TOP OUT -- Janice Alford, an RN with Nash General's Special Care Nursery, signs the beam that is lifted to the top of the new Women's Center following a "topping out" ceremony last week.

Nash Health Care Systems celebrated the construction of its third major project last week, with a "topping out" ceremony for the new women's center, scheduled to open later this year.
The Women's Center is the third project the hospital has completed since announcing a $75 million strategic plan in September 2010. The women's center, once completed, will join the newly constructed emergency department, which includes a separate pediatric emergency department, and a heart center.

Concerned citizens are sponsoring an educational meeting on the proposed Atlantic Coast Pipeline next week.
The meeting is planned for Tuesday, June 30 from 6:30 until 8:30 p.m. at the Nash County Agricultural Center in Nashville.
Attorney Charles "Chuck" Lollar, a Virginia attorney, will provide a presentation on the impact of the pipeline on property owners and the community.
Lollar has experience handling eminent domain cases involving natural gas line projects. Originally from North Carolina, Lollar is licensed in both North Carolina and Virginia. He's currently defending numerous property owners in Virginia who are being sued by the pipeline over being able to survey on their property.

Nashville's Town Council agreed on Monday night to hold off on appointing someone to fill the recently vacated seat of Councilwoman Patricia Rogers.
Mayor Donald Street told council members that the board had two options in filling the seat. One, the board could appoint someone to fill the seat for the remainder of Rogers' term. Street said three people had expressed interest in the seat so far.
The second option was to just wait until elections in November and let the election process decide who would fill the seat.

SUMMER CAMP -- Johnna Walton cleans her paint brush off while working on a painting during a Creative Painting Class at Nash Arts. The camp will be held all week and is taught by Melanie Statnick.

Nash Arts is offering several camps this summer to help youth enhance their arts experience.
This week, the arts center is offering a creative painting camp for youth in kindergarten through fifth grade. The same camp will be held for youth in grades six through eight in July. Both camps are taught by Melanie Statnick.
Nash Arts Director Shelly Gray said the camps are just some of the new camps being offered this summer.

At a public hearing Monday, June 15, board members voted unanimously to approve Castalia's town budget for the 2015-2016 fiscal year which begins July 1. The budget includes a $460,182 general fund, $69,209 for the water system, and $13,900 for recreation, which will be used to support the town's annual Fourth of July celebration. The motion to approve the budget was put forth by Town Commissioner James Alston. Angie Elliot, the town clerk, said in a phone interview that there were "no significant changes" to the budget compared to last year's.

Nash County Commissioners were asked to approve a resolution opposing a bill that will allow for the expansion of deer farming in North Carolina.
Judy Gardner spoke to commissioners at their meeting on June 8 and said she was hoping to raise awareness of the concerns of the pending legislation.
Senate Bill 513, the Farm Act of 2015, has a long list of provisions but Gardner said one provision is concerning.
The Farm Bill calls for the expansion of the cervid farming industry by adding white-tailed deer as a new economic opportunity for North Carolina.

North Carolina poultry shows and public sales will be suspended from August 15 to January 15 due to the threat of highly pathogenic avian influenza, which means Nash County youth will be unable to show their poultry at the North Carolina State Fair.
State Veterinarian Doug Meckes and Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler announced earlier this month that the shows and sales would be suspended, including the NC State Fair and Mountain State Fair poultry shows as well as bird shows at county fairs, live bird auctions and poultry swap meets.

Pictured above, Kylie Rountree, 12, works on the finishing touches of her apron at sewing camp last week.

A local highway patrolmen was recognized last month with a Samaritan Service Award for helping to save a man who was attempting to commit suicide.
Sergeant Timothy C. Askew was presented, along with 17 others, with department awards at a special service held on May 19.
Colonel Bill Grey, Commander of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol and Frank L. Perry, Secretary of the Department of Public Safety presented the awards, which included the State Highway Patrol Appreciation Award, Meritorious Award, Samaritan Award, Tommy Cheek Collision Reduction Award, and the Valor Award.

INCIDENTS
A larceny was reported on 6/14/15 at Food Lion, 1151 Eastern Avenue
A damage to property (vandalism) was reported on 6/16/15 at McDonalds, 501 W Washington Street
A larceny was reported on 6/16/15 at 203 Woodfield Drive

A fraud was reported on 6/15/15 at 10601 E NC 97
A felony larceny and breaking and entering were reported on 6/15/15 at 7260 Schooners Road
A breaking and entering a motor vehicle and felony larceny were reported on 6/15/15 at 534 Worth Road
A larceny was reported on 6/16/15 at 10846 Lancaster Store Road

Nash County Planning and Inspections issued the following building permits from June 15 through June 19.

