Nash County is completing its "Charters of Freedom" setting. A dedication ceremony will take place in 2022.

Visitors of the Nash County Courthouse now have the opportunity to view our nation's Charters of Freedom which includes our founding documents, the U.S. Constitution, Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights.
The display now sits on the courthouse lawn surrounded by a bricked courtyard in which anyone can purchase a paver to honor someone.

Pictured above Miss Pumpkin Queen Rachel Perry and Little Miss Pumpkin Avery Bissette join Santa and his elf, Ethan Vester, chamber president.

Spring Hope's Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual Christmas in Spring Hope Friday night. Coloring with Santa was offered and a chance to give him a Christmas wish list. Horse drawn carriage rides around the downtown area were popular with visitors of the event. Merchants were open for business and pop-up vendors were on site along with hot cocoa and food.

A man convicted of murdering a Nash County grocery store owner in 1981 is being reconsidered for parole and a program that will help reintegrate him into society.
Charles Edward McRae, now 60, was 20 years old when he and an accomplice, Christopher Boykin, then 21, robbed Coppedge's Grocery near Spring Hope on December 7, 1981.

After devoting 22 years to the Nash County Sheriff's Office, Sergeant Albert Finch is starting fresh and heading near the beach.
Finch began his law enforcement career at the county's sheriff's office March 2000. His first assignment was the role of detention officer. After six months, he enrolled in Nash Community College's second basic law enforcement training academy.

The Impact Center at Word Tabernacle Church held a ribbon cutting ceremony December 8 for a new center inside of the building that was built for creativity, faith and events.
Pastor James Gailliard, pastor at Word Tabernacle Church and founder of the Impact Center, along with state Governor Roy Cooper snipped the ribbon to welcome the cutting-edge Center for Performing Arts and Worship to the community.

Santa Claus plans to cruise around Nashville on Wednesday, December 22 from 10am - 12 noon.
Stops include:
Nashville Community Building
Richardson Court Apartments

Nashville's Town Council approved final changes to the land donation agreement for the Nashville Junction last Tuesday night.
The agreement is between the Town of Nashville and Hurt, LLC on Hurt's donation of land for the parking, pavilion and audience area at the Nashville Junction.
Mark Edwards, the town's attorney, made changes suggested last month and presented those changes to council members.

Nash County Health Department Director Bill Hill said COVID cases in the county are about the same as last week.
He said over the past week there has been 143 new cases which brings the county to 15,714 confirmed cases.
As of Tuesday, he said 9 people were hospitalized and none are in the ICU nor have been vaccinated.

Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson had one overall clear message at the Republican Party fundraiser dinner: use your voice.
He spoke to around 400 people in Nash Community College's Brown Auditorium Thursday, December 2 about the importance of standing up against ongoing issues and simply fighting for the right to continue exercising the freedoms we have today.

A Castalia resident who was issued a letter for violating the town's chicken ordinance is asking for reasonable accommodations to be in compliance.
Castalia Mayor James Alston said Debra Sjoberg was sent a letter in October regarding a breach of the town's chicken and honeybee ordinance.
The chicken and honeybee ordinance was passed in 2016 enabling residents to own chickens and bees with certain restrictions which are having a limit of five hens, no roosters, and coops must be located behind a residence.

Candidate filing has again been suspended as of last Wednesday night due to an order for the NC Supreme Court.
This order includes filing for rescheduled municipal contests, and any separate filing period in January for those contests.
The Supreme Court also pushed the date of the primary and rescheduled municipal elections back more than two months - to Tuesday, May 17, 2022. It had been scheduled for March 8.

Incidents
Larceny misdemeanor reported at 100 East Evans Dr, Nashville on 12/22/21
Possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of heroin reported at 100 East Evans Dr, Nashville on 12/09/21

Damage to personal property, assault on emergency personnel and simple assault reported at 100 N. Boddie St, Nashville on 12/07/21
Larceny of a firearm reported at 11757 Ward Rd, Whitakers on 12/10/21
Cruelty to animals reported at 12411 Taylors Store Rd, Nashville on 12/11/21

"Why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye?" (Matthew 7:3)
Many years ago, I listened to an interview with evangelist Michael Youseff. Youseff recounted a conversation with former Attorney General John Ashcroft when he represented the State of Missouri in the United States Senate.

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?'"
- Matthew 7:21-22 ESV

The Peachtree Baptist Church Congregation gathered to worship and to celebrate the Third Sunday of Advent, The Candle of Joy, the Pink Candle. Pastor Gene gave a reading on the Candle of Joy.

"Visit Praque" was the theme for the International Mission Study held at Red Oak Baptist Church on Wednesday, December 1. The event was for all ages to learn more about missions work happening in Prague, the capital Czechia. Everyone received a "ticket" for the tour of Prague as they arrived which would later tell them which tour group they would be in. Also, as people arrived they could hear the church bell ringing.

Fatima Karim Muhammad to Pierce Investments, LLC; Section 2, Wood's Walk at Belmont Farms, Phase 2, Block A, Lot 22
Phillip Ray Dunbar to Gregory Jones Sr. and Alisa Mills Jones; 9252 Edgerton Road, Spring Hope;$27,000
TAJ, LLC to South Dogwood Partners, LLC; 1703/1705 Davis Street

Building Permit
Commercial
Beverly Sweeney, 603 E. Nash St; renovation/alteration; $131,760
Wayne Knotts, 302 NW Railroad St; new construction; $13,000

I read a story last week that former NFL player Michael Strahan was going to get shot into space. A few months ago, William Shatner went. Billionaires Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson have also taken turns.
There have also been stories about increased efforts to get to Mars to potentially settle the planet. Efforts and spending are being increased.

If there's one thing I've learned over time is the fact change is inevitable - regardless the topic.
When I came on board with The Nashville Graphic the newspaper was at that time under the ownership and leadership of Jack and Helen Sharpe and their son, Hal.
In 1996 the paper was sold to its current owner, Gary Cunard of Franklin County - only the 4th owner of this paper over the past 126 years.

This photo originally published in The Nashville Graphic on December 25, 1958. Elliot Cooper, who was quoted as saying "you put everybody's picture in the paper but mine," was featured in the Graphic's Christmas edition.