brown cast the deciding vote, voting to move forward with the grant funding.
The town was awarded a $675,000 Rural Transformation Grant for the Barnes Street Streetscape Project from the North Carolina Department of Commerce's Rural Economic Development Division.

Plans for a funeral home in the mostly residential West Mount area of Nash County died on the drawing board Monday with the withdrawal of a rezoning request by the property owner.
Phil Davis, co-owner of Davis-Little Funeral Home in Rocky Mount, told Nash County Commissioners during their Monday meeting that the funeral home wouldn't be purchasing 3.94 acres on the east side of South Halifax Road...

Nashville police are reminding everyone to lock their vehicles in the wake of a string of recent automobile break-ins that resulted in the arrest of three teenagers.
"Everyone should be reminded that criminals often seek the path of least resistance, so those who fail to lock their vehicle doors are more likely to become a victim of break-ins such as this. Please remember to always lock your doors and check before settling in for the night," Nashville Police Chief J.T. Winstead said in a recent press release.

Willis Richardson demonstrates how to write with what researchers believe to be an ancient Roman stylus. Contributed photo

Nash County veteran Willis Richardson has a knack for genealogy research and digging up artifacts in Halifax County.
Richardson's research spans four to five years chasing Black Indigenous histories near his Richardson homestead with connections to the Haliwa-Saponi and possibly Cherokee tribes.
He traced his seventh-generation grandfather back to Benjamin Richardson who is believed to have been born free in the 1750s; his parentage is unknown.

Nash County is in good financial shape, according to the annual State of the County address delivered earlier this week by Chairman Robbie Davis.
"Year 2022 was a much brighter year for the people of our county and our nation as we began to recover from the last two years of COVID-19," Davis said during the regularly scheduled commissioners meeting Monday.

Anyone looking for something to do on a Sunday afternoon this spring can visit the Spring Hope Historical Museum to get a look at a large collection of salt and pepper shakers.
The museum has a vast array of shakers on display that tell the story of the origin of table salt and pepper grinders dating back to 1858 when the first shakers were used.

SHERROD

The Boys and Girls Club of the Tar River Region will celebrate its Youth of the Year candidates next week.
Youth of the Year is the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tar River Region's premier youth leadership program, honoring extraordinary young people and achievements in leadership, service, academic excellence and dedication to living a healthy lifestyle.

DICKENS

A traffic stop near Spring Hope landed two street gang members previously convicted of manslaughter in jail for firearm possession and a parole violation, according to authorities.
Khiry Deshawn Dickens, 30, of Enfield, faces a charge of possession of a firearm by felon. He received a $100,000 bond.
Dexter Devon Taylor Jr., 30, of Littleton, faced a charge of parole violation and was released after reinstatement of his probation.

INCIDENTS
A driving while intoxicated, expired registration card/tag and failure to maintain lane control was reported on 2/26/23 at 2081 S NC 58
A misdemeanor larceny and breaking or entering into or breaking out of a motor vehicle was reported on 3/1/23 at 632 Haley Drive
A fraudulent deposit of money was reported on 3/1/23 at 100 East Evans Drive

An obtaining property by false pretense was reported on 2/28/23 at 12540 Fisher Road, Whitakers
A domestic disturbance and suicide were reported on 2/26/23 at 12722 Edwards Road, Spring Hope
A motor vehicle theft - truck was reported on 2/26/23 at 13577 W NC 97, Zebulon
A motor vehicle theft was reported on 3/2/23 at 1394 Frazier Road, Spring Hope

A scholarship fund established to honor Deputy Jared Allison is offering money to high school seniors headed to college to major in public safety.
Allison died Dec. 1, 2020, after a crash during a pursuit on U.S. 301 in Rocky Mount on Thanksgiving Day. He was 26 with a young child.
To help keep his memory alive, his family established the Deputy Jared Allison Memorial Scholarship, said Maj. Eddie Moore with the Nash County Sheriff's Office.

The commission that accredits law enforcement agencies wants to hear from the public about the Nash County Sheriff's Office.
The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, known as CALEA, has been evaluating agencies since 1979.
Agencies that carry the CALEA seal have achieved the highest standards in law enforcement.

Should Cats Wear Collars? This article from https://animalpath.org/ reflects our views also.
Devoted cat owners tend to be protective of their fur babies. They may insist on putting a collar on their cat so that they don't get lost, and to protect them from wild animals. However, cat experts are unsure as to whether collars provide any safety. Read on for a discussion about whether cats should wear collars and safe alternatives that you may want to try for your cats.

Webster defines a habit as a recurrent, often unconscious pattern of behavior that is acquired through frequent repetition, an established disposition of the mind or character. It is the latter statement that inspired me to examine what I consider to be the seven most important habits that every Christian should possess. Mind you now, my list is not all-inclusive. I do not have the market cornered on the list of all the habits that should show up in our lives. In fact, my list is no better or more correct that your list.

And you were dead in your trespasses and sins 2 in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. 3 We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us,[b] 5 made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses.

There was a great turn out for the Outdoorsman Banquet at Red Oak Baptist Church on Saturday, March 4! Everyone enjoyed the food (including some wild game), the hunting "trophies" on display, and guest speaker, Pete Rogers. Pete Rogers has a podcast with over a million followers where he talks about the outdoors and God. Thanks to all who worked together to make this a great time of fellowship and outreach.

The Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce (RMACC) annual Women's Leadership Conference will be held on Thursday, March 30th at the Rocky Mount Event Center once again.
"After last year's success with the conference, we couldn't wait to get started planning for this year's event." Stated RMACC President and CEO, David Farris. "We hosted over 175 professional women looking to enhance their skills in both leadership and business in 2022 and can't wait to do it BIGGER for 2023."

