The Castalia Fourth of July celebration may not happen this year due to finances and lack of committee staff.
Belinda Davis, chairwoman of the town's Fourth of July committee, said this year, the committee is having difficulties finding a firework display provider.
She said the company the town has been using for years has gone out of business and the person used for 2021's Fourth of July celebration is going out of business and turning over his operation to someone else.

Parking is now prohibited on two streets in Spring Hope.
Spring Hope commissioners have voted to ban parking on the south side of East Branch Street and both sides of North Hopkins Avenue.
At both locations, cars would sometimes be parked on both sides of the street which minimized navigation room for drivers.

Nashville Elementary students celebrated Read Across America last week dressing as their favorite book characters. Pictured above, Jace Kelley is dressed as Kicking King and Gracelynn Boone as Quarrelsome Queen.

Filing for the May 17, 2022 primary elections ended last Friday with a few local seats contested.
Thomas Arnold Winstead has filed to run against incumbent Nash County Commissioner Wayne Outlaw on the Republican ticket in District 5.
Reginald Silver, a Nash County Public Schools board member has filed to run against incumbent Nash County Commissioner Gwen Welkins on the Democratic ticket in District 6.

The planning process is underway for the second phase of the Nash County Miracle Park at Coopers. County residents, especially those in the Coopers community, are invited to attend a community input meeting Thursday, March 10, in the Coopers Elementary School Gym located at 6833 NC Hwy 58, Elm City, NC. Residents can drop in anytime between 5:30 pm and 7:30 pm for an informal presentation and the opportunity to offer feedback and ask questions.

The Nash County Senior Center has recently attained National Senior Center Accreditation status for the third time.
Nash County Senior Center Supervisor Morgan Doughtie said the center was first accredited in 2010 and then again in 2015 holding the status for five years each time. She said the center was unable to achieve the status in 2020 due to the impact of COVID-19 temporarily shutting the center down.

The Down East Senior Games return this year with hybrid events to compete in.
The senior games are open to adults aged 50 and up who live in Nash, Edgecombe, Wilson, Halifax, and Northampton Counties. It is a year-round health promotion which seniors compete in various art and sports activities, including literary and visual arts, horseshoes and bowling.

An audit presentation on the Town of Nashville's finances for the last budget year was postponed by the town's auditor.
Phyllis Pearson, CPA auditor with Petway, Mills and Pearson, came before Nashville's Town Council last week to provide an update on the audit process.
Pearson said the audit was not quite complete but she was hopeful it would be done and submitted by March 15.

Pictured above is a rendering of the new Shaw Learning Center to be constructed on the campus of NC Wesleyan College.

North Carolina Wesleyan College broke ground last week for its new Shaw Learning Center. This facility was made possible by funds the College received from the Nancy A. Shaw trust. Dr. Shaw was a successful physician with ties to Nash County. Her trust's primary focus was to benefit the health and care of cats.
"NC Wesleyan is very thankful for the generosity of Dr. Nancy Shaw.

Another empty seat is available to fill on the Castalia Board of Commissioners after a second one has resigned recently.
Melissa Hinkle left the board February 28 due to acquiring a full-time high school equivalency testing Coordinator position at Wake Community College's Workforce Continuing Education Department.

Warrant service reported at 100 N. Boddie St., Nashville on 03/04/22
Malicious conduct by prisoner reported at 10317 W. Old Spring Hope Rd., Spring Hope on 02/27/22
Injuring property to obtain nonferrous metals reported at 10694 N NC 58, Castalia on 03/03/22

Possession of marijuana 1/2 to 1.5 oz reported at 128 Wheeless Circle, Nashville on 02/27/22
Open container after consuming, speeding, and driving while impaired reported at MM 462 US 64E on 02/27/22
Death investigation reported at 408 S. Collins St, Nashville on 03/02/22

Red Oak Elementary students learned about fire prevention this week. Rocky Mount Fire and Life Safety Educator Eric McKnight is pictured speaking to students at one of several classes held Monday.

The Red Oak Middle School Student Government Association (SGA) collected cheer boxes for children of the Ukraine. One Realty One Group Aspire, a real estate agency in Winterville, started the fundraiser.
Head of SGA Jackie Johnson said the scholastic community heard about the recent turmoil occurring amongst the Ukraine and Russia and wanted to lend a helping hand.

Rehoming pets is hard. Rescues are so busy and usually full. We get requests to take pets, but... we aren't a Rescue. We act as middlemen between the Shelter and Rescues. We advertise Shelter pets to find adopters. We have great success unless the pet has an aggression issue or feral. We know that circumstances make pet owners rehome. We would appreciate you trying to find a forever home before taking them to the Nash County Animal Control facility, the "Shelter".

"The end of a thing is better than its beginning. The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit." (Ecclesiastes 7:8)
A friend recently shared how he applied for a promotion, but was passed over and they chose someone else. His disappointment was understandable. As he shared his frustration, however, he also read some verses from the Book of Romans that comforted him. "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith unto this grace in which we now stand.

As I continue my thoughts from last week: "The First Century Church was built in the midst of horrendous moral conditions. The vast majority of citizens were pagan idol worshippers. Society celebrated moral depravity. Political leaders mocked God's standards. Yet the Church thrived.
That's because the Church knew it could not depend on the government to prop it up or society to be favorably disposed to its teachings and values.

Spring is almost here! Time for spring cleaning? InJoy Thrift Store in Rocky Mount would appreciate any donations of clothes, furniture, housewares, and more! Your help will support various local ministries, and the International DOOR Ministry for the deaf.
If you are interested in helping with the Ukraine crisis, here are a couple ways you can participate.

Peachtree members would like to have everyone to pray for Ukraine and this world and its people. We hope you spend a peaceful afternoon and coming week.
The Sanctuary flower arrangement was lovingly given to honor our Lord by Bob and I in honor of our grandson's birthdays Giorgie Martinze age 11 and JR Bunn age 18.

Building Permit
Commercial
Gregorio Roman, 9349 Pleasant Grove Church Rd; sign; $800
Randall N. Weaver, 3875 A Shenandoah Dr; new construction; $73,000

Carolyn Batchelor Turner to Wesley William Turner; 4.78 acres
Julia M. Bynum, Julia Mae Bynum and Julia Miller to Burnett Development, LLC; 318 North Howell Street, Rocky Mount
Claude P. Vaughan Jr. to Claude P. Vaughan Jr.; 1.05 acres in North Whitakers

Nashville Elementary Principal Quintin Mangano presents the book for the One Book Project. Annually, Nashville Elementary staff select a book for all students to read for one month. Mangano said the purpose of One Book Project is to encourage reading and enhance reading skills. This year's book for the project is The BFG.

When my parents moved out to the road I live on in southern Nash County back in the early 1950s, there wasn't much to see.
My mama has often told that there were so few people, she thought they'd arrived in the desert. She told me a postmaster once asked her why in the world anyone would move out that way.

Thousands of Nash County citizens enjoy the Fourth of July festivities in Castalia every year. Whether taking your little one to the parade or going back for the fireworks, it's become a family tradition in Nash County for many, many years.
Castalia's event, like many others across the nation, is facing increased expenses and a decrease in volunteers.

This photo originally published in The Nashville Graphic on August 2, 1979. Four Rocky Mount Jaycees spent 24 hour wheelchair-bound to draw attention to the need to make public areas more accessible to the handicapped. Pictured left to right were: Dr. Allan Barker, Ed Roughton, Wayne Letchworth and Bill Hill. Standing is Robert Bridwell, chairman of the wheelchair project.