DEPUTY SHELBY SMITH

A Nash County Sheriff's Deputy continues to recover at home after being shot three times on I-95.
Deputy William Toney came home Saturday afternoon, February 6 to a warm welcome by members of the community and other law enforcement officers. Toney was shot while offering assistance to fellow officer Deputy Shelby Smith last Thursday morning on I-95 when he was shot by a suspect.

The Nash County Board of Education will once again meet in a special called meeting to discuss the school system's reopening plan.
The reopening plan was last addressed last Monday, February 1 at the board's regular meeting though no new action was taken on the plan.
The board previously voted 6-5 to delay in-person instruction until March 22.

Brett Hardy, a second grader at Red Oak Elementary, displays his sign during a rally advocating for schools to open.

Students are suffering, parents are struggling and science says it's time for kids to go back to school.
Those words were echoed on Saturday, February 6 during a rally held outside the Nash County Public Schools Central Office Building.
The rally, "Let The Kids Learn in Person," was attended by over 30 parents, students and other members of the community, who voiced concerns over what remote learning was doing to the students in the school system.

Red Oak Council Members provided their vision for 2022 during their monthly meeting on Monday night.
Town Clerk Tracy Shearin said she and Mayor Levell Langley had started to work on a preliminary budget so as a challenge to council, wanted the board to think about their vision for the 2022 year.

Despite the lows of 2020, Nash County still has a lot to be proud of.
Those were the sentiments of Nash County Commissioner Chair Robbie Davis last Monday morning during his annual State of the County address.
"I do believe 2020 will be a year we'll all remember for a very long time," Davis said.

A 19-year-old is dead after being shot on Monday afternoon.
The Rocky Mount Police are investigating the death of Jordan Clayton, who was shot in the 1900 block of Vernon Road.
Officers responded to the Vernon Road incident around 3:40 p.m. on Monday, February 8. When officers arrived, they located Clayton with an apparent gunshot wound.

HILL

The Rocky Mount Police Department have made arrests in a pair of homicides that happened last Thursday, February 4.
The homicides occurred within around 15 minutes of one another.
Rocky Mount Police responded around 1:52 p.m. to a shot spotter activation in 1000 block of Branch Street.

A Rocky Mount tax return preparer was sentenced to 50 months in prison this week for conspiring to defraud the United States.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between 2009 and 2017, Adrienne Williams owned and operated Ultimate Tax Service, a return preparation business, which had an office in Rocky Mount.

An identify fraud was reported on 2/5/21
A littering was reported on 2/4/21 at 120 Horn Boddie Lane, Rocky Mount
A felony breaking and entering and motor vehicle theft was reported on 2/4/21 at 14009 Taylors Mill Road, Middlesex

BUILDING PERMIT (COMMERCIAL)
Adam W. Sparks; 225 W Washington Street; renovation/alteration; $9,500

A driving while intoxicated was reported on 2/2/21 at 155 Nashville Drive
A larceny was reported on 2/4/21 at 131 Nashville Drive
A maintaining a place was reported on 2/5/21 at 307 Battle Drive

A Clayton man was killed early Wednesday morning in a single motor vehicle accident on US 64 West near mile marker 457.
The Nashville Police Department responded to the accident at approximately 6:56 a.m. When officers arrived, they found the victim deceased in the motor vehicle. The investigation revealed that Emery Barton, 19, of Clayton was driving west on US 64 when he ran off the left side of the road and lost control of the motor vehicle. The vehicle struck a group of trees in the median.

Disparities for vaccinations among minorities has not been as great a problem in Nash County as in other communities, Nash County Manager Zee Lamb said.
Lamb applauded Nash County Health Director Bill Hill on Monday during his COVID update for his efforts at making sure to reach all areas of Nash County,
Lamb said he had been reading about disparities for vaccinations among black and brown people and he was pleased that Hill had been working to reach the African American communities.

North Carolinians have protected themselves and their loved ones from the flu along with COVID-19 by taking preventative measures such as wearing a mask, staying 6 feet apart from people who do not live with them, and frequently washing their hands or using hand sanitizer.
These preventative measures - known collectively as the 3Ws - have helped dramatically reduce the spread of the flu and other respiratory illnesses across the state, according to data from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

Nashville's Town Council nixed the idea of a day care center opening up in the home of a Woodfield resident.
Council members voted 3-1 last Tuesday night to deny a special use permit for AnQuan Bullock to operate a day care facility out of her home.
Bullock lives at 113 Woodfield Drive and was proposing to care for four children in her home if the special use permit was approved.