The Nash County Sheriff's Office arrested an Enfield man last week on various drug charges.
The Narcotics Unit received information last Wednesday, June 17 through community relations that Nakeen Kiry Sanders, 25, would be delivering a large amount of narcotics to the Carolina BBQ parking lot in Gold Rock.
The Narcotics Team, along with the Rocky Mount Police Department Narcotics Members, were able to locate Sanders as he arrived in the parking lot.

Linda Jones recently stepped down from the Board of Directors at My Sister's House but her work with the organization will continue for many more years.
Jones' three-year-term on the board ended and she decided she didn't want to be reappointed
Jones has served in many positions on the Board of Directors since her involvement with My Sister's House began around 15 years ago. Along with serving on the board, Jones has also volunteered in many capacities.

Nash County is offering property owners along all existing county-owned water lines a reduced water tap fee until June 30.
The reduced rates include a reduced water tap fee of $750 for a 3/4" service tap and $1,000 for a 1" service tap.
Nash County has been supplying water to County residences since 2000. Connection to the system is completely voluntary for existing residences but required for new construction.

The 44th annual Independence Celebration, which is scheduled to be held from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Friday, July 3, 2015, will include food vendors, kids' activities and entertainment from East Coast Rhythm and Blues Band, as well as the Main Event Band.
Gates at the Rocky Mount Sports Complex's Bishop Stadium will open at 6 p.m. for the Independence Celebration. The East Coast Rhythm and Blues Band will perform from 6 p.m. until 7:15 p.m.

My Sister's House recently said goodbye to Graciela Macias, who served as the Latino Outreach Coordinator for five years.
Macias, who has lived in Nashville for the past 20 years, recently moved back to Texas, where she is originally from. She said her father has been ill and she needed to be closer to her family.
"Seeing the family two weeks out of the year is nothing," she said.

The 2015 Special Olympics North Carolina Summer Games concluded May 31 in Raleigh and Cary, ending a weekend of competition for nearly 1,500 athletes from across the state in aquatics, athletics, gymnastics, powerlifting, softball and volleyball, according to Keith L. Fishburne, President/CEO of SONC.

Young ladies at Nashville's Boys and Girls Club recently received skin care tips during a SMART Girls program.
The SMART Girls program is a National Boys and Girls Club program that focuses on healthy attitudes and lifestyles, eating right, staying fit and getting good health care. The program is for young ladies ages eight to 17.
RaShaunda Ashford visited the club on a Friday afternoon earlier this month to give ladies a basic skin care course.

West Mount Ruritan member Gold Joyner presents scholarships to area students. Picture with Gold, left to right, are: Jenna Greene, Kelsee Whitley and Halie Joyner. Not pictured is Amber Bissette. (Contributed photo)

West Mount Volunteer Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary gave a donation to the West Mount Fire Department to purchase new radios for the new fire truck. Pictured, left to right, are: Gladys Winstead, Buck Pittman, Assistant Fire Chief, Ronald Cobb, Assistant Fire Chief, Jan Howell, Trish Pittman and Pat Joyner. (Contributed photo)

Coopers Ruritan Club donated all the proceeds from selling drinks at the Coopers Elementary School Spring Fling. Accepting the check from Charles Ethridge, Coopers Ruritan President, is Michelle Bass, representing Coopers Elementary School PTO, and her daughter, Cammie.

Sandy Hall (center), Nash County 4H Director, recently attended Coopers Ruritan Club as a guest speaker offering information about the 4H events and activities. Charles Ethridge (left) Coopers Ruritan President and Ken Powell (right) Chairman of Business and Professional Committee, presents a check to Sandy Hall sponsoring one child's membership to attend 4H Camp this summer.

The Momeyer Ruritan Club presented three scholarships at its June 15 meeting. Stuart Parker (far right), Momeyer Ruritan Club Scholarship Chairman, presented the scholarships to Devon Carter (far left), a rising sophomore at North Carolina State University, Lauren Wells (center) and Kendall Parker. Wells will attend Campbell University and Parker will attend East Carolina University.

