BOONE

Nash County is losing its assistant county manager and has promoted a new deputy manager.
Scott Rogers is retiring after 33 years with the county. The former director of Nash County Emergency Services moved up to assistant county manager a year ago.
Rogers' pending departure was announced Monday by County Manager Stacy Shatzer during the regular monthly meeting of the Nash County Board of Commissioners.

The Town of Nashville's 2023-2024 budget was approved Tuesday night.
The $19.2 million budget was passed 3-1 with only one comment from the public. That comment centered on the need for the town to increase property taxes to ensure the town could continue to provide the services it provides
"If you want the services, you have to pay the taxes," Tony Koenig, who lives on Westview Court, said.

William Blackmon (left) and Rick Thomason (right) complete the flag folding procedure. Contributed photo

Rick Thomason and William Blackmon of the Cpl. Suzi Sannes Detachment 1262 of the Marine Corps League presented 20 American flags to the Nash County Public Schools Board of Education Monday night. The flags will be flown at the Central Office and school facilities in Nash County.
Thomason said he was contacted by a faculty member of Winstead Avenue Elementary School in May of 2020 seeking a new flag. She expressed to Thomason the flag was worn and frayed and they were ashamed to leave it flying.

Spring Hope is providing a small raise for employees without raising property taxes.
Approved Monday night, the 2023-24 budget calls for a 3% cost of living increases for all town employees.
An additional 2% raise, effective January 2024, is anticipated as a budget amendment once revenues from sales and use taxes are confirmed at 2023 levels, said Town Manager Andrew Delonno.

Liz Cahoon has always hoped to retire and move to the beach. Though not retiring, her plan to move to the beach happened sooner than expected.
Cahoon recently left the Nash County Sheriff's Office for a position with the Dare County Sheriff's Office.
A Nashville native, Cahoon said she has always wanted to have a career where she helped others and gave back to her community. And she has done just that.

In an uncommon occurrence, no one spoke during Monday's public hearing on Nash County's 2023-24 budget.
"It's very unusual. Someone's done a good job evidently," said County Board Chairman Robbie Davis.
County Manager Stacy Shatzer presented a summary of the budget during Monday's commissioners meeting that she detailed during last month's regular board meeting.

Nashville's Town Council approved Tuesday night a recommendation to award a $5,000 MSD Facade Grant to Michael Hurt and The Nashville Junction.
The recommendation came from The Downtown Nashville Strong Advisory Board. The board met on May 15 to discuss Hurt's application for the Junction property located at 723 S. Barnes Street.

A Bailey native and Southern Nash High School graduate has been named the Communications Director for the Nash County Public School System.
The school system announced on Tuesday that Heather Louise Finch was named the Executive Director of Communication, Planning and Engagement. Finch replaces Michelle Fiscus.

Fire destroyed a mobile home at 1004 Moss Road on Monday. Coopers Volunteer Fire Department took charge of the scene with firefighters from Nashville and Spring Hope providing mutual aid. No one was seriously injured, but the structure is a complete loss. The cause of the blaze remains under investigation.

Nash County commissioners won't foot the entire bill for radios purchased by volunteer firefighters.
In discussing the matter at Monday's board meeting, Commissioner Marvin Arrington said the county's fire departments made the decision to buy the equipment and should shoulder some of the cost of the needed updates.

INCIDENTS
An aiding and abetting driving while intoxicated, resisting arrest/hinder and delay, driving while license revoked and speeding was reported on 6/3/23 on US 64E at mile marker 462
An identity fraud was reported on 6/2/23 at 501 Barnes Street

A warrant service was reported on 5/26/23 at 100 N Boddie Street, Nashville
A possession of a stolen vehicle was reported on 5/26/23 at 10738 Baldy Hill Road, Middlesex
An obtaining property by false pretense was reported on 5/24/23 at 12178 Selma Road, Middlesex

Area youth attending the Team One Resource Group event pose for a photo with volunteers of the non-profit organization. Contributed photo

Howard Kendrick used to be a bully.
Growing up, Kendrick was not a good person, but then he learned to choose love over hate.
Now a local pastor and chaplain for the Nash County Sheriff's Office, Kendrick shared his story with a small gathering of children in the Warner Room of Braswell Memorial Library during Saturday's Youth Speak Out event, sponsored by Team One Resource Group of Rocky Mount.

