While Nashville is continuing to see growth, revenues have yet to see the benefit of that growth and the proposed budget for the 2023-2024 is a reflection of that.
Council members met on Wednesday morning, after to The Graphic's deadline, to hear and discuss the upcoming budget.
Town Manager Randy Lansing, in his budget message, said while the budget is balanced, it does not include several items that were needed in the upcoming fiscal year. In order to do those things, a property tax rate increase is needed.

Bids are now being accepted for the construction of the Nashville Junction parking lot and stage.
Nashville's Town Council approved the plans and specifications earlier this month and authorized accepting bids for the project.
The town has budgeted $640,000 for the project, $365,000 of which comes from Senator Lisa Barnes and the remaining funds will come from the Fiscal Year 2023 budget.

Pictured above, Girl Scouts are all smiles while riding in the Nashville Blooming Festival Parade. Graphic photo by Amanda Clark

Members of the Nashville Chamber of Commerce's Blooming Festival committee are quite pleased with the success of the 25th anniversary celebration.
Sunny skies, a full schedule of music combined with a parade, a carnival, tons of craft booths and tasty festival food brought a record breaking crowd of visitors to the event held in downtown Nashville.

Nash County Public Schools wants a 5 percent salary increase for educators across the board as part of a $27.9 million request from the county.
The fiscal year 2023-24 spending plan also includes a 6.25 percent increase for bus drivers.
Funding requests were made last week during a joint meeting of the Nash County Board of Commissioners, the Nash County Board of Education and representatives of Nash Community College.

Joanna Hale has always had a love for music. Becoming a music teacher seemed like the perfect way for Hale to share that love with others.
Hale has been sharing her love of music at Nash Central High School for the past 26 years and last week, her dedication to her students was recognized.
Hale was named Nash County Public School's Teacher of the Year during a private ceremony hosted by the school system.

Legislation proposed by a local lawmaker would require Nash County commissioners approval of voluntary municipal annexations.
State Sen. Lisa Barnes, R-Nash, added the new rule that applies solely to Nash County into the end of a bill that recently passed the Senate and is awaiting a House committee assignment.

Nashville's head librarian has been fired in the aftermath of an arrest on a charge of embezzlement.
Amanda Marie Yetter, 38, is accused by the Nashville Police Department of pilfering money from Harold D. Cooley Library, where she's been director for a year.
According to court records, Yetter is accused of misappropriating $400 in grant money on March 1. Yetter's annual salary was $65,484.

TEACHER OF THE YEAR AWARD - Pictured are fiinalists for the Teacher of the Year Award with Superintendent Dr. Steve Ellis. Pictured (L-R) is Lauren Howell, of Southern Nash Middle School, Dr. Ellis, Joanna Hale, of Nash Central Middle School and Lindsey Murray, of Coopers Elementary School. photo contributed by Garry Hodges

The finalists for Principal of the Year are pictured with Superintendent Dr. Steve Ellis. Pictured (L-R) is: Gavin Meiring, of Southern Nash High School, Dr. Ellis, April Watson, of Red Oak Elementary School and Brandan Lucas, of Winsead Avenue Elementary School.

Jamie Bunn Horner and Chad Evard Horner announce the birth of their son, Zachary James, who was born April 13, 2023. He weighed 8 lbs 9 oz and was 21" long.
Maternal grandparents are Dianne and Frank Bunn of Spring Hope. Paternal grandparents are Brenda Horner and the late David Horner of Richmond, Indiana.

Nash Community College is excited that its Tackle the Tar T-shirt illustration was designed by one of its graphic design students, Jameelah Hauter.
Hauter is a third-year student at NCC, currently completing an Associate degree in Applied Science - Advertising and Graphic Design.
"I've had the pleasure of teaching her in several design courses," said Natasha Neal, Advertising and Graphic Design Instructor.

