Nash County experienced a little bit of Hollywood this summer with the filming of a movie in Spring Hope and may soon see a Vegas-style casino.
Republicans in the General Assembly have been talking up legislation that could mean four casinos in eastern North Carolina, including Nash County.
But local officials aren't keen on a casino opening here. Nash County Board Chairman Robbie Davis said he's not thrilled with the idea of a casino opening in Nash County.

This mobile home in Dortches was completely demolished by last week's tornado. The residents survived by sitting in their bathtub.

Survivors recount a harrowing escape of last week's tornado while emergency management officials continue a massive cleanup effort.
Steve Crone, who owns Puckett's Mobile Village in Dortches with his wife Vicki, said the July 19 storm destroyed one trailer and damaged most of the others in the park off North Halifax Road.
"It destroyed my workshop," Crone said. "One tenant was home with his wife and dog when the tornado flipped their home upside down."

Gov. Roy Cooper returned home to his native Nash County on Sunday to speak with victims and tour properties damaged in last week's tornado.
Standing among the rubble, Cooper said the most important thing is that no lives were lost and the last person who had been hospitalized had been released.
"I feel pretty confident that this community is going to continue to pull together and make this happen," Cooper said.

The Town of Nashville is looking at establishing a social district in two areas of downtown.
The Downtown Nashville Strong Advisory Board is recommending town council consider creating social districts at the Nashville Junction as well as in downtown on Washington Street.

In a rematch from four years ago, a former Nashville mayor has filed to run in this year's municipal elections.
Former Mayor Donald Street is running against current Mayor Brenda Brown who defeated him in 2019.
The candidate filing period for this year's municipal elections ended last Friday, said John Kearney, MBA, director of elections for the Nash County Board of Elections.

A planned microbrewery is gaining ground in Spring Hope.
Mayor Kyle Pritchard said the microbrewery at 803 E. Nash St. will kick off the revitalization of the eastern side of Spring Hope.
Plans for the property include a microbrewery, beer garden, tasting room, food menu and overnight camping facility.

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- Barrel racing is noted for its quick and swift twists and turns.
Building a barndominium during a pandemic is more of a marathon.
That's what Ernie and Brenna Warner learned when they decided to convert an old soybean farm in Bunn and turn it into a home/barn for their barrel racing adventures.

INCIDENTS
A damage to real property, misdemeanor hit and run and failure to stop was reported on 7/16/23 on US 64 E at the 460 mile marker
A driving while license revoked not impaired rev and driving while intoxicated was reported on 7/22/23 at Glover Park Memorial Drive, Nashville

The Nash County Sheriff's Office made four drug-related arrests in one day late last week.
Sheriff Keith Stone stopped a SUV leaving Hal Orr's Inn in Rocky Mount on July 20 while deputies were serving a search warrant.
Christopher Dunn was taken into custody on an outstanding warrant for a charge of absconding from probation for drug-related convictions.

A financial transaction card fraud was reported on 7/19/23
An assault on a law enforcement officer was reported on 7/16/23 at 100 N Boddie, Nashville
A driving while intoxicated was reported on 7/21/23 at 10635 Old Smithfield Road, Bailey

The descendants of Albert Davis celebrated their 50th family reunion, during the weekend of July 7-9, 2023, in Rocky Mount. There were more than 170 celebrants, some of whom traveled from as far away as California to take part in the festivities. The weekend activities included a worship service, a Friday meet and greet social and a Saturday evening gala.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Petty Officer 2nd Class Alia Teamer, a native of Rocky Mount, serves with Patrol and Reconnaissance Squadron (VP) 45 based out of Jacksonville, Florida. The squadron's primary mission is to undertake maritime patrol, anti-submarine warfare, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions.
Teamer, a 2016 graduate of Rocky Mount High School, joined the Navy six years ago.

North Carolina's egg prices were steady on all sizes when compared to the last report. Supplies are moderate to meet a fairly good demand. The North Carolina weighted average price quoted Thursday, July 20, for small lot sales of delivered, cartoned, grade "A" eggs was 145.18 for Extra Large, 132.30 for Large, 122.09 for Medium, and 84.00 for Small eggs.

HEAT STROKE! Watch for frantic panting, extreme salivation, bright-red membranes (tongue, gums), and labored breathing as these are clear warning signs that your pet is overheated and may quickly progress to a metabolic meltdown as their temperature rises to over 104 degrees Fahrenheit and they can no longer cool themselves.
DO YOU KNOW what to do if your pet becomes overheated and what NOT to do?

Microsoft will roll out an update to the Windows 11 operating system - Windows 11 23H2 - during the third quarter of this year. It's a free download if you have already paid for the Windows 11 software. You'll have several days to activate the operating system.
Activation is Microsoft's way of forcing you to register your product. When you register it, Microsoft takes an image of your system that prevents you from installing it on another computer. In other words, you can't use the same copy of the Windows 11 for every computer in your home.

Church??? The church is the household of God. Writing to Timothy in Ephesus, Paul called the church "the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth" (1 Timothy 3:15). In salvation, we are born again and adopted into the family of God. But a newborn child needs to become a part of a household for nourishment, fellowship, and protection. The church is the household of faith (Galatians 6:10). More than that, it is God's household. To reject the church is to reject the means of care the Lord has provided for his redeemed children.

Women in Action met at Red Oak Baptist Church on Tuesday, July 18 for their monthly meeting. Members helped set up the Christmas in August tree and then had their program including the missionary spotlight, WMU Across the Country, and Prayer Patterns. The next meeting will be August 8 at 6:30 pm.
Red Oak Baptist Church will be collecting new backpacks to giveaway to students in need. Each backpack will also be filled with school supplies.
The several children and chaperones from Red Oak Baptist Church will be attending missions camp at Camp Caraway near Asheboro on July 31 - August 4.