On Saturday, May 6, North Carolina Wesleyan University held its annual commencement ceremony at the Rocky Mount Event Center. The University celebrated 418 graduates, marking its 83rd graduation.
The event was open to graduates, faculty, the platform party and guests of graduates.

Johnny Floyd Land and Argie Nell Hobson Land celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on May 29, 2023. They were wed in Nash County, North Carolina on May 29, 1963. Johnny likes to tell the story of picking Argie up from the cotton field and taking her to get married without any preparation. They spent their entire 60 years in Nash County where they worked and raised their family.

Earlier this year, Crystal Gray was halfway through the surgical technology program at Edgecombe Community College and working long hours at UNC Health Nash.
She also was looking forward to her youngest daughter graduating high school.
Then a long shot paid off, and the renowned Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, offered Gray a summer internship - one of four such offers the No. 1 rated hospital in the nation made this year.

During the school's first kindergarten graduation, the Board of Directors of Southside Academy announced the hiring of a new Head of School.
Breona Walker was named to the position, and received a warm reception from the almost 200 people gathered for the occasion. Walker is a graduate of North Carolina Central University and is currently completing her Masters in Organizational Leadership at Chowan University.

Sadly, MANY cats will die if they go to the Shelter. WHAT? Let's look at some hard facts. MOST homeless cats 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.

It was strange. The morning she died, I woke up with the eeriest feeling I've ever experienced in my life. I knew something was wrong even though it was over 14 hours before one of my high school friends called to let me know that an old friend of mine had lost her 5-year battle with cancer.
I will never forget the deep sense of loss that I felt back when I heard the news. This was a lady whom I had met in 1968 when I was in the 9th grade.

How do you pray with the end in mind?
As Paul prayed, his loving concern for the Thessalonians poured out in petitions to God. Paul did not focus on material, financial, or physical needs. With the end in mind, Paul asked God for a worthy and fulfilled life.

Red Oak Baptist Church recognized high school and college graduates on Sunday, June 4 during the morning worship service. High school graduates included Spencer Cary, Michaela Fisher, Nicole Mason, Ava Moore, Anna Brooks Murray, and Ashton Sykes. College graduates included Jessica Cary, Amanda Davis, Parker Dickens, Caitlyn May, and Heather Perry. Sarah Grace Acker, Caleb Carwell, and Luke Leonard were recognized but were unable to attend.

Towers Com IV-B, LLC and VB BTS II, LLC to VB BTS II, LLC and Tower Com IV-B, LLC; property in Jacksons Township; $1,494,500
Baron Cunningham and Sarah Mavis Cunningham to Rum-Clarke Properties, LLC; 1005 West Thomas Street, Rocky Mount; $48,000
Verna Walker to Mike Buys Houses NC, LLC; 102 Arrowood Drive, Nashville; $12,500

BUILDING PERMIT
(COMMERCIAL)
Joseph L. Robinson; 3438 S Halifax Road; new construction; $100,000
Aaron Phillips; 10135 D US 264A; new construction; $142,300

When my parents got a small black and white television for their bedroom, I was handed down a little six-inch black and white that my dad had won as a door prize at his company's Christmas party years before.
Its rabbit ears picked up Channel 5 in Raleigh, Channel 11 in Durham, Channels 7 and 9 in Greenville and Channel 4, which was UNC-TV. It was an amazing time to be alive.

Mike Brantley's Soap Box column this week brings back a lot of memories of how things "used to be." It's amazing how spectacular new things were to us just a few decades ago however these days the excitement wears off of something new pretty quick!
Funny how I can remember just about every single episode of M.A.S.H. but can't remember 10 seconds of something I watched a week ago. Truth is, much like Mike, I watch little or no television these days.

This photo originally published in The Nashville Graphic on March 9, 1973. The Junior Beta Club at Benvenue Middle School had the support of Principal E.A. Edwards (seated) in observance of National Beta Club Week.

Nash County Commissioner Dan Cone tongs a corn cob onto his plate with Carolina Classics Catfish at the 2023 Catfish Luncheon held in May by Nash County Soil and Water in Nashville. Offered were Louisiana Crawfish, Kielbasa Sausage and sides including hush puppies, French fries, slaw and vegetables.

Bernard Redfield of Castalia sits in his 1950 MG during a car show Saturday at L.F. Smith Customs Hotrod Shop on Barnes Street in Nashville. Redfield has owned the vehicle for about five years. "It's a beaut," Redfield said. "It needs more work, but it always will."