State helicopters flew over Nashville and surrounding areas Tuesday searching for two suspects. (Graphic photo by Amanda Clark)

The Nash County Sheriff’s Office is continuing its search for two men in connection with a shooting outside the Nash County Courthouse on Tuesday morning.
Two men were shot right outside the courthouse doors just after 11 a.m. on Tuesday, October 28. The victims, Lamar Shonte Ricks and Donte’a Evans, were initally reported to have received non-life threatening injuries. Those injuries are now considered critical. 

Costume-clad runners will once again take to the streets of Nashville on Saturday for the second annual Monster Dash for United Way.
Last year’s event brought out close to 300 runners. Over $7,000 was raised in the first event, which is sponsored by Nash County, United Way Tar River Region and the Town of Nashville. Proceeds go towards the United Way Tar River Region.

STEAK, BURGER AND GOOD CONVERSATION! –– The Boys and Girls Clubs of Nash/Edgecombe County hosted its annual Steak and Burger Dinner on Thursday, October 23 at the Gateway Convention Center. The Steak & Burger Dinner is a fundraising event that provides the opportunity for Boys & Girls Club members to have dinner with corporate sponsors and community leaders. Simon T. Bailey was the guest speaker for this year’s event.

Early voting has gotten off to a good start, with around 7,500 voting as of Tuesday afternoon, Nash County Board of Elections Director John Kearney said.
Kearney said the final figures may end up being about the same, however, since the early voting period is 7 days shorter than usual.

The Nashville Graphic is introducing officers of the Nashville Police Department each month as part of an “Officer Spotlight” series.  The articles are featured the last Thursday of each month  to help Nashville residents get to know the officers who protect and serve their communities.

A local band was recently recognized with album of the year at the 2014 International Music and Entertainment Awards.
Against Their Will was nominated for three awards and won Metal Album of the Year at the awards ceremony, which was held in Ashland, Kentucky.
Jake Tripp, the group’s bass player who is from Nashville, said the group was surprised to hear they had won.

A Nashville organization is hoping to transform the lives of women by offering life and job skills needed to be successful.
Christian Women’s Job Corps of Faith (CWJC) was formed out of Faith Christian Ministries last October. For the past year, the organization has been working to train mentors and get set up. Soon, the organization will operate out of a new location in Downtown Nashville, in a new office building Faith Christian Ministries recently purchased.

An Elm City man was killed Saturday night in a car accident.
According to the NC State Highway Patrol, a vehicle driven by Owen Smith, III, 26, of Middlesex, was traveling east on Valley Road around 7 p.m. when it ran off the road to the right, overcorrected, crossed the center line and ran off the road again, striking trees.

John Thomas Vick recently donated a note written from his father, Joseph Thad (JT) Vick, to Harold D. Cooley in 1933. The note was written on the back of Cooley stationary and was a receipt for hogs the two had bought together. The framed note will hang at the library near other Cooley memorabilia. Pictured above (L-R) is Nashville Mayor Donald Street, John Thomas Vick, Cooley Library Associate Otis Chancey and Library Director Brian Booth.

US SENATE
Thom Tillis (R)
Kay Hagan (D)
Sean Haugh (L)

On Saturday, October 18th, the East Carolina Council of the Boy Scout Assocation dedicated the new $100,000 Nick Boddie Aquatic Center located at Camp Charles in  Bailey on Charles Lake.
The new center includes kayaks, canoes and rowboats and a new pier available for both individuals, community groups and Scout groups. 

The Coopers Ruritan Club recently gave all third graders at Coopers Elementary School their very own dictionaries. Pictured above, students look up words in the dictionary. (Graphic photos by Amanda Clark)

Dr. Douglas Boyette, medical director of Hospice and Palliative Care of Nash General Hospital, was recently granted the Hospice Medical Director Certified credential by the Hospice Medical Director Certification Board. Dr. Boyette was recognized for his commitment to improving the quality of life by displaying professional competency in the hospice industry.

