Nashville’s Town Council gave Town Manager Preston Mitchell some direction in preparing the upcoming budget, during a three-day budget retreat, which began on Friday and ended on Monday.
The retreat was held in council chambers and included discussions on a variety of items, including town vehicles, infrastructure and personnel. Discussions also centered on future projects for the town including ongoing community development projects.

Nash County Social Services Director Melvia Batts told Nash County Commissioners Monday that she anticipates Nash County will have its food stamp applications and recertifications caught up within the federal government’s required time line, but to do so has required overtime, additional resources and added staff.

Willie McNair (at right) dances with his daughter, Serenity, 8, on Saturday night at the annual Daddy Daughter Dance, hosted by the Nash County Parks and Recreation. The event is held at the Nash County Agricultural Center in Nashville. Around 500 attended the dance, which has grown tremendously since the event was first held.

A father brought the case of his son’s alleged bullying to the Nash-Rocky Mount Schools (NRMS) board meeting Monday night, noticeably upset by the incident and its unresolved investigation. “The campaign against bullying is not going well,” he commented. “I wonder why?”
Dr. Anthony Jackson, NRMS superintendent, did not have any comment by press time.

ROBBIE STONE

After a three-decade career in the Nash County Communications Center, Robbie Stone’s name has become synonymous with Nash County 911.
Last week, Stone retired after spending close to 35 years with Nash County.
Stone’s career with Nash County Communications began on July 18, 1979. Stone was just 18 years old.

Murder charges against a Middlesex man have been dropped.
Law enforcement officers in Johnston County found that Jerome Bernard Neal, 29, of Barnes Lake Road in Middlesex, was acting in self-defense when he shot Darrick Hagans, 18, and Kwami Jones, 19, both of Spring Hope on the evening of January 11. Hagans was killed.

Nash Health Care welcomed a new era in local state-of-the-art medicine during a recent ribbon-cutting ceremony and open houses for the new Emergency Department and Nash Heart Center. The facility is scheduled to receive its first patients in late March. Nash Health Care held five open houses to introduce the facility to the community. These events welcomed Foundation contributors, Chamber of Commerce members, employees, and local officials.

Nashville’s Chamber of Commerce will host its First Friday Coffee on Friday, February 7 at 7:30 a.m. The event will take place at The Nashville Exchange in downtown Nashville.
For more information on the event and the chamber, visit www.nashvillencchamber.org or call 459-4050.

INCIDENTS
A damage to property (vandalism)  and breaking and entering a commercial property was reported on 1/28/14 at Nashville SuperMarket, 815 S Alston Street
A larceny after a breaking and entering and breaking and entering a motor vehicle was reported on 1/28/14 at 121 Wheeless Drive

A breaking, entering and larceny of an outbuilding was reported on 1/28/14 at 4879 Pine Street
An assault inflicting serious injury and sexual assault was reported on 1/29/14 at 220 W Washington Street
An injury to personal property was reported on 1/29/14 at S NC 58 and Viverett Road
A domestic violence was reported on 1/29/14 on River Walk Drive

The Nashville Chamber of Commerce is seeking nominations for this year’s Distinguished Citizen.
According to Chamber President Elaine Corbett nominees do not have to be a chamber member nor does the nominating individual or group. The nominee should be a citizen or business person from the Nashville area and should be a person who strives to make our community a better place for all.

Nash County experienced a snowfall of an average of five inches in most areas on Tuesday night, January 28th. Nashville U.S. Mail Carrier Crystal Joyner confirms the mail does get delivered in snow and ice.

Ben Lewis prepares to take a sled ride.

The fine, powder-like snow proved a bit tricky when building snowmen.

The Nash-Rocky Mount Schools (N-RMS) Board of Education agreed last week to support a resolution that joins in a lawsuit against the state challenging private school vouchers.
Senate Bill 402 is legislation that was signed in July to take effect in the 2014-2015 school year.
The bill allows for “Opportunity Scholarship Grants” of up to $4,200 in per year per eligible student to attend private schools.

The Town of Spring Hope’s auditor applauded staff for their conservative efforts over the past year.
John Pollard, CPA, presented the audit report to Spring Hope board members on Monday night during the board’s regular meeting.
Pollard said the audit report he was presented was a “clean opinion” and no findings were reported.

