RED OAK - The State Department of Environmental Quality has chosen a remedial clean-up plan for the Red Oak Landfill, nearly three months after the mandated time period for public comment ended October 23, 2023.
The 14-page report, obtained on request by The Graphic and titled in part "Hearing Officer's Report and Recommendations" was completed by Ryan Channell, DEQ Pre-Regulatory Landfill Supervisor.

NASHVILLE - More new houses and higher home values are two causative factors for an anticipated adjusted increase in residential revaluation figures for Nash County, with appraisers relaying an average property value increase of 55.3% for residential properties.
A raise of 42.7% has been assessed for commercial properties, and 34.5% for agriculture properties. The overall across-the-board increase in assessed value from revaluation will likely be in the range of 40-45%.

Amy Ormond, 4-H Program Assistant, (right), presents Page Strickland with the first ever Red Hat Outstanding 4-H'er award in memory of Sonny Brantley.

NASHVILLE - Nash County 4-H hosted a "Fiesta" to celebrate the accomplishments of youth and volunteers during the 2023 year.
Many awards were presented during the evening, which included a buffet style Mexican dinner to tie into the "Fiesta" theme. Among the many awards presented was a new award given in memory of a long-time 4-H supporter who recently passed away.
The Red Hat Outstanding 4-H'er in Memory of Mr. Sonny Brantley was presented to Page Strickland.

NASHVILLE - A "goer": the phrase comes to mind when visiting Pauline Thompson Battle of Nashville, who celebrated her 103rd birthday at her Sykes Road home Jan. 23, 2024.
Battle, lovingly tended in a warm hospital bed set up in the family living room, frequently napped as her story was told by two of her children, Maxine Thornton of Georgia and Michael Battle. Michael Battle, who used to live next door, moved in with Miss Pauline after her husband of 71 years, Henry Battle, died in 2011.

McGHEE

NASHVILLE - Nash County's premier grant-hunter, Patsy McGhee, has retired after more than thirty-three years in local government, but promises that her replacement, Emily Moore, is "ready."
McGhee, County Grants and Intergovernmental Relations Administrator, was recognized at the Jan. 22 Nash County Board of Commissioners meeting for her 21-plus years with Nash County, in anticipation of her Jan. 30 retirement party.

NASHVILLE - Nashville is promoting from within for its next Planning Director: Code Enforcement Officer Shawn D. Lucas was named as Planning-Director-to-be at the Jan. 30 town planning board meeting by outgoing Planning Director Sherry Moss.
Lucas wears multiple hats: he currently serves on the Nash County Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors, is Code Enforcement Officer for the towns of Nashville and Spring Hope, and is Zone Administrator for the towns of Bailey and Elm City.

ROCKY MOUNT - A moving play by Red Oak playwright Marilyn Barner Anselmi, "You Wouldn't Expect," is returning for a local show, laden with accolades and awards, both national and international.
"You Wouldn't Expect" to be performed at the Dunn Center of North Carolina Wesleyan University Feb. 1-3 at 7:30 p.m., followed by a 2 p.m. performance Sunday, Feb. 4, is Anselmi's most produced play of the eighteen she has written. It was first performed at Nash Arts in September and October of 2012.

Third graders at Coopers Elementary School received a special visit from Sparky the Fire Dog as part of the annual award's presentation, where Coopers Fire Fighters present plaques to winners of its Great Escape contest. Each year, during Fire Prevention Week, fire fighters visit the school and speak with students about fire safety. The week also coincides with the student's social studies lesson, where they learn map skills and are able to use what they learn to draw their own fire escape plans. This year's winners were Maya Wilder (above) and Peyton Duke.

NASHVILLE - Ongoing work to expand water lines in the northern end of the county in order to reduce dependence on the City of Rocky Mount will get a boost from a new well if a new grant from the state and federal government is approved.
Currently, treated water from the Tar River and from the Tar River Reservoir that is sold to Nash County travels up a water main along North Halifax Road and is metered through a water meter vault owned and operated by Nash County just north of Hunter Hill Road, according to Jonathan L. Boone, Deputy County Manager.

A grassroots organization with the goal of empowering poor and working-class people, Down Home North Carolina, attracted a crowd of twenty at its first "listening session" in Nash County Saturday at the Nashville Town Chambers.
Based in Burlington, NC, and starting in 2017, Down Home North Carolina has chapters in nine counties, including Pitt, and is working to start dialogues about local issues in hopes of developing citizen involvement and leadership in local government decisions.

A Meet & Greet event Jan. 25 by the Nash County Democratic Party featuring democratic candidates for the upcoming 2024 primary election drew a crowd of nearly sixty, with thirty-eight more attending via zoom, at Rocky Mount's Station Square.
Nineteen candidates or elected officials were on hand in person, while another four sent video messages and two sent representatives to speak on their behalf.

Two brief vacancies on the Nashville Parks & Rec Advisory Board have been filled, with Mary Richardson and Barbie Crews appointed to two-year positions at the Jan. 16 Nashville Town Council meeting.
Parks & Rec Director Koy Worrell thanked former members Jason Edwards and Melissa Lumpp, who had each served four years, and two terms on the board.

