Three recently retired Nash County Sheriff's Office employees were presented the state's highest honor during a meeting of the Nash County Board of Commissioners.
Major David Brake, Captain Jeremy Worrell and Captain Todd Wells were presented the Order of the Long Leaf Pine Award on February 1.

PARK OPENS - Area youngsters made their way to Nash County's Miracle Park at Coopers Tuesday. The park officially opened Monday. Contributed photo

The fifth park in Nash County's park system is officially open.
The Nash County Miracle Park at Coopers opened on Monday under gloomy skies but that didn't stop a few youth from checking out the all-inclusive playground.
An official opening for the park will be held on May 15, said Nash County Parks & Recreation Director Thomas Gillespie.

Construction will begin this summer on proposed plans to widen parts of Eastern Avenue, North Old Carriage Road and Sunset Avenue between Nashville and Rocky Mount.
Andrew Barksdale, Public Relations Officer for Divisions 4 and 6 for the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), said currently, work has been focused on getting temporary and permanent easements and new right-of-ways for the project.

An Elm City man was shot after trying to burglarize a Bailey home Monday night.
According to the Nash County Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to 7996 Old Middlesex Road in Bailey at 11:11 p.m. in reference to a reported burglary where the suspect had been shot by an occupant of the home.

The Nash County Sheriff's Office led a parade through the yard of Pauline Thompson Battle's home last month to help celebrate her 100th birthday.
Battle celebrated her 100th birthday on January 23. In addition to the parade, friends and family also wished her well in a Zoom call.
In a video, Battle offered words of wisdom to family and friends, saying she had no regrets in her life.

Twelve hundred doses of COVID-19 vaccines arrived in Nash County this week.
Nash County Health Director Bill Hill said the Nash County Health Department received 500 of those doses. In addition, Nash UNC Health Care received 400 doses while the Bailey Pharmacy, Harvest Family Health Center and OIC Family Medical Center at CHP each received 100 doses.

The N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles will hold a drive-through career fair on Feb. 23 to recruit employees for its new Rocky Mount headquarters.
People may visit this event website to register for free and learn more about the jobs fair. The event will be 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the DMV headquarters parking lot at 1515 N. Church St.

The Red Oak branch of Southern Bank shut down in December but town officials say a new bank is working to occupy the building.
The bank was brought up during the board's meeting last Monday. Councilwoman Sandra Russ brought up the bank during a discussion of the town's goals for 2022.

PERRY

The Rocky Mount Police Department has made two more arrests in the February 4 homicide of Markelius Chambers. Chambers, 27, was shot and killed in the 1000 block of Branch Street.
Darryel Jerrod Hill, 30, was charged on February 5 with first degree murder in the incident.

A Rocky Mount man was arrested and charged with stealing catalytic converters from vehicles.
The Wilson County Sheriff's Office responded to a call on February 11 around 3 a.m. concerning a suspicious vehicle parked at an abandoned service station at 5845 Holden's Cross Road in Wilson. Upon arrival, deputies identified the vehicle as a blue and silver Nissan Altima with a missing front bumper.

All Nash County Public School students wanting in-person instruction will have the opportunity to do so.
The Nash County Board of Education voted 9-2 to move forward with Superintendent Dr. Steve Ellis' recommendation to return to school on March 1 under Plan B.
The decision was made on Thursday, February 11 following a special called meeting.

Nashville's Planning Board will no longer be making recommendations to town council regarding special use permit requests.
Nashville's Town Council voted on February 2 on several of the town's land use ordinances. One of those changes had to do with how special use permits were approved.

Nashville's Police and Fire Departments are going after grant funding to help add personnel to their force.
Nashville's Town Council approved applying for a total of three grants between the two departments that, if all approved, could add a total of seven new positions.
Fire Chief Chris Joyner told council members on Tuesday night that the 2021 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response, or SAFER, grant was not requiring any match this time.

