FRONT PAGE

NASHVILLE - In order to put some teeth in Nashville's two-hour parking limit downtown, particularly on "court days," the town planning department is looking into a parking ticket system based on license plates.
Planning Director Shawn Lucas brought up parking enforcement at the April 28th Downtown Nashville Strong Advisory Board meeting. His questions to board members were if there were still ongoing parking violations and if the DSAB might consider budgeting for parking enforcement software.

RED OAK - Anticipating slight increases in both sales and franchise taxes, the anticipated FY 26-27 budget for the town of Red Oak has increased by 6.73% over last year's.
Meeting April 27th for a council work session, minus commissioner Tony Bennett, who was ill, town council members had little comment overall with figures presented by Sandra Russ, commissioner and Finance Officer.

Nash Central High School students participated in the 2026 Senior Parade last week. Pictured, Tamaya Coppedge of Rocky Mount loads her unicorn bubble gun prior to heading out, trailing bubbles, with other Nash Central Seniors. After the annual Senior (car) Parade, seniors participated in "Senior Sunset.. Last Recess." The event involved games and activities on the footfall field and reading letters written to themselves at the start of the year. They also watched the sunset together and had their class picture taken. Graphic photo by Nancy West-Brake

ROCKY MOUNT - Nashville native son and former Governor Roy Cooper was enthusiastically received by a crowd of about 150 when he made an appearance Thursday at the Thornes Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in Rocky Mount. Multiple Democrat leaders and political candidates from both Nash and Edgecombe Counties were in attendance.
The stop was part of Cooper's statewide "Make Stuff Cost Less Tour," in which he addresses the need to make regular living expenses like groceries, childcare, health care and utilities more affordable and how he will work to address those needs should he be elected to the U.S. Senate.

MIDDLESEX - A new option for young people exiting foster care has opened its doors in Middlesex on the grounds of the Free Will Baptist Church Children's Home (FWBCCH): two new apartment duplexes, unveiled during a ribbon-cutting April 29th, offer independent living for a total of eight people.
"Older youth in foster care often find themselves struggling to adapt to adulthood. They lack a stable support system to help them navigate finding housing, higher education, and career-minded employment," states a flyer for the Thrive Independent Living Program, so named because of the goal to "help youth thrive while moving towards independent adulthood."

SPRING HOPE - The town of Spring Hope is the first Nash County municipality to enact a moratorium on Data Center construction, with commissioners passing a resolution May 4th to "put a pause" on any such consideration until more information is available.
"This is a proactive measure," said Kyle Pritchard, Mayor, stating that the move was to protect citizens living both in town and in the ETJ.
Pritchard said he had doubts about the reality of long-term employment numbers from data center construction, as well as questions about increased wattage resulting in higher energy rates for residents.

Thursday, May 7
Nash Arts Blooming Kick-Off free concert at 7 p.m. featuring
Lynette Barber with Will Ellis
Carnival opens at 5pm