Nashville’s Chamber of Commerce will host its monthly First Friday Coffee November 7th starting at 7:30 am at The Nashville Exchange in downtown Nashville. Pictured above, chamber member and Nash County Commissioner Lisa Barnes (left) chats with chamber board member Amy Beasley during the October event.

Senator Angela R. Bryant
Profession:  Lawyer and  Diversity and Organizational Development Consultant
Family:  Significant other, Lorenzo Ellis and two cats, Tiger Woods and Juney Bug; daughter of the late Alexander H. “Tuffy”  and Ethel Lucas Bryant
Hobbies:  Dancing, Walking, playing the tamborine and other handheld percussion instruments

Richard Scott 
Profession or background:  Native of Halifax County, North Carolina; Graduate of East Carolina University with a BS in Health Education; Teacher with a North Carolina “A” Teaching Certificate; GED Core Competency Instructor and Career Readiness Certification Instructor  For Halifax Community College for 6 years; 24 years of private sector business experience owning and operating restaurants...

Bobby Joe Fisher
Age: 79
Profession or background: Retired farmer - tobacco whse. man
Hobbies: Watching all sports, cooking, helping kids through 4-H

Willie Harrison
Age: 72
Profession or background: Retired Police Officer
Family: married, 2 sons, 3 grands
Hobbies: Traveling, farming, hunting

Thirty-three were arrested recently in a special operation targeting suspects charged with narcotics distribution and other offenses.
The U.S. Marshals Service, Eastern District of North Carolina, and the Rocky Mount Police Department, concluded the operation, Operation First Frost, recently. The operation is the second major warrant service operation this year.

Nash County Planning and Inspections issued the following building permits from October 6 through October 10

INCIDENTS
An obtaining money/property by false pretense was reported on 10/20/14 at 1112 N Mulberry Road
Found property was reported on 10/20/14 at 801 S First Street
A larceny was reported on 10/21/14 at 107 N Boddie Street
A damage to property (Vandalism) was reported on 10/23/14 at L&L #9, Eastern Avenue

A narcotics violation was reported on 10/20/14 at 1340 N Wesleyan Boulevard
A breaking, entering and larceny of a residence was reported on 10/20/14 at 8611 Norris Avenue
A breaking, entering and larceny of a residence was reported on 10/20/14 at 12435 N NC Highway 43
A breaking, entering and larceny  of an outbuilding was reported on 10/21/14 at 12798 S NC 581

The retail staff at Nashville Post Office was recognized for its performance during the National Customer Engagement Campaign’s greeting card contest. The staff will be presented a Spot Award for its 87 percent increase in greeting card sales over the previous weeks among the highest increase in the nation.
“Our Sales and Service Associates (SSAs) put forth great effort toward the success of Nashville Post Office,” said Postmaster Samuel Benton.

Lynne Hobbs was recognized last month for her 20 years of service to Nash County.
Hobbs retired on September 30, 2014 with 20 years and three months of service to the county. Seventeen of those years were spent serving as Nash County’s Finance Director.
A retirement party was held to honor Hobbs on September 29, with co-workers, county commissioners, family and friends attending.

The East End Baptist Church in Rocky Mount launched the third phase of its community based project which entails building a new sanctuary and expansion of an education center. This was a joyous occasion as Pastor Mack E. Battle gathered outside on the grounds facing Coleman Avenue, leading the congregation and community leaders in the celebration of the ground breaking ceremony for this community “Faith-Based” organization.

On a beautiful autumn morning Peachtree folks gathered for worship.  Sanctuary flowers were given by Beverly Wilson in honor and memory of the saints at Peachtree.  The choir sang “Ancient Words”.
Pastor Whitehouse chose as his sermon topic, “Sin Looks Good for Awhile”.   It was based on Jonah 1.  This is a true story which took place in 756 BC.  God is the hero, not Jonah.

Eight members of the Nash County 4-H Exchange Club visited the Carver County Exchange Club in Minnesota this summer.
While in Minnesota, the club was able to tour several interesting sites across the state including the State Capital, the International Wolf Center, The Sudan Iron Mine, Lake Superior and the Pipestone National Monument. In addition, the youth learned about the diversity of Minnesota agriculture spanning from dairy farms to raising pigeons to training and showing llamas as a 4-H project.