Chowan University officially recently announced the Spring 2015 semester's Dean's List honorees.
Dean's List winners have accomplished a grade point average between 3.25 and 3.79 for the semester.
Locals named to the Dean's List include Braxton Carter, of Nashville, Trevor Marshall and Jeffrey Person, both of Castalia, Kaitlin Moore, of Whitakers and Jameil Thomas, of Rocky Mount.

Leaders of Nash and Edgecombe Counties and the City of Rocky Mount are trying to work on a solution to avoid splitting up the Nash-Rocky Mount School System but so far, the entities have not agreed on a resolution.
Nash County Commissioners requested legislation to split the school system down county lines in April after a report showed funding inequities between Nash and Edgecombe Counties for the school system.

A new movie starring Kevin Sorbo (Hercules, God's Not Dead), pop star Amy Grant and country music singer Mark Collie has just been released by Town Square Pictures. "The Secret Handshake" is written and directed by Howie Klausner who co-wrote Space Cowboys starring Clint Eastwood and Tommy Lee Jones.
The Secret Handshake is a coming-of-age movie about a young boy who starts down the wrong path and is taken on a camping trip by three concerned men. The problem is, camping is as new to them as it is to the boy they're trying to help and a three-day lost-in-the-woods adventure begins.

The Nash County Health Department is partnering with Walgreens and Greater than AIDS to host a free HIV testing event June 25 through 27 in Rocky Mount.
The community event is being provided ot encourage individuals to know their HIV status and take advantage of free HIV testing at the Walgreens on Sunset Avenue in Rocky Mount during the three-day period.
Testing will be held on Thursday, June 25 and Friday, June 26 from 3 until 7 p.m. and on Saturday, June 27 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Wow! Have times changed. When I was younger, I couldn't get enough sun and the heat just made it better. I would work all day cutting grass around home, then I would get on the tractor and mow my little farm path and when that was all done, if there was still light, I would lower the deck on my mower and cut some more. Before or after I started mowing, I would go to the tanning bed to even up my tan and I had the prettiest, even golden tan around. Now, after a few spots that "really" got my attention, times and things have changed.

Jacob's Friends enjoyed a wonderful afternoon of fishing and fellowship on Saturday, June 6. Jacob's Friends is a new ministry by Red Oak United Methodist Church that offers activities and social interaction for children of special needs, as well as support to their parents and caregivers. This ministry is free and open to all ages - you do not have to be a member of the church. Stay tuned for details on their next meeting.
The youth and chaperones from Red Oak Baptist Church returned home safely last Friday from MFuge in Charleston, SC

Individualism pervades Christianity. It has to do with how we commonly approach faith in God through Jesus Christ. Faith, we say, is personal not public. We therefore emphasize what we can do and what we must do as individuals. We emphasize personal commitment, personal devotions, and personal relationships with Christ. Christians getting their spiritual food via e-mail and web sites sitting by themselves with an iPad accentuates this individualism.

The flowers Sunday were placed in the church by Jean Outlaw in loving memory of her husband, Jack Outlaw. Thank you Jean. They were beautiful and we all miss Jack.
Several announcements were made Sunday morning at Beulah Church of Christ. We were told that the yard sale that had been held on Saturday at Beulah was very successful.

On Father's Day, and the first official day of summer, Peachtree folks gathered for worship. Sanctuary flowers were given in memory of Jeannie and James May by Linwood May. The choir sang the "Holy Spirit Medley." Dianne Tucker led in the recognition of fathers. She gave gift cards to several fathers who were randomly selected.
For the children's sermon, Beverly Wilson presented a skit from 'The Strangest Stories in the Bible' titled "Balaam's Donkey".

Nashville's Kiwanis Club recently recognized Terrific Kids at Cedar Grove Elementary School. Those named Terrific Kids include M. Taylor, M. Guzman, A. Leonard, D. Newbold, B. Trammer, C. Nelson, B. Mangum, Z. Mills, K. Hill, R. Braswell, A. Evans, S. Lynch, H. Gay, Y. Cofield, J. Battle, J. Griffin. K. Ayscue, S. Mitchell, B. Leonard, M. Harris and S. Perry. Kiwanis Club members Rhonda Jordan and Hattie Cooper (on the back row in the center) presented the students with certificates.

BLANDING
Army Pvt. Skyler I. Blanding has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. During the nine weeks of training, the soldier studied the Army mission, history, tradition and core values, physical fitness, and received instruction and practice in basic combat skills, military weapons, chemical warfare and bayonet training, drill and ceremony, marching, rifle marksmanship, armed and unarmed combat, map reading, field tactics, military courtesy, military justice system, basic first aid, foot marches, and field training exercises.