Burning of personal property reported at 1065 Nick Coley Rd., Whitakers on 1/14/24
Assault-simple reported at 1452 E. Old Spring Hope Rd., Nashville on 1/18/24
Larceny-felony reported at 3430 Batchelor Rd., Nashville on 1/16/24
Financial transaction card fraud reported at 3822 Flat Rock Dr., Battleboro on 1/19/24

When I was saved in 1991, one of the first outward and visible signs of my salvation was found in the Bible. Shortly after my salvation experience, my pastor encouraged me to read my Bible and begin with the Book of John. I was stunned when I opened the scriptures. The verses jumped off the page. The Holy Spirit had removed the blinders. My Bible now had real meaning. Jesus hit the nail on the head when he said of the lost, "He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God." (John 8:47)

As I prepare to preach throughout February on the subject of worship, I discovered this helpful piece that can help us grow in our worship.
Worship is critical to exercising ourselves unto Godliness. Below are a few simple exercises that are designed to help you explore this important Discipline of the Spiritual Life.
Learn to practice the presence of God daily.

Braswell Family Farms presents $800 to A Touch of the Father's Love organization on behalf of the community who attended the Braswell Family Farms New Year's Eve Egg Drop. Pictured above, left to right, are: Ronald Trey Braswell, III, Braswell Family Farms President; April Baker, Founder and Executive Director of A Touch of the Father's Love; and Brittany Armbruster, Communications and Engagement Specialist at Braswell Family Farms.

During the 2023 Toys For Tots Campaign this year, Pfizer Rocky Mount not only collected toys from the employees for children, but also made a donation of $10,000 to the program honoring David Sannes, long time TFT Coordinator who passed away in March of 2023.

David Viverette and Stephanie Viverette to Carrie Byrum; one acre, .837 acres and .9 acres
Brantley Land, LLC to Graham Barnes and Nichole Barnes; 4.57 acres
Dixie Place Rentals, LLC to CMH Homes, Inc.; 7975 Race Track Road, Castalia; $40,000
Donald V. Joyner Jr. and Victoria Joyner to Steven Tyrrell and Tiffany Tyrrell; Oak Level Crossing, Phase II, Lot 45; $280,000

Building Permit Residential
Adams Homes, 5118 Dogwood Dr.; new single family; $250,000
Adams Homes, 5117 Dogwood Dr.; new single family; $250,000
Adams Homes, 8622 Shallow Creek Trail; new single family; $250,000

The Club of the Year Award went to the Feathers N Fur Club, led by Brenda Wind and Molly LaHay. The club has been around since 2016.

Samuel Currin receives the Junior 4-H'er of the Year Award. The award is sponsored by the Strickland family, left to right, Page, Susanne and Glenn Strickland. Pictured far right is Amy Ormond, 4-H Program Assistant.

Mindy Proctor (left) receives the 4-H Volunteer of the Year Award. The award in given in memory of Peggy Enroughty and in honor of Joseph Enroughty. Pictured right is their daughter, Susan Enroughty.

I mentioned recently that 2024 started with a bang at my house.
The flu hit my two sons, we had one trip to the ER, one flooded aquarium and the feral-cat-in-the-house debacle that was recounted in great detail in this space.
Well, my wife Kristi said to hold her proverbial beer and had foot surgery.
Like any true adult, she let this foot issue go on for years until the pain went from "uncomfortable" to "Bowie knife through the bottom of her foot."

January brought celebrations across the nation recognizing the leadership of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his vision for equality for all men and women of all races.
I've listened to conversations and opinions on both sides of Dr. King's vision and where it is today.
Sometimes I think we forget just how little time has passed since King gave his speech in 1963. Sixty-one years may seem like a long time ago, but really it's not.

This photo was originally published in The Nashville Graphic on April 6, 1967. These members of Coopers Ruritan Club won first place in the Civic Club Judging competition at the livestock show and sale at the Eastern Carolina Livestock Arena. The trophy was presented by the Rocky Mount Chamber of Commerce.

SOUTHERN NASH\'S BROOKLYN RICE ATTEMPTS A SHOT IN THE PAINT

RED OAK -- As Northern Nash High School's girls basketball program continues to rebuild, the Lady Knights will look to Red Oak Middle School for future prep standouts.
And ROMS, as usual, has plenty to offer as the Lady Tigers consistently produce one of the area's top middle school squads.

RED OAK -- Two trends have always been in style during the 20-year history of the Red Oak Middle School boys basketball program.
Those would be winning -- and winning thanks in part to a ferocious full-court pressure defense.
Both intangibles are once again in play for the Tigers during the successful 2023--24 hardwood campaign under the direction of head coach Russell Rouse.

NASH CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL'S DOMINIC WOZNIAK

ROCKY MOUNT -- Just a few years ago, Northern Nash barely had enough boys to fill a team -- let alone compete for the Big East Conference team crown.
But the Fighting Knights' pool resurgence has been quick and thorough -- so much so that Northern swept every meet this season in the Big East, including last Thursday's league championship at the Harrison Family YMCA.

NASH COUNTY -- It's beginning to look like this Friday's matchup between Northern Nash and homestanding Roanoke Rapids will determined the boys regular season champion in the Big East Conference boys basketball standings.
The clubs are tied atop the race with one league setback to date -- and the closest team behind them (Bunn) has three losses heading into the final two weeks of the campaign.

ZEBULON -- Celebrate your loved one this Valentine's Day with Muddy's Valentine's Day gift pack from the Carolina Mudcats.
Starting at $100.00 for box seat level tickets, or $120.00 for premium level seating, this new Valentine's Day themed gift pack features a Mudcats-themed teddy bear and a 10-game voucher pack for use during the 2024 season at Five County Stadium.