The Nash Central High School Marching Bulldogs won Grand Champion at a band competition, “Rumble in the Jungle,” held at Southview High School on Saturday October 11, 2014. They placed either first or second in every category with an overall rating of Superior. First place recognition was given for music, marching and percussion and second place recognition was given for general effect, drum major, color guard.

Mary Helen Moore, Miss Chapel Hill USA 2015, was recently a top 10 contestant in the Miss USA NC competition, which was held October 10 and 11 in High Point.
Moore, a Nashville native, is a junior at UNC-Chapel Hill, where she is majoring in journalism and minoring in chemistry and history. She will graduate in 2016.

Pictured (L -R) West Mount Ruritan Club member Calvin Jones presents a donation to Angel Ricks and JW Breedlove of the Nash County Sheriff’s Office DARE Program.

Meredith Holland (at left), of My Sister’s House, receives a donation from Trish Pittman, member of the West Mount Ruritan Club.

Saturday, November 1 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Thorne’s Chapel Baptist Church, 1624 Windsor Drive, Rocky Mount
Saturday, November 1 from 9:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. at the Nashville Fire Department, Barnes Street in Nashville
Monday, November 3 from 2:30 until 7 p.m. at Lakeside Baptist Church, 1501 Sunset Avenue, Rocky Mount

Navy Seaman Dylan C. Poage, son of William M. Poage of Durham,  and Mary A. Proctor of Nashville, recently completed U.S. Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill.
During the eight-week program, Poage completed a variety of training which included classroom study and practical instruction on naval customs, first aid, firefighting...

The Rocky Mount Garden Club recently visited the Nashville Boys and Girls Club to spruce up the club’s sign. Club members weeded under the sign and put down plants. Pictured (L-R) is: Stepheny Houghtlin, Dolores O’Keeffe, Club President Brenda Crocker, Connie Gorham and Jeanne Sprangler. The club meets the fourth Thursday of each month. For info, call 443-6513.

Boy Scout Troop 11 of Rocky Mount held an Eagle Court of Honor on October 6 where three scouts received the highest rank in Boy Scouts, Eagle Scout. Pictured (L-R) is: Nick Corn, Landis Schrock, Jacob Sandy. The Troop 11 meets on Monday nights at 7pm at West Haven Presbyterian Church.

John Battle had taken months to prepare for the city’s 3 on 3 outdoor basketball tournament. The year was 1996, and 84 teams were booked on a Saturday to travel to Rocky Mount for what Battle describes as an “explosive” tournament scheduled to take place in the Station Square Mall parking lot.
Everything seemed to be perfect until – forecasters predicted that Hurricane Fran would arrive in the region the day before the tournament was scheduled to take place.

West Mount Ruritan Club member Russell Cockrell presents a donation to Englewood Presbyterian Church representative Mary Ruth Johnson for the School Back Pack Program.

Nash Community College Advertising and Graphic Design students designed the 25th Annual NCC Foundation Golf Classic t-shirt.

Hobgood Academy recently announced its Honor Roll and Principal’s List students for the first six weeks of school.
Principal’s List Students include:

Nash Community College recently added a collection of Vietri Art for the Culinary Arts Classroom made possible by the Gravely Family.

After a long weekend of soccer in Winston-Salem, I had a lot of time to experience and process things. Mostly, as I cruised across our state on I-40, I considered way too many things that bother me.
That means it is share time:
•I’ve really started to notice, after making lots of trips to Charlotte and other points west of Raleigh, that way too many people think North Carolina ends at Raleigh.

Dear editor:
“He says he loves me.”  It was my fault, if only I had the food at the right temperature.”  “He thought I spoke to a man in passing.”  These are some of the excuses women give to justify being abused by their husband, boyfriend or intimate partner.  Love is kind, patient, and it does not HURT.  According to DomesticViolenceStatistics.Org, a woman is assaulted or beaten every nine seconds in the United States.