Luke Eason of Nashville, has received a $4,000 scholarship from Bridgestone Americas for the 2020-21 academic year. Luke, a junior at Barton College majoring in history, is the son of Lisa Eason and Gregory Eason of Nashville. This is the second year that Luke has been selected to receive the scholarship.
The scholarship was distributed by the Independent College Fund of North Carolina (ICFNC), an arm of North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services released new tools to help North Carolinians get their COVID-19 vaccine questions answered and to find vaccine locations in the state.
"We want North Carolinians to be able to get answers to their questions - whether that is about the vaccines and how they work, when they are eligible to take their shot, or where their spot is to get a vaccine.

The town board of Castalia scheduled several meetings at their regular monthly meeting this month.
The retreat that had been scheduled for January was cancelled due to illness, and has been rescheduled for March 20th from 11a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Town Hall.
On February 25 at 6 pm, the board will meet with the League of Municipalities to discuss the employee handbook.

The V Foundation for Cancer Research announced that the fourth annual Victory Ride to Cure Cancer, presented by Braswell Family Farms, previously scheduled for May, will take place on August 28, 2021. The event's month-long virtual experience preceding the ride, entitled, "MyVictory Month," will begin in July leading up to ride day.

Rocky Mount
2/11/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Englewood Presbyterian Church, 100 South Englewood Drive
2/12/2021: 11 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Englewood Presbyterian Church, 100 South Englewood Drive

VOLUNTEERS ~ At this time, due to the virus, even our volunteer photographers are not allowed, but the Shelter sends us photos so that we can promote for adoption or rescue on our Facebook page and various adoption sites.
A lot of people would LOVE to help at the Shelter (walking, cleaning, bathing, socializing etc.), but they won't let us!!

Hardly a day goes by that we don't receive some kind of sweepstakes offer in the mail. Invariably, the offer promises that I am the "lucky winner of one of one of several prizes." I don't complete the entry forms or buy their magazines to heighten my chances of winning. Experience has taught me that no matter how good their promises sound, they are simply not true.

Spiritual warfare is real. Oftentimes in our lives it's when we continue to wade through the lukewarm waters of failing to be conformed to Christ that we either neglect it or declare it isn't real. We typically do this because we are rarely under attack. The lack of attacks is typically because we seek to have no part in the proclamation of God's Kingdom, no announcement that "Jesus is Lord", and are all but closed to the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

The Pitt Stop Food Pantry of Red Oak Baptist Church is in need of items. Some requested items include fruit cups, cereal bars, Ramen noodles, Tuna Helper, jelly, canned meats, canned vegetables, cereal (small boxes), macaroni and cheese, Chicken Helper, and peanut butter. Items can be left at the church office in the Family Life Center. Monetary donations will be accepted as well. Note on checks "Pitt Stop Food Pantry."

At Coopers Elementary School, Mrs. Beasley was named Teacher of the Year; Mrs. Saal was named Asst. Teacher of the Year; and Mrs. Dunkle was named First Year Teacher of the Year. The Coopers staff enjoyed lunch on Feb. 3, hosted by Sandy Cross United Methodist Church. CES will host a blood drive on Feb. 26 at the school from 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

The following deed transfers were reported in Nash County from February 1-5.

Peachtree Baptist Church members came out for service this past Sunday through the icy, super windy, very cold and rainy weather. The members talked about Peachtree Baptist Church's 212th Anniversary.
The sanctuary flower arrangement Sunday was presented to glorify God by Beverly Wilson in honor of Peachtree Baptist Church's 212th Anniversary.

Did you make it to the play Saturday night?
You've got to go see the new art exhibit. The brush strokes are like no one has ever done it.
My favorite book won a Pulitzer -- I'm heading to the store tomorrow to get one of the t-shirts commemorating it.

Dear Editor: I'm very disgusted with our town council because they voted 3-2 to close Elm Street with stipulations to the county. They want to spend money making the one-way part of Drake Street into a two-way again. Mind you that this part of Drake Street was a two-way before they paid to change it to a one-way not too long ago.

