NASHVILLE - Based on information gathered from Nash County teachers about their intentions in the coming school year and the coming demerger, which will involve the loss of students to Edgecombe County, school officials are putting together a system-wide Reduction in Force, or RIF plan, to establish criteria for deciding which employees, including teachers, will stay and which will go.

More than 83 people participated in a fire truck parade Saturday in honor and support of Castalia Fire Captain David "Pac Man" Braswell.

CASTALIA - "Firefighters are a brotherhood. We look out for one of our own." Leland Joyner, Chief of the Castalia Fire Department, describes the sentiment but not the scope of the outpouring of fire trucks and more than eighty firefighters Saturday for a tribute parade to Castalia Fire Captain David "Pac-Man" Braswell.
Capt. Braswell, an active member of the Castalia Fire Department for 38 years, is out on extended medical leave. Along with Joyner, Braswell watched the massive demonstration of support from his front porch along 58 in Castalia.

Aaron Danay Lucas

SPRING HOPE - Two men in their forties, one from Spring Hope and one from Bailey, are being held in the Nash County Detention Facility on $100,000 secured bonds after their arrests earlier this month for alleged sex crimes against a 20-year-old woman described as "mentally incapacitated."
A third man, 39-year-old Aaron Danay Lucas of NC 581, Spring Hope, has reportedly turned himself in after a felony arrest warrant was issued for him, but no other information about charges was available at press time.

NASHVILLE - Nash County Magistrate Matt McAuley is packing his bags and heading to the western side of the state in a move which will bring an end to his 25-plus years of service with Nash. McAuley will be turning in his keys this morning after pulling a night shift Feb. 28, and driving up to the new family home on six acres near the Virginia border, north of Winston-Salem. He gets sworn in March 1 as magistrate for Surry County.

ROCKY MOUNT - A West Mount firefighter with 63 years of experience under his belt is working to preserve that history - and the history of his department - writing and compiling books in addition to documenting changing times and people along the fire house hallway.
David Winstead, 89, was recently congratulated at the February meeting of Nash County Commissioners in recognition of his achievements, which continue to pile up.

NASHVILLE - Nash County Recycles Day, the once-yearly event in Nashville sponsored by Keep America Beautiful, will take place Saturday, March 2 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Nash County Courthouse parking lot, 234 W. Washington Street.
The free, drive-up event will allow residents to drop off used electronics, paper to be shredded onsite, unused prescription medicines and usable household items to be donated to Habitat for Humanity.

INCIDENTS
Death investigation, 103 Sunnyfield Rd., Nashville on 2/22/24
Reckless driving; driving while license revoked; damage to personal property; littering not greater than 15 lbs; DWI; assault with deadly weapon government official; speeding; flee/elude arrest with motor vehicle (felony) reported at mile marker 459 US 64 W on 2/22/24

Found property reported at 10805 S NC 581, Bailey on 2/22/24
Domestic disturbance reported at 11237 Cedar Lake Ct., Middlesex on 2/22/24
Misdemeanor larceny reported at 12296 W NC 97, Middlesex on 2/19/24

The second shell building in the Middlesex Corporate Centre has been sold to GXP-Storage, which plans to build its international headquarters there and create up to 100 local jobs, anticipated to have annual wages of $78,000.
A Feb. 27 news release from Susan B. Phelps, Economic Developer for Nash County, states that GXP-Storage will use an existing 62,500 square foot shell building on the site as its first in a multi-building campus, with a capital investment of $80 million.

Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC, Larry Boyd Jr. and Jessica Boyd to Carrington Mortgage Services, LLC and Investors Title Insurance Company; 2352 US Highway 64 Alt, Nashville; $121,500
Agustina Ramires-Sanches, Agustina Ramirez Sanchez and Agustina Ramires to Agustin Ramires; 5425 Joe Ellen Road, Battleboro
Little Bear Creek Properties B, LLC and Little Bear Creek Properties, LLC to Top Level Builders, Inc.; Beaver Creek Subdivision, Phase 6, Lots 78-79

If you watched the Super Bowl, you saw numerous commercials about online betting services offered in America. A comedian, Kevin Hart, makes it sound so exciting about all the companies with whom you will be able to place your bets.
We have readers all over the world. But when things happen here, they will soon head your way (if they haven't already). Here in North Carolina, our governor signed a bill to allow online and in person betting on sports.

Matthew 16:13-20 predicts the sovereign construction of the not-yet church: "I will build my church." Ephesians 4:11-16 explains how the church is built up in Christ.
Ephesians 4:1-3 exhorts the church to walk in unity: "I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the body of peace."

All participants are pictured of the truck parade held Saturday to honor Castalia Fire Captain David "Pac Man" Braswell.

Next week, we get to go to the polls and kick off what ought to be a wild, wild campaign year.
I don't know about you, but I'm past the point of being annoyed with the number of campaign mailers in my box every day.
I swear there's one candidate who has sent me something every day for the last month. I've vowed not to vote for this person simply because anyone who will excessively spend his/her own campaign funds probably shouldn't be trusted with tax dollars.

When did running for office become a bullying contest? If you've seen any broadcast political ads, or those on streaming channels - you know exactly what I mean.
I do not watch television anymore. I think I could survive without a television in our home. My husband and I were just recently wondering why we've even kept a satellite service. The only reason the television is ever on is to keep our bird happy during the day. Louie, a Yellow Headed Amazon, doesn't like a quiet house. He will make his own noise and talk up a storm if it's too quiet. Trust me, it's only cute for the first "few seconds."

SMURFS VISIT - This photo was originally published in The Nashville Graphic on August 18, 1983. A life-size Smurf appeared at Hardee's in Nashville to promote the sale of Smurfday party glasses.

NORTHERN NASH'S KINGSTON LITTLE PERFORMS SOME STRONG WORK INSIDE LAST FRIDAY AGAINST ROANOKE RAPIDS

RED OAK -- The date was January 6, and the Northern Nash Fighting Knights had just dropped to 6-7 overall following a loss to a strong Fayetteville Westover club.
Though only seven weeks in the past, that time seems forever ago for the now-rolling Knights, who haven't been defeated since as part of a 13-game winning streak.

FRANKLINTON'S ASIA BURTON SPLITS THE ROCKY MOUNT DEFENSE WITH A PASS

RED OAK -- Talk about role reversal -- that's been the main theme of the 2023-24 Big East Conference girls basketball season.
Last year, Rocky Mount defeated rival Franklinton four times en route to reaching the Class 3-A State Finals.
Retribution was 365 days in the making for FHS, which has completed a clean sweep of the Gryphons this time around -- including a victory last Friday night over RM in the Big East Conference Tournament Championship Game.

SIDE-BY-SIDE LEGENDS (L TO R) SOUTHERN NASH'S EDDIE COBLE AND BUNN'S PARKER HAAKE

NASH COUNTY -- Bunn's continued dominance and Southern Nash's recent resurgence were the main storylines this winter in the always-tough Big East Conference wrestling scene.
Bunn, guided by veteran skipper Parker Haake, claimed its third consecutive regular season league dual crown en route to making the Elite Eight of the Class 2-A State Playoffs (after back-to-back years in the state finals).

RALEIGH -- Don Waddell, President and General Manager of the National Hockey League's Carolina Hurricanes, has announced that the team is launching its 2024-25 season ticket campaign.
Current Season Ticket Members will have the first right of refusal to renew their plans through mid-March and will receive information and invoices via email this week.