LORD

New hires for two key positions in Nash County government - an Assistant County Manager and Deputy Health Director - start their jobs this month.
Tia Foula, Assistant County Manager and Opioid Settlement Manager, was introduced to the Nash County Board of Commissioners Dec. 4, as was Elizabeth Lord, who will be the new Deputy Health Director.

Former Nashville Town Council member Louise Hinton faces a January court date to answer misdemeanor charges regarding violating privacy of employee personnel records, specifically those of former Police Chief J.T. Winstead. She was a member of the council at the time of the alleged actions.
Nash County court records state that Hinton's alleged offense occurred at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 26, the night before Winstead and Human Resource Director Matt Joyner received "non-disciplinary" suspensions while an internal investigation was in process.

ARE YOU THE REAL SANTA? - Santa Claus made his debut in Nashville Saturday after Nashville's Christmas Celebration and Children's Bike Parade. Santa arrived on Nashville Fire Department's ladder truck and met with children at the Nashville Exchange. This young lady made sure she was giving her list to the real Santa as she tugs at his beard.

Layla Wright assists Nashville Mayor Brenda Brown with lighting the town's Christmas tree Saturday evening.

It's filing time for 2024 candidates seeking positions as County Commissioners, County Register of Deeds, N.C. State Senators and N.C. State House.
The filing period at the Nash County Board of Elections began Monday, Dec. 4 and ends Friday, Dec. 15 at 12 p.m. for the Partisan Primary election March 5.
County Commissioners serve four-year terms. Terms are expiring for seats representing Districts 1, 3 and 4.

Nashville citizens have a new gift to celebrate this December: a grant agreement with the state to add a splash park, pickleball courts and a picnic shelter with restrooms at Glover Park.
Parks and Rec Director Koy Worrell shared the news at the Dec 5 Nashville Town Council meeting, relaying that the grant was awarded Oct. 3 and the town notified Nov. 16.

What will be the future of the two oldest schools in Nash County, Swift Creek Elementary and Cedar Grove Elementary? Possibly to be auctioned to the highest bidder, if Nash County doesn't want them.
The idea of selling the now-vacant properties came up, Nov. 27 at the Nash County Public Schools Administrative Services & Operations Committee meeting and was approved at the Dec. 4 Board meeting.

A new Townhouse development near Joyner's Crossroads off E NC Highway 97 has been green-lighted by the Nash County Board of Commissioners, who approved a conditional rezoning request by Red Oak Farms Development.
The 35-acre property, immediately adjacent to the Dollar Tree retail store at 10735 E NC Highway 97, was approved to contain 108 owner-occupied townhouses under the name "The Townes at Joyner's Crossing Subdivision," with lots 20' by 50'.

Nash County Health Director, Bill Hill, is urging Nash County residents to come in for Covid booster shots, particularly if people are elderly or suffer from chronic illnesses.
"The virus has mutated some, and protection - whether from natural immunity from having caught Covid or from a booster- wanes somewhat over time," Hill said, citing CDC figures that 84% of Americans are currently not covered under the latest vaccine.

A second public meeting regarding the Transfer process for "legacy" students in Nash County Public Schools is scheduled Dec. 11 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Rocky Mount High School.
Legacy students are high school students who live in Edgecombe County but are currently enrolled in NCPS High Schools.

Assault with a deadly weapon reported at 11196 S NC 581, Bailey on 12/2/23
Larceny after breaking and entering; damage to real property; motor vehicle theft-recreational vehicle reported at 11362 NC 48, Whitakers
Missing persons located 11492 US 64A, Spring Hope

Nash County may be changing - or eliminating - funding to non-profit organizations after a presentation Monday by County Manager Stacie Shatzer, who brought the Board of Commissioners three options to consider: discontinuation for all non-profits altogether, to set a set amount of funding annually for non-profits and to make decisions to fund or not to fund based on a set budget, or to have another organization manage Nash County's distribution of funds to non-profits.

Missing loved ones over the holidays is always hard, but a special, blue-lit Christmas tree outside the Sharpsburg Police Department this year is bringing comfort to families who have lost men and women in blue.
The NC Fallen Law Enforcement Memorial Tree, in its 10th year, stands tall with over 600 photo tags of every officer lost in the state of North Carolina since 1887.

Cattle farmers looking to use their bulls for the upcoming breeding season can sign up now at the Nash and Edgecombe Cooperative Extension offices for a time slot for Bull Soundness Exam Day, scheduled Dec. 18 at the Livestock Arena, 1175 Kingsboro Road, Rocky Mount.
The cost will be $55 per bull, with examinations performed by Dr. Cole Younger of Full Circle Mobile Veterinary Services, Nashville. The exam is estimated at fifteen minutes per bull.

The time came and I retired from NCAF (Nash County Animal Friends of NC). I have been very active in animal advocacy since 2010, over 13 years ago when I was 62 years young. Time flies but I am so proud of our record, helping save thousands of homeless pets. At the time I had no idea of the work involved, but it has been worthwhile. I got involved thanks to the editor of The Nashville Graphic, who is very supportive of our cause.