Almost 100 state highway workers in Division 4 honed their skills operating heavy equipment in a friendly competition in Wilson.
They participated in the Equipment Operator Training Conference at the Wilson County maintenance yard for the N.C. Department of Transportation. The employees work in Division 4, which is based in Wilson and also covers Edgecombe, Halifax, Johnston, Nash and Wayne counties.

Certificate of Appreciation presented to First Carolina Bank of Rocky Mount for "Loyalty and patriotism in our country as publicly and proudly displaying the flag of The United States of America." Debra Medlin, CFO of First Carolina Bank accepts the Certificate of Appreciation from Sr. Vice Commandant Malory Joyner of the Cpl. Suzi Sannes Detachment 1262 of the Marine Corps League.

Michael W. Coggin and Ansie W. Coggin to Christina Pritchard and Adam D. Pritchard; 1.89 acres on Sykes Road
Cynthia C. Moore to Roberta Lois Moore and John Derrick; 2.42 acres on McGregor Road
East Coast Timberland, Inc. to Iris Vanesa Mendoza; 1.035 acres and 1.034 acres, Poplar Run Subdivision

BUILDING PERMIT
(RESIDENTIAL)
Mary L. Richardson; 914 Brooklyn Boulevard; repair; $2,000
Lauren Harden; 123 Poteau Drive; deck; $3,000

Southern Nash Middle School has announced its fourth nine weeks honor roll.

Southern Nash High School has announced its fourth nine weeks honor roll.

Spring Hope Elementary School has announced its fourth nine weeks honor roll.

Swift Creek Elementary School has announced its fourth nine weeks honor roll.

Tar River Academy School has announced its fourth nine weeks honor roll.

Steve Crone points out the direction of the devastating tornado that tore down his mobile home park in Dortches last week. Graphic photo by Lindell Kay

This home was destroyed by last week's tornado. The home is located on Cummins Road, Battleboro. Photo by Bob Bartosz

I'm sure most of our readers have heard about Artificial Intelligence (AI) and how it is taking over the world.
Pretty soon they say, like maybe by 5 o'clock today or sometime in 2031, like many of the other doomsday predictions.
I've got thoughts.
As an English professor, I can say I'm not so crazy about it.

Flickering lights here at the office last Wednesday afternoon seemed odd particularly since there was no rain, no wind. About ten seconds after that thought crossed my mind the call came over the scanner - a tornado was on the ground in Dortches. The flickering lights here was a result of the enormous power hitting the area just a few miles up the road.
There had been no warnings. Our phones didn't sound off as they should have been doing prior to the touchdown.

Dear Editor: On behalf of the citizens of Dortches, I join the town's Commissioners and the Town Administrator to thank every individual and group, as well as all first responders, who came to the aid of Dortches on July 19th. Words are inadequate to express appreciation for those who immediately went into action to save lives after the tornado and to address fallen trees, dangerous wires, and massive amounts of debris.

This photo originally published on September 17, 1974 in The Nashville Graphic. Dawn Wilson, a kindergarten student at Nashville Elementary School, begins a sketch under the watchful eye of fellow artist Donna Boone. Both were students of Mrs. Verna Barnhill.

NASH REC SWIM TEAM STANDOUT BRYCE DENTON

ROANOKE RAPIDS -- A rare early-week matchup was in store last Tuesday as Nash Rec traveled to Roanoke Valley in a rescheduled Nash-Halifax Swim League meet.
The event was supposed to take place earlier in the campaign but was postponed due to poor weather.
Organizers were able to shoehorn the meet as part of a busy closing two weeks to the season.

ROCKY MOUNT -- The most important portion of the 2023 season has arrived for Westridge -- and the Wahoos plan on making it a stretch to remember.
The Wahoos hope to defend their Nash-Halifax Swim League Championship this Saturday at the Roanoke Rapids Aquatic Center, but the club had a few orders of business to take care of first -- beginning with last Thursday's home contest against long-time rival Nash Re.
Westridge won the contest by a 393-214 decision to finish off a season sweep of the Sharks -- and improve to 2-1 overall for the year.

STANHOPE -- August 5 will be a big day on the campus of Southern Nash High School as SN will host a Firebirds Fall Athletics Extravaganza.
Everyone is welcome at the event, which will be free of charge and will feature intrasquad scrimmages by the football, volleyball and boys soccer squads.
There will also be food trucks, bouncy houses for the kids and introductions of each of the Southern Nash fall athletics teams.
Vendors are welcome to set up at the extravaganza.

STANHOPE -- Southern Nash's much-anticipated volleyball campaign will kick off on August 14 with a home matchup against long-time rival Wilson Fike.
The Ladybirds, coached by Melanie Hicks, went 9-13 in 2022 and was able to make a long-awaited appearance in the Class 3-A State Playoffs.
SNHS graduated only two seniors from that club, so the Ladybirds are looking to be competitive this fall in the always-strong Big East Conference with a now-veteran lineup.

ZEBULON -- Jace Avina drove in three runs while collecting three hits, Luke Adams scored twice and Jadher Areinamo drove in two runs on two hits, but the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers scored 17 runs and totaled 19 hits while defeating the homestanding Carolina Mudcats 17-7 on Sunday afternoon at Five County Stadium in Zebulon.
The loss put an end to Carolina's five-game winning streak, but the Mudcats still took the series five games to one.

WESTRIDGE'S REBECCA KIBBE

NASH REC STAR BLAKE DENTON

NASH REC SWIMMER MACON SHEARIN

EVIE SHEARIN GETS AN ASSIST FROM SADIE EDWARDS

NASH REC SWIM TEAM STANDOUT BARRETT VANDEMARK