Randy White and Gwen Creech receive the chamber's Business of the Year Award for their business 64 Marketplace.

Nashville's Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual meeting last week, recognizing town employees for going above and beyond and naming 64 Marketplace as the Business of the Year.
64 Marketplace is located at 1038 Eastern Avenue and has been in business since 2010. Randy White and Gwen Creech run the business, which sells antique, vintage and used furniture.

The N.C. Court of Appeals has ruled a Nash County judge must provide better reasons for sentencing a sex offender to 25 years of satellite-based monitoring.
Wallace Belfield Jr., 35, was sent to prison for four years and ordered to wear an ankle monitor for a quarter century upon release. He pleaded guilty to indecent liberties with a child two years ago.

Pictured installing the guards (above) are Nasvhille Parks and Recreation Director Koy Worrell and Facilities Maintenance Technician Chris Aycock.

Thanks to a grant from the North Carolina Bluebird Society, Nashville's Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department (PRCR) purchased and installed three predator guards on bluebird nest boxes around town. Several new nest boxes have also been installed in different areas of town to help increase bluebird nesting habitat.

Local voters may get a voice whether a casino is built in Rocky Mount.
The Nash County Board of Commissioners last week approved a request to legislators if Nash County is chosen as a site for one of four casinos planned for eastern North Carolina that a countywide referendum be held.

The N.C. State Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal hit-and-run that happened near Nashville last week.
James Oliver Alexander Kent, age 55 of Nashville, died July 25 after being struck by an unknown vehicle on Eastern Avenue.
A state trooper found Kent's body in the roadway near the roundabout at Nash Community College at 1 a.m. July 26.

Nashville's Town Council agreed to move forward with the process of establishing social districts in two areas of town but want more input from the community before standing fully behind the idea.
The idea of establishing a social district in downtown and at the Nashville Junction was recommended by the Downtown Nashville Strong Advisory Board.

One-stop voting is set for mid-October in Nashville, according to an early voting plan approved by the Nash County Board of Elections.
Nashville, Spring Hope, Bailey and Middlesex residents can vote early at the Board of Elections Office beginning Oct. 19, said John Kearney, the county's elections director.
Early voting will run through Nov. 4 with hours being 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4.

An Alabama-based recovery company is removing debris in Dortches after a tornado destroyed homes there two weeks ago.
The company, CrowderGulf, is working for the Nash County Board of Commissioners under an interlocal agreement with the Dortches town board, which will reimburse the county. The boards announced the agreement at a special meeting Friday.

RALEIGH - On Tuesday, August 1, 2023, Governor Roy Cooper signed a state disaster declaration for the Town of Dortches in Nash County that suffered damages from an EF-3 tornado on July 19. The declaration makes additional assistance available to the town.
"Having spent most of my life in Nash County, I know the people who live there are resilient and determined to work together to bounce back from this damaging tornado. This state disaster declaration will help the people and businesses impacted as they recover and rebuild," said Governor Cooper.

INCIDENTS
A misdemeanor hit and run and failure to stop was reported on 7/23/23 at 101 W Washington Street
A driving while intoxicated, arrest/hinder and delay, possession/manufacturing fraudulent identification, open container after consumer, failure to stop for a stop sign/ flashing red light, driving while license revoked not impaired, speeding

An assault with serious bodily injury and damage to personal property was reported on 7/27/23 and 7/24/23
A missing person was reported on 7/25/23 at 100 N Boddie Street, Nashville
A missing person was reported on 7/26/23 at 1106 Maudis Road, Bailey

The Town of Nashville is looking at replacing parking signs in front of the courthouse in downtown.
Town Manager Randy Lansing brought a proposal before the Downtown Strong Advisory Board last Monday. Lansing said he wanted to replace the current signs with taller signs. Lansing said the current signs were past due for replacement.
"They are faded and dirty and we really need to replace them," he added.

Colonel Michael Oates, director of the N.C. License and Theft Bureau, has announced that Major Robert Sawyer has graduated as a member of the 286th session of the FBI National Academy. The graduation took place at the National Academy in Quantico, Virginia on June 8. Nationally, fewer than one percent of officers can attend the program.
Internationally known for its academic excellence, the National Academy offers 10 weeks of advanced communication, leadership, and fitness training.

