Dr. Shelton Jefferies has resigned from his post as Superintendent of the Nash-Rocky Mount Public School System.
The Nash-Rocky Mount Board of Education unanimously accepted Jefferies' resignation on Monday night following a closed session, which lasted just over an hour. Acceptance of Jefferies' resignation was unanimous. No reason was given for his resignation.

Filing for municipal elections was extended for Castalia residents until July 26 and one additional candidate stepped forward to run for one of the three open seats.
Castalia has three commissioner seats up for grabs in the upcoming elections but only two had filed when election filing wrapped up on July 19, causing the Nash County Board of Elections to extend filing by a week.

FUN DAY IS SATURDAY -- Castalia churches, along with the Town of Castalia, will present the second annual Family Fun Day in the Park on Saturday, August 3 from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Castalia Community Park. The event will feature food, entertainment and resources and will also include a backpack giveaway (while supplies last). Backpacks will be filled with school supplies.

Nash Community College has narrowed its search for the college's next president.
The college announced that the Nash Community College Board of Trustees will be conducting final interviews in August with the top three candidates.
"Following a survey to community stakeholders and a first round of interviews, the Nash Community College Board of Trustees has narrowed the search for the college's fifth president,"a release stated.

A grant from the Duke Endowment recently allowed a Red Oak church to host over 30 youth for a six-week literacy camp.
Red Oak United Methodist Church recently wrapped up the camp, whose focus was to help early readers avoid the learning loss that can happen over the summer break.

Grammy Award winning Country music artist Pam Tillis will perform in Nashville on September 19 at Nash Arts.
Tillis' performance is part of this year's Nashville Showcase, which has brought top artists such as Suzy Bogguss, Jim Lauderdale, Nantucket, and Ray Scott to the arts center in year's past.

Nash-Rocky Mount Schools has released its Honor Roll lists for the final semester of the 2018-2019 school year.
The following students at the Rocky Mount High School made the A or A/B Honor Roll.

Nash-Rocky Mount Schools has released its Honor Roll lists for the final semester of the 2018-2019 school year.
The following students at the Rocky Mount Middle School made the A or A/B Honor Roll.

Nash UNC Health Care has named Dr. Anne Shriner as its Chief Medical Officer (CMO).
Shriner, a licensed obstetrics and gynecology professional with more than 20 years of private practice experience, currently serves as Vice President of Medical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer for Wooster Community Hospital in Wooster, Ohio. She will join Nash UNC Health Care this fall.

Dr. Evan D. Duff, Provost of North Carolina Wesleyan College, has accepted a two-year contract as Interim President of the College. Duff was appointed as Acting President by Board of Trustees on Friday, June 14.
"I am dedicated to Wesleyan and to continuing to move the College in a positive direction, where the mission of the College is fulfilled and a liberal arts education makes a difference in the lives of the students it serves," Duff said.

Governor Roy Cooper appointed Laura S. O'Neal to serve a four-year term on the Nash Community College Board of Trustees effective July 1st. O'Neal, of Rocky Mount, served the community for 42 years as an employee of Nash County Department of Social Services. During her tenure, she performed the roles of supervisor, clinical social worker, assistant director and director.

About 340 miles of roadway in Edgecombe, Halifax, Nash, Wayne and Wilson counties will be restriped this year with more durable and visible road markings.
Performance Sealing & Striping Inc. of Jacksonville will refresh the pavement markings in these five counties, which are part of the N. Department of Transportation's Highway Division 4, headquartered in Wilson. NCDOT awarded the $3.3 million contract last week.

TO DO LIST: I will NOT let my female dogs or cats have babies, because I will have her spayed. Not only will she keep her girly shape, she will be healthier and we will not have to find homes for the babies. I will NOT have my male dogs or cats go looking for love in all the wrong places, where they may get in fights, never come home or get killed in the roads, because I will have him neutered.

Governor Roy Cooper has nominated two new members, three reappointments and five current members to new seats to serve on the North Carolina Board of Transportation:
Augustus H. Tulloss, of Rocky Mount, was reappointed to the Board of Transportation as a representative of the fourth transportation division.

A Rocky Mount man has been charged with first degree murder for a shooting early Sunday.
Rocky Mount Police Officers responded to 216 Kinlaw Court around 1:39 a.m. on Sunday, July 28 in reference to a shooting with injury.
When officers arrived, they located Dominic Antoine Baker, 31, of Rocky Mount, deceased. Baker had sustained gunshot wounds.

