David Brake, a retired Nash County sheriff's deputy, has announced his plans to run for the office of sheriff in 2022 as a Democrat candidate. He retired in May 2020 from the sheriff's office at the rank of major after 30 years of criminal justice service to the state.
"I still have a lot to offer the community," Brake told The Graphic. "I have a deep concern for the citizens of Nash County. I would like to focus the sheriff's office more locally and less on the national and state level."

Necessary repairs and upkeep have been completed at the Nash County Animal Shelter after the annual state inspection revealed various problems last month. The state will complete a follow-up inspection this week before the July 1 permit renewal deadline.
"We fully anticipate our annual permit will be renewed," Bill Hill, director of the Nash County Health Department told The Graphic.

The filing season for the 2021 municipal elections, except Rocky Mount, begins at noon July 2 through noon July 16. The election is Tuesday, November 2, 2021.
Legislation passed into law Monday will possibly delay Rocky Mount's elections until 2022 along with more than 30 other municipalites across the state, to consider revising electoral districts based on new population numbers from the 2020 U.S. Census.

Red Oak held its Family Freedom Celebration Sunday evening at W.B. Ennis Park featuring food, fun and fireworks. Calvary Chapel and Red Oak Baptist Church provided concessions at the event. The town also launched its new T-Shirts at the event featuring Red Oak's logo.
The park was open for youngsters of all ages to enjoy. Pictured above is Jarek Johnson enjoying a ride on the zipline in the park.

Celebrations and fireworks are set to light up the Independence Day weekend in Nash County.
The Town of Castalia's Independence Day celebration will take place Saturday, July 3rd with many of the events taking place in the Castalia Community Park located at 9656 Main Street.

The Town of Nashville is seeking additional input from the public by hosting a third drop-in workshop for its Comprehensive Plan.
The drop-in workshop will be held on July 14 from 3-7 p.m. at 114 West Church Street in the town council chambers and members of the public are encouraged to drop by to offer comments or suggestions on the vision for the town.

Coronavirus cases are back on the rise in Nash County as 62 new cases were reported between June 22 to June 28 bringing the cumulative total of positive Coronavirus cases to 11,445 in Nash. Total deaths remain at 193 and as of Tuesday, six people are hospitalized in Nash County.
Nash County Health Director Bill Hill expressed concern during a Tuesday afternoon briefing explaining the new Delta variant was far more contagious and people will become more vulnerable as the new more contagious variants grow in the non-vaccinated population and also due to not reaching herd immunity.

Randy and Laura Wood are pictured with their children Colton and Chandler.

Even a global pandemic couldn't stop a local couple from chasing their dream of becoming business owners in 2020 and last week they celebrated their first year anniversary as owners of Corner Coffee Cafe.
Laura and Randy Wood learned the coffee shop was for sale in April of 2020.

Warrant service, 100 N. Boddie St., Nashville on 6/26/21
Assault on a female; assault/strangulation was reported at 10322 Smith Rd., Middlesex on 6/22/21
Larceny of a firearm was reported at 12339 Maltese Rd., Middlesex on 6/21/21

Many Spring Hope residents are concerned about the town's water and its infrastructure system after experiencing four water main breaks in May, one which left some waterless for three days.
Resident Diane Porter said she is unsatisfied with the condition of the water in her home and has been struggling with its poor quality.

Spring Hope commissioners have officially approved the budget for the 2021-2022 fiscal year.
The budget lists the general fund at $1,395,650 and the water and sewer fund at $486,600. The total operating budget is set at $1,882,250, which is a 15.38 percent increase from the prior fiscal year.

Spring Hope Town Commissioner Prudence Wilkins, who was elected in 2019, announced Tuesday her intent to run for the office of Spring Hope's mayor.
"Being the person I am, a lot of you know that I am very much out in the community, very much love the Town of Spring Hope, love what Spring Hope has to offer," she said.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17)
There were times when the Apostle Paul must have looked at himself in the mirror and wondered what in the world had happened to him. He knew that salvation from the inside is much more difficult to understand than it is from the outside.

