Nash County will likely hold the line on property taxes again for the 15th year in a row.
The 2023-24 proposed fiscal budget calls for a steady property tax rate of 67 cent per $100 of assessed property valuation.
The annual spending plan of $134.5 million calls for a 5% cost of living raise for county employees, County Manager Stacy Shatzer said in her six-page budget message she presented to the county board on Monday afternoon.

Drama over Senate Bill 169 played out over three different meetings Monday with the Nashville Town Council seeking answers, the Rocky Mount City Council standing united and an apparent schism of the Nash County Board of Commissioners over the issue.
Filed with no real public notice, SB 169 -- sub-labeled Nash County Satellite Annexation Modifications -- called for municipalities located wholly or partially in Nash County to gain approval of county commissioners before satellite annexation of any property, and the county would have final say in any rezonings.

The Nash County Feathers and Fur 4-H Club partnered with the Town of Nashville's Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department to host a free movie night on Saturday, May 20. Prior to the movie, attendees were treated to a visit from two horses, Mindy, a quarter horse and Freckles, a mini horse. The event also collected pet food and supplies, which was donated to the Nash County Animal Shelter. This is the second year for the partnership and free movie, which serves as a service project for the Feathers and Fur 4-H Club. The club is led by Brenda Wind. Pictured above, Lily Owens pets Freckles, who serves as a therapy horse.

Nashville's Town Council is hoping a three cents property tax increase will generate the needed revenue to give public safety employees a boost in salary and provide a cost-of-living increase to all employees.
Council members met on Wednesday morning to continue discussing the town's upcoming 2023-2024 budget, which Town Manager Randy Lansing said has been a challenge.

Inspired by his mother who served as a poll worker for many years, Nashville attorney Kevin Lewis said he keenly understands the dedication of such committed men and women across the state.
That's one of the reasons Lewis, 57, has accepted appointment to the N.C. State Board of Elections.
"I am honored to have been nominated and appointed to the State Board of Elections," Lewis said.

The Nashville Bark Park was made official last Friday, as a ribbon cutting was held to celebrate the official opening of the dog park.
The dog park is located in front of Stoney Creek Environmental Park, at 455 W. Washington Street.
A dog park has been high on the list of wants by residents for several years, listed as the most wanted amenity during public input for the town's Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Comprehensive Plan.

ARRESTS
Jeremy Syke Hamm; 5/18/23; charged with driving while intoxicated
Donyale Leon Wilkins; 5/14/23; charged with carrying a concealed weapon and driving while intoxicated

With the end of state compilation of COVID-19 cases, Nash County health officials will no longer issue weekly updates on local infection rates.
County health officials have reported coronavirus case numbers since the beginning of the pandemic in early 2020.
Following suit of state health officials, the county will stop reporting case numbers, said Bill Hill, director of the county's Health & Human Services.

A warrant service was reported on 5/16/23
A domestic abuse, neglect of disabled or elder adults was reported on 5/15/23 at 13260 S NC 231, Middlesex
A damage to real property was reported on 5/15/23 at 1456 Macedonia Road, Spring Hope
Two counts of assault on a female and simple assault was reported on 5/18/23 at 1761 N Old Carriage Road, Rocky Mount

ROCKY MOUNT
5/30/2023: 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Arts Education Building, 344 Falls Road
5/30/2023: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., First Presbyterian Church-Rocky Mount, 153 N. Church Street
6/1/2023: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Peacemakers of Rocky Mount, 2221 W Raleigh Blvd

Nashville Mayor Brenda Brown's seat and two council member seats, Louise Hinton and Lynne Hobbs, are up for grabs this year.
Municipal elections in Nash County are set for Nov. 7. The voter registration deadline is Oct. 20.
Registration and voting at the same time will only be allowed during one-stop in-person early voting. Poll locations and dates will be announced by election officials in late July.

A local Girl Scout has established a miniature free food pantry at Cooley Library in Nashville.
The Take-Some-Food, Leave-Some-Food Station started as a project for the scouts, but ended as a labor of love for people in the area, said 14-year-old Joy Aycock.
"As long as the station helps one person, it was worth it," said Aycock, who for her effort will be earning the Silver Award, one of the Girl Scouts' highest honors.
The instructions for the award tell scouts to find an issue they care about in their local community. That's what Aycock did.

Elks Lodge #1038 at Birchwood in Nashville holds an annual pancake breakfast as one of its fundraisers to promote drug awareness to local children and support local veterans. This year's event was held in memory of George Howell, an Elk member who passed away. Howell was the traditional pancake mixer in the past.
Pictured above, (L-R) Bobby Joe Fisher, Chris Bissette and Brian Puckett chat during the event.

