NASHVILLE - Transportation problems of not enough school bus drivers and an aging bus fleet are easing somewhat, thanks to new hires and the promise of new buses for Nash County Public Schools.
Director of Transportation Michael Baier told school board members at the Nov. 27 Student Support Services & Operations Committee meeting that five drivers were hired this month who have CDL licenses, along with one mechanic who has a CDL permit and one bus monitor.

NASHVILLE - A Spring Hope man arrested and indicted for the murder of his mother is due in Nash County Superior Court Dec. 12.
Joshua Frazier, 36, currently in the Nash County Correctional Center with no bond, was indicted on the charge of first-degree murder on Dec. 6, 2021, for the May 12, 2021 homicide of Mildred Frazier at 308 N. Walnut Street, Spring Hope.

Red Oak held its annual Christmas Festival on Saturday, Nov. 25th featuring a parade, children's activities, live music and of course, Santa Claus! Pictured above, Northern Nash High School Marching Band performs during the parade.

NASHVILLE - A Rocky Mount mother charged with second-degree murder for the 2020 death of her child is due back in Nash County Court Dec. 12.
Vonquetta Nitrice Hilliard, 28, is accused in the case of her son, 2-year-old Chase Hilliard, who reportedly died from traumatic head injuries inflicted July 31, 2020.
The arrest record from Rocky Mount police officer Joshua Talley said that Hilliard "did allow or cause physical harm to Chase Hilliard which lead to his death."

NASHVILLE - Nash Arts Center is presenting its 22nd Annual production of a "A Christmas Carol" during the first two weekends in December, with a fresh, comedic interpretation of the classic story.
Scheduled Friday and Saturday Dec. 1st, 2nd, 8th, and 9th, house doors will open at 7 p.m. with the performances beginning at 7:30 p.m.

SPRING HOPE - A Spring Hope man who won a place in the Nov. 5 running of the NYC Marathon - and had never run a marathon before - crossed its finish line and is now planning more races closer to home.
Alton Davis, 24, an Electrical Assembler at Ossid in Battleboro, said he had never run competitively before taking up running about a year ago, but decided to add the activity for its cardio benefits and "to lose a few pounds."

Downtown Nashville
December 2nd
Free children's activities 2-4:30 p.m.
Children's Bike Parade - 4:30 p..m.

NASHVILLE - Three agencies combined this month in a battle to reduce an invasive plant species at Stoney Creek Park.
Spearheaded by the North Carolina Wildlife and Outdoor Recreation Foundation (NCWORF) from Red Oak, and assisted by Nashville Parks and Recreation and Biology students from Nash Community College, volunteers descended on Chinese Privet, an invasive shrub native to China, Taiwan and Vietnam, with the intent of pulling it out in favor of planting $1,000 worth of native species plants donated by NCWORF.

The results of a Nov. workshop designed to solicit public input on the future of Spring Hope are expected next week, with an report forthcoming from the NC Department of Commerce.
A meeting for stakeholders is planned Dec. 7 from 10 a.m. to Noon at the Spring Hope Town Hall meeting room, said Bruce Naegelen from the Main Street & Rural Planning Center, a division of the NC Department of Commerce.

INCIDENTS
Possession of drug paraphernalia; felony; possession of marijuana reported at mile marker 461 US 64 E, Nashville on 11/19/23
Possession of drug paraphernalia (not marijuana); possession methamphetamine at 408 E. Green St., Nashville on 11/19/23
Possession cocaine at 479 W. Washington St., Nashville on 11/22/23

Possession controlled substance on jail premises reported at 100 N. Boddie St., Nashville on 11/12/23
Call for service at 1234 Red Oak Rd., Nashville on 11/16/23
Assault on female reported at 199 N. Browntown Rd., Nashville on 11/17/23
Identity fraud reported at 3270 S. NC 231, Middlesex on 11/17/23

Nash County Health Department is hosting a community health fair in observance of World AIDS day on Friday, Dec. 1 from 12 noon - 4 p.m. at Braswell Memorial Library, 727 N. Grace St Rocky Mount.
According to a press release from Nash County Health Department, "World AIDs day is an annual event that serves as a reminder of the global struggle to end HIV-related stigma, an opportunity to honor those we have lost and a rallying cry to continue working toward a day when HIV is no longer a public health threat."

