Cedar Grove Elementary School will offer a walk down memory lane on Saturday, April 22.
The school is hosting a special event, "Cedar Grove Commemorative Celebration," from 1 until 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 22 to give the community a chance to bid farewell to the school.

In a good news, bad news situation, Nash County commissioners don't plan to raise property taxes next fiscal year, but may hike fire taxes for some areas.
The county's property tax rate of 67 cents per $100 of valuation hasn't changed in 15 years.
County Manager Stacie Shatzer said a new property value evaluation is underway, but won't affect taxes until 2024-25.

Nashville's Farmers Market is set to open next Friday, April 21. The market will open every Friday from 3-7 p.m. featuring fresh local produce, local meats, baked goods, soaps, jewelry and more. Opening day will include a food truck and live music by Runaway Ostrich. For more information about the market call 252-459-9796.

Nashville's Town Council approved an updated ordinance that prohibits trucks and trailers from parking on town streets.
Town Manager Randy Lansing told council members last week that the town had received several complaints about trucks and trailers being parked on residential streets blocking the view of oncoming traffic and impeding travel on the streets.

Jordan Lara Smith

A woman charged with vandalizing a 134-year-old Nash County church building on Good Friday is also accused of violating a protective order.
Jordan Lara Smith, 34, of Whitakers, faces charges of injuring a church, a felony since the damage is greater than $5,000. She received a $7,500 bond.
Deputies received a call about a disturbance at Floods Chapel Original Free Will Baptist Church at N.C. 97 and N.C. 581, about halfway between Bailey and Spring Hope, said Maj. Eddie Moore of the Nash County Sheriff's Office.

Nash County social workers are turning over to South Carolina the case of siblings left in a Nashville home where a girl was killed and their grandmother stands accused.
Christal Lane, 8, died Feb. 7. Authorities charged her grandmother Patricia Ann Ricks, 72, with first-degree murder and child abuse in the girl's beating death.
"The child had severe injuries throughout her entire body and head," said Maj. Eddie Moore of the Nash County Sheriff's Office.

Gary Atkinson, owner of Crystal Clear Pool and Spa, poses for a photo outside his new business on N.C. 58 outside Nashville during a grand opening celebration April 7.

From a teenage hobby to side hustle to career, Gary Atkinson has taken his love of swimming pools to a new level with the opening of Crystal Clear Pool and Spa just outside Nashville.
A recently retired city firefighter, Atkinson has thrown himself into his one-time part-time job, opening a one-stop pool shop in the former Bell Hardware on N.C. 58.

Sheriff Keith Stone says a recent drug bust presents a chance to talk to the public about the deadly drug fentanyl.
Keith Antonio McDougald, of Benson, faces charges of possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of a Schedule II controlled substance, possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. He received a $245,000 bond.

HILL

A murder suspect on pretrial release is accused of trafficking heroin after a traffic stop in Nash County.
Darryel Jerrod Hill, 33, of River Run Road in Rocky Mount, faces charges of trafficking in heroin; possession with intent to sell and deliver heroin; and possession of a controlled substance in a detention facility. He received a $810,000 bond.

A planned movie studio in Spring Hope may see a lot of business due to a state bill seeking to increase filming rebates.
Ascent Studios announced last week it's building a 200-acre studio with 170,000-square-feet spread over six stages at the end of Barbee Street with two new movies set to film including a science fiction thriller.

INCIDENTS
A larceny from a merchant, remove/deactivate anti-theft and misdemeanor larceny was reported on 4/3/23 at 700 E Washington Street
A damage to real property was reported on 4/4/23 at S First Street and Cross Street

A damage to personal property was reported on 4/8/23 at 3177 Linda Way, Rocky Mount
A carrying a concealed weapon was reported on 4/5/23 at 401 McLean Street, Spring Hope
Damaging houses, churches, fences and walls was reported on 4/7/23 at 5149 W NC 97, Spring Hope

With the theme "A Vision of the Future: Believing in the Beauty of Dreams," the Rocky Mount Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. will present its 42nd Jabberwock Scholarship Program on April 23, 2023, at 4 p.m. at Edgecombe Community College in Tarboro.
The Jabberwock originated in Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. in 1925 as a teen development and community outreach project.

Nashville Elementary School has announced its list of honor roll students for the third nine weeks.

Coopers Elementary School has announced its list of honor roll students for the third nine weeks.

MB Hubbard Elementary School has announced its list of honor roll students for the third nine weeks.

Middlesex Elementary School has announced its list of honor roll students for the third nine weeks.

Bailey Elementary School has announced its list of honor roll students for the third nine weeks.

Cedar Grove Elementary School has announced its list of honor roll students for the third nine weeks.

National Animal Control Officer Appreciation Week is celebrated every year on the second full week of April. This year, it takes place from April 9 to 15. The Nash County Animal Control Officers, helps us save the Nash Pets! We couldn't do it without the corporation of our AC Officers,
Nash County Animal Friends of NC (NCAF) works with Promoting Animal Welfare in NC (PAWNC). NCAF publishes the available pets, using Facebook and adoption sites. PAWNC acts as a middleman between the Shelter & Rescues.

Several years ago, former University of Oklahoma football great - and then Congressman - J.C. Watts stood on the platform at the Republican National Convention and said something about integrity that I will never forget. Watts defined integrity as "doing what's right when no one is looking."
This is the one time of the year when our integrity will be at its greatest risk. Why? Because it's income tax season! While we may not want to admit it, many of us are tempted to cheat by overstating what we gave to our church or other important charities.

What are we really doing when we gather for corporate worship each week?
For some today, the main purpose for which we gather is evangelism; every service is designed to bring in seekers and move them toward conversion. For others, the purpose of our gatherings is revival or fellowship. Others see the goal of our gatherings to express praise to the Lord, others want an emotional experience, and for some, the gathering is simply a duty to perform.