Lemmie and Barbara Summerlin will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary on February 8, 2014. A luncheon will be held in their honor on February 9 by their sons and daughters-in-law; Jeff and April Summerlin, Eric and Kimberly Summerlin and Brad and Paige Summerlin.  Lemmie and Barbara also have eight grandchildren.

Mr. and Mrs. Ray Keith of Creedmoor are proud to announce the engagement of their daughter, Brittany LeeAnn, to Wesley Brooks Cogdell, son of Mr. and Mrs. Haywood Cogdell of Nashville.
The bride-elect is the granddaughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Paul Chappell and the late Mr. and Mrs. J.L. Keith, all of Creedmoor.

A Nashville resident is among those who recently graduated from the University of North Carolina Pembroke during Winter commencements. The graduates include undergraduate and graduate degrees conferred and also includes student who finished during summer sessions.
Herman Jarrod Hardy, of Nashville, received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Exercise and Sport Science.

Carl Wayne Smith was appointed to the position of 1st Ceremonial Master for 2014 for Sudan Shriners by the newly elected Sudan Potentate, Ricky Jackson at the annual stated elections and meeting on January 25, 2014. 
The term, “Ceremonial Master” is a ceremonial title given to one of the six appointed officers of Sudan Temple. 

The Office of Governor Pat McCrory recently announced appointments to the North Carolina State Commission for Public Health after the governor addressed the State Health Director’s 2014 conference meeting in Raleigh.
During his remarks, the governor called public health workers unsung heroes and compared them to first responders who are charged with protecting and improving the health of a community.

Seven-year-old Olivia Ashman (at left) enjoys a dance with her dad, Dave Ashman, on Saturday at the Daddy Daughter Dance, which was held at the Nash County Agriculture Center in Nashville.

Thomas Allred and his daughter, Allison, 10, of Red Oak, take a break from dancing at the Daddy Daughter Dance.

Jeremy Sisolack slow dances with his daughter, Sophia, 5.

Myranda Copeland (at right), 9, enjoyed the Daddy Daughter Dance with her uncle, Archie Jones.

Peachtree folks gathered for worship, as has been their custom for two hundred and five years.  Early records dating back to February 6, 1809 indicate that a church was in operation here, by the name of Moses {or Mores} Meeting House.  This fellowship has met continuously since that date.

Our music today was brought by Robert, Amy Tyner and friends. Amy does most of the singing. The four guys play guitars and some of them sing a little. We have inserts with the words in our bulletins to enable us to sing along if we so desire. They are a contemporary band. The titles of their songs were: “Word of God, Speak,” “Glorious Day,” Revelation Song,” and “Give Me Jesus.” All had a spiritual meaning.

The Red Oak United Methodist Church  “Putting on the Armor” Bible study was cancelled last Friday due to the weather and road conditions, but they plan to continue each Friday night at 6:00 PM in the ROUMC Fellowship Hall.
Big plans are in the works for ROUMC!  One event will involve feeding 20,000 hungry people. (Yes, 20,000!)   More information and details of how you can participate coming soon.

Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Eric R. McWithey has graduated from the U.S. Navy’s Enlisted Nuclear Power School at Naval Nuclear Power Training Command in Goose Creek, S.C.
Nuclear Power School is a rigorous six-month course that trains officer and enlisted students in the science and engineering fundamental to the design, operation, and maintenance of naval nuclear propulsion plants.

The Pregnancy Care Center Board of Directors has named Dr. Marc Newman, founder and president of Speaker for Life, as the 2014 Celebrate Life Banquet keynote speaker.
The Celebrate Life Banquet will be held at Englewood Baptist Church on Thursday, February 20, 2014 at 7 p.m.  Reservations are required and must be made by Wednesday, February 12th.

Wednesday, February 5 from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Edgecombe Community College in Rocky Mount, 225 Tarboro Street
Thursday, February 6 from 2 until 5 p.m. at Draka Elevator Products, 2151 North Church Street, Rocky Mount
Thursday, February 6 from 8:45 until 11:30 a.m. at Boddie Noell, 1021 Noell Lane, Rocky Mount

So, by now, you’re tired of hearing about the Super Bowl. It was historic, though, as there was a long string of blowouts in the game just a few years ago. And be honest, it’s really about the jalapeno cheese dip and the hot wings, not the game, anyway.
Usually to compensate, we can count on creative commercials to carry the day.

