Nashville's Downtown Strong Committee will join Nashville's Town Council next Wednesday to hear two special presentations.
Hillary Greenberg, of Greenberg Development Services, and Bruce Naegelen, Project Manager for the Rural Planning Center, will provide reports on work they've done for the town.

A Nash-Rocky Mount Schools bus driver was killed in a car accident last Thursday.
According to the North Carolina Highway Patrol, 57-year-old Mona Battle was traveling west on West Castalia Road around 12:13 p.m. when she swerved to the left to avoid striking a vehicle.

Nashville's Town Council gave approval last week for a day care facility to be established in the Winwood Subdivision.
The request came from Wanda Holloway, of 110 Arrowood Drive. Holloway was requesting a special use permit to establish a day care at her home.
A public hearing was held on the request on Wednesday, January 29.

A Rocky Mount firefighter plays the victim during a confined space rescue training exercise on Tuesday. (Contributed photo)

Nashville firefighters spent Tuesday training how to safely react if someone becomes trapped in a grain bin or silo.
The training was part of the process for firefighters to received confined space certification. Joe Burris provided the training for the department.
Fire Chief Chris Joyner said after Tuesday's training, all of Nashville's full-time firefighters would be trained in confined space.

Nash County Commissioners have approved the guidelines for being nominated for inclusion in the Nash County Commemorative Courtyard.
Former Nash County Commissioner Billy Morgan was the first person honored in the courtyard, which was built in 2018. A stone was dedicated in honor of Morgan in January 2019. Since that time, Nash County staff have been working on nomination guidelines for the courtyard.

The Joint Veterans Committee of Nash and Edgecombe Counties honored Chris Hardy on Saturday during its monthly flag-raising ceremony.
Each month, the committee honors a deceased veteran and their family by presenting them with a flag, which is flown over the park for a month.
Hardy, of Nashville, served in the United States Navy during the Vietnam era. He passed away on April 30, 2015.

Amber Silver, Distinguished Young Woman of Rocky Mount for 2020, (center) traveled to Greensboro recently to represent Nash County at the state program. Silver competed for upwards of $20,000 in cash and college granted scholarships and came home as a recipient of several scholarships. Silver, of Nashville, is a senior at Nash Central High School.

The West Mount Fire Department presented its first "Chiefs Award" to J. Wayne Outlaw, Nash County Commissioner (far left). The award was presented by West Mount Chief Johnny Baines (far right).

Nash County Commissioners recognized long-time employees during their regular meeting last month.
Each year, Nash County acknowledges employees who have completed five or more years of service to the county. Department heads distribute service pins to employees who have completed five, 10 or 15 years of service and commissioners give special recognition those with 20 or more years of service with presenting them with the service pin.

North Carolina Wesleyan College recently announced Sharon Lawrence as their April 2020 commencement speaker.
Lawrence is an award-winning actress with roles on NYPD Blue, Grey's Anatomy and the CBS comedy, "Me, Myself and I." A native of North Carolina, she was born in Charlotte and later moved to Raleigh where she graduated from Broughton High School. Lawrence attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, graduating in 1983 with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.

ANDERSON

A search warrant at a Rocky Mount home last week led to the arrest of two for drug trafficking.
Members of the Nash County Sheriff's Office Special Response Team and Narcotics Unit executed a search warrant on February 11 around 6 a.m. at 1412 McDearman Avenue, Rocky Mount due to the sale and distribution of illegal narcotics from the residence.

Robbie Green, a local entrepreneur and community leader, was appointed to Nash UNC's board of commissioners during its February meeting. Green fills the expired term held by Jim Lilley for ten years. The board and administration thanked Mr. Lilley at its December meeting with a resolution recognizing his service and leadership as chairman of the board during a time of significant challenge and transition.

Edgecombe Community College recently announced its President's and Dean's Lists for the Fall 2019 semester.
Students named to the President's List are full-time students earning a 4.0 grade point average.
Nashville residents named to the President's List include Tianna Arrington and Bailey Lamm.

The Tar River Connections Genealogical Society (TRC) presented 18 genealogical reference books and a check for $1,928.78 to the Local History Room of Braswell Library in January. Jimmy Winters, past president and current board member of TRC, is pictured above presenting the donations to Traci Thompson, Local History/Genealogical Librarian for the Local History Room.