Red Oak Baptist Church welcomes new members, Aaron and Savannah Dunn.
The Baptist Children's Homes of NC "Food Roundup" began on Tuesday, April 11 for members of Red Oak Baptist Church. Items will be collected through Sunday morning, April 23.
The Baptist Men will have their monthly breakfast on Sunday, April 16.

Three dedicated members of Civil Air Patrol's Tar River Composite Squadron were recognized with North Carolina Wing awards at the recent North Carolina Wing Conference, held from Friday, March 10th, 2023 through Sunday, March 12th, 2023, at the Embassy Suites in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Lieutenant Colonel Liz Dunster received the Col Robert V. "Bud" Payton Public Affairs Officer of the Year, Captain Nicholas Green received the Major General Jeanne M. Holm Civil Air Patrol Aerospace Officer of the Year, and Chaplain (Captain) Preston Smith received Squadron Chaplain of the Year.

BUILDING PERMITS
(COMMERCIAL)
Town of Castalia; 9507 Main Street; sign; $25,000

RCPJR Properties, LLC to Leigh A. Saunders and Paul C. Baker; 10.01 acres; $63,500
Ann Chason Tanner-Hendrix, Ann Chason Tanner Hendrix and Kenneth Richard Hendrix to Khamis Shiran and Nisreen Bayyari; 721 Drexel Road, Rocky Mount
Terrence T. Vines and Kimberly M. Vines to Family Hospitality Investment, LLC; 1016 Southbriar Drive, Rocky Mount
Dean A. Holland Builders, Inc. to Reginald Brinkley and Rekina B. Jones; 5901 Harvest Ridge Road, Battleboro; $500,000

Our middle child celebrated his 18th birthday last week.
It was pretty much like every other busy day -- school, then a game, then us all getting a late supper. We took him to his favorite restaurant a couple of days later.
Even with all those 18-year-old things bearing down on us for months, and even with his sister home from college, and his best friend joining us, and lots of the talk being about post-graduation, it still didn't seem real.

Part two of my COVID-19 journey mentioned here last week is grieving the loss of my best friend, July. The day before I landed in the hospital, our dog passed away due to a progressive type of cancer.
If you've ever seen me walking in downtown during lunch or in the evenings, you saw my sidekick as well. July loved walking his downtown block greeting all the merchants and getting a pat on the head.

NEW OFFICERS - Mrs. Linwood P. Robbins (far left), past president of the North Nashville Extension Homemakers Club, installs new officers for 1970-71 during a meeting.

NORTHERN NASH SENIOR STANDOUT ASHTON RHODES

WILSON -- Intensity is always a keyword when a Nash County public school tangles with a county private school on the baseball diamond.
It doesn't happen very often as the programs are under different organizations, but the most commonplace event comes during a tournament setting.
Such was the case Tuesday morning when Northern Nash met Rocky Mount Academy on the final day of the Golden Leaf Invitational Tournament at historic Fleming Stadium in Wilson.

WHAT A DAY. Southern Nash's Jacob Kearney claimed medalist honors at last Wednesday's Big East Conference golf match with an even-par 72.

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- The final pre-break boys golf match in the Big East Conference ended the same way all the others have this season -- with Roanoke Rapids coming away with a victory.
The Yellow Jackets once again ruled the Big East during last Wednesday's 18-hole event at The River Golf Course near Bunn.

NORTHERN NASH'S KENO JONES (L) AND CARSON JENKINS (R) WITH GOVERNOR (AND NNSH ALUM) ROY COOPER AT THE STATE FOOTBALL FINALS

RED OAK -- It's not over yet.
Two of the greatest players in Northern Nash High School football history will get a chance to represent the Fighting Knights on the gridiron -- this time at the annual North Carolina Coaches Association's East-West All-Star Football Game.

RED OAK RUNNERS (L TO R) TRACY DODRILL, AARON MOWATT AND DERRICK HARRIS

NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. -- Several members of the Red Oak Runners distance club took part in the annual Sunglasses Half-Marathon and 5-K on March 24-26 in North Myrtle Beach.
Aaron Mowatt, a member of the Northern Nash High School boys cross country squad, took first place in the Male Division with a time of 1:22.58 in the half-marathon.

ZEBULON -- Salem's Allan Castro hit a grand slam in the third and pitchers Dalton Rogers, Gabriel Jackson and Railin Perez combined on 13 strikeouts as the Red Sox defeated the Mudcats 7-2 in Carolina's Tuesday night home opener at Five County Stadium.
The score was tied 1-1 though the second before Castro connected on his grand slam off Carolina (1-2) reliever Fernando Olguin in the third.

STANHOPE -- Southern Nash High School has named Tevin Boykin as its new Varsity Girls Basketball Head Coach.
Coach Boykin is currently assisting with instruction to Southern Nash High students in the Exceptional Children's Department. He will begin his coaching duties immediately.

CARY -- The North Carolina Wesleyan baseball program dropped two out of three games over the weekend to USA South rival William Peace at the USA Baseball Complex.
In game one, the Bishops bats exploded for 13 runs and had multiple players with multi-hit games.
Jackson Hobbs put on a show at the dish hitting a grand slam and contributing five RBI to the 13-9 victory.

BAILEY--Husband and wife authors James A. and Margaret B. Bailey will sign copies of their newest book, Northfield Companion: A Guide to Robbers, Witnesses, Posse and Others, from 1-3 p.m. at the Wesley Privette Memorial Library, 6288 Main Street.
The authors lived in Minnesota for a few years and attended the annual "Defeat of Jesse James" reenactment events.