A simple assault was reported on 7/21/19 at 6199 Race Track Road
A breaking and entering a motor vehicle and larceny after a breaking and entering was reported on 7/21/19 at US 264 Wesbound
A larceny of a credit card was reported on 7/21/19 at 1711 W Hornes Church Road

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

INCIDENTS
A larceny was reported on 7/22/19 at 101 W Washington Street
A hit and run was reported on 7/23/19 at 501 W Washington Street

A Rocky Mount woman was sentenced to 12 months in prison for filing false tax refunds.
Amber Gernell Porter, 32, was sentenced in federal court by United States District Judge James C. Dever III to 12 months and one day in prison fillowed by one year of supervised release. Porter was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $14,738.

Nash-Rocky Mount Schools has released its Honor Roll lists for the final semester of the 2018-2019 school year.
The following students at D.S. Johnson Elementary School made the A or A/B Honor Roll.

The North Carolina Bankers Association (NCBA) has announced its board of directors for the 2019-2020 term.
Among those serving are Ted Whitehurst, President and CEO of Providence Bank in Rocky Mount.
"We are excited to announce the incoming board of directors for the 2019-2020 term," said Peter Gwaltney, president and CEO of the North Carolina Bankers Association.

BULLUCK

North Carolina Coastal Pines recently announced that Daniella McCready, of Spring Hope, is the Nash top seller for the 2019 Girl Scout Cookie Program. McCready sold 1712 boxes of Girl Scout cookies in the annual cookie program that ended in March. Samia Bulluck, of Rocky Mount, placed second with 1628 boxes sold and Ashley Zipko, of Rocky Mount, placed third with 1571 boxes sold.

The Nashville Lions Club recently installed new officers.

Nash-Rocky Mount Schools has released its Honor Roll lists for the final semester of the 2018-2019 school year.
The following students at Baskerville Elementary School made the A or A/B Honor Roll.

Nash-Rocky Mount Schools has released its Honor Roll lists for the final semester of the 2018-2019 school year.
The following students at JW Parker Middle School made the A or A/B Honor Roll.

Nash-Rocky Mount Schools has released its Honor Roll lists for the final semester of the 2018-2019 school year.
The following students at Englewood Elementary School made the A or A/B Honor Roll.

Nash-Rocky Mount Schools has released its Honor Roll lists for the final semester of the 2018-2019 school year.
The following students at the Tar River Academy made the A or A/B Honor Roll.

Coopers Elementary School was the site of one of two Camp Inventions held at Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools in June. Thirty-eight youth participated in the camp, along with three interns, a director and two staff.

Camp Invention, a nationally recognized, non-profit summer enrichment camp program was held in June at Coopers Elementary and D.S. Johnson Elementary Schools.
Camp Invention uses hands-on activities to promote science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) learning. The program also builds confidence, leadership, perseverance, resourcefullness and problem-solving skills and encourages entrepreneurship in a fun and engaging environment.

Hundreds of supporters will gather on Saturday, September 21st at the Rocky Mount Sports Complex for Your Choice Pregnancy Resource Center's 29th Walk for Life and 1st 5K Run for Life.

Governor Roy Cooper recently announced local residents who were appointed to North Carolina boards and commissions.
Joyce Dickens, of Rocky Mount, was appointed to the Rural Infrastructure Authority as a representative of a tier 1 or 2 county. Dickens is the president and chief executive officer of Rocky Mount Edgecombe Community Development Corporation.

Joel Hemphill, a great southern gospel songwriter, wrote a hit song in the 1970's entitled "He's Still Working On Me." The first verse goes like this:
"There really ought to be a sign upon my heart,
'Don't Judge Me Yet There's An Unfinished Part.'

Name calling has tremendous power in the world, does it not? I remember being called mean names in grade school, and for full transparency, I can remember calling others degrading names in grade school. James was right when he said the tongue was a "restless evil, full of deadly poison" (James 3:8). Undoubtedly, our tongue must fall underneath our confession that Jesus is Lord, meaning we use words that build up (Eph. 4:29).

MCIVER

U.S. Air Force Reserve Airman 1st Class Ty'kwan J. Bryant-Mciver graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas.
The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.