Dear editor:
This country was founded on God, and the belief that He is our Lord and Savior. We founded this country to be free, but somewhere along the way we have lost touch from our foundation. We allowed freedom of speech, religion, among other things.

SUMMER FUN! –– This week’s Backward Glances photo was contributed by Brenda Wheeler of Nashville. Pictured above at Fort Macon (left to right) are Jo Anne Wheeler Pipkin, Sidney Wheeler, Brenda Wheeler, and Linda Wheeler. The photo was taken sometime during the 70s.

TREMENDOUS 25. Southern Nash Middle School’s Zonovan Knight (left) escapes a Red Oak defender for a gain during last Thursday afternoon’s Tri-County Conference gridiron showdown at Firebird Stadium.

STANHOPE - Southern Nash Middle School’s long-time winning streak in the Tri-County Conference came to an end earlier this season -- but that doesn’t mean the Cobras are no longer a threat in the competitive league.
Red Oak found that out last Thursday as the Tigers saw their unbeaten campaign to date spoiled during a trip to play the Cobras in a key gridiron matchup at Firebird Stadium on the campus of Southern Nash High School.

GREAT GOALIE. Nash Central High School alum Abigail Ross (second from right) has been outstanding this season as a freshman for the Louisburg College women’s soccer squad under Coach Andy Stokes.

LOUISBURG -- When going over her next-level soccer options, Nash Central High School alum Abigail Ross was looking for a school that would give her the opportunity to receive immediate playing time.
Louisburg College promised that chance to Ross, and that’s exactly what has happened for the freshman goalkeeper.
Ross has played every minute of every match this fall for the Lady Hurricanes, who will carry an 11-4-1 overall mark into this weekend’s Region X Tournament on the LC campus.

ROCKY MOUNT -- Nash Central High School will host a Trunk or Treat Event this Friday night as part of Halloween -- and the Bulldogs’ home football game against Wilson Hunt.
The event will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the student parking lot behind the football field.
There will be candy, games and plenty of fun. Parents are encouraged to bring their children in costume.

NASH COUNTY -- Here are updated results from the Nash County Parks and Recreation Department’s Fall Youth Soccer Season:

RED OAK -- Northern Nash High School swept the top honors on the All-Big East Conference Boys Cross Country Team for the 2014 season.
NN took the seven best positions at the annual Big East Championships at Red Oak Middle School.
Heading the list was Stephen Whitehead, who was saluted as the Big East Runner of the Year.

NASH COUNTY -- After leading their club to the Class 3-A State Playoffs, Northern Nash’s Susannah Sykes and Caroline Jenkins have earned spots on the  All-Big East Conference Volleyball Team for the 2014 campaign.
Both performers are seniors. Sykes is a hitter, while Jenkins is a reliable setter.
The Lady Knights went 10-11 overall and 5-5 in the Big East, which was good enough for third place in the league.

Red Oak Middle School’s Darquez Flowers (right) follows his blockers for yardage during last Thursday’s road football contest against the Southern Nash Cobras.

Team Sumner took the top spot in the First Division with a total net of 50 at the 25th Annual Nash Community College Foundation Student Scholarship Golf Classic. Pictured are (l to r) Rick Tate, Annette Dishner, Patrick Merritt and Sumner Tate.

Southern Nash’s Darius Edmundson (right) tries to avoid a fumble during the Cobras’ home victory last Thursday afternoon against Tri-County Conference rival Red Oak Middle School.

Southern Nash Middle School’s Darius Edmundson (with ball) picks up yardage for the Cobras during last Thursday afternoon’s football meeting against the Red Oak Tigers.

The Cummins Rocky Mount Engine Plant Team earned the title in the Second Division with a total net of 59 at the 25th Annual Nash Community College Foundation Student Scholarship Golf Classic at Benvenue Country Club. The foursome were declared the winner on a scorecard playoff. Pictured are (l to r) Freddy Lacewell, Calvin Ballance, Richard Rains and Kenny Farmer.