Any man can dress up and take his little girl out for a daddy daughter night but it takes a real man to attend a Daddy Daughter Dance and be more than willing to do the chicken dance with your daughter.
And, there were hundreds of “real men” at the Daddy Daughter Dance I covered on Saturday night. It was not only interesting to watch hundreds of daddies with their daughters doing the chicken dance but to also see all the other dances they were doing! We’ve got some pretty good dancing daddies in Nash County!

I can only imagine how bittersweet it is to retire from something you truly love to do.
Friday was Robbie Stone’s last day as Nash County’s E911 Director. He, and his wife, who also works for Nash County, are retired. A reception was held Friday at Nash County Emergency Services at which Robbie was presented with the NC Long Leaf Pine Award.

This photo was originally published in The Nashville Graphic on January 21, 1965. We figured a glance back of kids having fun in the snow was appropriate since Nash County recently experienced some wintry weather. The 1965 snowfall was reported as the first snow of winter beginning on a Friday afternoon until about 9 a.m. Sunday.

Fifty percent of the pets that go to the Nash County Animal Control Shelter are SAVED!  Fifty percent of the pets that go to the Shelter DIE!  In particular CATS die.  But DOGS  do also.  How is the best way to prevent this?  By fixing your pet with spay and neuter so there are no more babies to grow up to just die when they show up as strays or whatever their story is.  It is not just ADULTS that die, it is BABIES too! 

MEDLIN MAKES HIS MARK. Southern Nash High School’s Dakota Medlin (top) prepares to wrap up this match with a pinfall at last Saturday’s Big East Conference Individual Wrestling Tournament at the SN Gymnasium.

STANHOPE -- Shaking off the rust was destined to be a major factor during last Saturday’s Big East Conference Individual Wrestling Championships at Southern Nash High School.
Heading into the event, schools in Wilson and Nash County had been postponed for four consecutive days due to inclement weather.

MERCER MAKES IT TO THE BUCKET FOR ROMS. Red Oak Middle School’s Shamiya Mercer (with ball) drives toward the basket during her team’s home girls basketball game Monday afternoon against the Parker Lady Pirates.

RED OAK -- Thanks to a new formula in the Tri-County Conference, there is plenty of life left in Red Oak Middle School’s girls basketball campaign.
In the past, the regular season leader in the Tri-County was saluted as the league champion, but that changed this year when a playoff was instituted for all sports.

GREENVILLE -- The East Carolina University baseball team received its third preseason national ranking of the season Monday when the Pirates were tabbed No. 34 by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.
The Pirates, who were picked to finish third in Conference USA by the league’s 13 head coaches, also garnered a No. 29 ranking by Perfect Game, stands No. 38 in Collegiate Baseball’s Fabulous 40 preseason poll and received votes in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches poll.

SILAS GOES STRONG. Red Oak Middle School’s Silas Gonzalez (left) goes up for a basket during his club’s home boys basketball decision on Monday afternoon against the Parker Pirates.

RED OAK -- Even though the Red Oak Tigers aren’t in consideration for a postseason berth, they still have some unfinished business to take care of in Tri-County Conference boys basketball.
The tradition-rich Tigers are in a rebuilding phase this winter, but veteran head coach Jeff Dodrill still hopes his club can pull off a winning record.

NASH COUNTY -- Last week’s inclement weather forced the postponement of several events as Nash County schools were called off for four consecutive days.
From last Tuesday though Friday, no prep sporting events were held in the county.
Action finally resumed Saturday with the Big East Conference Wrestling Tournament, along with a basketball meeting between rivals Northern Nash and homestanding Rocky Mount.

ST. LOUIS, MO. -- Junior Melissa Gilkey,  senior Chris Klimek and senior  Jasmine Williams (Nashville, Nash Central) were each named the University Athletic Association (UAA) Athletes of the Week for their respective sports, as announced Monday by the Association.
Gilkey was named the UAA Women’s Basketball Athlete of the Week for the second time this season and fifth time in her career.

ROCKY MOUNT -- North Carolina Wesleyan College’s Tamell Bradham made just one field goal last Thursday night, but it proved to be the biggest bucket of the game.
With his team trailing 69-67, the freshman converted an old-fashioned three-point play with three seconds remaining to give his Battling Bishops a 70-69 win over USA South Conference rival Methodist University in Everett Gym on the NCWC campus.

NASH COUNTY -- Here are the latest Nash County Parks and Recreation Youth Basketball League scores:

STANHOPE -- Listed are the top finishers from last Saturday’s Big East Conference Individual Wrestling Championships.
The event was held at the Southern Nash High School Gymnasium.

