Nashville's Town Council approved a special use request that will allow a wireless communication tower to be built on property off of Eastern Avenue.
The property is in the town's extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) and owned by David Rose and 3MR Limited Partnership. The property is located just outside of the town's city limits past the Regency subdivision on the right.
Verizon Wireless would be constructing the tower on the property.

More than 200 public electric vehicle (EV) charging stations will soon be installed under Duke Energy's "EV Charging Infrastructure Project."
The company recently announced recipients under the program, which includes new stations planned for almost 50 counties around the state. Nashville was among those receiving the charging stations.
The $1 million project pays up to $5,000 for the purchase and installation of each charging port.

Pictured above is Davenport at the manger scene, which he said is the first thing he puts up each year.

You may not know Phil Davenport by name but chances are, you'd know his house.
Every Christmas, the Nashville man fills his yard with numerous Christmas decorations to celebrate the season. Davenport said he loves Christmas and enjoys decorating and sharing his love with others.
"I love Christmas time," he said. "Christmas is supposed to be color."

Nashville's Fire Department celebrated its top firefighters during its annual Christmas Celebration, held on Saturday, December 17.
Firefighters of the Year were named during the celebrating, including the Career Firefighter of the Year, Junior Firefighter of the Year and Volunteer Firefighter of the Year.
Battalion Chief Jason Edwards was named the Career Firefighter of the Year.

Nash County Commissioners received a positive audit report on December 5 at their regular monthly meeting.
Kari Dunlap, of Martin Starnes and Associates, presented the highlights of the audit to commissioners and said the county was in a good financial position.
Dunlap reported that Nash County's total net position ended at $56.5 million, which was an increase of almost $2.5 million.
"So that's very good," Dunlap said.

Lt. Greg Finch, with the Uniform Patrol Division of the Nash County Sheriff's Office, talks to a child at one of the six stops made on Christmas Eve to deliver gifts to families in need.

Six families throughout Nash County received a special visit from Santa and the Nash County Sheriff's Office on Christmas Eve as part of a new initiative aimed at giving back to the community during the holidays.
Sheriff Keith Stone, along with numerous deputies, participated in the first ever "A Sheriff's Christmas," surprising families at their homes on Saturday with gifts and food.

A Nash Central High School student is using her senior project to help a charitable organization.
Grayson Harris is selling her artwork and donating all proceeds to the Wildlife Conservation Society, an organization that works to preserve endangered species.
Harris' artwork is part of her senior project at Nash Central High School. The school requires all students to plan and implement a senior project, which includes a research paper, a presentation and a final product.

Rocky Mount's rich history as part of the Civil Rights movement has garnered nationwide attention in the last few years. With North Carolina State University's Dr. Jason Miller's restoration of a Nov. 27, 1962 speech given by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at Booker T. Washington High School, Rocky Mount has become a city known for its role in advancing equality for all.
That rich history is why Rocky Mount has been chosen to host Douglas Tappin's "I Dream."

INCIDENTS
A maintaining a vehicle, possession with intent to sell/deliver marijuana was reported on 12/21/16 on W Washington Street
A driving while impaired and assault on a female was reported on 12/23/15 on First Street Extension at Indian Trail
A larceny was reported on 12/23/16 at Stricklands Equipment, 309 S Barnes Street

Nash County Planning and Inspections issued the following building permits from December 19 through 23.

Peggy Weatherford, Englewood Garden Club member, stands with one of her designs. Peggy is a Master Gardener and used this design at a meeting concerning the disappearing frog.

Helen Wells Sharpe, at left, received supplemental certificates honoring two of her ancestors, who served North Carolina, during The War Between the States. Margie Parker Brantley, center, Bethel Heroes Chapter President, presented the certificates. Donna Boykin, at right, Chapter Registrar, processed the papers.

Nash-Rocky Mount Schools has released its Honor Roll lists for the first semester of the 2015-2016 School Year.
The following students at Nash-Rocky Mount Early College High School made the A or A/B Honor Roll.

McDonald's owner operators and father/son team Barry and Matt Traub provide turkeys to each of their crew at all 11 of their restaurants, including the Nashville location. They also give back to their communities and this year, chose to donate 46 turkeys to Faith Christian Ministries in Downtown Nashville. The turkeys will help feed clients of the ministry.

The Spring Hope Class of 1952 held its 64th reunion recently at the Country Inn in Spring Hope with 11 members attending. There were 56 in the Class of 1952 and 29 are still surviving. Pictured on the first row (L-R) is: James Brantley, Charlie Brantley, Jean Pridgen Brantley, Lois Turner Boone and Barbara Warren Williams. On the back row (L-R is: Guy Proctor, J.C. Womble, Lervern Sykes, Allen Edwards and Mildred Edwards. Not pictured is Richard Morgan.