The Rocky Mount Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity presented 11 young men April 26 in its 2014-15 Beautillion Militaire Leadership Training Program.
This year's class was made up of high school juniors and seniors from Nash and Wake counties. The biennial program works to prepare the participants, called "Beau," academically and financially for college through a series of activities and development workshops. These included a recent visit to the N.C General Assembly in Raleigh, where participants watched the N.C. House and N.C. Senate in session and were welcomed by state legislators who are members of Kappa Alpha Psi.

How can man be so brilliant while at the same time be dumb as dirt.
I apologize to the soil that God created to help sustain life for saying that. Dirt is not dumb. Dirt, un-scathed by man, takes natural vegetation that grows each year, and, when it falls back to the surface of the dirt as part of its life cycle, it decomposes that vegetation into nutrients to grow next year's bounty.
Dirt, unlike man, is not dumb. Dirt, I apologize to you for my errant language.

I had just began to think about taking my boys to the beach when I saw numerous stories about shark attacks on our coast.
It made me rethink my plans a bit.
Maybe we'll just skip the beach this year.
Or maybe we'll go to the lake.
Or a river.

No, you didn't dream it -- just a few weeks ago, folks around here were still wearing long sleeve shirts, hoodies, and jeans. Many heat pumps were set to "off," or at least there was a battle between "heat" and "cool."
But now, summer is upon us.
When I was younger, I had mixed feelings about summer. It meant the end of the school, but it also meant full-fledged garden work. At one point, it meant tobacco farming.

NASH CENTRAL SPIKERS -- This photo originally published in The Graphic on October 22, 1981. The Nash Central volleyball team was enjoying a winning season. The team was, (front row, left to right): Gladys Mercer, Phyllis Mills, Claudette Hales, Carol Brown and Sophia Staton. Second row: Veronica Jones, Towanda Cooper and Myra Jones. Third row: Manager Sharlene Hunter, Coach Jerry Jackson and Manager Jeryl Boddie.

PARVO KILLS ~ Parvo is a highly contagious viral infection. If you add to that intestinal worms, double whammy. These are two things that dog owners can do themselves, if they cannot afford to go to a vet, although that is best. Places like feed stores have the vaccines and wormer. Parvo disease is spread from dog to dog mainly through exposure to feces of sick dogs.

ROCKY MOUNT -- When he was a freshman at Nash Central, Aaron Spivey set a goal to one day play college basketball.
But when it came time to make that goal official during his senior campaign, Spivey thought long-term instead of instant glory.
That's why Spivey, a recently graduated senior, has accepted an academic scholarship offer to attend prestigious Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem.
Spivey received offers from some smaller schools to join their respective hoops program, but the opportunity to attend Wake Forest -- and have 95 percent of it paid for -- was too good to pass up.

TOP FORM. Veteran standout Langdon Norris competes in an event last Thursday for Nash Rec during its home match against Birchwood CC.

NASHVILLE -- With temperatures nearing 100 degrees last Thursday, participants couldn't wait to dive into the pool for the beginning of the Nash-Halifax Swim League season.
Defending champion Nash Rec, despite a rebuilt roster, ruled the day as the Sharks delivered a 486-124 victory over backyard rival Birchwood Country Club at the NRST Pool.

CHAPEL HILL -- Wells Fargo, along with the North Carolina High School Athletic Association, has announced the final standings in the Wells Fargo Conference Cup competitions for the 2014-15 academic year, following the conclusion of the spring sports season.
The Wells Fargo Cup Award recognizes the schools that achieve the best overall interscholastic athletic performance within each of the state's four competitive classifications.

ROCKY MOUNT -- Whenever a new football coach arrives on a high school campus, one of his first worries is how many players will participate when off-season workouts begin.
That hasn't necessarily been a problem for incoming Nash Central skipper Chris Lee, who has welcomed an average of 45 performers to each practice or weight-room session.

GREENSBORO -- Due to a construction conflict, the site has changed for the upcoming North Carolina Coaches Association's East-West All-Star Soccer Games.
Instead of at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro, the contests will be held at McPherson Stadium at the Bryan Park Soccer Complex in Guilford County.
The matches will be played July 21, beginning with the women's game at 6:30 p.m. The men's event will follow at 8:30 p.m.
Northern Nash's Tristan Marshall will serve as a keeper for the East Team in the boys showdown.