I remember it was back in the late 90's and TGIF was going strong on ABC. Ahh, how I loved those Friday nights with Step by Step, Family Matters, and especially Boy Meets World. Still to this day, Boy Meets World is my favorite show. Therefore, it was quite the shock to my system when it was announced that Boy Meets World was being cancelled. "Cancelled." I thought, "Where is it going? Why? How could a good God let this happen?!? What will happen to the actors?

"Rocky Railway" Vacation Bible School at Red Oak Baptist Church last week was a success with 94 children and 78 adult and youth workers! Preschoolers and children participated in Bible study, KidVid Cinema, Imagination Station/crafts, and recreation. On Friday evening following VBS everyone enjoyed ice cream sundaes. Thanks to all who made this possible.

It was a beautiful Sunday morning at Peachtree.
Mrs. Jane May, Pianist, played a beautiful solo.
Pastor Whitehouse played a video presentation for the special music Sunday, the song, "Ancient Words," by Fountain View Academy.

Christian Fellowship Church celebrated fathers on Father's Day and received the 8th installment of the series "Doorways to Destiny" from Pastor Daniel Parker. King's Kids made Father's Day cards during their class. On Sunday July 4, CFC will host a Grand Opening Ceremony for the brand new playground for the Jr. and King's Kids. Christian Fellowship Church will host VBS - Champions in Life from August 4-6. Stay tuned to this column for more information toward the end of July.

J. Henry Lancaster, Mahalia Elizabeth L. Hubers, Daren Hubers, Jamie Lancaster Clements and Lee Clements to Brandon Keith Jenkins and Elizabeth Lucas Jenkins; 3531 North Old Carriage Road, Rocky Mount; $35,000
Chareeka Odell Mitchell and Marquavis Dequan Battle to Lukas Burlage and Laura Burlage; 1616 Oak Bend Road, Rocky Mount; $112,500

BUILDING PERMITS
RESIDENTIAL
Sylvia Hill Coleman, 8330 E. NC 97; new single family; $100,000
Sylvia Hill Coleman, 8330 E NC 97; new single family; $400,000

Nam Knights of America Coastal Plain Chapter Motorcycle Club present a donation to the Town of Bailey Police Department on June 21, 2021.

In an effort to help students and their families recover from the pandemic, Edgecombe Community College has created a new scholarship program called the Edgecombe Pledge. Beginning in the Fall 2021 semester and extending through the Spring 2023 semester, this unique initiative will fund in-state tuition and fees for all qualifying students.

The American Red Cross continues to experience a severe blood shortage that is negatively affecting blood product availability across the country. Donors of all blood types - especially type O and those giving platelets - are urged to make an appointment to give now and help ensure hospital shelves are stocked with blood products over the Fourth of July holiday and beyond.

North Carolina's egg prices were steady on small, lower on the balance when compared to last week. Supplies of medium were fairly heavy, while large were fairly light, and extra large were moderate to meet a moderate demand. The North Carolina weighted average price quoted
Thursday, June 24, for small lot sales of delivered, cartoned, grade "A" eggs was 104.45 for Extra Large, 101.72 for Large, 84.31 for Medium, and 82.00 for Small eggs.

Next week America will celebrate its 245th birthday.
Many Americans will cook out, go to a ballgame, go on vacation, watch a fireworks show and otherwise enjoy a day off. Hopefully, they will say a prayer of thanks to be able to live in a country with unparalleled freedoms.
Some folks still don't get it, though.

Marvin Hill, past commander of DAV (Disabled American Veterans) Twin County Chapter #55, dropped by the newspaper office this week to let us know the local transportation network will return to normal operation as of July 15th in our area after being shut down for almost two years due to Coronavirus.
If you're not familiar with this program, please take time to explore. It's certainly a much needed service here, and around the nation, which offers transportation for disabled veterans to and from medical appointments.