Andrew Ike Bullard and Jennifer H. Bullard to Toney Bailey; 6231 Main Street, Bailey; $55,000
April Sherrod Longmire to Travis Tolleson and Traci Tolleson; 220 Young Road; $3,000
Barbara P. Moore, Janice Faye Davis Everette and Joseph Timothy Everette to Joseph Timothy Everette, Janice Faye Davis Everette and Barbara P. Moore; .118 acres, W NC 97

BUILDING PERMIT
(COMMERCIAL)
Sharon Greer; 6217 Main Street; repair; $70,421
Lauren Phelps; 500 N Old Carriage Road; new construction; $1,420,695

The days are getting longer and the temperature is rising and gardens are being planted. Now is the time to begin thinking about how you are going to preserve the abundance of produce you will have this season.
Nash County Cooperative Extension Family & Consumer Sciences department will be hosting several workshops teaching participants how to properly and safely preserve their food.

Saturday was a big social event for me. The library in Greenville had its annual book sale, so we piled in the Honda and headed out.
There are so many books, they have this event in the Greenville Convention Center. Books typically range in price from 50 cents to $3.
It's not like we have a shortage of reading material at our house. Kristi and I share a "to-read" shelf that should probably carry us into 2043 if we don't add anything else.

The housing market sure has been interesting over the past year or so! It's been so interesting even I've thought about putting my house on the market and see if anyone is crazy enough to bite. They would definitely have to be crazy to want to buy my house!
When I came to The Graphic in 2006, my husband and I decided to wait a few months before looking for a home here. We wanted to be sure the job was gonna work and Nash County was where we wanted to be.

FIRE DEPARTMENT TOUR -- This photo originally published in The Graphic on October 22, 1970. Members of the Nashville Baptist Church kindergarten were treated to a tour of the Nashville Fire Department. Pictured, Fire Chief Atlee Gulley explains how a fire engine operates.

FOUR ON THE FLOOR. Southern Nash High School veteran defender Blair Batchelor advances the ball toward the midfield for the Ladybirds during Tuesday evening's road soccer victory against the East Wake Lady Warriors in Wendell.

WENDELL -- After a team-bonding overnighter to the Battle of the Beach Tournament last weekend, the Southern Nash Ladybirds returned much closer to home -- just across the Wake County line -- on Tuesday for a non-conference meeting against the homestanding East Wake Lady Warriors in non-conference girls soccer action.
Suspense was at a premium as this one was all but over not long after it started as the Ladybirds cruised to an impressive 10-1 triumph.

NASH CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL'S ZACHARY FUSLON

BUNN -- After conducting a nine-hole practice match two days earlier, the Big East Conference's boys golfers reconvened at The River GC last Wednesday for the league's initial 18-hole showdown of the 2023 campaign.
The results were right where the 2022 season left off as defending Big East champion Roanoke Rapids showed that it is one again the favorite to take home the conference's top boys golf team prize.

NORTHERN NASH HS SOFTBALLER KYLEIGH LEWIS

RED OAK -- There wasn't a big inning, but methodically chipping away at their deficit proved to be an effective rallying tool for the Northern Nash Lady Knights on Tuesday during Big East Conference softball action against Louisburg.
The visiting Lady Warriors claimed a substantial early advantage, but Northern slowly but surely clawed back by scoring in all but one inning en route to picking up a 9-7 conquest over LHS in the Big East diamond opener for both clubs at the NNHS Softball Complex.

RED OAK -- Rebuilding is not an option if a school wants to maintain a top standing in the ultra-competitive Big East Conference boys basketball standings.
Reloading is more the name of the game, and the Northern Nash Fighting Knights have accomplished that goal to near-perfection over the past six years.
Not only has Northern remained a consistent factor in the Big East standings, the Fighting Knights have also made three Elite Eight appearances in the Class 3-A State Playoffs since 2017.

ZEBULON -- The Carolina Mudcats, the Class-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers, havey announced that single-game tickets for the 2023 season are on sale now at www.carolinamudcats.com, by calling (919) 269-2287 and by visiting the Five County Stadium front office in Zebulon.
Single-game ticket availability opens up all of Carolina's 2023 home games for purchase including each of the previously announced 10 souvenir giveaway events, the 11 Friday Night Fireworks nights, Opening Night on April 11, and the Mudcats for America Fireworks Extravaganza on Independence Day.

NASH COUNTY -- Here is this Saturday's schedule for the North Carolina High School Athletic Association's State Basketball Championship Games:

DURHAM -- The Back-to-Back Triple-A National Champion Durham Bulls have announced their full slate of exciting promotions for the upcoming 2023 season, which features a total of 24 post-game fireworks shows, including Independence Day Fireworks presented by Durham Parks and Recreation, as well as the return of popular theme nights including Bull Durham Night, Marvel's Defenders of the Diamond Night, and Bull Sharks Night.

Southern Nash's Emory Gibson (left) is in the clear after gaining possession for the Ladybirds during Tuesday evening's road soccer triumph against East Wake High School.

Southern Nash High School standout Jacob Kearney follows his ball off the tee at the par-5 10th Hole at The River GC during last Wednesday's Big East Conference Boys Golf 18-hole match.

The Nash County Master Gardener Volunteer Association announces its annual Plant Sale for 2023.
Plants available include perennials, roses, shrubs, vegetable plants, garden art and also a chance to win a Blackstone Griddle.
This year there will be two options for plant purchases.