FOUND A PET? Can't keep, so you are going to find a new home. You are a hero! Maybe... STOP... ARE YOU THE OWNER? ONLY OWNERS CAN ADOPT OUT A PET! You can become the "owner" of a found pet once they are reported immediately to Animal Control where the owners are looking, checked for a chip and held for a stray waiting period that is determined by Animal Control.

Legislation backed by a local lawmaker to help orphans find a home is closer to becoming law.
The Loving Homes Act was passed unanimously by the N.C. House of Representatives in a 117-0 vote earlier this month.
"This bill increases access to caring homes for children who find themselves in the foster care system," said state Rep. Allen Chesser, R-Nash, who sponsored the bill.

A high-level guard is accused of having sex with an inmate at a state prison outside Nashville.
James Salmon, 33, is charged with sex act by a government institution employee and providing contraband to an inmate.
Salmon is accused of engaging in a sex act with a male inmate while working as a housing unit manager at Nash Correctional Institution on Alternate U.S. 64.

Two counts of assault with a deadly weapon and assault on a female were reported on 5/10/23 at 1598 E Castalia Road, Nashville
Found property was reported on 5/13/23 at 1900 Creek Lane, Rocky Mount
Two counts of recovered vehicle were reported on 5/13/23 at 3144 S NC 231, Middlesex

INCIDENTS
A felony breaking and entering/non-force/larceny and motor vehicle theft was reported on 5/8/23 at 218 N Lumber Street
A failure to maintain lane control, driving while license revoked not impaired rev., license - failure to comply with restriction codes, open container after consuming and driving while intoxicated was reported on 5/7/23 at First Street Extension and Indian Trail

Thirty years ago when we lived in Georgia, our church had a 24-hour prayer vigil. Church members volunteered for specific times and the church stayed open all night long. There wasn't a minute that lapsed during that 24-hour period when someone wasn't at church praying.
It's funny how God can and will bless the time that we spend serving Him, even when we didn't really care to do it. I really didn't want to go to church that night.

Salvation is the term used to summarize God's work in rescuing a sinner from the guilt and pollution of sin, restoring a sinner to a right relationship with Him, and making the sinner an adopted heir of the new heavens and the new earth. Scripture uses the term salvation in two major ways. First, salvation refers to our conversion to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, involving several benefits of God's grace. This is the most common use of the term salvation in Scripture.

The Parent/Child Dedication was held at Red Oak Baptist Church on Sunday, May 14. Those dedicated included were Adam James, son of Nate and Jordan James; Ellie Harrell, daughter of Justin and Allyson Harrell; and Ava Mast, daughter of Steve and Kimberly Mast.
The Baptist Men's monthly breakfast will be Sunday, May 21 at 8:30 am.

WJH LLC to Michael Alexander Cruz; 1257 Manor Drive, Rocky Mount; $273,000
Melvin G. Espinoza Gonzales and Melvin G. Espinoza Gonzalez to Melvin G. Espinoza Gonzales and Marina A. Aguilar; 633 Powell Drive, Rocky Mount
Wayne L. Cotton to The Wayne L. Cotton Revocable Living Trust and Wayne L. Cotton; 108 Sherwood Drive, Rocky Mount

BUILDING PERMIT
(RESIDENTIAL)
John Austin Bunn; 11043 Simms Road; detached accessory; $7,500
Cornelius Ruffin; 5319 Deans Road; detached accessory; $7,000

Cassi Rodgers of Nashville was recently initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation's oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society. Rodgers was initiated at North Carolina State University.
Rodgers is among approximately 25,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni to be initiated into Phi Kappa Phi each year. Membership is by invitation only and requires nomination and approval by a chapter.

Nashville residents were among over 650 Bob Jones University students recently named to the President's List for high academic achievement for the Spring 2023 semester.
Mckaylah Collins, a senior Early Childhood Education major, and Jeremiah Cox, a senior Computer Science major, both from Nashville, were named to the Spring 2023 President's List at Bob Jones University.

It happens every year.
At the end of the fall, I always vow that I will show some self-control and not plant a bunch of stuff the next spring that will be out of control by the end of the July.
This has been especially true the last few years since I went to raised beds. Things got a little out of control during the pandemic and I hit an odd string of luck.

