A Red Oak family and a Spring Hope man are both homeless after recent structure fires.
Bryant Fisher, Nash County 9-1-1 Director, said a call was received at 12:26 p.m. Friday, Feb. 2, for the Red Oak fire on 3645 Kimberly Jo Drive, part of the Shiloh subdivision.
Nash County G.I.S. records report the home's owners as William Joseph Evans and Lashonda Charlett.

Three months after the state installed an interim Director, Nash County's Department of Social Services is back under local leadership with the appointment of Ms. Denita DeVega as the new Director.
DeVega, who has 25 years' experience in public service and advocacy, was introduced to the Nash County Board of Commissioners Feb. 5 by County Manager Stacie Shatzer.

A first-generation Nashville family farm has been recognized at the state level with the award of Farm Family of the Year.
Leggett Farming Partnership, owned by Brent and Sue Leggett, received the award Feb. 2 from the North Carolina Tobacco Growers Association at the Southern Farm Show in Raleigh after having been nominated by the Tobacco Growers Awards Committee. The NCTGA, Brent Leggett said, is an advocacy group that promotes tobacco farmers and looks out for them at the state, federal and international level by providing needed information.

Spring Hope's signature event, the Pumpkin Festival, might not be held in downtown Spring Hope in 2024.
LeaAnne Hahnel, representing the Chamber of Commerce, addressed town commissioners Feb. 5, bubbling with excitement about new upcoming events including "Doggy Days" in the Spring, a Car Show and a potential event for 2025 called "Romance in Spring Hope."
Doggy Days, Hahnel said, is still being planned, but could potentially include dog agility demonstrations or competitions in addition to adoption events.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt (left) and NC Senator Lisa Barnes announce to Nash County the approval of $40 million to build a new middle school.

A surprise local visit by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt to Nash County Wednesday morning resulted in the unexpected announcement that Nash has been approved to receive 40 million in Lottery funds to build a new Southern Nash Middle School, with an 1100 student capacity, in three to four years. It will be the largest school grant that Nash County has ever received.

Shelton Baker retires from his 45-year post as a firefighter with Coopers Fire and Rescue Department.

After 45 years with the Coopers Fire Department, Shelton Baker, still employed at 67, is retiring from fire duty and looking forward to more time with a fishing pole. Firefiighter Baker was honored with an inscribed clock plaque at the Coopers Fire Dept Christmas party.
"Shelton Baker has served in every compacity from firefighter, board of directors, LT, Captain and Chief. Really hate to lose him. He has been a mentor to me over the years," said Eric Boone, Chief of Coopers Fire-Rescue Department.

The early voting window for the upcoming 2024 March 5th Primary begins Feb. 15 and ends March 2.
During the early voting period, Nash County voters may cast a ballot at either of two voting sites: the Nash County Ag Center at 1006 Eastern Avenue, Nashville, or Braswell Memorial Library at 727 N. Grace Street, Rocky Mount. Eligible individuals may register and vote at the same time.

Nash County's most promising new sites for future business development, the 500+ acre Ammons site in Middlesex, will be receiving a $500,000 boost from the North Carolina Railroad Company.
Andy Hagy, Nash Economic Director, shared the news at the Feb. 5 Nash County Commissioners' meeting along with Connor Christensen, Economic Development Program Manager for NCRC.

Castalia's new town clerk has hit the ground running since being appointed to the position last month.
Tracy Shearin was voted in by Castalia's Board of Commissioners in January and sworn in on Tuesday by Mayor James Alston.
"You're officially the town clerk for the Town of Castalia," Alston said after swearing Shearin in.
Shearin is a familiar face, having served as clerk for the Town of Red Oak prior to her appointment in Castalia.

Nashville's Chamber of Commerce is seeking nominations for its annual Distinguished Citizen of the Year event.
This year's event is set for Thursday, March 28 at 7 p.m. at Nash Arts.
The Distinguished Citizen Award is presented to a citizen or business person from the Nashville area that strives to make the community a better place.

A proposed townhouse development off Liberty Drive has been approved by the Nashville Town Council, but only with a reduction of units and a list of conditions imposed by town officials on the developer.
ACE Needham, LLC, owned by Alex Ivey and Eric Ogilvie, requested a special use permit last month which included a lengthy evidential hearing, with the Council acting as a quasi-judicial board and involving the gathering of "legally acceptable evidence" such as traffic studies, maps, and photographs of surrounding properties.