For the second consecutive year, AgCarolina Farm Credit presented a donation of toys from customers and employees for local needy children. Over 700 toys were collected in the toy collection drive.
The Toys for Tots campaign began in September in conjunction with Customer Appreciation events held at AgCarolina Farm Credit's twelve branches in eastern and central North Carolina.

Nash-Rocky Mount Schools has released its Honor Roll lists for the first semester of the 2015-2016 School Year.
The following students at D.S. Johnson Elementary School made the A or A/B Honor Roll.

Pictured above, Battalion Chief Jason Edwards (at left) presents the Junior Firefighter of the Year Award to Samuel Smith (at right) during Nashville Fire Department's annual Christmas Celebration. Smith officially joined the department as a junior member this year, following his 16th birthday.

Nashville Fire Chief Randy Goodbrod (left) presents Battalion Chief Chris Joyner the Chief's Excellence Award for his leadership in the department's insurance rating inspections. The department moved from a 3 to a 4 ISO rating and Goodbrod said Joyner was in charge of that process for the department.

The North Carolina Soybean Producers Association has announced Greg Manning, a soybean producer from Nashville, and his girlfriend, Jessica Smith, have been named ASA/DuPont Young Leaders for 2016-2017. The program is a leadership development program involving participants from across the U.S. and Canada. Manning and Smith were selected to represent N.C. The ASA/DuPont Young Leader Program, now in its 33rd year, includes soybean farmers who are innovative, assertive, active leaders looking to make their mark in agriculture.

Rocky Mount native Clifton Barnes, who worked for The Nashville Graphic in high school and after graduation from college in the 1980s, has won a national writing award.
A series of articles revolving around former University of North Carolina basketball coach Dean Smith won an Award of Excellence from the DC area-based Communications Concepts through its 2016 Awards for Publication Excellence competition.

Donna Green Boykin, left, received supplemental certificates, honoring two of her ancestors, who served North Carolina, during the War Between the States. Margie Parker Brantley, right, President of Bethel Heroes 636 Chapter, United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC), presented the certificates.

Because you love your pet, you will, if you haven't already, spay and neuter them. They will live longer, for one thing besides being healthier! Because you love your pet, you will put a collar and ID on them so that you can be notified instantly if found, should they decide to go on an adventure! Or perhaps a microchip! Because you love your pet, you won't let them outside to potty without being with them, if you don't have a fence because there are bad guys out there that steal them. Besides they might go on an adventure and never come back!

The Spaulding Family Resource Center in Spring Hope hosted its annual "Christmas at Spaulding" celebration last Wednesday, December 21 from 12 until 2 p.m.
Johnny Perry, Chairman of the Spaulding Resource Center Board, opened the event by welcoming everyone. Rev. Earnest Pope, the Associate Pastor of St. Stephen Church, followed with prayer.
Spring Hope Town Manager Jae Kim greeted everyone in attendance and the Spaulding Young Children's Center provided special music.

Merry Christmas Nashville! I pray you are doing well and in the Christmas spirit as we get to boldly proclaim once again, "Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing." Many of you might be thinking, "Luke has his articles wrong, this sounds like a December type of letter..."
Well, not quite. As you've noticed I'm a stickler for following the church calendar (very wise people put this thing together and they really loved Jesus) therefore, in our home we are Christmas until Epiphany Sunday type of people.

Saul set his heart to demonize and persecute Christians. Christ took hold of Him on a lonely desert road outside Damascus, Syria. Without sight for three days, he contemplated this Jesus he so vehemently opposed.
A man named Ananias went to Saul and spoke to him about Jesus. "Why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name" (Acts 22:16). Saul became the well-known apostle Paul.

Tuesday, January 3 from 3 until 7 p.m. at the Harrison Family YMCA, 1000 Independence Drive, Rocky Mount
Tuesday, January 3 from 2 until 6:30 p.m. at the Rocky Mount Shrine Club, 320 Airport Road, Rocky Mount
Wednesday, January 4 from 3 until 7 p.m. at the Gold Valley Church of God of Prophecy, 1740 S NC 231, Middlesex
Monday, January 9 from 3 until 7 p.m. at Bethlehem Baptist Church, 305 South Halifax Road, Rocky Mount

Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools (NRMPS) celebrated another successful United Way campaign on Monday, December 5, 2016 during the Board of Education Meeting at Rocky Mount High School. The district collected a grand total of $62,714.34 for the United Way - Tar River Region during a campaign that was held from October 24 through November 4, 2016.
School and department level campaign coordinators were honored with a reception prior to the Board Meeting for their efforts during the campaign.