By the time you read this week's edition a special called budget meeting will have taken place for the Town of Nashville. The story in today's edition gives you a snapshot of where they are with the budget pending on what happened in the special called meeting.
Seems Nashville's growing pains are outweighing what is planned to reap from all the growth when it comes down to revenue versus expenses.

This photo originally published in The Nashville Graphic on January 20, 1971. State Representative Allen Barbee of Spring Hope (center) had launched his campaign for Lt. Governor at a local rally. The photo was headlined "Barbee Dolls add color to rally."

SNHS' LANDEN BAKER ACCEPTS THE TITLE PLAQUE

STANHOPE -- Things have a way of turning around quickly in high school sports -- something the Southern Nash Firebirds experienced during the Big East Conference Baseball Tournament.
One week earlier, the Firebirds had been swept in a series by Northern Nash to close the regular season -- a fate that dropped Coach Kwamaine Battle's club into a tie with Franklinton for second place in the always-competitive league.

NASH CENTRAL SOFTBALL STANDOUT DANA WEBB

ROCKY MOUNT -- Nash Central accomplished just about every goal it set for this season on the softball diamond under first-year head coach Todd Brewer.
After showing flashes in 2022, the Lady Bulldogs officially returned to greatness this spring and made their deepest postseason run in the past decade.
Along the way, Nash Central tied for the top spot in the Big East Conference regular season with perennial titan Southern Nash and reached the finals of the league tournament.

FAYETTEVILLE -- The Northern Nash Fighting Knights were truly fighting to the last out during Tuesday's showdown at Fayetteville Terry Sanford in the third round of the Class 3-A State Baseball Playoffs.
And the Knights were rewarded with a miraculous comeback victory as they tallied three runs in the top of the seventh and final inning to edge Terry Sanford by a 9-8 margin in a postseason thriller.

SOUTHERN NASH'S SARAH EWERS (HOLDING BAT) IS CONGRATULATED AFTER HITTING A HOME RUN AGAINST CEDAR RIDGE

STANHOPE -- Southern Nash may have taken a roundabout way this time around, but the journey was the same as the Ladybirds once again claimed the Big East Conference Softball Championship.
Southern, a perennial league powerhouse, shared the regular season crown with Nash Central before winning the tournament with a 3-0 triumph over the Lady Bulldogs on May 5 as ace pitcher Anna Dickinson fired a three-hitter, striking out 15.

ROCKY MOUNT -- North Carolina Wesleyan University and Bauer Field will host the NCAA Baseball Regionals for the first time since 2006 this weekend on the NCWC campus.
The Battling Bishops will host a four-team double elimination tournament beginning on Friday at 11 a.m. with #1 Lynchburg and #4 Lebanon Valley, followed by #2 N.C. Wesleyan facing #3 Elizabethtown at 2:30 p.m.

NASH COUNTY -- Alex Edwards' 2022 freshman softball season at Methodist University was a difficult one as the former Louisburg High School standout -- and Nash County resident -- made the tough adjustment to the collegiate level as she posted a .176 batting average.
But Edwards burst onto the fast-pitch scene in a big way this spring as one of the Most Improved Players on her club -- in addition to the entire USA South Conference.

NASH COUNTY -- Caleb Garcia of Castalia, a student from Kenny Buffaloe's Kyokushin Karate Class in Roanoke Rapids, recently competed and won 1st place in the "2023 North Carolina Kyokushin Karate Inter-Dojo Kumite (Fighting) Competition" in Roanoke Rapids on April 22
Local North Carolina students earned 1st and 2nd place awards (trophies) in several categories in Kyokushin Karate Kumite (Contact Fighting) in male and female divisions.

Southern Nash's McKenna Batten lays down a perfect bunt for the Ladybirds during their first-round matchup against Cedar Ridge in the NCHSAA Class 3-A State Softball Playoffs.