Local News

SPRING HOPE - The Spring Hope Garden Club is continuing to look for ways to beautify the town, with the latest a "Decorate and Tidy Up Yard" contest and talk of getting a mural painted downtown.
In conjunction with the Spring Hope Chamber initiative for downtown businesses to spruce up their storefronts with red, white, and blue decorations prior to July 4th, the Garden Club is holding its own contest to help celebrate America 250.

Jonathan Evans found the first cotton bloom of 2026 on one of their area fields. Jonathan is pictured with his mother, Ann Evans. Nashville Graphic has held a long-time tradition of offering a free one-year subscription for the first bloom of the season brought to the newspaper.

NASHVILLE - First came Nashville's Splash Pad, and then, for less than a week, the town had a "swimming pool." Correction: not really a pool, although it was definitely the size of a hot tub: a very large pot hole on W. Washington Street just outside the Trash 2 Treasures RMT antiques store.
The pot hole - which is the term NCDOT is using rather than "sink hole," appeared at the edge of the road sometime during the night between Wednesday, June 17th, and Thursday morning, June 18th.

Every kid loves a truck - and children at two Nashville day cares got a chance to get up close and personal with Nashville Public Works. Nashville Public Works personnel showed off a backhoe and dump truck during Kidz Place 2 Bee Construction Day June 10th, while the workings of a leaf truck, street cleaner and tractor were also showed off for children attending the KidSpace summer program at Nashville Methodist Church June 18th. Pictured in the above photo is Public Works Director Jason Glover.

This week, we begin to investigate five possible reasons God allows evil to exist, which can be extracted from the biblical text. First, the Bible is quite clear that God allows evil to exist as a form of punishment for sin. Second, some evil comes about due to the consequences of others' sin. Third, some evil comes about due to the consequences of evil done by spiritual beings. Fourth, the biblical text indicates that God allows evil to exist as a pathway to the greater good. And fifth, the biblical text suggests that some evil is beyond our finite human ability to understand.

Sometimes, you just get weary or burdened about a trial you are going through. In this world, if often seems an all too frequent occasion. I guess the old saying, "Misery loves company", is a good fit. Indeed, Jesus offers us the chance to share our burdens. It doesn't necessarily lighten our land, but it can change the way we see it and feel about it.
But there is more here than meets the eye about what Jesus is saying. His appeal is not just about sharing our burdens.

The Baptist Men enjoyed their monthly breakfast meeting on Sunday, June 21.
The youth and chaperones of Red Oak Baptist Church enjoyed an awesome trip to MFuge. This year they traveled to James Madison University in Virginia for the camp. Several of the campers and chaperones shared their experiences there. Some worked with PCY (painting, construction, and yardwork) while others worked with a large church to prepare for their upcoming Vacation Bible School.

Coopers Ruritan Club honored their 2026 Ruritan Scholarship winners at their June meeting. The recipient of the E.C. Pearce Scholarship was awarded to Brianna Frazier, a graduating senior from Southern Nash High School. Brianna will be attending Nash Community College this fall studying Health Care. The Coopers Ruritan Scholarship was awarded to Kaitlin Sengler, who graduated from Early College at Nash Community College.

JMK Rentals, LLC to Rafael Esquivias Jr. and Sarai Jimenez; 629 Western Avenue, Nashville; $175,000
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, United States of America to Stanch Mortgage Loan Trust M and Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB; 1616 Greys Mill Road, Rocky Mount
Foundation Home Builders, LLC to Ubilio Sarbelio Recinos; Ambergate Subdivision, Phase II, Lot 34; $229,500

Second degree kidnapping; assault on a female reported at 1009 Garden Gate Dr., Rocky Mount on 5/18/26
Felony possession marijuana reported at 10696 E NC 97, Rocky Mount on 5/18/26
Larceny felony reported at 11826 International Dr., Middlesex on 5/22/26
Possession cocaine; possession of drug paraphernalia reported at 1921 N. Wesleyan Blvd., Rocky Mount n 5/20/26

Child abuse-misdemeanor reported at Westwood Circle, Nashville on 6/24/26
Trespass second degree reported at 100 East Evans Dr., Nashville on 6/22/26
Disclosure of private images reported at Westwood Circle Dr., Nashville on 6/23/26
Larceny misdemeanor reported at 1205 Eastern Ave., Nashville on 6/23/26