Members of the Nashville Business and Professional Women's (BPW) Club are finalizing plans for the 40th annual Elsie Clark Memorial Nashville Opry.
The event is slated to be held on Friday, March 2 from 6 to 10 p.m. at Nash Arts.
The Opry is a fundraiser for the organization and raises money for scholarships for area youth.

Authorities are continuing to search for a Rocky Mount man missing since Saturday.
The Rocky Mount Police Department responded to the main boat ramp at Battle Park Drive on Monday morning. A 2003 burgundy Ford Ranger pickup truck was found submerged in the Tar River.

The Cpl. Suzi Sannes Detachment of the Marine Corps League recognized Toys for Tots volunteers on Friday night at a special award's dinner.

Without volunteers, the annual Toys for Tots campaign wouldn't be possible.
The Cpl. Suzi Sannes Detachment 1262 of the Marine Corps League recognized those volunteers who contributed to the success of the 2017 Toys for Tots program with a meal and awards program on Friday night.

The Harold D. Cooley Library will celebrate Black History Month by showing episodes of a PBS documentary that recounts African American history.
The library will feature the documentary "The African American: Many Rivers to Cross" each Friday during the month of February. The documentary is written and presented by Henry Louis Gates, Jr., who chronicles five centuries of black history in a six-part series on PBS.

The Tar River Regional Drug Task Force arrested three men on Monday afternoon after receiving information they would be in possession of heroin.
According to a press release, officers received information that an unknown black male operating a black Chevrolet Volt would be in the parking lot of the Sheetz on Old Carriage Road and would be in possession of 50 bags of heroin.

Bidding for the former Spaulding Middle School site continues, with the latest round of bids reaching $173,911.63.
Those bids were good through January 31 and were by S&J Holdings, LLC, which holds a Nashville mailing address.
This is the 17th round of bidding, which started around a year ago when the Nash-Rocky Mount Board of Education voted to place the Spaulding site up as surplus property, based on the increasing costs of maintenance for the facility.

Participants of Dancing with the Arts will be polishing up their dance moves over the next few weeks in preparation for the fifth annual event.
This year there are eight participants vying for bragging rights as the top fundraiser for the event. The individual who raises the most money will be declared the winner.

Commissioners heard from officials at Nash UNC Health Care at their January 22 meeting.
Jim Lilley, Chairman of the Nash Health Care Board of Commissioners, said the hospital had taken a lot of positive steps over the past year or so.
Ian Buchanan, who is serving as the Interim CEO, said one of those steps was the recent hiring of Lee Isley as the new CEO. Isley will start in his new role in April.

The Nash County Health Department was one of nine in the state to be awarded reaccreditation status by the North Carolina Local Health Department Accreditation Board on December 19, 2017. This accreditation status is valid through 2021. The Nash County Health Department was first accredited on December 20, 2013.
Accreditation is only designated to local health departments and districts that undertake and meet a series of stringent standards outlined in current state statutes and administrative codes to ensure the protection of the health of the public.

INCIDENTS
An embezzlement was reported on 1/23/18 at EZ Wireless, 139 Nashville Commons Drive
A possession of cocaine was reported on 1/24/18 at 123 Arrowood Drive

A possession of heroin was reported on 1/21/18 at 307 Mosley Court
A first degree burglary, assault/affray was reported on 1/21/18 at 3365 Eastern Avenue
A breaking, entering and larceny was reported on 1/21/18 at 11290 Ward Road

Nash County Planning and Inspections issued the following building permits from January 22 through 26.

Your Choice Pregnancy Resource Center Board of Directors has announced Dr. Robert E. Jackson, Jr. as the 2018 Celebrate Life Banquet keynote speaker at Your Choice Pregnancy Resource Center's Celebrate Life Banquet on Thursday, February 15th at 7 p.m. at Englewood Baptist Church in Rocky Mount. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 which includes a meal. For reservations, call 252-446-2273 by Wednesday, February 7, 2018.

The Rocky Mount Police Department is asking residents to check their bank statements and credit card accounts for fraudulent activity after two card skimmers were located on gas pumps.
The Rocky Mount Police Department responded to a suspicious event at the Circle K Convenience Store on 1630 Sunset Avenue around 2:08 p.m. on Tuesday, January 23.