ARRESTS
Robin Massenburg; 2/11/21; charged with driving while intoxicated

A possession of marijuana less than 1/2 ounce was reported on 2/9/21
A warrant service was reported on 2/11/21, 2/12/21 and 2/7/21 at 100 N Boddie Street, Nashville
A possession of methamphetamine was reported on 2/10/21 at 10607 E NC 97, Rocky Mount

BUILDING PERMIT
(RESIDENTIAL)

Steven Tripp; 6394 River Walk Drive; detached accessory; $5,800
Jeff Dodrill; 1639 Blue Heron Drive; detached accessory; $30,000

The city of Rocky Mount continues to prioritize the safety and well-being of its citizens. To assist with COVID-19 vaccination opportunities, the city's Tar River Transit service is offering free rides to those with scheduled appointments to "drive-up" sites.
Transportation is available from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday to vaccination sites located in Nash and Edgecombe counties.

The Nash UNC Health Care Foundation welcomed nine new members to their Board of Directors.
The nine new Foundation board members include: Zack Bynum, Kelly Deal, Dr. Nancy Hancock, Will Kornegay, Malcolm Logan, Leslie Paszek, Tashanna Pulley, Harris Walker and Ericka Zito.

Pictured are the Exalted Ruler, Michael P. Davis and Randy Lansing, Elks member and Nashville Town Manager. Contributed photo

The Elks Lodge #1038 at Birchwood recently donated $5,500 in COVID relief money to Nash County Schools for the purchase of Lenovo Chromebooks for 5th and 6th grade students for e-learning.
Nash County Schools has already purchased and issued Lenovo Chromebooks to its 7,384 high school and middle school students for remote learning.

The N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles added 24 new driver license examiner graduates to 17 offices.
The new employees graduated February 5 from the DMV's Basic Examiner Training School and started work on Monday.
The DMV states it is working to improve customer service with more examiners, dedicated contact-less road test teams and the use of customer service representatives to help people with appointments during the current pandemic to make sure they have the appropriate documents.

SHERROD

CloudWyze recently announced three local hires, Donelle Sherrod and Jerome Hargrove as Field Technicians and Jacquelyn M. Lewis (Jackie) as Director of Community Affairs.
Donelle Sherrod, a Tarboro native, was employed with Coca Cola as a driver the last three years and prior to that, nine years with Suddenlink Communications in Rocky Mount as a Field Technician. When asked what is a fun fact about you, he says, "I can't let my 16 year old twin boys beat me. I am very competitive."

The following deed transfers were reported in Nash County from February 8-12

North Carolina's egg prices were lower on all sizes when compared to last week. Supplies of extra large and large were heavy, while medium were fairly light to meet a moderate demand. The North Carolina weighted average price quoted Thursday, February 11, for small lot sales of delivered, cartoned, grade "A" eggs was 147.83 for Extra Large, 144.11 for Large, 99.31 for Medium, and 78.00 for Small eggs.

"It is the Lord your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him." (Deuteronomy 13:4)
In May of 1991, I asked Jesus to come into my heart. I'll never forget the sense of joy and peace that came with that decision. Finally, I began to have some sense of hope in my life. I was beginning to believe that everything was going to turn out okay.

What follows is Part 2 of an article I began last week. If you missed it please check out Part 1 in the Graphic from 2/11/21 before reading this one.
So what did my wife do? She wrapped me up in her arms and she prayed over me.
Now for full transparency, the size of my faith was half the size of a mustard seed, prayer wasn't going to do anything, I was thinking.

On February 26 at Coopers Elementary School, there will be a Red Cross Blood Drive from 8:30 am - 2:30 pm.
Congratulations to Southern Nash Middle School's Asst. Principal Mrs. Carey who has been chosen as the Middle School Assistant Principal of the year. Mrs. Carey will now compete to win the district title. SNMS welcomes ESL teacher Mr. Vargas to the school staff.

Peachtree Baptist Church sanctuary flower arrangement Sunday was loving presented to glorify God by Fran and Bob Bunn in loving memory of Fran's Mother and Father, Hazel and Jake Robertson.
Special music: Jane May performed a piano solo.

