DAVIS

NASHVILLE - Two weeks before an anticipated vote on the FY 2025 budget, Nash County Sheriff Keith Stone made several last-ditch requests for additional support, both funding and personnel, but was turned down by county commissioners.
During a protracted, occasionally tense back-and-forth between Stone and Commissioners Robbie Davis and Gwen Wilkins in the June 3 Nash Board of Commissioners' meeting, Stone made a presentation on hiring and promoting practices within the Sheriff's Office that included testimony from three of his staff members: Captain Jeremy Hardy, Sgt. Kevin Bissette and Major Eddie Moore.

NASHVILLE - A presentation June 3 by the Town of Nashville's newly-hired audit firm- Thompson, Rice, Scott, Adams & Company, P.A.- came with homework, with town officials having 60 days to look over audit results before responding.
Alan Thompson went over a 15-page report that included a general comment section highlighting "significant audit matters."
Much of the general comment section was positive and reflected well on town management practices.

The Rowdy Rockin group performs at the DownEast Senior Games.

ROCKY MOUNT - Twenty-eight local seniors took the Imperial Centre stage May 28 for the Silver Follies, the performance division of the DownEast Senior Games, which finished the 2024 season that evening.
Best in Show was awarded to the Rowdy Rockin Seniors, a drum group from the Senior Center in Nashville.
This year, a total of 221 participants aged 50 to 90 took part the local games, which include Nash, Edgecombe, Wilson, Halifax and Northampton counties.

NASHVILLE - Two men, one newly eighteen, are due in Nash Superior Court June 11 on multiple charges of attempted murder stemming from a Nashville shooting incident last September near the Harold Cooley Library that took the life of another young man.
Tyshawn Devonte Williams, 20, of 209 E. 6th Street Nashville was killed Saturday, September 30 during an exchange of gunfire between two groups of people, some walking and some in a car.

SPRING HOPE - Spring Hope has adopted its FY2025 budget, with commissioners voting unanimously June 3 to leave the tax rate unchanged at 67 cents per $100 valuation for the third year in a row.
Andrew DeIonno, town manager, said the selected rate would generate an additional $26,000 than a .65/100 rate for current year's valuations, earmarked for hiring an eighth officer for the Spring Hope Police Department.

NASHVILLE - With an eye to prevent or mitigate future flooding as well as the potential for ecotourism, both Nashville and Nash County officials are hunting grants to help with stream debris removal.
Nashville's Parks and Recreation Department as well as the Nash Soil & Water Department have both applied for the StRAP (Streamflow Rehabilitation Assistance Program) grants to fund removal of stream blockages.

A Nash County Sheriff's deputy injured last month in a one-car wreck is recovering, with no word yet on when he may be well enough to return to duty.
Nash EMS recorded multiple calls around 10:06 a.m. on May 24 indicating a crash involving a deputy on 1122 W. Castalia Road, and also got a crash notification from the Sgt. Knight's apple watch.

Possession controlled substance reported at 100 N. Boddie St., Nashville prison/jail premises on 5/31/24
Assault on a female reported at 11585 Crooked Swamp Rd., Whitakers on 5/29/24
Resisting arrest/hinder and delay reported at 1562 Spring Hill Rd., Spring Hope on 5/26/24

Damage to personal property; damage to real property reported at 237 Macon Dr., Nashville on 5/27/24
Found property reported at 100 East Evans Dr., Nashville on 5/27/24

Aubrey McDaniel, left, with wife Sandra McDaniel and granddaughter, Sally, are assisted coming to shore after the paddle.

The 13th Annual Enfield Fishing Creek Paddle drew 90 registrants, many from Nash County, who enjoyed a 2 ½ to 3 hour paddle from Whitakers to historic Bellamy's Mill on Saturday, June 1. The event concluded with live music and a catered lunch by Gardner's Barbecue.
Among registrants were 8 from Nashville, 10 from Rocky Mount, 22 from Enfield and 12 from Littleton.

"I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved." (John 10:9)
When my wife, Robbie, gives her testimony, she recalls having a drug problem as a child. She then explains, "I was 'drug' by my parents to church, camp meetings, revivals, crusades - you name it. If Jesus was there, then we were there."
She does enjoy quite a heritage.

The headline read: "Sick of Waiting, Patient Sues Doctor." Ken Fleckenstein arrived on time for an appointment with his podiatrist, Dr. Robert Taylor. He was forced to sit in a waiting room for 87 minutes. On his next visit, Taylor made Fleckenstein wait 51 minutes. The self-employed handyman claimed the wait cost him time, money, and customers. So he sent his podiatrist a $92 invoice. When Taylor refused to pay, Fleckenstein sued for time wasted and $1,755 in attorney's fees.

Red Oak Baptist Church recognized high school and college graduates on Sunday. High school graduates included Connor Baker, Jacob Buchholz, Viola Graziani, Emma Shingleton, and Carly Wilson. College graduates included Caleb May, Andrew Grant, Grayson Johnson, Michael Pullen, Anna Shaye Thompson, and Booke Thompson. Congratulations to all!

Joseph Clinton Bell Jr. and Michelle Bell to Department of Transportation State of North Carolina; right of way deed
Prestige Home Solutions, LLC to Cosme I. Bonilla Escobar; 1529 Holly Road, Spring Hope; $242,500
Adams Homes AEC, LLC to Nerfertiti Taina Williams and Roderick Tremaine Williams; 5079 Dogwood Drive, Battleboro; $396,000

New single family dwelling; 5281 Finch Rd., Bailey; Taryn Donahue; $250,145
Detached accessory structure; 1785 Rose Blvd., Nashville; Keith Price; $65,000
Sign; 8308 Butterfly Dr., Unit A, Bailey; Ryan Homes; $1,500

Forget worrying about the cicadas.
If we needed any other reminders that summer is upon us, one of my sons showed me a golf ball-sized welt that verified the mosquitoes are back.
We almost had a full-length spring before we switched to "Florida swamp" heat and humidity last week.
I saw an article produced by the pest control company Orkin that listed the most mosquito-infested areas in America. I'm dubious about the list.

A phone call I've been expecting came with the news that the legendary Bob Bartosz had passed away.
You've seen his name on the pages of this newspaper capturing moments in photographs when there was a major accident, fire or even during the flooding from Hurricane Matthew.
Bob dropped by the newspaper when he and his wife moved to Nash County.

Dear editor: I am writing this letter in support of a dear friend. Well actually, she is not just a friend, but also a dedicated citizen of Nashville for many, many years. She sacrificially served as a town council member for 18 years. I say sacrificially, but she really didn't consider it a sacrifice - she loved serving and making the town better! I realized while attending some of the council meetings, that she was not just a council member who wanted to "take a seat" - so to speak.

This photo originally published in The Nashville Graphic on July 1, 1971. Members of the Nashville Fire Department receive instructions from Don Simcoe of Troz, Penn., on operating procedures for a new fire truck delivered to Nashville.

Michelle Grainger, Executive Director of the NC Sweetpotato Commission, poses with "Spencer," the Sweetpotato. Grainger, remarking that 'sweetpotato' is one word, said work is underway to officially make that way in dictionaries.

Joel Bissette of Spring Hope with his 1930 Model A Ford truck.