WOODBRIDGE, VA.. - The first half of the 2015 season came to a quiet finish in the Class A Carolina League as the Carolina Mudcats were shutout in back-to-back baseball games by the Potomac Nationals at Pfitzner Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Carolina lost Saturday's suspended game 4-0 and dropped the finale of the series 1-0 on Sunday afternoon.
The Mudcats (34-35) were held to just one run over the final three games of the series, but finished the final road trip of the first half with a 4-3 record.

ROCKY MOUNT -- The North Carolina Wesleyan College baseball program has announced that NCWC alum Zach Alexander has been promoted to a full-time assistant coach with the Battling Bishops.
Alexander's promotion follows the resignation of long-time assistant coach Ernie Jones, who dedicated over 22 years of service to the college.
Alexander recently completed his third season as an assistant coach with his alma mater.

HEATER ON A HOT DAY. Nash Central's starting pitcher delivers a fastball toward home plate during Monday's home Babe Ruth Prep Tournament action against Bunn.

ROCKY MOUNT -- After dominating regular season action, Nash Central picked the wrong time to have an off night at the Nash County Prep Babe Ruth Baseball Tournament.
Nash Central's club, which boasts several players from this year's middle school conference champions, went undfeated during the regular season under Coaches Noah Shrock and Tyler Barrow -- both of whom play on the NCHS high school club.

Bunn's D.J. Daniel reacts after a close play at third base.

Nash Rec's Joshua Holloman gets some assistance from Coach Perry Currin as part of the Pup Squad events last Thursday in Nashville.

Birchwood Country Club's Braxton Cochrane makes a splash during last Thursday evening's Nash-Halifax Swim League matchup on the road against the Nash Rec Sharks.

Alexis "A.G." Gordon Ingram, age 75, passed away on Tuesday, June 23, 2015.

Frances Blalock Rodwell, age, 87, died Wednesday, June 24, 2015, in Rocky Mount, NC.

Margie Cooper Moss, 84, passed away, Wednesday, June 24, 2015.

Ruby Leonard Batchelor of Nashville, passed away June 25, 2015

Arbutus Alston Hilliard, 89, of Nashville, passed away on Thursday, June 18, 2015.

Evangelist Christine Perry, 75 of Rocky Mount, passed away June 16, 2015.

Flora "Ernestine" Bennett Dunston, 86, passed away Saturday, June 20, 2015. A funeral service will be held Thursday, June 25, 2015 at Haywood Baptist Church. Burial will follow in the Haywood Church Cemetery. The Rev. Michael Richardson will officiate.

Frances "Franny" Alberta Holtzclaw Braswell, age 86, of Rocky Mount, passed away on Thursday, June 18, 2015. She was born January 8, 1929 in Charlotte, NC the daughter of the late David Albert Holtzclaw and Mary Frances Ritter Holtzclaw.

Hattie Williams, 90, of Rocky Mount, passed away on June 22, 2015.

Jacqueline "Jackie" Ball, 53, passed away Tuesday, June 16, 2015.

James Thomas Boone, 82, passed away Tuesday, June 23, 2015. He was born to the late Lonnie Clifton and Mattie Edwards Boone in Wilson County. James was also preceded in death by his wife, Ethel Birney Boone and a grandchild, Daniel Pridgen.

Johnny Talbot Willis, 56, of Rocky Mount, passed away Wednesday, June 17, 2015.

Kamela Bertrace Alston, 37, passed away Saturday, June 20, 2015. A funeral service will be held Saturday, June 27, 2015 at Social Union Baptist Church. Burial will follow in the Oakland Cemetery. The Rev. Nathaniel Bunn will officiate. A wake will be held at Richardson Funeral Home in Nashville on Friday, June 26, 2015 from 7-8 p.m.

Lou Adkins Walker, age 68, passed away on Wednesday, June 17, 2015. She was born on May 6, 1947 in Halifax County to the late Lewis Adkins and Catherine Boyd Adkins. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by a sister, Ann Adkins Phillips.

Luther Alton "Bud" Joyner, 83, passed away on Monday, June 22, 2015. He was born in Nash County to the late John Luther and Effie Batts Joyner of Bend of the River Road Community. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his wife of 58 years, Virginia; four sisters, Fannie Pearl, Ocie, Doris Poplin and Reba Carpenter and one brother, Nurney.

Ronald Elijah Coggin, 80, passed away on Friday, June 19, 2015. He was born February 28, 1935 in Nash County,