On last Sunday, we celebrated Valentine's and many of us expressed our love for someone else like a child, parent, or spouse. I pray that you were the giver and receiver of love.
Love is interesting in our cultural context because it has become so easy to utter the phrase "I love you."

The Red Cross - Eastern North Carolina is hosting a free online event for anyone interested in volunteering. Spring into Action Voluteer Open House is a one-hour free event open to the public on Tuesday, March 9, 2021 from 7-8 p.m. and Wednesday, March 10, from 12-1 p.m.
Potential volunteers are encouraged to join the online informative session to learn about openings in Disaster Response, Blood Services, and more. Volunteers and Red Cross representatives will be on hand to answer any questions you may have.

Rocky Mount
2/22/2021: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., First Baptist - Rocky Mount, 200 South Church Street
2/23/2021: 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., Harrison Family YMCA, 1000 Independence Drive

Remember the good old days when someone did something stupid and he or she wanted to keep it secret?
That time has passed.
Welcome to 2021.
In the age of video camera phones, YouTube and TikTok, the dumber the actions, the more attention it might get.

In baseball, three strikes and you're out. In today's politics, it's one strike and you're out. Just ask Richard Burr. Our senior Senator listened to all the evidence in the Trump impeachment trial and voted the courage of his convictions, declaring the former president guilty. The North Carolina Republican Party Executive Committee wasted no time. They couldn't kick Burr out of the party, but they did vote to censure him.

These photos originally published in The Nashville Graphic on April 22, 1975. 4-H and FFA members participated in the Eastern Carolina Animal Show and Sale and were honored at a dinner held at Overton's Restaurant.From left to right in the lower picture are Burt Phillips, reserve champion steer; Larry Price, grand champion steer and best Nash County steer; and Jeanette Edwards, best Edgecombe County steer.

NORTHERN NASH'S SENCERE BATTLE

STANHOPE -- Southern Nash High School boasts arguably its most talented, athletic and deep boys basketball team in the past two decades this winter.
But due to the shortened playoff schedule by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association, the Firebirds might find themselves on the outside looking in come postseason time.

PROUD FAMILY. Nash Central High School's Brandon Griffin poses with his mother, Greyson Griffin, and grandfather, Ed Griffin, as part of his football signing ceremony last Thursday morning.

ROCKY MOUNT -- Given his reserved demeanor -- along with over three decades of experience -- Nash Central High School veteran head coach Chris Lee isn't one to contemplate overexaggeration when it comes to football exploits.
So when Lee says something on a grand scale, there is bound to be plenty of truth to his remarks.

NN'S KANASIA ARRINGTON

RED OAK -- With star guard Indiya Spooner unavailable, it was easy to wonder how well Northern Nash's offense would run during last Tuesday's key Big East Conference home girls basketball showdown against backyard rival Southern Nash.
After all, Southern's strength is in its backcourt, led by sophomore sensation Jermia Walker.

ROCKY MOUNT -- The North Carolina Wesleyan College men's basketball team poured on the offense in its 101-68 rout of conference foe Pfeiffer University on Sunday afternoon at Everett Gym on the NCWC campus.
The Bishops were able to get their revenge on the Falcons as Pfeiffer had given Wesleyan its first division loss last Friday.

FRANKLINTON -- Too much size. Too much speed at the guard position. Too much depth.
That's been the story in the Big East Conference boys basketball standings this season as league clubs try to find a way to take down the talented Rocky Mount Gryphons.

(L to R) Northern Nash's Sean Phillips and Southern Nash's TJ Taybron joust for a rebound during last Tuesday evening's Big East Conference boys basketball showdown at the historic NNHS Gymnasium in Red Oak.

Northern Nash's Caleb Reams (with ball) scores in the paint for the Knights during last Tuesday's home conference setback against rival Southern Nash.

Northern Nash's Kylise Clark scores inside for the Lady Knights during last Tuesday night's home decision against Big East Conference girls basketball opponent Southern Nash.

Southern Nash's Jermia Walker drives for a basket during last Tuesday's game at Northern Nash.