The Individual Players Team claimed the overall crown in the Third Division with a total net of 64 at the 25th Annual Nash Community College Foundation Student Scholarship Golf Classic at Benvenue Country Club. Pictured are (l to r) George Small, Dick Berry, Thomas Bashore and Frank Maynard.

ROCKY MOUNT - John Earl Lucas, 68, passed away October 24, 2014. 

Alice King Mullis Dickens, age 85, passed away on Saturday, October 25, 2014. Born in Charlotte,   on November 5, 1928, she is the daughter of the late Mayhew Harold Mullis, Sr. and Mary Cornelia King. She was also preceded in death by her two sisters, Sara Page and Nancy McDowell; her three brothers, Harold Mullis, Jr., Leon Mullis and Bill Mullis, Sr.

Cecil “Randy” Randolph Green, Jr., age 57, passed away  Saturday, October 25, 2014. Born in Nash County on November 3, 1956, he is preceded in death by his father, the late Cecil Randolph Green, Sr. He is the son of Gaynelle Flowers Alford and the late, James Edward Alford, his step-father.

NASHVILLE - Cleavon Bullock, 44, passed away on October 25, 2014.

David Jones, 86, of Rocky Mount, passed away Friday, October 24, 2014. Fuenral services will be held Friday, October 31, 2014 at 2 p.m at the Greater St. Marks Baptist Church. Burial will follow in the Bricks Family Cemetery. The Rev. Roy Pittman will officiate. An open visitation will be held at Richardson Funeral Home from 3-7 p.m. Thursday, October 30, 2014.

Deborah Nugent Tyson, 61, passed away, Friday, October 24, 2014. She was born February 12, 1953 in Nash County to the late Lee Caswell and Lula Mae Nugent. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Ronnie Tyson; sister, Teresa Michalski and step-son, Scott Tyson.

Helen Georgina Hildebrand Bunn, age 86, passed away on Thursday, October 23, 2014. Born in Toomsboro, Georgia on July 16, 1928, she was the daughter of the late George Washington Hildebrand and Delia Huffman Hildebrand. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Allison Rudolph “Rudy” Bunn; her sisters, Luella Little, Polly Norwood, Stella Hines, Myrtle Stell, Doris Carlton, Edith Smith and Beulah Mae Ferrell; and one brother, Everette Hildebrand.

Joseph “Joe” Whitley, 88, passed away, Monday, October 27, 2014. He was born April 9, 1926 in Wilson County to the late Barley Sr. and Sudie Taylor Whitley. In addition to his parents Joe was preceded in death by sisters, Dorothy Baker and Rosa Lee Page, and a brother, Archie Whitley.

Kenneth “Justin” Hill, 26, passed away on October 25, 2014. He was born April 4, 1988 to Ken and Teresa Hill.  He was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, “Pa” Rubin Lee Carpenter.

SHARPSBURG –– Marvin Powell, 63, passed away October 25, 2014. 

Myrtle Rose Robbins, 86, passed away Sunday, October 26, 2014. She was born April 11, 1928 in Wilson County to the late William Zollie and Mamie Joyner Rose. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jasper Robbins, four brothers, Arthur, Elmer, Ray and Harvey Rose, and sister, Mary Pulley.

Ruby Lane Batchelor Narron Gardner passed away Saturday, October 18th 2014. She was born to the late Fannie Moss and Edward Claudis Batchelor on January 13th, 1925. She is preceded in death by her first husband George “Runt” Narron and 2nd husband Marvin Gardner. Also preceded by sisters Edna B Hayes (Floyd), Hazel B Williams (Bud), and Kathleen Batchelor; brothers Walter, Edward, Askew, Clarence (Beluah), Edward Claudis Jr. (Mildred), Guy and Bill Batchelor.

NASHVILLE - Samuel A. Bobbitt, 74, passed away on Thursday, October 23, 2014.

ROCKY MOUNT -  Tiara Lashay Hinton, 17, passed away on October 26, 2014.