NINTH GRADE - A HONOR ROLL
Johnathon Adams, Tamjid Anwar, Alyssa Aycock, Toby Bailey, Samahra Barns, Jaxon Bracey, Adam Braswell, Nataleigh Cale, Zayvion Caudle, Corrie Cox, Messiah Daniels, Alaina Davis, America Dennis, Dallas Denson, Alexis DeStefano, Madison Dixon, Joelle Drake, Esther Edgerton, Brayden English, Karissa Franqui, Jazlynn Gabriel-Bohol, Arabella George, Taylor Hardy, Zharia Harvey, Lara Hazin, Malik Hilliard, Gray Jenkins, Piper Jones, Ava Knightlinger, Jacari Lee, Ajanay Lewis

SIXTH GRADE - A HONOR ROLL
Justin Apolonio-Carrillo, Jahkira Battle, Carson Bissette, Roger Chappell, Charlie Creech, Kendall Draughn, Jonah Glover, Jaliyah Hill, Lohla Holzworth, Kennadie Jenkins, Aidan Jones, Emma Matthews, Cameron May, Lynden Meiring, Blair Michelotti, Chanel Nunnally, Zawadi Ogwade, Megan Renck, Finlee Reynolds, Camden Richardson, Cornelia Ruffin, Savannah Stephens, Ma'Kynzie Taylor, Cori Terry, Layla Terry, Ayden Ward, Avalynn Washington and Deunte Willams

THIRD GRADE - A HONOR ROLL
Jasmine Abukhait, Mackenzie Benson, Mila Dean, Berkeley English, Jackson Ennis, Keagan Lynch, Caroline May, Tamiyas Pearce, Savanna Robinson, Benjamin Taylor, Austin Warholic and Zachary Winfield

All around the world, children are flocking to malls and shopping centers to sit on Santa's lap and tell him what they want for Christmas.
The truth is the real story of Santa Claus has gotten lost in the commercialization of Christmas. It's due largely to the genius retailers who want to be sure that moms and dads didn't forget them at Christmas.

Some Christians are fanatical about biblical prophecy. They have an unhealthy fixation with the future, end-times, and Second Coming. It is easy to mock the caricature of the person who goes overboard about prophecy. But those who fit that category are few and far between.
There are many more Christians who ignore the subject altogether. They have their heads in the sand, unable or unwilling to look up. The neglect of biblical prophecy is as bad as the abuse of it, maybe worse.

Christmas Family Day will be Sunday, Dec. 10 at Red Oak Baptist Church during the morning worship at 11 a.m. in the Family Life Center. Festivities will include the Preschool children's play, elementary children singing, and individuals and groups sharing their talents.
Everyone's invited to come and meet Kathy Gould, missionary to Ukraine on Wednesday, Dec. 13 at 6:30 pm - 7:45 pm in the Family Life Center of Red Oak Baptist Church! This is for ALL ages.

NINTH GRADE - A HONOR ROLL
Amiaya Barnes, Nicole Barrios, Aliyah Bazzar, Akia Bell, Garrett Bledsoe, Sayyam Chaudhry, Amani Drewery, John Espinosa, Rafael Gomez-Angeles, Amir Hedgepeth, Desiree Horne, Jeremiah Horton, Piero Icaza, Phuoc Khau, Amara Langford, Jennifer Lopez, Tristan Lucas, Ayaan Lynch, Ma'Kayla Lynch, Matthew Marshall, Ashlyn Martinez, Juanfernan Mendez-Maldonado, Fatma Nasser, Mariam Nasser, Connor Pippen, Eden Reges, Lyrik Schafer, Leah Scott

THIRD GRADE - A HONOR ROLL
Maggie Butler, Mialejandra Romero Hernandez, Oscar Salas-Vazquez, Ivy Sparks and Eden White

THIRD GRADE - A HONOR ROLL
Brendon Bradley, Justin Cooper Jr., Allie Craft, Ian Espinoza-Alcazar, Alanah Fields, Lindyn Hartsfield, Mel'Kenadi McDuffie, Owen Murray and Greyson Turner

THIRD GRADE - A HONOR ROLL
Yamileth Avilez Martinez, Micah Grooms, Karisma Radilla, Damian Rangel-Sanchez and Zachary Tant

THIRD GRADE - A HONOR ROLL
Caitlyn-Easterling Muenyi

James Michael Hocutt Judy Hocutt and Judy H. Hocutt to Robert Lee Hocutt; Lonnie David Farm, Lot 6; $12,500
William T. Freeman and Judy T. Freeman to Michael A. Barnes and Brittany F. Barnes; 38.25 acres; $123,000
Alberta V. Burns and Alberta Virginia Burns to Research Ready, LLC; 1772 Bullhead Road, Bailey; $5,000

Building Permit Commercial
Dexter Webb, 3967 W. Hornes Church Rd; renovation/alteration; $3,000
Jeremy Barnes, 8865 Middlesex Corporate Pkwy; new construction; $6,000,000

There's an old joke that goes like this:
"I feel like the United Nations. I say I'm doing work, but I'm not."
I thought about this last week when I saw that this corrupt international organization that no one takes seriously announced they have a new report coming out.
This report, of course, blames the United States for yet another problem. We eat too much meat over here and therefore, we are destroying the earth.

Hats off again to Nashville's Parks and Recreation folks for chasing a grant to make a very longtime dream come true for the town.
I've been on board here at The Graphic since 1991 and can recall the topic of a splash park coming up in town meetings numerous times over the 32 years. If my memory serves me right, one of the biggest champions for such an idea was former council member Tommy Rogers who has since passed away.
Tommy was a huge advocate for recreation, mostly athletics. He also carried a vision for Nashville to offer more to its youth than just a ball field.

This photo was originally published December 20, 1983 in The Nashville Graphic. Nash Central Junior High Future Farmers of American students were winners in contests sponsored by the Nash-Edgecombe Federation at Northern Nash.