Local News

NASHVILLE - A Nashville woman has been released on bail following her arrest for allegedly shooting at two people inside a vehicle on the evening of July 5th.
Denisha Masha Gray, 32, of 906 Old Wilson Road Nashville was charged with two felonies and two misdemeanors July 6th for an incident involving two people and two vehicles in the roadway of Old Wilson Road and Cockrell Street.

MIDDLESEX- Starting this week, doors are open at a new UNC medical facility in Middlesex, increasing the number of available doctors from five to eight and doubling the number of exam rooms from the current facility next door.
Dr. Lee Isley, President and CEO of UNC Nash, told those present at the official July 30th ribbon-cutting that the larger facility will be named UNC Family Medicine at Middlesex. He said that the expansion of services is a response to the region's growth and a desire to reach more people in the western part of Nash County, along with Wendell and Zebulon.

Pictured above: Robert Flowers, outgoing Post Commander; Devell "Bo" Durham Jr., Department of North Carolina Past Commander; Incoming Commander, Bob La Banz.

SPRING HOPE - More pieces are falling into place for this year's Spring Hope National Pumpkin Festival, planned Friday, Oct. 2nd and Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026.
"We got a much earlier start this year," said Steve Brumfield, commissioner, speaking at the July 20th Downtown Development Board meeting. "We're going to have more vendors than I've seen in a very long time."
Brumfield, who is Festival President, attempted to recuse himself from board action regarding festival permit approval August 3rd, but attorney Nick Berry said that since Brumfield had no financial conflict, it was permissable for Brumfield to vote for permit approval.

Spring Hope's long-awaited caboose arrived Friday, July 31st, and was moved by Edwards crane from a flatbed onto train tracks downtown. Its final position, after restoration, will be next to the Depot on the side towards town hall, intended for Depot storage. Still visible on its original paint is the British flag and "BC Rail," indicating that its origin was in British Columbia, Canada. The caboose was recently transported from a railyard in Greenville, where it had rested since the mid-2000s.

I read an article several years ago about the lasting importance of the Ten Commandments. The author observed, "When God gave his people the Ten Commandments, he wrote them on stone to symbolize their durable, lasting nature. He wrote them on both sides of the stone to signify their thoroughness. And he wrote these laws with his own finger to attest to their supernatural character."
You have probably never noticed it, but the first four commandments deal with our relationships with God.

Christian philosopher Eleonore Stump states, "Orthodox Christian doctrine holds that persons once created are everlasting and are of infinite value. If they become defective, it is up to a good God not to eliminate them, but to fix them if He can." Although Christians hold these truths to be absolute, this statement presents us with a conundrum or a difficulty. That is, how can we say God is all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-benevolent when we see so much evil in the world? That, of course, has been the question we have labored to address over the last many weeks.

Red Oak Baptist Church will have a Backpack Giveaway on Saturday, Aug. 8 at 8:30 a.m. This ministry will support students by providing backpacks filled with school supplies.
Merry Christmas in August! Red Oak Baptist Church is participating in Christmas in August, a ministry of Woman's Missionary Union, by providing needed items for North American Mission Board missionary, Emanuel Carvalho of Deerfield Beach, FL

Usherla Deberry to Thomas James Willson and Tamera S. Willson to 305 Cunningham Drive, Rocky Mount; $250,000
Taylor D. Ferrell, Elaine Virginia Cooper Ferrell and Taylor D. Ferrell to Carson Endicott Fowler and Kristina Fowler; 456 Shellcastle Road, Rocky Mount
Kathy Leonard Lawson to Doris Griffin; Autumn Ridge Subdivision, Phase B1, Block A, Lot 36; $210,000
Gregory J. Roth II and Sharon L. Roth to Jacob S. Johnson and Rebecca R. Johnson; 5030 Overlook Drive, Elm City; $699,500

Building Permit Commercial
Addition; 4461 Boseman Rd, Rocky Mount; Amber Morrow, Licensed Contractor, Cell Site Technologies, Inc.; $29,000
Addition; 16013 Watson Seed Farm Rd, Whitakers, ; Gail Prince, Licensed Contractor, East Rock Development, LLC; $176,038.62
Addition; 7474 Nc 48, Battleboro; Heaven Huffman, Licensed Contractor, Skyward Telecom, LLC; $10,000

1054 Bloomery Rd, Bailey; 07/27/26;common law robbery
10855 Smith Rd, Middlesex; 07/30/26; larceny of a firearm
12040 Nada Rd, Zebulon; 07/26/26; warrant service; resisting arrest/hinder and delay
12481 Bloomer Lane, Whitakers; 07/26/26; resisting arrest/hinder and delay; assault on law enforcement officer; assault with deadly weapon with inflicting serious injury

07/22/26; 2008 S First St, Nashville; felony serious injury by vehicle - DWI
07/22/26; 1847 S First St Apt 71, Nashville; damage to personal property
07/24/26; 118 Virginia Ave., Nashville; open container after consuming; DWI
07/23/26; 100 East Evans Dr., Nashville: open container after consuming; DWI