Sadly, some will die. WHAT? Let's look at some hard facts. Sometimes homeless pets at Shelters are euthanized. At Nash, it is by humane injection, as you would when you take your pet to the vet. Sometimes it is for space, they literally run out of a place for all. County Shelters have unlimited intakes. It isn't like a private facility where they can pick and choose. Sometimes euthanasia is for behavior. There are no trainers (rehabilitators) at County Shelters. The longer a pet is at a Shelter, the more likely that they will become stressed and react.

Churches often have "Friend Day" or "High Attendance Sunday". The names may vary, but you get the point. It's the one or two designated Sundays during the year when your church asks you to invite someone who is unchurched.
The pastor will encourage us to, "Make a difference".
Sadly, many of us let that challenge go through one ear and right out the other. "That's going a little too far", we say to ourselves.

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.

Dorothy, Audrey, and Suzy Pearce had a great time with family during the Pearce/Tant Family Reunion at Bunn Chapel Church of God of Prophecy in Bunn on Saturday, May 20!. They had opportunity to meet some family members for the first time. Relatives traveled from Red Oak, Rolesville, Roxboro, Oxford, Dunn, and Angier. Everyone enjoyed the good food, sitting outside in the shade reminiscing, and lots of laughs!

National Day of Prayer was held in downtown Nashville at the steps of the Nash County Courthouse on May 4th.

The Nash Community College Foundation has announced the recent establishment of the Benjamin Michael Langley Memorial Nursing Scholarship by the Langley Family and friends.
The scholarship was created to assist students in the Practical Nursing Program and PN students transitioning into the Associate Degree of Nursing Program.
"Ben was much beloved as he had a servant's heart," said Jamie Langley, mother.

Nash Community College celebrated its Electric Line Construction Technology program graduates on Thursday, May 4, 2023, with a pole climbing rodeo, career signing event and graduation ceremony. The celebration began at 8:30 AM on NCC's utility pole training field. Electric Line Construction students competed in three key areas showcasing their learned abilities and techniques in Injured Worker Rescue, Protective Grounding and Obstacle Pole training. Competitors were judged on their safety points and time of competition. Family members, friends and other supporters joined in the celebration of graduates.

A Nursing Student at Nash Community College has been honored with The DAISY Award for an Extraordinary Nursing Student. The award is part of The DAISY Foundation's mission to express gratitude to Nurses with programs that recognize them for the extraordinary, compassionate and skillful care they provide patients and families. The DAISY Award at NCC is sponsored by ECU Health - Greenville.
"We appreciate the partnership each year to honor our nursing students," said Susan Taylor, Clinical Coordinator/Instructor of Nursing at NCC.

James Erwin Garris to James Erwin Garris and Johnny L. Garris; Lite Wood Acres, Block A, Lot 1
Graceanne Williamson McClamrock to Aniruddh Som; 221 Foxhall Drive, Rocky Mount
CMH Homes, Inc. to Nathan Lee Hommel; Section 8, Creekside Manor, Lot 36; $295,000
Christopher A. Welty, Krista Welty and Krista R. Welty to Headington Properties, LLC; 66 Walbrook Court, 70 Walbrook Court and 74 Walbrook Court, Rocky Mount

BUILDING PERMIT
(RESIDENTIAL)
Felicia Manning; 4838 Newport Court; new single family; $25,000
Ronnie Weaver; 3499 N Old Carriage Road; detached accessory; $72,000

I was sure five years ago when our daughter Holly graduated that all the emotions roiling in me would at least make it easier when the next graduation came along.
This was yet another parenting thing I was completely wrong about.
Our son Kent graduates from high school this week. I've been avoiding thinking too hard about it, but when he came strolling down the aisle of the church Sunday at baccalaureate in his cap and gown and bowtie, I almost got something in my eye.

As mentioned last week, Nashville had a lot of hurdles to jump in the '23-'24 budget. Revenues have not caught up with all the things in progress and costs continue to rise in every direction.
I'm never going to point fingers at either side of the aisle, but if our folks in Washington (both parties) don't get their act together and figure out how to agree on something very soon on the debt issue, I'm afraid things are just going to get worse.

This photo was originally published on February 17, 1972 in The Nashville Graphic. The Nashville Optimist Club was officially charted during a banquet.

Charlie and Mary Lewis, of Greenville, enjoy a plate of seafood from a food truck during Saturday's second annual Sweetpotato Festival on Main Street in downtown Bailey.