HAPPINESS IS RAIN - This photo was located in The Nashville Graphic October 1970 archive. Crissie Louise Curtis, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jim Curtis and granddaughter of Mr. W. R. Williams, is pictured trying out her umbrella and rain coat during a rain shower.

NASH CENTRAL'S TRALON MITCHELL

ROCKY MOUNT -- It was fitting that Nash Central High School's athletic season would come to an end last week with the performances of Tralon Mitchell and Colin Johnson at the Class 2-A State Track and Field Championships.
Mitchell, a sophomore, burst onto the NCHS sports scene early in the spring as he excelled on the football gridiron for the Bulldogs.

NORTHERN NASH HIGH SCHOOL SOPHOMORE STANDOUT BRYSON JENKINS (AT LEFT)

RED OAK -- Northern Nash's upward swing on the baseball diamond featured a strong 2021 season in the always-competitive Big East Conference.
The Fighting Knights fielded a young squad under Coach Joey Keefe, but showed plenty of promise for the future by posting a quality 7-5 overall record to go with a 5-5 worksheet in Big East action.

WAY TO GO. Southern Nash's Terrence Raspberry (left) took third place in the 285-pound weight class at the Class 3-A State Wrestling Championships. (Photo Submitted)

STANHOPE -- The names remained the same, but the path was quite different this time around for the Southern Nash High School wrestling squad.
Three Firebirds -- Jadel Davis, Luke Coble and Terrence Raspberry -- were able to qualify for the second straight season to compete in the Class 3-A Wrestling Championships.

FINAL FOUR. Northern Nash High School junior court star Chloe Harrington reached the semifinals of last weekend's Class 3-A Girls Tennis State Singles Championships, which were held in Burlington.

BURLINGTON -- After a second-place finish at the Class 3-A East Regionals, Northern Nash's Chloe Harrington capped off her superb season with a strong run at the annual Class 3-A Girls Tennis State Championships last weekend at the Burlington Tennis Center in Alamance County.
Harrington, a talented junior, had roared through the Big East Conference with an undefeated mark before making it all the way to the regional finals.

KINSTON -- Joe Gray Jr. hit his Low-A East leading eleventh home run of the season, but Down East starter Mason Englert held the Carolina Mudcats to just one run and one hit over six strong innings as the Wood Ducks took Sunday's series finale 6-2 at historic Grainger Stadium in Kinston.
The Low-A East Central-leading Mudcats (28-18) ended up finishing with a split in their six-game series with the Wood Ducks (27-20).

STANHOPE -- Brian Batchelor's first season as the Southern Nash High School head football coach will begin August 27 with a non-conference home game against the Corinth Holders Pirates.
Batchelor being in charge won't be the only change for the Firebirds as they will be competing in a newfangled split Big East Conference along with fellow Class 3-A schools Northern Nash, Rocky Mount and Franklinton, along with Class 2-A squads Bunn, Louisburg, Roanoke Rapids and Nash Central.

NASH COUNTY -- It's become an annual tradition for Northern Nash High School to send a Boys 3200 Relay Team to the Class 3-A State Track and Field Championships.
History repeated itself last weekend in Greensboro as Northern was once again represented by a 4x800 quartet at the states.

Colin Johnson competes in several sports for Nash Central High School -- and was a participant in the Boys Pole Vault event at last weekend's Class 2-A State Track and Field Championships at historic Aggie Stadium in Greensboro.

Nash Central High School's representatives at the Class 2-A State Track and Field Championships at North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro were (l to r) Coach Ricardo Jerome, Coach Teonna Hill, Pole Vaulter Colin Johnson, Sprinter Tralon Mitchell and Coach Danasia Pitchford.

Standout athletes such as pole vaulter Andrew Thompson helped the Southern Nash Firebirds claim the 2021Big East Conference Boys Track and Field Championship this spring. The Firebirds were coached by veteran skipper Sterling Leonard.

Nash Central High School sophomore sprinter Tralon Mitchell (left) took on some high-quality competition in the Boys 100 and 200 at last weekend's Class 2-A State Track and Field Championships on the campus of North Carolina A&T State University.