Xavien Harrison (left) and Bill Lumpp (right) were announced as winners of Nashville's two town council seats Tuesday night.

"I have no idea how it's going to go, but we'll always be friends and work hard together for our sweet town." Brenda Brown, incumbent Nashville Mayor and successfully re-elected Tuesday night, said this just prior to the polls closing at the Nash County Ag Center to the candidates still assembled outside: Mary Grace Daughtridge, Xavien Harrison, and Bill Lumpp as 7:30 p.m. approached. Incumbent Town Council member Louise Hinton, and former mayor Donald Street had already left, seemingly anticipating the results.

NASHVILLE - Former Nashville Human Resources Director Matt Joyner, terminated by the town in late October after a suspension with pay Sept. 27 for "non-disciplinary reasons" along with former Police Chief J.T. Winstead, has issued a public statement.
"Now that my appeal hearing is over, I can finally speak publicly about the events that have unfolded," Joyner's lengthy statement begins, adding that he chose not to resign because he felt that would be "an admission of guilt."

NASHVILLE - The Director of Nash County's Veterans Services is asking the public to participate in "Operation Green Light," a new multi-agency initiative to show support for veterans by displaying a green light in their windows or places of business in the week leading up to Nov. 11, Veterans Day.
Anthony Rogers brought a resolution before the Nash County Board of Commissioners Nov. 6, asking "let's not forget those who risked their lives for this country."

Jarrett Moss points to a plane on live display while while explaining operations to The Graphic. Graphic photo by Nancy West-Brake

ROCKY MOUNT - A Coopers volunteer fireman who has his wings as a private pilot and flight instructor has landed the position of Interim Director of the Rocky Mount-Wilson Airport.
Jarrett Moss started in his new job Nov. 1 after an appointment by the Airport Authority Board, comprised of members from Nash, Edgecombe and Wilson counties, along with representatives from the cities of Rocky Mount and Wilson.

ELM CITY - Phase two of development is underway for Nash County's Miracle Park at 3471 Joyner Road, Elm City, with construction having begun in the last week of October.
The $866,697 project, partly paid for by $425,000 in matching grant funds from the NC Parks and Recreation Trust Fund and the remainder by Nash County, has an estimated completion date in Spring of 2024, according to Nash County Parks and Recreation Director Thomas Gillespie.

NASHVILLE - The Nash County Department of Social Services, still without a permanent director, will be gaining six more positions, five of them new, thanks to an unexpected move from Nash County Commissioners.
Commissioners went into a lengthy executive session after their Nov. 6 board meeting, emerging after lunch to go back in session to approve a request from County Manager Stacie Shatzer to staff six DSS positions.

SPRING HOPE - A Spring Hope man accused of statutory rape has had his case referred to a Grand Jury.
Mario Ramos Orellana, 38, of 117 Northside Street, Spring Hope, was arrested Oct. 17 by Officer LaShawn Lucas of Spring Hope Police, according to court documents, and charged with three felonies stemming from an alleged incident Sept. 30.

NASHVLLE - The Nashville Police Department has been recognized at national and state levels for continued contributions to the Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR), the largest year-round public awareness and fundraising campaign for Special Olympics.
One of the police department F-150 patrol trucks is now emblazoned with a special wrap contributed by Custom Car Trims of Rocky Mount, and will be on display at a LETR event Nov. 18 in Charlotte.

The shutdown of a Bailey EMS station four times in October prompted a citizen's inquiry to the Nash County Board of Commissioners Monday.
Freddy Howell of Zebulon appeared during the public comment section of the Nov. 6 Board meeting, saying that he needed to bring "the severity of the first responder" situation before commissioners.

Tobacco Auctioneer David Griffin (second from front-left) walks the aisles of tobacco along with buyers last Wednesday at the American Tobacco Exchange in Wilson.

Issues between two top Nash County officials, Sheriff Keith Stone and County Manager Stacie Shatzer remain unresolved, with the two continuing to defend their respective positions before the Nash County Board of Commissioners Nov. 6.
Stone addressed Commissioners during the public comment section of the board meeting, stating that he had put in a request to be included on the regular agenda last week but the request had not been granted.

The driver of an an Acura TL pulled over for speeding on I 95 South Nov. 3 ended up with getting busted for carrying more than 26 pounds of cocaine, with a street value of $1.2 million, thanks partly to Nash County K9 Keiser.
A news release issued from the Nash County Sheriff's Office Nov. 4 said Alejando Amador, whose address was not given, was taken into custody and charged with two counts of trafficking cocaine, felony possession of cocaine, and maintaining a vehicle to transport a controlled substance.

The 18-year-old Middlesex teenager sought by police after a multiple shooting incident last Sunday at the Wilson Fairgrounds is in custody at the Wilson County Jail and being held under no bond.
Braulio Fuentes-Martinez, a student at Southern Nash High School, was charged with four counts of attempted first-degree murder, four counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury and one count of possession of a stolen firearm, according to a news release from the Wilson Police Department.

