Local News

John S. Williford, Jr., an attorney and partner with the law firm of Fields & Cooper, PLLC, was recognized for reaching an impressive milestone of 50 years practicing law during the North Carolina State Bar meeting held in Raleigh on October 30. The recognition marks five decades of dedication to the legal profession and service to clients in Nash, Edgecombe, Wilson, and surrounding counties.
Throughout his career, Williford has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to the practice of law and the responsibilities that come with serving individuals, families, and the community.

BAILEY - Bucking a former trend of being "behind" in meeting state submission deadlines for mandated audits of financial accounts, the town of Bailey has met its deadline for the second time in two years.
"We've caught up from about four years from being behind," reported Joel Killion, town administrator, at the October 19th town meeting. Killion said he'd been in touch with a senior accountant at S. Preston Douglas and Associates, and the audit had just been closed out.

The Red Oak community gathered Saturday, November 7 to honor military veterans during a Veterans Day celebration that also welcomed the annual Ride of Honor as it traveled through the area.
Todd Winstead, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who helped organize the celebration at Red Oak's Ennis Park, served as emcee for the event. Winstead, who is in his fifth year helping with the annual celebration, spoke briefly about the importance of recognizing veterans and expressed pride in being part of an event honoring their service.

NASHVILLE- A church pastor asking for a property variance to add a second dwelling for his daughter got county approval, but development plans will depend on whether the land parcel can accommodate a second septic system.
Timothy W. Parker, Jr., pastor of the Shenandoah Baptist Church, Rocky Mount, since 2018, filed the variance request regarding easement width for his oddly-shaped parcel at 3822 Shenandoah Drive. The case was heard Oct. 26th during a quasi-judicial public hearing of the Nash County Board of Adjustment.

NASHVILLE - In order to renew the town's wastewater collection permit, as well as to be "good environmental stewards" and avoid grease build-up in the pipes, Nashville has enacted a new Fats, Oils and Grease (FOG) ordinance.
The ordinance will require non-residential users such as new restaurants or food service establishments to install exterior, in-ground "grease interceptors," with a minimum 1,000-gallon capacity "unless an approved alternate applies."

SPRING HOPE- With the goal of creating additional connections with the public, the town of Spring Hope is planning a quarterly "Getting to Know Spring Hope" video or TV series.
Jonathan Allen, town manager, dropped the news at the Oct. 19th meeting of the Downtown Development Board (DDB) in conjunction with discussion about planned DDB work on a social media page.

A friend of mine is a cancer survivor. She's had a tough time and her recovery has been anything but easy. In fact, I hadn't seen her in several years and would not have recognized her if we had met by chance. But it wasn't due to a loss of weight or hair. She just didn't look the same. Her mother attributes the difference in her appearance to a combination of the side effects of chemotherapy and stress.
As we caught up with each other, I realized that cancer had changed a lot more than her appearance. Understandably, her whole way of looking at life had changed, too.

Having been thrown from a vehicle during an accident, Vicki suffered a basal skull fracture, a broken back, and a broken neck. Like so many others who have lived through a Near Death Experience (NDE), Vicki found herself hovering over the accident scene. Sometime later, noticing that although her "body" had a natural form, it was made up of light, she found herself moving through a dark tube toward a single point of ever-brightening light. Having reached the end of the tube, Vicki arrived at a serene place of lush foliage and magnificent trees, and there found herself surrounded by people. More importantly, Vicki found this place to be bathed in a tremendous light.

Oakdale Baptist Church in Rocky Mount hosted the Baptist Women's World Day of Prayer on Monday, Nov. 2. The theme was "Living the Good News: Faith in Action," based on James 2:17 which states, "In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." The theme was emphasized through readings, skits, group activities, and prayer. Refreshments were served following the meeting. There were seven churches represented. Those attending from Red Oak included Linda Sheets, Taylor Brantley, Audrey Pearce, and Suzy Pearce.

Cape Fear Trustee Services, LLC and Tyrone Phillips to Dickinson GR, LLC and WFG National Title Insurance Company; 312 Braswell Street, Rocky Mount; $65,000
Denise Ivey Chandler and Rebecca Ann Chandler to Tiara Braswell Pittman and Jermaine Pittman; Brookside Subdivision, Block A, Lot 1; $410,000
Sean Sessoms and Micara Sessoms to Solomon Chase Properties, LLC; 103 McCoy Drive, Nashville; $72,500
Cape Fear Trustee Services, LLC and Brandie Simmons to Carrington Mortgage Services, LLC, Dennis F. Hardiman and Embrace Home Loans, Inc.; 3762 Old County Home Road, Nashville; $166,500

On Monday, Nov. 9th, the Nash County Sheriff's Office received a notification from an automatic license plate reader (ALPR) that a vehicle with a stolen license plate on it was on West Mount Drive near Rocky Mount. A deputy was in the area and located the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle, which was occupied by three subjects. Upon approach to the vehicle, the suspect vehicle fled resulting in a lengthy vehicle pursuit. The pursuit began on West Mount Drive and ended on West Hornes Church Road near Williams Road outside of Bailey. During the pursuit, the suspect vehicle lost control and crashed into a field after rolling over multiple times.

100 N Boddie St, Nashville; 11/04/26; resisting arrest/hinder & delay
10696 E NC 97, Rocky Mount; 11/04/26; larceny misdemeanor
11665 Salem School Rd, Whitakers; 11/03/26; breaking or entering into or breaking out of motor vehicle(s); larceny of a firearm
11723 Claude Lewis Rd, Middlesex; 11/01/26; larceny of a firearm; b&e felony/ non-force/larceny
1631 S Wesleyan Blvd, Rocky Mount; 11/05/26; damage to personal property

Mile marker 7 US 264W, Nashville on 11/01/26 : open container after consuming; consume alcohol by a person under 21; DWI
100 East Evans Dr., Nashville on 11/01/2026 : aid and abet larceny; larceny misdemeanor
131 N. Wheeless Dr., Nashville on 11/07/2026: trespass-second degree; assault-simple
1001 E. Washington St., Nashville on 11/07/2026: larceny misdemeanor
S. First St., Nashville on 11/02/2026: resisting arrest/hinder & delay