A Nashville resident was thanked for his heroic efforts during a house fire last month.
Nashville Fire Chief Chris Joyner and Assistant Chief Jason Edwards presented a certificate of appreciation to Jack Majewski for assisting a neighbor from their burning home on Simbelyn Drive.

The Nash County Board of Commissioners met behind closed doors Monday, likely to discuss its recent social worker calamity.
Time is up on a 30-day deadline given by the state for the county to complete a series of social services improvements in the aftermath of the violent death of a child in a Nashville home under investigation for child abuse claims.

The 25th Nashville Blooming Festival is set for May 12-13. Watch next week's Nashville Graphic for the all inclusive festival guide featuring schedules and information on the event. The deadline to enter the parade is today, April 20th.

The Red Oak Town Council is considering a proposed annual spending plan of $1.3 million including $128,000 for salaries and $100,000 for law enforcement.
The fiscal year 2023-24 budget is available for public inspection at town hall as well as the town's website and social media pages, according to Town Clerk Tracy Shearin.
Shearin submitted the budget to the Town Council earlier this month at its regular meeting.

Nashville's Police Department is hoping to revive the neighborhood watch program.
A neighborhood watch interest meeting is planned for Wednesday, April 26 at 7 p.m. in town council chambers, located in the Harold D. Cooley Library.
Nashville Police Chief J.T. Winstead said the interest meeting will be for the entire town.

District Court Judge William Soloman administers the oath of office to Brent Fisher for the N.C. Emergency Response Commission.

A Nash County official has been appointed to the N.C. Emergency Response Commission.
Brent Fisher, the county's assistant director of the emergency services, fire and rescue and emergency management, now serves as the commission's representative of emergency managers.

The Nashville's Farmers Market will open Friday, April 21, offering fresh produce, fresh meats and more. The market is located at the former location of Nashville Building Supply at 723 S. Barnes Street and will operate from 3-7 p.m. Opening day will also include live music from Runaway Ostrich and the Southern Q. BBQ food truck.

Local teens will have a chance to connect with area businesses seeking summer employment.
The 2023 Teen Summer Job Fair will be held on Tuesday, April 25 from 4 until 7 p.m. at the Nash County Agriculture Center in Nashville.
Sponsored by the Nash County Community and Rural Development Council in association with the Nash County Cooperative Extension, the program is offered to help local teens learn life-long lessons on responsibility, finances, job search and interview skills.

Graduates of the 2023 Nash County Arboretum Master Gardener class were inducted into the Master Gardener program on April 13. Their first activity as Master Gardeners will be helping at the annual Plant Sale on April 22, the biggest fundraiser of the year.

It's not too late to sign up, pick up trash and make a difference in the statewide Spring Litter Sweep.
The initiative is underway and runs through April 29. To get involved in Nash County call local coordinator Sybil Stancil at 252-462-2550.
Volunteers can request clean-up supplies such as trash bags, gloves and safety vests from the local NCDOT county maintenance office at 252-462-2560.

Seaman Jalen Bryant, of Rocky Mount, stands helm watch aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Milius (DDG 69) while operating in the Philippine Sea, March 14. Milius is assigned to Commander, Task Force 71/Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, the Navy's largest forward-deployed DESRON and the U.S. 7th Fleet's principal surface force.

State transportation contractors will soon repave 15 miles of roadway around Nashville, Castalia and Rocky Mount.
A half-mile section of N.C. 56 north of Castalia will be resurfaced. Sections of the following 11 secondary roads around Nash County will be repaved: Finch, Winters, Wildlife, Red, Bullstone, School House, Savage, Snow Hill and Corbett.

Local authorities and Nash County Public Schools continue to investigate an in-class physical altercation between a female student and substitute teacher over a confiscated cellphone.
The fight occurred Monday morning at Rocky Mount High School. The student is a juvenile, according to a press release from the Rocky Mount Police Department.

Nashville and other Nash County municipalities are set to receive their share of millions of dollars in state funding for street improvements.
State Street Aid, known as the Powell Bill, for fiscal year 2023-24 is set at $154 million to be distributed by the N.C. Department of Transportation according to N.C. General Statutes 136-41.

A missing person was reported on 4/9/23 at 520 Amerson Court, Nashville

A trespassing on public land was reported on 4/13/23
A damage to state or local government property was reported on 4/9/23 at 100 N Boddie Street
A missing person was reported on 4/15/23 at 10560 Lake Royale Road, Spring Hope

The Rocky Mount Debuette Club has announced their 2023 seniors.
The organization consists of young women in grades 9th through 12th who volunteer together in the community. They become community leaders while developing lifelong friendships during four years of service.
This year the senior class of 35 young women volunteered and collected donations to support local organizations.

National Volunteer Week is celebrated April 16-22, 2023. Our advocate groups would not survive without volunteers. We, Nash County Animal Friends of NC (NCAF) and Promoting Animal Welfare in NC (PAWNC) would like to recognize one of the caring people.
Our Volunteer of the Year (2022) is CINDY WHITLEY.

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

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

"So, because you are lukewarm - neither hot nor cold - I am about to spit you out of my mouth." (Revelation 3:16)
That's a pretty powerful statement, especially considering the fact that Jesus said it. It certainly begs the question: Could Jesus be talking about my church?
Actually, the church to which Jesus was referring to was the church at Laodicea. Laodicea was the last of the seven churches described by Jesus in Revelation.

We are called by God to be disciples of Jesus. And the core mission of the church is to make disciples. So the most fundamental question is, "What is a Disciple of Jesus?"
A disciple of Jesus is someone who is following Jesus, being changed by Jesus, and is committed to the mission of Jesus.