INCIDENTS
A warrant served and speeding were reported on 2/16/20 at 510 S Barnes Street
A larceny by bypass of an anti-theft device was reported on 2/12/20 at 1205 Eastern Avenue

Nash County Planning and Inspections issued the following building permits from February 10 through 14.

The Dortches Ruritan Club was recognized for the first time with five gold community service awards.
Past National President and Nash County resident Wayne Outlaw presented the awards to the club at the first meeting of 2020.
Outlaw said this is the first time the club had received the awards but only because they had never applied.

Nash-Rocky Mount Schools has released its Honor Roll lists for the second semester of the 2019-2020 school year.
The following students at Southern Nash High School made the A or A/B Honor Roll.

Nash-Rocky Mount Schools has released its Honor Roll lists for the second semester of the 2019-2020 school year.
The following students at Spring Hope Elementary School made the A or A/B Honor Roll.

Nash-Rocky Mount Schools has released its Honor Roll lists for the second semester of the 2019-2020 school year.
The following students at Swift Creek Elementary School made the A or A/B Honor Roll.

Nash-Rocky Mount Schools has released its Honor Roll lists for the second semester of the 2019-2020 school year.
The following students at Tar River Academy made the A or A/B Honor Roll.

Some members of the Jr. and Sr. Beta Clubs attended the Beta Club State Conventions recently in Greensboro. RMA brought home numerous awards.

BAILEY- Southern Nash High School was one of four schools in North Carolina chosen for a recent hands-on course from the Universal Technical Institute (UTI) offering students information on how to pursue higher education in the automotive industry.
UTI teamed up with NASCAR Tech for the program which travels into about 90 schools annually, but only four were chosen in eastern North Carolina for this semester.

Sadly Nash has a "Kill Shelter." Our groups, Nash County Animal Friends of NC and Promoting Animal Welfare in NC (NCAF/PAWNC) advocate for the homeless pets there. Nash is an Open Admission gov't facility that cannot turn animals away even when overfull. That is why it is so important that people spay/neuter their pets to help control the population and the roaming.

"Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18:3)
The story is told about a young child who prayed to ask Jesus to come and live in his heart during Sunday School. When he saw his mother, he proudly told her, "Mama, I asked Jesus to come and live in my heart today and take my skin away."

My current calling in life is to serve alongside the community of saints called Nashville UMC here in the Original Nashville. One of the many facets that I love about our church community is that there is a rich clinging to traditional elements of worship that have proven to be powerful through the history of the church universal. Yet, at the same time, there is an openness to the Spirit here that allows old to meet new in powerful ways that are often not experienced in some church settings.

Nash Community College was recently honored with 2019 Tree Campus USA® recognition by the Arbor Day Foundation for its commitment to effective urban forest management.
"Tree Campuses and their students set examples for not only their student bodies but the surrounding communities showcasing how trees create a healthier environment," said Dan Lambe, president of the Arbor Day Foundation.

We live in an age where adults are trying to stop the unstoppable--the onward march of time. With only so many hours in a day and a limited amount of years in a lifetime, preserving and elongating one's life has become high priority through trends like extreme fitness, nutritional supplements, human growth hormones, and the cryogenics movement. Fitness and healthy living are commendable, but the mind-set that through them you will outpace death is not.

Peachtree members, family, and friends met Sunday to praise our Lord for all He does for us. We are truly blessed.
The sanctuary flower arrangement Sunday was presented to glorify God by Brenda and James Shepherd to celebrate their 21st wedding anniversary and what God has done for them.

Last week at Coopers Elementary School, Mrs. Morrison allowed Rosie The Pig to visit her classroom. Mrs. Gibbons also allowed her therapy dog, Gunner, to come to the school to visit. What fun!
There were many classroom activities last week for Valentine's Day. Ms Butler's students worked with interacting and engaging with STEM Valentine activities.

Nash-Rocky Mount Schools has released its Honor Roll lists for the second semester of the 2019-2020 school year.
The following students at Southern Nash Middle School made the A or A/B Honor Roll.

