Just days after receiving additional county money to pay for support from onsite consultants, the troubled Nash County Department of Social Services has been taken over by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.
A news release issued Monday afternoon by NCDHH said that the state would "temporarily assume leadership of child welfare services at Nash County DSS, as authorized under state law."

SHATZER

Despite a request from the Sheriff for additional funding to address a Deputy shortage, a report issued by County Manager Stacie Shatzer recommends no pay increases for the Nash County Sheriff's Office.
The report as presented was for informational purposes only, and therefore no Board action was required.

A flag is dedicated in memory of Benjamin Richardson.

Starting with the National Anthem, and ending with "God Bless America," the fourth annual Field of Honor ceremony Monday evening at 1114 S. First Street included tributes to those who died in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and to those who had died in service to country, but also to military, nurses, doctors and first responders who put their lives on the line as heroes every day.

After nearly a decade of being labelled as "low performance," the Nash County School District has shucked off that designation after the latest round of DPI testing.
School system leaders held a celebratory news conference Sept. 6 to share the results. A total of 25 schools within the district either exceeded or met overall expectations, representing a "substantial shift from the district's previous classification," according to a news release. The assessment is based on a combination of growth and performance scores.

Vehicles are now prohibited from parking in the front and side yards of homes in the town of Nashville.
Nashville's Town Council approved an ordinance on Tuesday night that prohibits vehicles from parking in the front and side yards of lots used for residential purposes. On-street parking beyond the hard surface of the street is also prohibited.

A draft template for the demerger of the Nash and Edgecombe County Schools has been completed and will be sent to the Department of Public Instruction, according to Nash County Schools Superintendent Dr. Steve Ellis. Information from the draft is to be presented at a public demerger meeting from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Fairview Elementary School Sept. 19.

A Castalia man has been arrested in Wake County on felony charges relating to the sexual assault of a child and is currently confined to the Wake County Jail under a secure bond of $1,510,000.
Shaquine Raqwuan Williams, 26, of 67 Walter Collins Road, was arrested just after midnight and taken into custody Sept. 10 at 103 N. White Street, Wake Forest, by officers with the Wake Forest Police Department.

Assault on female reported at 100 N. Boddie Street on 9/6/23
DWI reported at 11185 E. Finch Ave., Middlesex on 9/9/23
Assault-simple reported at 2063 Red Oak Rd. on 9/4/23

The immortal words of John the Baptist, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand", had a great deal to do with my own salvation.
While sitting on the back porch of a friend's house late one evening in 1991, I heard those words just a few days before I was saved. There was a grove of trees out behind his home. The voice seemed to come directly over top of them. Where could it be coming from?

Because evangelism never just becomes easy (for most), this means that the reason why we evangelize must be based on something other than our feelings and our preferences.
We, as followers of Christ, are commanded to go and make disciples. This is not an optional endeavor for a set apart group of Christians. Rather, this call is for every person who claims to be a follower of Christ.

Congratulations to Todd and Bonnie Winstead! Todd was ordained as a Deacon at Red Oak Baptist Church on Sunday, September 10!
The Baptist Men's breakfast will be Sunday, September 17 at 8:30 am.
The North Carolina Missions Offering is being collected during the month of September. Several ministries funded by this offering include disaster relief, mission camps, medical/dental, and national/international partnerships. The goal at Red Oak Baptist Church is $1200.

Peacemakers will host its Picnic for Peacemakers fundraiser at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 5 at Englewood Baptist Church.
"We really look forward to this event every year," Peacemakers Executive Director Jesse Lewis said. "It's a time when we can get together with friends and supporters to celebrate all that God has done in our community over the last year, and get energized about what is coming next."

Ace Needham, LLC to LGI Homes - NC, LLC; Whitley Crossing Subdivision, Phase 2, Lots 26, 29, 30, 33, 34, 35; $384,000
Linwood Richardson, Tempsie Davis Richardson and Tempsie Richardson to Lintemp Enterprises, LLC; Lots 23 and 24, Block D
Linwood Richardson and Tempsie Richardson to Richardson Revocable Trust, Linwood Richardson and Tempsie D. Richardson; Eason on the Tar, Block B, Lots 8-9

Building Permit Commercial
Sharon Greer, 341 Corbett Rd.; renovation/alteration; $40,676
Nick Kraft, 9377 N US 301; new construction; $750,000

A certificate of appreciation was presented to JHA Risk Management for loyalty and patriotism to our country as exemplified by publicly and proudly displaying the flag of he United States of America.

PROCTOR

Retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel James Mercer will serve as the Chair for the Nash Community College Board of Trustees for the 2023-2024 Academic Year. Along with Mercer assuming new duties and responsibilities, fellow trustee Russell Proctor III will serve as the Vice-Chair for the Board.
Mercer has been involved with NCC for the past 30 years. He has been serving on the NCC Board of Trustees for the past six years.

Rear Admiral Mike C. Manazir, a retired United States Navy Two-Star Admiral and Top Gun Fighter Pilot, will return to NC Wesleyan University (NCWU) on Thursday, September 21 from 7-9 p.m. for an event co-hosted by NCWU and the Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce. This free event will be held in Minges Auditorium at The Dunn Center on NC Wesleyan's campus. Manazir will address the crowd on the topic of leadership and discuss his new book Learn How to Lead to Win.

Earlier this summer, I was excited as anyone for the release of the new and final chapter of the Indiana Jones movies series, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.
I planned to see it with the whole family. We even prepped a little on our Florida trip in January when we saw the Indiana Jones stunt show at Hollywood Studios. It was one of my favorite parts of the trip.
Opening weekend didn't work out and then the next weekend I couldn't get everyone together.

Nash County has been in the state news quite a bit lately due to the proposed casino and now due to the NC Department of Health and Human Services stepping in taking charge of our local Department of Social Services.
We've all probably heard stories of the downfalls and inadequacies when seeking help from Nash County Social Services.
I've heard stories from local law enforcement when raiding drug houses to find children who have not been cared for.

This photo was originally published in The Nashville Graphic on June 23, 1983. Eleven Burlington Industries employees received their high school diplomas through the Nash Technical College GED (General Educational Development) program.

T.R. Wollett, III of Red Oak, guns a 1969 International 544 prior to the tractor parade.

Dr. Carolyn Hunt Matthews won the framed print of the Red Oak Elementary School which was torn down during the construction of the new elementary school.

Acclaimed pianist Solomon Eichner will perform a tribute to composer Sergei Rachmaninoff at Cherry Hill on Sunday, September 17th. In celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Russian born pianist and composer, Eichner will play a number of Rachmaninoff's works, including several of the well-known preludes. Also on the program will be works of other lauded composers such as Brahms, Liszt, Chopin, Schumann, and Gershwin.