Congratulations to Robbie and Shannon Gault on the birth of their daughter, Parks Johnson Gault, born April 9! Parks has an older brother, Cross. Proud grandparents are Doug and Sue Ella Johnson. Great-Grandmothers are Sue Edwards and Jeanette Johnson.
Women in Action met at Red Oak Baptist Church on Tuesday, April 11.

Patricia V. Langley and Deborah V. Vick to Patricia V. Langley, Nicholas Taylor Vick and Kathryn Vick Gillette; one acre; $1,000
Kelvin Farmer, Tammy Farmer, Kenneth Farmer, Erdie M. Farmer, Erdie Farmer, Deborah Farmer, Jennifer Farmer Maryland, Brenda Pollock, Mary H. Robinson, William Robinson Jr., Linda Farmer, John L. Farmer and Kelvin Farmer to Linda Farmer, Kelvin Farmer, Tammy Farmer, Kenneth Farmer, Erdie Farmer, Deborah Farmer, Jennifer Farmer Maryland, Brenda Pollock, Mary H. Robinson, William Robinson Jr and John L. Farmer; The Garvey Property, Lots 7-10

Robert Lucas; 2190 A Bryantown Road; detached accessory; $50,000
Richard Winstead; 2376 Tanbark Drive; detached accessory; $22,000
Larry L. Bynum; 1907 Barnes Hill Church Road; deck; $20,000

I love birthdays so much, I claim two of them a year.
The first one, in March, is the conventional type that most people enjoy, the day I came into this world.
The other birthday is the date I received my liver transplant. When I woke up from surgery, the first doctor I saw said, "Happy birthday." Since this was almost a month after my actual birthday, I asked her, "How long have I been out?"

I can't believe the Blooming Festival is just a few weeks away! This has certainly been a unique year since I've not been able to venture out due to post Covid-19 issues. But thanks to technology, email, phone calls and most of all an incredible team of folks, everything will be ready for a fun filled weekend in downtown Nashville.
A huge thanks to our small and extremely dedicated group of folks who work long hours before, during and after to make this festival happen each year.

These photos were taken in April of 1970 at Elm Grove Baptist Church. The church held a special dedication service with an estimated crowd of 235 attending. The event was in celebration of new church facilities.

SOUTHERN NASH SENIOR JERMIA WALKER

STANHOPE -- Franklinton might be an up-and-coming squad on the Big East Conference girls soccer scene, but the Southern Nash Ladybirds are currently entrenched as the Queens of the League.
Southern Nash affirmed that status Tuesday by delivering a 10-1 triumph over the young Lady Rams at historic Firebird Stadium on the SNHS campus.

SOUTHERN NASH\'S KELSEY JONES

STANHOPE -- Coming into the game, veteran Southern Nash softball coach Scott Collie had expressed concern about his club's inability to produce offensively in some of the most important contests on their schedule this spring.
Those fears were set aside during one huge inning as part of Southern's duel-for-first-place matchup against Bunn on Tuesday in a crucial Big East Conference showdown.

SNHS' BRAYDEN PARKER

NASH COUNTY -- With four games remaining, the Northern Nash Fighting Knights control their own destiny in their quest to repeat as the Big East Conference regular season baseball champions.
But it won't be easy as the Knights will have to tangle with rivals Nash Central (this week) and Southern Nash (next week) to finish out the campaign.

SPRING HOPE -- Big East Conference golfers prepped for the league championship with one final regular season event Monday at Peachtree Hills Country Club.
Once again, Roanoke Rapids finished in the top spot with 332 strokes. Southern Nash has been a consistent second-place finisher this spring, and the Firebirds matched that result again by taking the runner-up position with 354 strokes.

SOUTHERN NASH\'S KAYLIE LOVE

NASH COUNTY -- Round and round the Big East Conference girls softball standings go. Where they'll stop -- nobody knows.
Heading into the final two weeks of the regular season, which began Tuesday, four teams sat tied atop the Big East with identical 8-2 records -- Southern Nash, Bunn, Roanoke Rapids and Nash Central.

STANHOPE -- 'Break Is Over -- Get The W' was the message on the erasable board that serves as Southern Nash's lineup reminder in the home dugout of the school's softball field.
Veteran SNHS head coach Scott Collie was hoping to use last Friday's home matchup against North Johnston as a springboard to the remaining two weeks of the Ladybirds' regular season in the challenging Big East Conference.

ZEBULON -- Luke Adams, Matt Wood, Hedbert Perez and Jadher Areinamo each had run scoring hits in the first as the homestanding Carolina Mudcats rallied for seven runs and seven hits in the opening frame while taking Sunday's series finale 7-0 versus the Salem Red Sox at Five County Stadium.
Adams, Perez and Areinamo each had RBI doubles in the first and five Carolina pitchers combined on a three-hit shutout of the Red Sox in Sunday's series and homestand finale.

(L to R) Southern Nash's Charlotte Benson and Franklinton's Mackenzie Allred joust for position in the midfield during Tuesday's Big East Conference soccer matchup in Stanhope.

The Rocky Mount Rotary Club announces the return of Tackle The Tar, a 5K obstacle course, on Saturday, May 20, 2023, and the Rocky Mount Family Fun Fest on Friday, May 19, 2023, at the Rocky Mount Stadium. The 2022 event brought over 650 runners from over 50 North Carolina cities, as well as many other states, to the Twin Counties. More are expected to participate this year.