Brandon Farris (above) and Jordan Decosse recorded victories in these matches for the Southern Nash Firebirds during last Saturday afternoon’s Big East Conference Wrestling Tournament, which was held at the SNHS Gymnasium.

LOS ANGELES, CALIF. -- Christian Buffaloe, the 14-year-old son/student of  Kyokushin Karate instructor Kenny Buffaloe, a former Nash County resident, recently competed in the teen youth division of the “2014 Kyokushin Karate U.S.W.C. Tournament” in Little Tokyo in Los Angeles.
Sponsored by the I.K.O. Kyokushinkaikan Karate Organization, this annual tournament is one of the largest and most prestigious Kyokushin Karate full contact competitions outside of Japan. 

Nash Central’s Jonquail Jones prepares to make a move as part of his match against a Wilson Fike performer during the Big East Conference Wrestling Tournament.

Red Oak’s Zaire Edwards (middle) goes for a rebound against a pair of Parker defenders during Monday’s girls middle school basketball showdown at the ROMS Gymnasium.

Red Oak’s Anna-Shaye Thompson (middle) goes up for a shot between two Parker defenders during Monday’s middle school girls basketball game at the ROMS Gymnasium.

Red Oak Middle School’s Grayson Tanner (right) scores in the paint during Monday’s win over Parker.

Red Oak Middle School’s Carresian Whitaker drives for a basket Monday against Parker.

The first annual Valentine’s Day Gala Fundraiser is set for Saturday, February 15 at Birchwood Country Club in Nashville.
The event, “Have a Heart for the Park,” will raise money for the Bailey Middlesex Community Park.
The semi-formal event will feature dinner at 7 p.m., followed by entertainment by the East Coast Rhythm and Blues Band.

Barbara Ann Perry, 62, of Bailey passed away January 27, 2014.  A graveside service was held February 1, 2014 in Bailey Town Cemetery.  The Rev. Blake Stallings  officiated.

Bobby Silver, age 69 of Raleigh passed away on January 29, 2014.

Daisy Perry, 84 of Middlesex, passed away on January 25, 2014 at Universal Healthcare of Nashville.

Glenn Elwood “Yogi” Lancaster, 71, passed away Monday, January 27, 2014. He was born October 1, 1942 in Edgecombe County to the late William and Kassie Mosley Lancaster. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by a sister, Shirley Watkins.

Hazel “Marie” Parker Baker, 83, passed away on January 28, 2014. She was born on November 23, 1930 in Nash County. She was the daughter of Hazel Bone Parker and Curtis Haywood Parker of Nash County.

Joseph William (Bill) Whitfield, 77, passed away on Sunday evening, February 2 2014. He was born in Nashville, on June 9. 1936, the only child of Wade Hampton and Lucy Ward Whitfield, also of Nashville. He was preceded in death by a son, Thomas Addison Whitfield and wives Peggy Combs Whitfield and Ava Combs Whitfield.

Kyle Lawrence Carroll, age 29, passed away Tuesday, January 28, 2014. Born in Ohio on May 13, 1984, he is the son of Richard Carroll and Michele Breslin Carroll. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Richard Carroll Sr. and maternal grandparents, John L. Breslin and Ruth Ellen Lemay Breslin.

ROCKY MOUNT –– Lucille A. Quinichetti, 100, of Rocky Mount, died on Thursday, January 23, 2014 in Rocky Mount.

BATTLEBORO –– Mavis Battle Arrington, 94, of Battleboro, died on Monday, February 3, 2014 in Battleboro.

Nelson Stewart Lockey, age 70, passed away Wednesday, January 29, 2014. Born in Laurinburg on April 24, 1943, he was the son of the late Robert Stewart Lockey and Luvertia Yates Lockey. He was also preceded in death by his first wife, Marilyn Sanderlin Lockey.

ROCKY MOUNT –– Norman Harrell, 77, of Rocky Mount, died on Tuesday, January 28, 2014 at Nash General Hospital in Rocky Mount.

ROCKY MOUNT –– Pastor David Wayne House, 57, passed away on Friday, January 31, 2014.  He was born in Nash County, August 10, 1956.

Ronald Lee Pierce, Sr. age 68 passed away in the Vidant Medical Center, Greenville on January 31, 2014.

ROCKY MOUNT - Mr. Willie Hayman Battle, 74, of Rocky Mount, died on Sunday, February 2, 2014 at Nash General Hospital.