Communicating a threat of mass violence on educational property reported at 10896 Christian Rd., Wilson on 10/28/23
Assault with deadly weapon with inflicting serious injury reported at 11663 Claude Lewis Rd., Middlesex on 10/25/23
Child abuse-misdemeanor reported at 116 N Englewood Dr., Rocky Mount on 10/23/23

Incident report
Carrying concealed weapon; possession with intent to sell/deliver marijuana; maintain vehicle/dwelling/place controlled felony; possession schedule VI controlled substance-felony; driving while license revoked not impaired reported at mile marker 460 US 64 W on 10/24/23
Larceny by employee reported at 1205 Eastern Ave. on 10/25/23

"When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have ordained, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you visit him?" (Psalm 8:3-4)
In a sermon, my pastor talked about God's interest in having fellowship with us. When he made those comments, I thought to myself: Was God lonely when he created us?

As I study the Bible, I notice one recurring theme: the people are meant to bring to the Lord what is first and what is best. They may be tempted to wait until their barns are full before offering their sacrifice, God demands the firstfruits. Where they may be tempted to sacrifice the animals that are lame or unsightly and that can otherwise serve no good purpose, God demands what is perfect and unblemished. He makes clear that if his people are to worship him, they must worship him in ways that prove he is their first priority.

There was great weather on Sunday, Oct. 29 for the Community Trunk or Treat sponsored by Red Oak Baptist Church at Ennis Park. Many super heroes, princesses, policemen, and other characters showed up for the festivities and enjoyed lots of candy!
Don't forget to pack your Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes! Red Oak Baptist Church is collecting their shoe boxes until Sunday, November 12. Their goal is 400 boxes.

Ola Mae B. Bobbitt to Carlyle C. Hall Jr. and Jodie G. Hall; 5.591 acres of NC Highway 58 S; $51,500
Pop Homes - RDU, LLC to Abby Hall Boykin; 3846 Baker Pond Trail, Nashville; $300,000
Fortner Properties, LLC to Larry Ronald Revis Jr. and Mandy Revis; Whitley Crossing Subdivision, Phase 2, Lot 9

Building Permit Commercial
Allen Industries, Inc.; 3220 E. Old Spring Hope Rd.; sign; $18,000
Allen Industries, Inc.; 3220 E. Old Spring Hope Rd.; sign; $18,000

Line dance classes will be held Wednesdays 2-3 p.m. at Town of Nashville Parks & Recreation Department, 108 S. Boddie Street, Nashville. Learn to line dance to popular songs in this beginner-friendly class. Four week class session, $10. Nashville town residents, $15. Nonresidents. For more information call the Town of Nashville Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources Department at 252-459-9796.

For our wedding anniversary last month, my wife gave me a pair of Air Jordan sneakers I'd been eyeballing on the internet for some time.
I might have dropped a hint or two. I mentioned I'd be wearing them as my dress shoes, leaving the Nike page up on my computer screen when I left the room and mentioning an ongoing sale.
When my original Air Jordan Carolina Blue high tops dry rotted, I tossed them out. They were about 30 years old.

Congratulations to all of the newly elected Nashville town officials as per the results from Tuesday's election results.
Nashville's Mayor Brenda Brown will continue her role as mayor along with two new town council members, Xavien Harrison and Bill Lumpp.
New leadership typically offers hope to those who were dissatisfied with existing leaders or those who want to see a different direction of government.
Fresh ideas and insights on existing and new town issues can indeed offer productive steps towards new solutions.

This photo originally published in The Graphic on November 15, 1983. Southern Nash High School athletes were honored at a fall awards banquet at the school.

The Nash County Farmers' Market is hosting its 5th Annual Sweet Potato Harvest Jubilee and BBQ Competition Saturday, Nov. 11, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Farmers Market on 1006 Peachtree Street, Rocky Mount.
A contest for the largest sweet potato will be sponsored by Nash Produce, with a first place prize of $500, will be accompanied by a People's Choice Sweet Potato recipe contest sponsored by the Farmers' Market and the NC Sweet Potato Commission.

They all but broke down the barn door! A first-time offering of a Barn Quilt Class offered by Nashville Parks and Rec was quickly sold out and a second class session scheduled. The 10-participant minimum was expanded to 12 and two classes were held at the Parks and Rec building Oct. 13 and Oct. 14.
Nashville town residents paid $75 while non-residents paid $95 for the paint classes, which included paint and MDO sign board, in addition to instruction by Carol Mitchell of Taylorsville.

Jennifer Holmes of Spring Hope, left, admires a painting with Cindy and Patrick Amerson of Rocky Mount.

The largest public exhibition of Bob Ross paintings ever shown in North Carolina is available to see now at the Dunn Center, located on the campus of North Carolina Wesleyan University at 3400 N. Wesleyan Blvd., Rocky Mount.
Started Nov. 2, the exhibition showcases 76 oil paintings and will be open until Jan. 4, with viewing hours from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. daily. The cost for admission is $15, with children under 5 free. Special rates for school groups are available and school visits can still be scheduled.