A 32-year-old Rocky Mount man has been arrested on ten counts of felony third degree sexual exploitation of a minor as a result of the dual agency sting involving the Nash County Sheriff's Office and the Internet Crimes Against Children Division, part of the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations.
Muad Ali Ashohatee of 824 Peachtree Street, Rocky Mount, was arrested Feb. 1 in connection with evidence taken from electronic devices seized from the residence, according to Detective Sgt. Macie Hasty.

A 25-year-old Johnston County man is in the Nash Correctional Center on murder charges after his arrest Nov. 15 in Bailey.
Devin Michael Sampson of 108 Sunnybrook Lane, Selma, a former construction worker, is in jail with no Bond, accused of stabbing 44-year-old Timothy Starling to death at a mobile home located at 5862 Camp Charles Road, Bailey. The alleged assault happened at 10:42 p.m. Nov. 14, 2023. Sampson is charged with 2nd Degree Murder.

Assault on a female reported at 10433 E NC 97, Rocky Mount on 2/3/24
Larceny auto accessories reported at 2181 S. Wesleyan Blvd., Rocky Mount on 2/2/24
Warrant service at 3250 Westburg Lane, Rocky Mount on 1/29/24
Larceny felony reported at 3301 Benvenue Rd., Rocky Mount on 1/31/24

INCIDENTS
Missing persons reported at 1739 Oak Level Rd., Rocky Mount on 1/30/24
Reckless driving, no operator's license, DWI reported at Eastern Ave./Kamlar Rd. Rocky Mount on 2/3/24

Jeffrey Todd Whitley to Jeffrey Todd Whitley and Cindy Sullivan Whitley; 11793 Lodge Road, Middlesex
Marsha L. Hopkins to Hugo Sanchez and Ma Natibidad Avila; 1.5 acres
Annie Rose Harris Scott to Sergio Saldana Arenas and Esperanza De La Cruz Tolentino; 10426 Seven Paths Road, Spring Hope
New Beginning Renovations, Inc. and New Beginning Renovation, Inc. to Granting Homes, LLC; 1421 Brookmeade Court, Rocky Mount; $80,000

A record number of program participants, including nearly a twenty percent jump in youth and adult athletic program use, along with consistent booking of major softball tournaments, equal increasing lighting and staffing needs for Nash County Parks & Recreation.
Thomas Gillespie, Parks and Recreation Program Director, said 5,641 Nash County residents played soccer, basketball, softball or baseball in 2023, including participation in summer camps.

Women in Action will meet on Tuesday, Feb. 13 at 6:30 p.m. in the main building of Red Oak Baptist Church. We will continue working on the project for ladies in South Asia in addition to our study of missions.
Everyone's invited to come hear Kingdom Heirs in concert at Red Oak Baptist Church Family Life Center on Saturday, Feb. 17! The concert will begin at 2:00 pm with doors opening at 1:00 p.m. A love offering will be received.

Approximately 100 people living in the Taylor Woods subdivision of Sharpsburg will be getting letters from Nash County with good news: their pothole-riddled roads are in line for repair, thanks in part to a million dollar-plus grant obtained by House Representative Ken Fontenot.
A resolution supporting the North Carolina Department of Transportation for the "Sharpsburg Project" was approved Feb. 5 that will allow repair and continued maintenance of numerous "orphan" roads in and around the School Street area, so named for the Old Nash-Edgecombe-Wilson School that is now in a state of disrepair, along with its surrounding roads.

That's a pretty powerful statement, especially considering the fact that Jesus said it. It certainly begs the question: Could Jesus be talking about my church?
Actually, the church to which Jesus was referring to was the church at Laodicea. Laodicea was the last of the seven churches described by Jesus in Revelation.
The Apostle John, now John the Revelator, was directed by Jesus in Revelation 1:11 to write down what he saw from a vision. He was then to deliver it to seven of the churches which occupied Asia Minor. That area now is modern-day Turkey.

Paul says the foundation of this building called the church is made up of the prophets and the Apostles, that is, the Old Testament prophets and New Testament Apostles. Why? It's because the prophets and Apostles are the agents of revelation by whom God speaks to His people.
They delivered the Word of God. Another way of saying this is that the foundation of the church is the Word of God.