Dr. Dan Crocker, a retired local physician and Chairman of NC Wesleyan's Board of Trustees, announced his plan earlier this year to hand over the reins to Vice Chairman Paul Bauer after serving in the capacity since 2018. Bauer began his tenure as Board Chair on June 1 with Dr. Crocker remaining an active board member.
Bauer is no stranger to Wesleyan, as his father Dr. Raymond "Moe" Bauer, served NC Wesleyan for over 33 years in a variety of roles such as Head Baseball Coach, Director of Athletics and professor of both education and physical education.

Homeless pets need adoptions or rescues. There is always more than we have photos for. PLEASE consider adding another family member. PLEASE considering fostering for a rescue so they have space to rescue. PLEASE put an ID tag on your dog as they do get out.
We were asked, why is everyone URGENT, RED LIGHT? Because the Nash Shelter was FULL, mostly strays.
Why aren't Rescues rescuing? Because they are FULL also, needing fosters to pull from Shelters, along with donations to help with care and vetting.

Years ago, I knew a man who became so convicted about what his family was watching on television that he put the set out in the street. When I asked him why, he told me it seemed to be just the right place for it. "I realized it belonged right next to the other trash I had set out to be picked up," he explained.
He was often the subject of a lot of jokes. Regretfully, when I was an unbeliever, I even laughed about it. However, one of my friends told me, "He's not as stupid as you think".

A cathedral was known for its beautiful organ. Its music filled the surrounding valley. People came from all around to hear its melodic sounds. One day, the music stopped. The organ broke, and no one was able to repair it. Then, as suddenly as it stopped, the organ filled the valley with music again. People descended upon the cathedral to hear. When the old man finished playing, they asked, "How did you fix the organ? He answered, "I made it."
What is broken in your life? Denying the problem won't help. Do-it-yourself efforts can't repair it.

Several children and chaperones from Red Oak Baptist Church are attending a missions camp at Camp Caraway this week. Please be in prayer for them and their safe return home on August 4.
Women in Action missions group will meet on Tuesday, August 8 at 6:30 pm at Red Oak Baptist Church.

After a summer of declining donations, the American Red Cross needs the public's help to prevent a blood shortage. When a donor makes and keeps an appointment to give blood or platelets in the weeks ahead, they can help ensure trauma patients, those undergoing cancer treatment, and people with lifelong blood disorders can get the blood they count on.
Right now, the Red Cross especially needs type O negative, type O positive and type B negative blood donors as well as platelet donors.

Natalie Messer, a Southern Nash High School graduate, will attend North Carolina Wesleyan University this fall. Contributed photo

North Carolina Wesleyan University has always been a leader in providing quality education to thousands of deserving students and this coming fall will be no exception.
A local student, Natalie Messer, and a legacy, Brayden Blue, are two academically gifted students who will join the incoming Class of 2027 this fall as they embark on their educational journey at NCWU.

Homenow.com LLC to JL Housing, LLC; 905 West Haven Boulevard, Rocky Mount; $60,000
Homenow.com LLC to JL Housing, LLC; 1112 Calvary Street, Rocky Mount; $40,000
Four Seasons Contractors, LLC to Andrew J. Richardson; Bradford Place, Lot 32; $302,500

BUILDING PERMIT
(COMMERCIAL)
Joshua Godwin; 9880 NC 33; addition; $17,000

It seems like I've been struggling lately trying to find the right words to express particular thoughts.
For example, I was trying to explain the level of annoyance someone had reached with me on a volunteer project and I'd overused some and the others, well, weren't suitable for the current audience at that time.
So, I figured I'd go back in time and bring back some words and phrases that were well-used but have since been largely forgotten.

There have been quite a few times over the course of my newspaper career I have found myself scratching my head in bewilderment wondering where an idea came from and how it got as far as it did with no public insight or input. The recent unheralded finding that Nash County is targeted as one of 4 locations for a casino in North Carolina has got to top all.
It's very interesting this comes after the last six months of announcements from Petersburg, Virginia which may become home to a $1.4 billion casino project.

This photo originally published in The Nashville Graphic on November 14, 1974. Nashville Business and Professional Women's Club member Brenda Edwards (left) presents a check for $200 to Interclub Council President Leona Cherry.