ROCKY MOUNT - The seventh annual Vitale Christmas Light Show, located at 7952 Bridgeview Road, Rocky Mount, is up and sparkling, with thousands of lights jumping to synchronized Christmas music and lighted displays ranging from blow-molds to hanging globes to inflatables.
The Light Show will run through New Year's Day from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. every night except for windy or rainy weather. Any night to be cancelled will be listed on the event's Facebook page, "Vitale Christmas Light Show."

RED OAK - Former Red Oak Fire Chief Bob Brown thought he was just going to the company Christmas party Dec. 2, but the approximately 110 people there knew better: Brown was going to be awarded the prestigious award, Order of the Long Leaf Pine, as well as receive a 50-year pin from the North Carolina Firefighters' Association.
Red Oak Chief Andrew Brown, who is Bob Brown's nephew, said the "original" Brown served as Chief from 1985-2006, leaving to take the job as president of the Fire Department's Board of Directors from 2006-2015, before taking the Chief's seat again from 2015-2022.

NASHVILLE - In an attempt to find and recruit new officers, the Nashville Police Department is beginning an ongoing "Officer-in-Training" program, with promising individuals contract-hired before graduating Basic Law Enforcement Training. The contract would stipulate that recruits work for the Town of Nashville for at least three years.
The NPD is currently short five officers, and Deputy Police Chief Boykin , receiving approval Dec. 5 for the program, said that he would ideally like to hire two recruits.

NASHVILLE - Two speakers, one petition and twenty-one signatures were all focused on one problem in the town of Nashville: speeding, and its threat to public safety on side streets downtown, particularly in the area of E. Church and Alston Streets.
James Baker of 103 E. Green Street said there had been three traffic accidents within the last week, with one vehicle and a school crosswalk sign "ending up all the way in my yard."

Nashville's Fire Department carried Santa Claus to visit kids at Harold D. Cooley Library in Nashville. Pictured, Santa listens to Lawson Ferrell, right, as Lawson gives his list.

CASTALIA - The Town of Castalia is once again up to full speed with a fully-staffed town board, and is gathering momentum to launch a Community Development Advisory Board to work with the state. Town officials will, however, be looking to fill the town clerk position as current Clerk Susie Haughwout will be retiring.
Commissioner Lynn Hale, newly elected to fill a previously vacant seat on the board, was sworn into office at the Dec. 5 meeting as Mayor Pro Tem. Also sworn in was re-elected Commissioner Sylvia Manning.

NASHVILLE - Many in Nash County are mourning the loss of one of their own, Wilmer A. "Sonny" Brantley of Nashville, who passed away Dec. 9 at the age of 94 after a brief illness.
Brantley, who was elected to both the Nash County (2008) and North Carolina 4-H Hall of Fame (2013), supported local farm youth for more than 35 years, particularly with raising funds for the Eastern Carolina Meat Animal Show and Sale.

NASHVILLE - A man described as "a true Nashville icon" has passed, leaving physical reminders of his legacy - houses and apartments that he built - in multiple Nash County spots.
Macon Ray Robertson, who had the honor of escorting President Harry Truman through Nashville's Harvest Festival in 1960, passed Dec. 11 at the age of 87.
Robertson, originally from Halifax County, came to Nashville in the 1950's, according to Jody's of Nashville owner Jill Boone, who met Robertson while she was working summers while still in college.

The Nashville Farmer's Market is opening for a holiday-themed "Merry Market" Friday, Dec. 15, from 3 to 6 p.m., at the market on 723 S. Barnes Street.
Rhonda Mitchell, Assistant Director, said that approximately 22 vendors, including a food truck, will be in attendance. Live music by Chandler James will be provided, as will a bouncy house and free craft activities for children.

Reports of a shooter at Nashville's Wal-Mart Monday were unsubstantiated, according to Nashville Police. Deputy Chief David Boykin said that an unknown person, using a hand-held radio of the type used by Wal-Mart employees, issued a threat that "they were going to shoot the place up." A Wal-Mart employee then called 911 and a call went out to law enforcement in regard to Communicating Threats.

A 22-year-old Rocky Mount man is behind bars with no bond after his arrest on multiple charges one day after an Armed Robbery Dec. 7 at the Circle K in Dortches.
Kaleb Joseph Coppage of 4485 Millbrook Way, Rocky Mount, was charged with Robbery With a Dangerous Weapon, Possession of a Firearm by a Felon, Possession of Stolen Vehicle and Possession of Stolen Firearm, according to a Dec. 8 news release from the Nash County Sheriff's Office.

Damage to real property reported at 10582 Jack Rd., Bailey on 12/4/23
Misdemeanor larceny reported at 10748 Bissette Rd., Middlesex on 12/6/23
Damage to real property reported at 11239 Davis Worrell Rd., Bailey on 12/3/23

Gov. Cooper has appointed Elizabeth Scott of Rocky Mount as a member at-large to serve on the Edenton Historical Commission.
Scott is a real estate broker and has served in various preservation roles in the past including a preservation planner for the City of Rocky Mount, a member of the Rocky Mount Historic Commission, and the president of Preservation Rocky Mount.