Valentine's Day is quickly approaching and the City of Rocky Mount Parks and Recreation department will be celebrating the bond between mother and son again this year with the popular Mother & Son Dance. The Friday, February 9 event will be held at the Imperial Centre for the Arts and Sciences in downtown Rocky Mount from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Thursday, February 8 from 2:30 until 7 p.m. at Rocky Mount Moose Lodge, 521 Country Club Road, Rocky Mount
Friday, February 9 from 10:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. at Braswell Memorial Library, 727 North Grace Street, Rocky Mount
Thursday, February 15 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. at Nash Health Care Systems, 2460 Curtis Ellis Drive, Rocky Mount

Jessica Erin Smith and Gregory Lee Manning were united in marriage on December 2, 2017 at 1 p.m. at White Oak Methodist Church. Wesley Taylor officiated the ceremony.
The bride is the daughter of Arnold and Cynthia Smith of Momeyer.
The groom is the son of Donny and Bonnie Manning, of White Oak.

James Tyler Aycocke
Justin and Alex Aycocke of Goldsboro announce the birth of their son, James Tyler Aycocke, who was born January 22, 2018 at Wayne Memorial Hospital in Goldsboro. He weighed 4 lbs., 3 oz.

Governor Roy Cooper recently made several appointments to various boards and commissioners, including two local residents.
"This dedicated, diverse group of individuals come from communities across our state, and I appreciate their service on behalf of all North Carolinians," Governor Cooper said.

Margaret Cobb (left) and Helen Sharpe (center), members of Micajah Pettaway Chapter of the DAR and Bethel Heroes 636 Chapter of the UDC, delivered backpacks filled with toys, books, and toiletries for children living in My Sister's House shelter. Dalena Raya, at right, accepted the gifts on behalf of My Sister's House. (Contributed photo)

C-SPAN's state-of-the-art 45-foot customized motor coach visited Northern Nash High School (NNHS) in Rocky Mount on Friday, January 12.
C-SPAN partnered with Altice USA in order to engage students and teachers with interactive demonstrations of C-SPAN's multi-platform public service resources. The visit was part of C-SPAN's "50 Capitals Tour," which includes stops in cities across North Carolina.

Hello Fellow Followers of the Way, February greetings to you as we enter the second month of 2018! You know it's flu, crud, cold, and any other type of sick season, which means we are always careful to wash our hands and to sometimes avoid physical contact with folks around us who seem to be sniffling a lot. Simple put - we don't want to be sick, so we take extra precautions during the winter months to ensure our immunity is up and our visits to doctor's offices are down.

On Sunday morning, despite the showers Peachtree folks gathered at the church for worship. Sanctuary flowers were given by Cheryl and Doug Hayes in memory of Cheryl's brother, Steve Johnson. The Adult Choir sang "Love medley"- (If that Isn't love/ Oh How he Loves You and Me), under the direction of the Pastor.

County Committee elections are over and the ballots have been counted.
Linda E. Fisher of Nashville was elected to represent local administrative area (LAA) 3 and Peyton G. McDaniel of Whitakers will serve as the first alternate.
County Committee members are a critical component of the day-to-day operations of FSA.

Nebuchadnezzar ruled the world from Babylon. The Greeks became predominant under
Alexander the Great. The Roman Empire held sway in the First Century. Cults grew around emperor worship. Citizens gladly made the confession, "Caesar is Lord."
All of this was contrary to the ancient Jewish faith and to Christianity.

Nash Community College (NCC) has been awarded $136,739 by the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission to provide support for the college's new Veterinary Medical Technology (VMT) program. The "From Farm to Vet Tech" project funding will assist with the purchase of instructional, clinical and lab equipment for students to prepare for careers in the field of veterinary medicine.

The North Carolina Coastal Heritage Association extends an open invitation to the public for its annual membership meeting at The Bridge DownEast, 1344 Island Road, Harkers Island, NC, Tuesday, February 6, 11 a.m.
NCCHA will initiate its second full year of documenting and preserving NC's coastal heritage at this meeting.

Since we are such a backwater compared to such high tech, high brow places like San Francisco, you, fair reader, may be lagging behind on the latest health trends.
The newest craze is called "raw water."
Raw water is "off the grid" water that is unfiltered and untreated, coming "straight from natural springs, without regard for disease or natural contaminants," according to an article in The Daily Wire.

Dear Editor: I recently received an email from an Air Force buddy that really hit home with me. I have paraphrased his email for your readership because it raises issues that I believe are important, not only to conservatives, but to every American. These issues need to be addressed by our government.
So here goes:

My last baby is turning another year older on Friday.
Brendin, the kid who tried to make his entrance during a board meeting, will be three years old.
I admit, I'm sad about it.
He's my last baby and it's all going way too fast!

VALENTINE -- This photo was originally published in The Graphic on February 14, 1978. Brenda Gail Viverette, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Viverette of Nashville, was pictured looking over a selection of Valentine cards in a local store.