It was an emotional moment on Wednesday when an important member of our household passed on.
The coffee maker, such a factor in our daily survival, left us too soon.
Based on what I paid, way too soon.
I even wrote an obituary for it:

This week in North Carolina: will it snow or will you have to continue taking that allergy medication?
Yeah, if you are one of those social media folks, you've probably come across dozens of those "memes" poking fun at North Carolina's weather.
Here's a few of my favorite!

Dear Editor:
The lottery is spending big bucks on an advertising blitz to tell North Carolinians how to play its games of chance.
Some actor informs us that he is our lottery "coach," as if we need such a thing, and offers up this nugget of wisdom.

This photo was filed in the Graphic's 1970 archives under Northern Nash Annual photos. The Graphic played a large role in the 70s and 80s assisting Northern Nash with yearbook photos.

SOUTHERN NASH'S MATT FOSTER

STANHOPE -- Brian Foster is proud of the numbers his children, Zack and Matt, have put up during their student-athlete careers at Southern Nash High School.
As the head coach for the Firebirds, Brian Foster is always linked first to the accomplishments Zack and Matt achieved as successful starting quarterbacks for SNHS.
But the number Coach Foster is proudest of its both of his kids' lofty grade-point averages -- each of which went well over the 4.0 level.

RED OAK TIGERS -- TRI-COUNTY CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS

RED OAK - And the band plays on at Red Oak Middle School.
That's a good thing to Red Oak fifth-year boys basketball coach Kristian Cox, who relishes the game-day experience at the ROMS Gymnasium.
In a time where community-oriented events are becoming less commonplace, Cox cherishes the basketball 'family' that has been built at Red Oak through the years.

RED OAK -- Northern Nash High School's boys track and field dominance in the Big East Conference is continuing this season -- and was on display during the recent league indoor championships.
Northern Nash, coached by Jeff Dodrill, rolled to first place in the boys standings with 181 points during the recent event at the Franklinton High School Football Field.

NASH CENTRAL'S SYMONE BULLOCK

ROCKY MOUNT -- Nash Central rolled through the competition during the recent Eastern Plains Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships at The Dawg Pound on the NCHS campus.
Central's boys compiled a whopping 199 points to easily outdistance runner-up Farmville Central (124 tallies).

ROCKY MOUNT -- As always, a sold-out crowd piled into the gymnasium at Northern Nash for a Big East Conference basketball matchup between the Knights and archrival Rocky Mount High School last Friday night. After the junior varsity teams cleared the floor, both of which were wins for Northern Nash that clinched the Big East Championship, it was time for a heavily anticipated contest between the Lady Gryphons and Lady Knights.

RALEIGH - Head coach Elliott Avent reached another milestone in his career last Friday afternoon, as he picked up his 1,100th career win to start his 24th season at the helm of the North Carolina State University Wolfpack baseball squad..
The victory came thanks to a 4-0 shutout win over James Madison on opening day.

ROCKY MOUNT -- The 11th Annual H. Earl Coley Golf Classic is slated for May 22 at the picturesque Belmont Lake Golf Club.
All proceeds will benefit the O.D. Moore Scholarship Foundation, which presents college scholarships to graduating high school students.
A four-person scramble format will be utilized.

RED OAK -- For the first time in Northern Nash's long-running athletic history, the Knights' girls wrestling program ended their season by having a wrestler crowned as an Individual State Champion.
Sophomore Sidney Sullivan defeated four opponents en route to her individual State Championship, coming in the NCHSAA Women's Wrestling Invitational held at Carolina Courts in Concord.

NASH COUNTY -- Here are updated Nash County Recreation & Senior Services Futsal scores from the 2020 youth league season:

ROCKY MOUNT -- The North Carolina Wesleyan College baseball team stormed back in the 7th inning with 4 runs to steal a 4-3 home win against Virginia Wesleyan in Rocky Mount last Wednesday.
VWU struck first with a leadoff solo home run in the top of the first off Bishop starter Galen Beaver.

Matt Foster prepares to throw a pass for the Southern Nash Firebirds during the Class 3-A State Football Championship Game at Carter-Finley Stadium in December.

Red Oak Middle School players cut down the net after last Monday evening's basketball championship game at home.