Local News

NASHVILLE- The town of Nashville, offered a $3 million loan from NCDEQ for sewer rehabilitation in April, is pushing its deadline for acceptance until the next council meeting in order to give staff time to research how much money might be saved in the long run if the town takes on the new debt.
Randy Lansing, town manager, went into details at the August 19th council meeting, aided by Mike Tolson from Mack Gay Associates.
Basically, the town applied for $7.3 million in state funding for the purpose last year, hoping to get some or all of it in grant form, but ended up getting an offer for about half of what was asked in the form of a 20-year loan with a 2.45% interest rate.

Brenda Brown, Nashville Mayor, center, stands with a certificate of recognition for Nashville presented by Girl Scout Troop 611. At left is Jennifer Blanc, at right is Cara Cotugno. The town of Nashville received the Girl Scout Community Partner award in recognition of the town's continues support of local Girl Scouts and youth programs. Included in the recognition for outstanding support were the Nashville Police and Fire Departments.

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK- Two Nash County 4-H'ers were among four youth from North Carolina who competed August 4th at the American Quarter Horse Youth Association World Championship Horse Judging Contest, emerging as champions in the 13 & under Division.
Leah Grove of Bailey and Annie Grace Manning of Momeyer, accompanied by two North Carolina teammates from Burke and Chatham Counties, competed at the OKC Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City. The team was coached by Nash County volunteer leader Jessica Manning.

Ready Contractors will begin a stormwater improvement project on Wednesday, August 26. The project will rebuild and enlarge the storm sewer intakes at Railroad Street and Boddie Street and install a new storm sewer intake at the southeast corner of Cross Street and Boddie Street.
A portion of Boddie Street and Railroad Street will be closed for approximately two weeks. Openings will be provided for local traffic and adjoining property owners to access their properties.

The Nashville Graphic and Nashville Chamber partners each summer to host Christmas in July for local merchants. The week-long shopping event offers special sales and prizes. In addition, the chamber sponsors two $100 shopping sprees for two lucky winners. This year's winners were Jo Ellen Reams and Melissa Strickland. The Graphic and chamber will again host Shop Small Saturday on November 28, 2026 to kick off the holiday shopping season.

The Nash County Community and Rural Development (CRD) Council will host its annual banquet on Sept. 19 at the Nash County Agriculture Center beginning at 4 p.m. Cost is $20 per person.
Guest speaker for the 2026 event is Nashville Police Chief Caleb Shockley. Musical guest is Grady Walston. There will be door prizes, food and more.

RALEIGH - The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is requesting proposals for research projects through the North Carolina Agriculture Innovations & Research (NCAIR) grant program. Around $1 million in grant funding is available to support innovative research that strengthens agriculture and the agricultural economy across North Carolina.

Nash County 4H summer camp for sewing was held July 14-16. The beginner group made aprons, plastic bag holders, bowl cozy and pillow cases. The intermediate group made summer dresses and/or a backpack and pillowcase. Assisting were Paige Davis, Sue Jackson, Wanda Padgett, Bev Place, Jerri White and Sarah Williams. Interns were Devin Clark and Phoebe Vester. The group is led by Jane Tyson.
Pictured above is the intermediate group: Shelby Griffin, who made the pink dress that her sister Mollie is modeling; Carys Parry, Gretchen Daniels and Sabriel McMillan.

The Nash County 4-H Sew What? Club traveled to Greenville to donate items made to the children's hospital. They made 26 children's pillowcases and 73 surgical caps.

When my son was in middle school, I had an opportunity to teach him a valuable lesson about the importance of a good name. In fact, it even had a spiritual truth with it. Don't tell him, but we both learned something.
It involved one of the Friday night dances that his middle school sponsors during the year. Just like any other 8th grader, he was too excited to stop and eat supper! He was waiting for me at the door when I got home from work. I could tell it was a special night to him. The aroma of cologne permeated the house!

From time to time, the articles in this column have referred to the philosophical works of the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900), and many of you rightly have questioned my interest in such a polarizing anti-Christian figure. After all, the title of this column, "Is God Dead," directly engages Nietzsche's assertion that, indeed, God is dead. Nonetheless, Nietzsche represents an influential philosopher whose work has significantly impacted Western society for well over a hundred years. And it has been no small thing; in the fall of 1888, he told an admirer he had just completed "a ruthless attack on the crucified Christ."

Down East Partnership for Children (DEPC) is inviting families with young children to participate in Kaleidoscope Play & Learn®, a free playgroup program serving families with children from birth through age 5 who live in Nash or Edgecombe County.
The weekly groups provide young children with opportunities to learn and develop through play while giving parents and caregivers a chance to connect with other families and access helpful information and resources.

Sept. 10 from 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints, 3224 Woodlawn Ave., Rocky Mount
Sept. 11 from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., Harrison Family YMCA, 1000 Independence Drive, Rocky Mount
Sept. 18 from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Braswell Memorial Library, 727 North Grace Street, Rocky Mount
Sept. 20 from 7 a.m. - 12:45 p.m., Word Tabernacle Church, 821 Word Plaza, Rocky Mount

NASH COUNTY- The Southern Nash High School band program has earned the North Carolina Bandmasters Association's Program of Distinction designation for the 2025-2026 school year.
The prestigious recognition honors middle and high school band programs that demonstrate excellence in musical performance, artistry, community engagement and advocacy. Programs must meet the standards of the NCBA Program of Merit while also earning an "Excellent" or "Superior" rating from adjudicators at Concert Band Music Performance Adjudication.

Nash Community College will welcome Thomas Joyner as its newest member of the Board of Trustees during the board's August meeting, where he will officially be sworn into office.
A lifelong resident of Nash County, Joyner brings decades of leadership experience in agriculture, business and community service to the college's governing board.

Louisburg College has announced Lynwood Roberson as its new vice president of Institutional Advancement.
After a search and interview process, college officials decided that Roberson would be the best fit for the role.
Hailing from Nash County, Roberson holds a degree in Justice and Public Policy from North Carolina Wesleyan University. He has spent most of his professional career working in public policy, fundraising, and outreach.