Try Upside-Down Living!
We all want to live in our own private universe, but there's only one problem: people. There are other people besides us in our universe. And they don't necessarily want what we want. There are people who disappoint us, bother us and irritate us.

Wednesday night July 24 Bible Study at Kingdom International was led by Dr. Traci Holloman. Traci is a very gifted and anointed teacher.
All this past week at KIC, Amy Worrell, Stephanie Boone and Lucy Maldonado along with others took time to decorate the church for VBS. Several churches with the same theme generously donated their props and decorations. The church was looking GOOD for the kids to enjoy "In The Wild" VBS.

The Oak Level Ruritan Club recently presented four youth with scholarships at their monthly meeting. Pictured (L-R) is: Haley Brown, Victoria Thompson and Robert Simmons. Brown is the granddaughter of Diane and Roger Brown and will attend the East Carolina University; Thompson is the granddaughter of Jim and Mary Boehm and will attend Wesleyan College; and Simmons will attend East Carolina University.

Pictured at right, Nash County Sheriff's Office deputies David Walker and his K-9 partner Dako and Deputy R. Loor speak to youth at the Summer Literacy Camp last Thursday about their job and how Dako is a working dog. (Graphic photo by Amanda Clark)

The conversation was something like this:
Doctor: So, we're giving you these anti-rejection meds, which will trick your body and keep it from rejecting your new liver.
Me: Awesome.
Doctor: There's just one thing.

On Sunday, July 21, Devin, my middle child, stood up in front of a room full of people and told them about his granddaddy.
"He was a good granddaddy. He liked trains. He was going to build a big track for us and now we won't get to."
Those words broke my heart and probably the hearts of everyone in the room.

Dear Editor: In the days and weeks leading up to the 4th of July Holiday, much was being made of President Trump's desire to imbue the celebration with a salute to our nation's armed forces.

This photo originally published in The Graphic on July 31, 1969. One of the phases of instruction in the ESEA Summer School program at Middlesex School was art. Pictured, Mrs. Lorine Runston, art coordinator, and Mrs. Jeanne Barefoot, art consultant, give a group of students instruction in chalk art.

NASH REC'S REAGAN BREWER

ROCKY MOUNT -- Nash Rec's dominance at the annual Nash-Halifax Swim League championships can be summarized by one impressive statistic.
The Sharks compiled 664 points to win the meet -- more than runner-up Roanoke Valley (370) and third-place Westridge (209) combined.
Defending their crown proved to be no problem for the Sharks as neither of its foes was able to muster a team threat during last Saturday's event at the Harrison Family YMCA in Rocky mount.

ELM CITY -- Southside Baptist Church in Elm City is currently accepting registration for its Upward Soccer League.
The league is open to boys and girls ages three years old through seventh graders.
Each prospective player must attend one evaluation.

FAYETTEVILLE -- Zach Clark and Eddie Silva both had run scoring hits in the second and eighth innings, but the Carolina Mudcats were done in by a five-run Fayetteville fifth while losing their season-high sixth straight game 7-2 to the homestanding Woodpeckers on Sunday night at Segra Stadium in a Class A Carolina League baseball matchup.

GREENSBORO -- The North Carolina Coaches Association has announced its coaching selections for next year's East-West All-Stars Games, along with the Carolinas Classic Basketball doubleheader.
The East-West games will be played next July in Greensboro in football, soccer and basketball.

Blanton Cochrane was an exceptional swimmer last Saturday for the Nash Rec Swim Team at the annual Nash-Halifax Swim League Championships, which were held at the Harrison Family YMCA in Rocky Mount.

Nathan Bridgers picked up points in this event en route to helping the Nash Rec Sharks claim the team title at last Saturday's Nash-Halifax Swim League Championships at the Harrison Family YMCA.

NASH REC'S ARIANNE SPENCER

NASH REC'S LEAH KING

NASH REC SWIMMER GRAHAM WILLIAMS

Successful performances like this one from Zachary Richardson helped Nash Rec repeat as the Nash-Halifax Swim League Champions during last Saturday's season finale in Rocky Mount.

The Nash Rec Swim Team Stingrays, coached by Wendy Wilson, have repeated as the overall team winner at the Nash-Halifax Swim League Championships, which were staged last Saturday at the Harrison Family YMCA Pool in Rocky Mount.

WESTRIDGE'S ELI HAGGIS

WESTRIDGE'S GARRET HALL