The Town of Nashville is about to increase its conservation land holdings along the Stoney Creek Corridor by an additional 48.12 acres, bringing the total to over 125 acres. The newest acquisition, primarily wetlands, will connect Stoney Creek Park to another town-owned parcel, making about 100 consecutive acres, including a pond.

One of Nashville PD's finest has been recognized by town officials for completing a program of study at North Carolina State University.
Lt. Damon Brantley was one of 25 law enforcement officers from around the state to recently complete the 97th Administrative Officers Management Program (AOMP), consisting of 12 weeks of five Graduate level courses.

Cliff Joyner, left, takes a break to have lunch with former NC Attorney General and Secretary of State Rufus Edmisten, center, and radio broadcaster Mike Raley of the Curtis Media Group, right who dropped by Nashville recently.

New Town Councilman Bill Lumpp, with wife Melissa holding the Bible, recites his oath of office before the Honorable Timothy Wilson, Nash County Superior Court Judge. Lumpp's family stands behind him during the oath. From left to right, his mother-in-law Thalia Smith, granddaughter Ava Stone, son Christopher Lumpp, granddaughter Olivia Stone, and daughter Sarah Stone, holding James Stone.

Nashville Town Councilman Larry Taylor, with wife Netha Taylor holding the Bible, takes his oath of office as Mayor Pro Tem before the Honorable Timothy Wilson, Nash County Superior Court Judge.

A marker displayed at the Nash County Rest Area on I-95 north of Dortches has been updated with the names of three Nash County DOT workers whose 1975 deaths had been overlooked- but not anymore.
A DOT presentation ceremony held Dec. 5 at the rest stop, showcased the adding of three names: Mack T. Batchelor, Charlie Daniel Eatmon and Charles Lewis, all from southern Nash County. Batchelor and Lewis were both from Middlesex; Eatmon was from Bailey.

On May 5, 1991, God performed a miracle in my life. He saved me. I still shake my head and wonder how he could love someone who had repeatedly demonstrated such contempt for him.
My salvation story is not all that unusual. A lifetime of wrong choices caught up with me. As a friend put it, "Sometimes God has to put you on your back in order to get you to look up."

The word joy appears over and over again in the Scriptures. For instance, the Psalms are filled with references to joy. The psalmists write, "Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning" (Ps. 30:5b) and "Shout for joy to God, all the earth" (Ps. 66:1). Likewise, in the New Testament, we read that joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:22), which means that it is a Christian virtue. Given this biblical emphasis, we need to understand what joy is and pursue it.

Congratulations to Parker Mast who joined Red Oak Baptist Church and will be baptized on Sunday, Dec. 24 during the morning worship at 11 a.m.
Red Oak Baptist Church celebrated Christmas with their Christmas Family Day on Sunday, Dec. 10 at Red Oak Baptist Church. Jennifer, Emma, and Alex Vire shared a reading for Advent. Several children and adults participated through readings, music, and song.

Valeria Eguiguren and Jeff Taylor to RVC Home Renovation, LLC; 639 Henry Street, Rocky Mount; $60,000
Secure, Inc. to Judy C. Winstead; 4005 Crosswinds Drive, Rocky Mount
Marshall Keith Langley and Elizabeth Gates Langley to Christopher C. Pridgen and Meagan L. Pridgen; 836 Nashville Road and 838 Nashville Road, Rocky Mount

NINTH GRADE - A HONOR ROLL
Samantha Ayscue, Paisley Baker, Emma Batchelor, Peyton Cooke, Maddox Deans, Ariahna Dobbins, Timothy Flanagan, John Glover, Ashton Holland, Jaden Macklin, Brennen Mapp, Valeria Oliveros, Tegan Paine, Jamaurri Ruffin, Elizabeth Salazar, Estrella Salazar, Lauren Stallings, Frank Stokel, Riley Strickland, Brody Wallace and Morgan Williams

THIRD GRADE - A HONOR ROLL
Abigail Allen and Bentley Turner

Building Permit Commercial
Jen Wise, 518 E. Nash St; renovation/alteration; $453,506
Jason Knoernschild, 4320 Green Hills Rd; new construction; $4,330,000

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.

There isn't enough room on this page, nor in this entire newspaper, to express the loss Nashville, and Nash County, will experience from both Mr. Wilmer A. "Sonny" Brantley and Macon Robertson passing away this week.
Both of these men loved Nashville and Nash County and both were an incredible part of the growth and success which weaved together all we enjoy today here in Nashville and in Nash County.

This photo originally published on December 28, 1967 in The Nashville Graphic. These were the six leading cagers for the Northern Nash Knights who were about to play against the Blackbirds of Rocky Mount.

Braswell Family Farms, in partnership with the Nashville Junction, is planning a New Year's Eve Community Celebration from 4 to 9 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 31.
Billed as the "1st Annual New Year's Eve Egg Drop," the event, which was granted a special event permit Dec. 5 by the Town of Nashville, will feature an Egg Drop (using a crane) on Railroad Street South at 7 p.m. with fireworks to follow.