Jarrett Moss (left) was named Firefighter of the Year at Coopers Fire and Rescue. Pictured with Moss is his father, Jamie Moss.

These are the times that try men's souls -- at least men who aren't obsessed with professional football.
Because there is a two-week break between the conference finals and the Super Bowl, the Sports Industrial Complex runs out of interesting stories in about three hours. By the end of the week, I suspect they'll be talking about what breed of dog the players would be if they could become a dog.
The good thing for me is that I don't have live television any longer and removed a major sports station from my radio presets.

This week's report that longtime firefighter and rescue worker, Shelton Baker, has retired after serving 45 years at Coopers Fire and Rescue most certainly proves that time indeed flies by.
Having grown up in the Coopers Community, with three much older sisters, Shelton Baker was no stranger to the Green family. As mentioned in an earlier column, small communities of yesteryear kept classmates close-knit.

This photo originally published in The Nashville Graphic on April 13, 1967. These Coopers High School students were winners in Nash County record book competition at the Meat Animal Show and Sale held at the Eastern Livestock Arena near Rocky Mount.

NASH CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL'S MALICHI DAVIS CLEARS THE POLE VAULT BAR

FRANKLINTON -- It's not an absolute, but the Big East's indoor track and field season often foreshadows how the outdoor campaign will go.
If that's the case, the Rocky Mount Lady Gryphons and the Northern Nash Fighting Knights will be in repeat mode this spring as they dominated the proceedings at the annual Big East Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships last Thursday at the Franklinton High School Football Field.

STANHOPE -- 'Trying To Get Over The Hump' could very well be the theme of the 2023-24 boys basketball season for the young Southern Nash Firebirds.
SN, coached by legendary mentor Robbie Kennedy, has had its moments this season, including recent triumphs over Bunn and Nash Central in Big East Conference action.
But the Firebirds have just three seniors on their roster -- and three freshmen -- as this is one of the most underclass-dominated clubs that Kennedy has coached during his long, amazing tenure in Stanhope.

STANHOPE -- Learning to bounce back from a difficult defeat is one of the maturing keys for a young basketball squad -- and that's the scenario the Southern Nash Ladybirds encountered last week.
Last Tuesday, the Ladybirds forced overtime at home against Roanoke Rapids -- but were shut out in the decisive extra session as the Jackets pulled away for a 54-45 triumph.

NASH COUNTY -- The race for the top spots in the Big East Conference basketball standings is becoming clearer heading into the final week of the regular season.
On the girls side, barring a massive upset, the red-hot Franklinton Lady Rams have all but assured themselves of at least a tie for the conference crown. FHS, under the direction of Bryan Perry, is 18-1 overall to go with a perfect 9-0 mark in the league with three contests remaining.

NASH COUNTY -- Five Nash County schools will make appearances at the annual The Brittany Girls Soccer Showcase, which is scheduled for March 8-9 at Gillette Park in Wilson.
Those clubs are Southern Nash, Rocky Mount, Northern Nash and Rocky Mount Academy. SN, under the direction of legendary coach Robbie Kennedy, will be in action both Friday and Saturday, while RM and RM will play Friday.

WILSON -- Given the back-and-forth nature of the game -- and the almost-eerie evenly matched status of the competitors -- it was only symbolic that the outcome of last Thursday's semifinal matchup of the Tri-County Conference Middle School Boys Basketball Tournament would literally be decided in the final second (and in overtime no less).

ZEBULON - The Carolina Mudcats have announced that single-game tickets are now available for purchase for the upcoming 2024 season at Five County Stadium.
The team also announced its full promotions schedule featuring 16 total fireworks shows, new nightly promotions, nine souvenir giveaways and more.
All ticket options, including single game tickets, season tickets, mini plans and group options are available for purchase at carolinamudcats.com/tickets, by calling (919) 269-2287 or by visiting the team front office.

Pianist Matthew Harrison will make his debut appearance at Cherry Hill on Sunday, February 11th. The 3 p.m. concert will be comprised of works of Sergei Rachmaninoff in remembrance of the composer's 150th birthday. Always a favorite of piano devotees, Rachmaninoff came to the United States from Russia following the Russian Revolution in 1917. His compositions were full of passion and melancholy, and have often been used in popular films. He played his compositions in countless performances throughout the United States and Europe, but never lived again in the country of his birth.