A lot of folks in Nashville knew the late Frank Hedgepeth as a business owner involved in the community, but he also loved sports.
That's what his son Travis Hedgepeth remembers most about his father who died at 53 in 2007 after a 16-month battle with cancer.
"He loved sports," the younger Hedgepeth said last week. "My fondest memories of him involve sports, either playing or watching."

After years of receiving a free ride from the Town of Spring Hope, Pumpkin Festival organizers will now have to pony up for police and utilities.
The Spring Hope National Pumpkin Festival will most likely look different next year -- at least behind the scenes -- with the recent passage of an ordinance requiring more town oversight of events.

A Nash County man won second place -- with the largest in-state pumpkin -- at the N.C. State Fair last week.
Danny Vester, of Spring Hope, grew a 1,217.5 pound pumpkin this year. Vester also won second in the Spring Hope Giant Pumpkin and Watermelon Weigh-off held Oct. 8. He entered a different pumpkin that weighed 930 pounds.

The Nash County Planning Board has given thumbs up to a strategy that sets residential growth patterns for years to come.
The Comprehensive Land Use Plan will now be considered for approval by the Nash County Board of Commissioners at its Nov. 7 meeting.
The planning board held a public hearing Monday where most folks who spoke asked for more work be done before approval of the plan.

Scott Hale, vice president of the Nashville Chamber of Commerce, cooks Brunswick stew on Friday. The chamber cooked stew and sold it by the quart to raise funds for the Downtown Trick or Treat event. The stew is made of chicken, potatoes, onions, cabbage, lima beans and corn. It takes about six hours to cook.

Kids should have a scary good time Oct. 28 during the annual Downtown Nashville Halloween Celebration.
Local merchants, county and town agencies are joining together again for the event.
The evening of fun starts at 4 p.m. with a fall festival at HD Cooley Library with games, prizes and activities.

Beth Edwards took over 32 years of memories with her as she said goodbye to her job in the Nash County Clerk of Court's Office on Friday.
Edwards will officially consider herself retired on December 1 but her last working day was Friday, October 14.
Edwards was born and raised in Nashville and continues to reside there today.

Authorities are investigating alleged child abuse at a local church-run daycare.
The Nash County Sheriff's Office has become involved in an unfolding situation at Corinth Baptist Church Daycare, Maj. Eddie Moore, the law enforcement agency's spokesperson, confirmed to The Graphic on Tuesday afternoon.

The town of Red Oak is moving forward with plans to develop a farmers market offering a unique experience.
Red Oak Town Manager Tracy Shearin said the farmers market will be located between Faulkner's Store and the fire department on Highway 43.
It will be called ROSE, or Red Oak Sustainable Eatery, and will operate indoors.

Nash County deputies looking for stolen property at a house in the southern end of the county last week found a cache of firearms and drugs as well.
Shontayne Dwayne Pittman, 49, faces charges six counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; five counts of possession of stolen property; trafficking cocaine by possession; maintaining a dwelling for controlled substance; possession with the intent to sell and deliver marijuana.

A 17-year-old is accused of trying to flee from authorities and tossing away a firearm.
At 11 a.m. Monday, Sheriff Keith Stone attempted to stop a vehicle going 80 mph on North Old Carriage Road, said Maj. Eddie Moore with the Nash County Sheriff's Office.
"Upon activation of the blue lights, the vehicle fled in an attempt to elude capture, continuing to drive at a high rate of speed," Moore said.

Nash County has seen a steady decrease in coronavirus cases over the last four weeks, according to local public health officials.
The county had 76 new coronavirus cases reported from Oct. 4 through Oct. 10.
"It's still showing a downward trend," said Bill Hill, director of Nash County Health and Human Services.

Four counts of trafficking cocaine, firearm by a felon, possession of stolen goods and felony maintaining a vehicle/dwelling/place for a controlled substance was reported on 10/10/22 at 12593 Talon Drive, Zebulon
A felony larceny was reported on 10/12/22 at 13919 Old Smithfield Road, Bailey

Nash County Manager Stacie Shatzer, NC State Sen. Lisa Barnes and Nash County Chairman Robbie Davis pose with a check showing the amount of money Barnes secured for Nash County in the state's fiscal budget.

State Sen. Lisa Barnes has been busy finding money for agencies and organizations "back home."
Barnes, R- Nash, secured more than $1 million for Nash County in this year's state budget.
Barnes, a former county commissioner, told the board at its October meeting that it felt good to be able to deliver good news about fiscal funding.

A weak body leads to a weak mind and spirit. That's why St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church has been providing food to anyone in need.
Since February, the church has been distributing bags of food weekly as part of its outreach ministries.
As a registered nurse, First Lady Shamon Cheek always wanted to start a health and wellness program at the church.

"For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul?" (Mark 8:36)
Scientists tell us that the value of the human body in today's market is around $160.00. In other words, the chemicals and minerals found in our bodies have very little over-the-counter value.

Selfish or Selfless? Most of us would agree that we have become a very self-conscious and self-centered society. Some say every new generation is increasingly "The Me Generation." Generations that have followed us have seemingly grown progressively worse in the area of over-emphasizing self. We are preoccupied with ourselves. We shouldn't be surprised. The Bible told us to expect this to happen in the last days...

Ronald Eugene Hypes and Michelle Hypes to Ronald Eugene Hypes and Michelle Hypes; Coopers Township, Lot 2
Yolanda Leary Watson, Yolanda Leary and Curtis Watson, Jr. to Helease Pulley Leary; 6143 West Old Spring Hope Road, Spring Hope
Dickey V. Bryant, Christine B. Bryant, Dickey V. Bryant and Linda Richards Bryant to Linda Bryant Gold; 1.732 acres on W NC 97

Building Permit Commercial
Robbie Davis, 5530 I Dortches Blvd.; new construction; $1,023,050
Brooke Puckett, 101 W. Washington St.; renovation/alteration; $90,000

It's not easy being a coffee snob these days.
I have no qualms admitting that the quality of a coffee drink is nothing to fool around with -- coffee is more than just a drink. It's like a warm or cold or frozen security blanket, loaded with soul-affirming caffeine and sometimes, a little something extra.

The opioid epidemic has left a trail of death and destruction in its wake all across North Carolina, and too many families have experienced tragic loss. Since I was sworn into my first term as your Attorney General in 2017, I have made confronting this epidemic my top priority. We have made important progress, including North Carolina's $750 million share of the $26 billion national opioid settlement.

This photo first published in The Nashville Graphic on June 5, 1958. Dewey Lee Cooper (left), president of Nash County Farm Bureau, presents the top award in a talent contest to Pat Walston of Nashville and Jim Inscoe of Castalia, who played a piano duet.