Final election results are in, with write-in candidates for the towns of Bailey and Whitakers making their numbers known as of a Nov. 17 upload.
Full results are listed through a link on the Nash County Board of Elections page, where views have the option to use a drop-down menu to see vote counts by county.
Additionally, there is a "cross-county local" option available, which applied to Whitakers.

There's a question that comes up every year about this time: Is it Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays?
Here is a statement I read this week:
"The 'Happy Holidays' or 'Merry Christmas' debate exists because the period from late November until early January is lumped together as 'the holiday season'.

The Advent Season
We are a people of promise. For centuries God prepared people for the coming of his Son, our only hope for life. At Christmas we celebrate the fulfillment of the promises God made--that he would make a way to draw near to him.
Advent is what we call the season leading up to Christmas. It begins four Sundays before December 25, sometimes in the last weekend of November, sometimes on the first Sunday in December.

Thanks to all who participated in Operation Christmas Child at Red Oak Baptist Church! They were able to send shoeboxes for more than 300 children! That's 300 children and their families who will be reached with the Gospel.
Women in Action of Red Oak Baptist Church met at the church on Tuesday, Nov. 14. The group adopted a family for Christmas from My Sister's House. Their next meeting will be Tuesday, Dec. 5 at 6:30 pm.

H&H Constructors of Fayetteville, LLC to Eugene Burton Young and Marion Suzanne Young; Walnut Cove, Phase 2, Lot 32; $325,000
Nash Horizon, LLC to POP Homes-RDU, LLC; Baker Farm, Lots 3, 30, 33, 53 and 54; $200,000
Rocky Mount Rentals, LLC to Elmir Mehuljic; property along Henry Street
Carlos A Cusnier, Joema Cusnier and Maritza Zavala to Taylor Adair; 327 Second Street, Spring Hope; $270,000

Building Permit Commercial
Kevin Barnhill, 4000 E. Old Spring Rd.; renovation/alteration; $45,000
Nathan Brabham, 7955 W. Mount Dr.; repair; $69,890
John Bulluck; 10762 Liles Rd; new construction; $11,000

November 13-November 18, 2023
North Carolina's egg prices were higher on all sizes when compared to last week. Supplies are tight to meet a very good demand. The North Carolina weighted average price quoted Thursday, November 16, for small lot sales of delivered, cartoned, grade "A" eggs was 252.33 for Extra Large, 245.40 for Large, 228.53 for Medium, and 137.00 for Small eggs. No. 2 yellow shelled corn has no price comparison when compared to last week.

A few weeks ago, I ranted in this space about how I'd been accused of being grumpy since I was unable to get one of my key medications that is involved in a nationwide shortage.
I asked here if we were now living in Russia.
This is, after all, America, a place where most of my life nothing has been in short supply -- if one had resources, anything could be had at any time.

The Graphic was delivered into over three times as many homes last week as we continued our Thanksgiving tradition of a total market coverage for that edition. Typically my part is done once the paper goes to press, but not this year.
We have been short staffed in the mailroom since August which prompted for some temporary changes to manage the weekly mailing. However, the changes didn't make up for the need for people to process the mailing.

This photo originally published in The Nashville Graphic on Dec. 27, 1983. Shoppers pour into the Record Bar at Tarrytown Mall to take advantage of post-Christmas sales.

Santa's Workshop will be open at the Nash County Ag Center in Nashvlle from 2-5 p.m. on Dec. 21. Ages 5-11 are welcome to attend, admission is $15 per child. Pictures with Santa and his bunny helpers, holiday baking, crafts and more. To register visit nash.ces.ncsu.edu and click on Santa's Workshop.

For more information call 252-459-9810.