Owners of a longtime appliance store in Nashville are saddened to see their shop close on December 31.
Freeman's TV and Appliance, Inc. has been an essential seller of television equipment and kitchen appliances for customers for 65 years. The company sold new appliances including refrigerators, dishwashers, and stoves from the coast to the mountains and from Virginia to South Carolina.

Nash County, like many areas in the state and country, is seeing an increase in the number of new COVID-19 cases.
Nash County Health Director Bill Hill reported 227 new cases in Nash County as of Tuesday afternoon which brings the county's cumulative total to 15,941. Last week's new cases were 143.

Lou Carson, a volunteer, assists with gathering toys for Joshua's Toy Drive distribution day.

There will be smiles on an abundant of children's faces this holiday season thanks to an annual toy drive created 12 years ago by a boy with a heart of gold.
Nash County resident Joshua Moore started Joshua's Toy Drive when he was just seven years old. His father Greg Moore said Joshua received so many toys from his grandparents around Christmas time, some he did not even play with. He said Joshua was very fortunate as a child, knew he would receive more playthings, and wanted to give the toys to people who needed it.

Nash County has made a strategic plan pertaining to where it is allotting money received from the American Rescue Plan Act.
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) was passed into law in March 2021. It provides funds to help governments recover from the impact of COVID. Nash County is set to receive a total of $18,316,281. The county has received the first half, $9.1 million, in May 2021 and is expected to receive the other half in May 2022.

A NC Special Olympics representative and Stephanie Wilkerson, a Special Olympics NC Global Messenger, turn the barrel of entries to pull three winning tickets.

The Nashville Police Department raised a little over $27,000 for the Special Olympics through its recent fundraiser.
Nashville Police Chief Anthony Puckett said it was the first time the department has partnered with Special Olympics for its Law Enforcement Torch Run portion to raise money for nearly 40,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities though one of their officers helped the organization last year.

A suspect has been arrested in a homicide from 2020 in Castalia.
Remains discovered at the end of Sumler Road were identified as a Guilford County man determined to be that of Jaleel Taque Evans who was reported missing on October 8, 2020 in Greensboro.

Authorities arrested a Louisburg Manor employee, alleging he exposed himself to residents at the Smoke Tree Way facility.
Franklin County sheriff's deputies arrested Cortez Norman, 30, of Rocky Mount, on Dec. 16, serving Louisburg police warrants that charged him with two counts of indecent exposure and misdemeanor stalking.

Incidents
Warrant service reported at 100 N. Boddie Street, Nashville on 12/15/21
Larceny felony and injuring property to obtain nonferrous metals reported at 114 N. Wheeless Drive, Nashville on 12/13/21

Misdemeanor breaking and entering, communicate threats, and warrant service reported at 100 N. Boddie St, Nashville on 12/17/21
Missing persons reported at 10764 Cone Rd, Middlesex on 12/14/21
Breaking and entering misdemeanor and damage to real property reported at 1877 US 64A, Spring Hope on 12/12/21

A Rocky Mount man was sentenced recently to 65 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and distributing fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine.
On September 17, 2021, Cedrick Charles Williams pled guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with the Intent to Distribute Heroin, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, Possession with the Intent to Distribute a Quantity of Heroin and Cocaine, Distribution of a Quantity of Heroin...

Did you know it is the law to keep your pet under control? Did you know that others have the right to protect their animals against roaming dogs? The law is only one reason to keep your pet safe! Let's review...

WMU will start sending cards and letters, and making phone calls to shut ins.
WMU has changed their meeting time to Wednesday, January 8, 2022 at 10:00am. They planned more mission projects.
Men's Ministry Dinner has been canceled until January 20, 2022, at 6:30pm. See you then.

Jason Leon Parker to Ashley Wood Rushing and Joseph William Rushing; Salem Homes, Lot 12
Roger J. Tegtmeyer and Evelyn Tegtmeyer to Mary L. Gutman; Section 2, Wood's Walk at Belmont Farms Phase 3, block A, Lot 32
Christy Bunting to Square Foote LLC; 155 Ladybank, Rocky Mount; $5,200

Building Permit
Commercial
Richard Belk, 3182 Boddie Mill Pond Road; renovation/alteration; $1,000
Kyle Bobbitt, 7310 Tyler Run; renovation/alteration; $12,000

12/23/2021: 11 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Golden East Crossing Mall, 1100 North Wesleyan Blvd.
12/28/2021: 10 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Harrison Family YMCA, 1000 Independence Drive
12/28/2021: 11 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Braswell Memorial Library, 727 North Grace Street

Robbie was decorating the house last week for Christmas. She brought down the box with the Fisher Price Little People Nativity Set. It is great for the children because they love playing with all the characters and animals while also learning about the birth of Christ. As she was pulling out all the pieces, she realized one was missing - baby Jesus! Apparently, one of the grandchildren put it somewhere during Christmas last year.

I'm known by many in my congregation as the "question man." They say I'm constantly asking question, when I teach and preach. I was taught to ask questions and in doing so it would spur me to think about what I believe and why. I firmly believe that many church goers have heard the biblical stories for so long, that there is now very little that captures our attention, anew. The Christmas story is one example.