Valentine's Day brings romance to the front of all of our minds, but it can also bring heartbreak. Please take a moment to educate yourself about sweetheart scams. People in our lives who are older or lonely - which many of us are in this pandemic - are particularly vulnerable to these scams. In 2020, our office received complaints about more than 50 sweetheart scams, and North Carolinians lost a staggering $3.1 million to these bad actors. Here's what to know about them.

This photo originally published in The Nashville Graphic on May 15, 1975. The Nashville Baptist Youth Choir was set to perform the Christian Folk Musical "Love." The 44-member choir was led by Ernie Wooten, director, and Mrs. Judy Lister, pianist.

SOUTHERN NASH'S (L TO R) ALISSA BAILEY AND TAYLOR BAILEY

NASH COUNTY -- Several Nash County standouts have earned spots on the All-Big East Conference Volleyball Team for the 2020-21 campaign.
Southern Nash was represented on the First Team by twins Alissa Bailey and Taylor Bailey, while teammate Ashton Moore was an Honorable Mention selection.
Northern Nash senior star Logan Joyner was also on the First Team, and NN's Ashley Brantley was tabbed for the Honorable Mention group.

NASH CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL FRESHMAN LYDIA HILL (Photos Submitted by Meryn Johnson)

ROCKY MOUNT -- Nash Central High School's girls basketball program was slated to be in rebuilding mode for the coming season even before COVID-19 hit.
But the Lady Bulldogs are now in a full rebuild after COVID has limited Coach Terri Cash's roster for the 2021 campaign.
Central was expected to be young this year anyway following the graduation of several key performers from last season's group.

HELP WANTED. Rocky Mount's Paris Evans (with ball) looks for an open teammate during last Friday's road victory at league opponent Franklinton.

FRANKLINTON -- By anyone's estimation, the greatest strengths of Rocky Mount High School's undefeated girls basketball squad are interior size and depth and superior guard play -- along with the high-level talents of sophomore Caroline Thiel.
For most of last Friday's Big East Conference showdown, homestanding Franklinton seemed to have the antidote for Rocky Mount's size and effective backcourt work.

RED OAK -- Northern Nash's girls basketball team almost upset heavily-favored Rocky Mount High School last Tuesday night, but a late surge from the Lady Gryphons gave Rocky Mount a 48-38 win that was closer than what the scoreboard showed.
While Rocky Mount had a size advantage that was clear for the naked eye to see, the Northern Nash Lady Knights, despite numerous miscues at the free-throw line, gave the Lady Gryphons a much better contest than Pam Gainey's undefeated squad was anticipating.

NASH CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL SWIMMER ETHAN KING

ROCKY MOUNT -- Kyle Bain expected a supreme performance from his Nash Central High School boys swimming team at last Saturday's Class 1/2-A East Regionals -- and that's exactly what he got.
The Bulldogs were superb at the regionals, which were held at the Triangle Aquatic Center in Cary.

WILSON -- Jordan Vick and Jackson Vick delivered 16 points apiece as the Southern Nash Firebirds rolled to an 83-61 road victory last Friday night at Wilson Fike in a Big East Conference boys basketball showdown.
Lelyn Herndon chipped in with 13 points as Southern Nash controlled to proceedings to claim its third consecutive triumph.

RED OAK -- Last Tuesday night provided unfamiliar territory for the Northern Nash Knights boys basketball team.
A lack of crowd noise and energy within gymnasiums around the state has been an issue for all high schools this basketball season, but last week's matchup between arch rivals Northern Nash and Rocky Mount stood out particularly to the small crowd who was allowed inside "The Castle" on the campus of Northern Nash High School.

RALEIGH -- The North Carolina Wesleyan College men's basketball team used a game-winning layup from senior Damon McDowell to rally all the way back from a big first-half deficit to defeat William Peace 82-81 on the road Sunday.
McDowell scored 33 points on 14 of 23 shooting and four 3-pointers to lead the Bishops, his second straight 30+ point game.

NASHVILLE -- The Town of Nashville will be hosting Karate Classes beginning on March 3.
Classes will be held on Wednesdays and will be open to ages 7-adult.
Classes will be held at the Nashville Recreation Center at 108 South Boddie Street.

Sophomore Kaleigh Gunter has developed into a team leader for the Nash Central High School girls basketball squad under the direction of head coach Terri Cash.