PERFECT FORM. Northern Nash's Chance Savage executes the breaststroke as part of the medley event at last Friday's Big East Conference Swim Championships at the Harrison Family YMCA.

ROCKY MOUNT -- With Nash Central now in a different league, the annual Big East Conference Swim Championships had a different feel this time around.
Northern Nash and Southern Nash, however, are still in the league, and several performers from both schools offered outstanding efforts at last Friday's meet at the Harrison Family YMCA.

NORTHERN'S DAVONTAE WIGGINS

RED OAK - Since December 29, when Northern Nash won the Bunn High School Christmas Tournament, the Knights had only hit the hardwood once.
That was on January 12 as part of a conference-opening win over Franklinton.
Thanks to snow and exams, Northern wasn't able to play its second conference game of the season until this past Friday night.

WIGGINS' WAY. Northern Nash's Kylar Wiggins (right) drives toward the basket during last Friday's home girls basketball game versus Wilson Hunt.

RED OAK -- Headed into last Friday night, Grover Battle's Northern Nash Lady Knights were 9-2, and had only played one game since December 15.
With that in mind, the rust was evident for Northern during a Big East Conference girls basketball showdown against Wilson Hunt at the NNHS Gymnasium.
The Lady Knights couldn't overcome a slow start, as well as a poor finish in what resulted in their first conference loss of the 2017-2018 season.

FINISHING TOUCHES. Northern Nash's Arrick Moore (top) wraps up a victory at last Saturday's Big East Conference Championships at Wilson Fike.

WILSON -- Southern Nash made a move up the standings during last Saturday's Big East Conference Individual Wrestling Championships at the Fike High School Gymnasium.
During the previous week's league team duals tournament, Southern claimed the third position, while Big East newcomer Franklinton was second.

RED OAK'S INDIYA SPOONER

RED OAK -- Red Oak Middle School faced a myriad of standings options pending the outcome of Monday afternoon's key Tri-County Conference girls basketball showdown against rival Parker.
If the Lady Tigers were able to come up with a victory over the undefeated Pirates, they would solidify their second-place position in the Tri-County's North Division -- and still maintain a chance at the regular season title.

ROCKY MOUNT -- When the Nash Central Bulldogs moved from the Class 3-A Big East Conference to the Class 2-A Eastern Plains Conference, it was all but a given that Coach Kyle Bain's squad would sweep the EPC girls and boys swim championships.
If there were swim titles to even be contested.

ZEBULON -- The Carolina Mudcats are once again offering the ever-popular 'Muddy Gram' for Valentine's Day.
The promotion, which features a personal visit from Muddy the Mudcat to your Valentine, includes the following amenities:
• Two Mega Cupcakes
• Two Premium Field Level Tickets to a Game (excludes July 3-4)

INSIDE FACTOR. Red Oak Middle School's Deon Battle (left) grabs a key rebound in the paint against rival Parker.

RED OAK -- Red Oak Middle School took advantage of a second -- and third -- opportunity to put away Parker in a battle of undefeated squads Monday at the ROMS Gymnasium.
Thanks to a Parker turnover, a clutch offensive rebound and a trio of free throws from Xavier Whitaker, the Tigers were able to hold off the Pirates by a 32-28 margin in a Tri-County Conference boys basketball thriller.

FERRUM, VA. -- Sophomore A.J. Frye posted a pair of 30-point showings this weekend as his north Carolina Wesleyan College Battling Bishop men's basketball team split a pair of contests on the road at Pfeiffer and Ferrum.
On Saturday, Wesleyan fell to a talented Pfeiffer University squad by a 115-98 score.

JEREMIAH BATTLE (RIGHT) SPEEDS TOWARD A LAYUP

NASH COUNTY -- Listed are updated Nash County Recreation & Senior Services Youth Futsal and Basketball League Scores:

Northern Nash's Joseph Cherry-Blue (right) drives for a basket during last Friday night's Big East Conference home triumph against the Wilson Hunt Warriors.

Xavier Whitaker (middle) made three free throws in the final 12 seconds of the game to preserve Red Oak's home boys basketball decision over Parker Middle in Tri-County Conference action.

Northern Nash's Darquez Flowers (right) chips in with two more points for the Fighting Knights during last Friday's victory at Hunt.

Southern Nash's Dylan Alford heads toward the finish line during last Friday's Big East Conference Swim Championships at the Harrison Family YMCA in Rocky Mount.

Red Oak's Shavashti Mercer (left) drives for a bucket during Monday afternoon's home basketball contest against the Parker Lady Pirates.