The following is my devotion from "early. A morning gathering for finding deep peace." It appeared on Facebook Live on December 13, 2021.
I've had a diverse employment history.
I've worked in a chicken house, on a farm, walked aimlessly through cotton fields looking for insects and disease. I've waited tables. I've shoveled horse manure. I've washed dishes. I worked "hardlines" at Target.

Merry Christmas!
The Baptist Men enjoyed their monthly breakfast on Sunday, December 19.
A very special service celebrating Christmas was held at Red Oak Baptist Church on Sunday, December 19.

The V Foundation for Cancer Research, alongside presenting sponsor, Braswell Family Farms, has announced the fifth annual Victory Ride to Cure Cancer will take place on May 21, 2022. Since its inception, the Victory Ride has raised over $1 million for cancer research, making it the largest, active Triangle-based ride funding cancer research. This year's event marks Braswell's fourth year as presenting sponsor for the ride, hosting training rides, promotional events, and making an egg-celent breakfast for riders on ride day.

Olivia Alexis Parker and George Thomas Smith III were married on September 25 at half past five in the afternoon at Rose Hill Estate in Nashville. The ceremony was officiated by the Reverend Charles J. Robl III, Associate Pastor of First United Methodist Church in Wilson.
The bride is the daughter of Colonel and Mrs. Wayland Edward Parker of Wilson. She is the granddaughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Zachary Hassell Hinton of Momeyer and the late Mr. and Mrs. Edward Watts Parker of Jacksonville, Florida.

I was 12 the Christmas morning that I woke up and my dad told me to look at the window for my present.
It was one of many times I thought he'd lost his mind during my teenage years. I did not have anything in my extensive list from the Sears Wish Book that would be kept outside.
What I saw was a red go cart with a white seat.

The most vivid memory from my early childhood years was my dad stringing lights on an old cedar tree in our front yard which at that time I compared to the Tarrytown Mall tree.
Hindsight, the tree wasn't all that large but was huge in my eyes as a little munchkin.

Dear Nashville Graphic, Now that I'm an old woman I'll wear loud clothes and a hat which doesn't help my appearance at all.
I'll sit down on the sidewalk when I get tired and wave to all who pass me by. Now that I'm an old woman.
If I get hungry I'll go in the shops and gobble up all their samples.

Wilma Griffin Enroughty of Nashville submitted these photos for the Backward Glances.
Above is a picture taken in 1948 of Ms. Enroughty standing at her grandparents homeplace which still stands today on Womble Road.

ALL-AROUND TALENT. Senior Jackson Vick starred on both sides of the ball during his tenure with the Southern Nash High School football squad.

STANHOPE -- Jackson Vick's thrill-a-minute career at Southern Nash High School featured a myriad of high-flying offensive heroics as Vick cemented himself on the long list of elite-level running backs for the Firebirds' football program.
But don't expect that kind of end zone-finding success at Vick's next stop -- North Carolina State University.

ALL HANDS ON DECK. (L to R) Southern Nash's Jackson Vick, Jordan Vick and Landen Baker and Louisburg's Tymar Kearney attempt to gain a rebound during last Friday's boys basketball showdown in Stanhope.

STANHOPE -- Southern Nash appeared to be well on its way to a convincing victory over Louisburg last Friday in Big East Conference boys basketball action.
But LHS' Jordan Durham had other ideas.
Southern Nash still got its decision, but not without a bit of a late scare from the Warriors, thanks in part to the heroics of Durham.

34 FOR 2. Southern Nash's McKenzie Kennedy (right) scores in the paint for the Ladybirds during last Friday night's home victory against Louisburg.

STANHOPE -- One team was destined to gain a feel-good victory last Friday -- and that club would prove to be the Southern Nash Ladybirds.
In a battle of squads with winless records coming in, the Ladybirds used a furious full-court pressure defense to take charge early en route to gaining a 63-44 triumph over the Lady Warriors in Big East Conference girls basketball action at the historic SNHS Gymnasium.

DURHAM -- North Carolina State University baseball head coach Elliott Avent was named the 2021 USA Baseball College Coach of the Year last Thursday.
This is the second national honor in his coaching career (the first coming in 2003), and the second award he has received after the Wolfpack's historic 2021 season, as he was named the ABCA/ATEC Atlantic Regional Coach of the Year honor back in July.

NASH COUNTY -- Nash Central and Rocky Mount will once again participate in the annual John Jacobs Christmas Classic Basketball Tournament at Cleveland High School in Johnston County.
The event will run from December 27-29 and will feature eight schools in both the boys and girls brackets.

DEMOREST, GA. -- The North Carolina Wesleyan College men's basketball team rallied from behind in the second half to defeat USA South Conference West Division foe Piedmont University 79-70 on the road last Thursday for the Bishops' fifth straight win.
The victory improved the Bishops to 9-3 on the season while dropping Piedmont to 5-3.

(L to R) Louisburg's Lindsey Lundy and Southern Nash's Kaylin Younes attempt to grab a rebound during last Friday night's Big East Conference girls basketball contest at the historic SNHS Gymnasium.

Southern Nash's Maura Kennedy scores in the paint for the Ladybirds in the second half of last Friday's home decision over Louisburg.

Southern Nash's TJ Taybron goes up for a breakaway dunk that sent the crowd into a frenzy during last Friday night's home basketball decision versus Louisburg.

Editor's note: All letters are typed exactly as each child submitted. We did not correct or edit any of their words.