As is tradition, and with apologies to Clement Clarke Moore, it is that time of year for a Soapbox original, 'Twas the Night After Christmas:

I know I've talked plenty in this space about the good community relations Nashville's Police Department had built with all the initiatives it had created.
But, in this county, we are fortunate to have numerous law enforcement agencies going above and beyond to have good relationships with the community it serves.
The Nash County Sheriff's Office is one such agency.
Sheriff Keith Stone has done a tremendous job since taking office. He's definitely proven to be a hands-on Sheriff, as he's out and about all the time.

Has "Political Correctness" gone too far? I am one citizen that believes so.
When political correctness is used to prevent citizens from saying the words that they feel best describes the situation then political correctness becomes censorship.
Today in the United States we have been challenged and sometimes berated for the words we use.

SCHOLARSHIPS -- This photo originally published in The Graphic on January 4, 1977. James Freer (center) and Shirley Vines (right) were recipients of $500 scholarships under the O.D. Moore Scholarship program provided through the Nash Central High Alumni Association. Both students were from Nash County and were college freshmen at the time. Otis Jackson (left) was president of the Association.

Northern Nash High School's Dillon Joyner (left) finished in fourth place at the prestigious Tiger Holiday Classic, which was held just before Christmas at Chapel Hill High School in Orange County.

CHAPEL HILL -- Dillon Joyner came within one victory of making the Class 4-A State Wrestling Tournament last season -- a too-close finish that has apparently fueled his strong start to the 2016-17 mat campaign at Northern Nash High School.
Joyner's latest feat of excellence came last week at the annual Tiger Holiday Classic at Chapel Hill High School in Orange County.
The event is considered one of the most prestigious mat tournaments in the area, and is chock full of a talented lineup of wrestlers, both on a team and individual basis.

Southern Nash's Nadir Thompson

BUNN -- It's been said that the best teams, regardless of the sport, succeed by taking on the identity of their coach.
That's the case at Southern Nash, where the Firebirds -- the defending Big East Conference Tournament champions -- are small in size but big in heart, just like head coach Robbie Kennedy.

MOVIN' ON UP. Northern Nash's Undray Cherry elevates for a basket during Tuesday afternoon's loss to Wake Forest in the first round of the Bunn Christmas Basketball Tournament.

BUNN -- Northern Nash had hopes for a strong overall finish at the annual Bunn Boys Basketball Christmas Tournament, but that aspiration was shot down by the Wake Forest Cougars.
Literally.
Hot-shooting Wake Forest poured in 13 trifectas, and that would prove to be an unlucky number for the Knights as the Cougars rolled to a 75-60 triumph over NN in first-round tourney action Tuesday afternoon at the Bunn Dome in Franklin County.

ROCKY MOUNT -- North Carolina Wesleyan College will kick off its 2017 fast-pitch softball schedule on Feb. 21 with a home doubleheader against Virginia Wesleyan College.
First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. on the NCWC campus in Rocky Mount.
The Bishops' complete ledger is as follows, with home matchups listed in CAPS:

CLEVELAND -- Nash Central High School's annual trip to the Cleveland Holiday Classic didn't get off to a good start Tuesday in both boys and girls competition.
In the boys matchup, Nash Central was defeated 68-62 by Athens Drive High School out of Raleigh.
Elijah Cole drained 29 points to spark the Bulldogs, but they were unable to get past the Jaguars in the contest, which was tight throughout.
Montre Cash also reached double figures in scoring for Nash Central with 11 markers. Cash also came through with eight assists to go with four rebounds.

Northern Nash's Demonte Williams (with ball) makes a strong move toward the basket during Tuesday's loss to Wake Forest in the opening round of the Bunn Christmas Basketbll Tournament at Bunn High School in Franklin County. The Knights were in action Wednesday at the event and will wrap up consolation-round play today.

Northern Nash's Dillon Joyner (top) closes out this match at the Chapel Hill Tiger Holiday Classic Wrestling Tournament last Friday in Orange County.

Among Northern Nash High School's competitors at the annual Tiger Holiday Wrestling Classic at Chapel Hill High School were (l to r) Travis Andrews, Jordan Whitaker, Jalen Spooner and Dillon Joyner.

Northern Nash High School point guard Darius Spragley (with ball) drives for a basket during his club's matchup against Wake Forest in the first round of the Bunn Christmas Basketball Tournament at Bunn High School in Franklin County.

Bunn's Quenten Wright (with ball) finds the going tough in the paint during Tuesday's first-round matchup against Southern Nash at the Bunn Christmas Basketball Tournament in Franklin County. The Firebirds won the contest over the host Wildcats.

Bunn's Victor Dunston (with ball) drives into the paint for the Wildcats during Tuesday's loss to Southern Nash in the opening round of the Bunn Christmas Basketball Tournament in Franklin County.