NASHVILLE - Tony Cameron, Nash Emergency Services Director, has issued a statement of resignation, apparently directed towards staff, saying that he has decided to step down as of July 8, 2024.
"I have enjoyed my time here in Emergency Services and I believe that we have all accomplished a great deal. Please continue to make a positive difference in all the lives you touch and know that you are truly valued more than you will ever know.

NASHVILLE - Nash County leaders are taking aim to defend themselves against what they perceive as a flood of misinformation on media sources, with the county manager placing an agenda item at the July 1 meeting to address "untruthful claims" shared.
"On multiple occasions, inaccurate, invented and baseless information has been shared on media platforms such as television media, radio media and social media.

Red Oak hosted its Annual Freedom Celebration Sunday night featuring live music, amusements, activities, food and fireworks.

NASHVILLE - Nash County is looking for public input on what types of recreation facilities and activities to plan in the future in order to help shape its ten-year comprehensive master plan.
A series of public meetings are planned for people to give Parks and Rec staff their "wish lists," including July 4 at Castalia Community Park from 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m.; July 9 at Coopers Elementary School's gym from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.; July 11th at the Drake Community Center from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

NASHVILLE - Nash Senior Citizens are being increasingly targeted by scammers with phone calls, according to the Nash County Sheriff's Office, with the latest ploy having scam callers pretending to be someone from the Sheriff's Office and telling the person that they have warrants out against them which can be handled over the phone with a payment.
"The number of calls has gone up," said Detective Macie Hasty, who said NCSO used to get one or two reports per day but now is numbering as many as five.

NASHVILLE - After repeat requests from the public to have a chance to do a walk-through inspection of the Fellowship Church, Nashville town officials extended a community invitation to do just that, arranging three visit times in two-hour intervals on Thursday, June 27.
Eleven members of the public and two media people attended in total, with most of the visitors coming to look over the property, located at 969 Old White Oak Road, in the evening session between 6 and 9 p.m.

Current drought conditions across the state of North Carolina, and its damaging current and future effects on farmers and consumers, were spotlighted in a July 2 news conference by Don Davis, U.S. Congressman, and Bob Etheridge, State Executive Director for the North Carolina Farm Service Agency.
Davis said he is moving to have an emergency declaration called by the governor and the USDA to begin the process of assisting farmers.
More than half the state, or 56.5%, is in "moderate drought," while 42.3% of the rest is "abnormally dry," according to statistics Davis shared.

The third of five community forums designed to solicit community input on the proposed use of funds from the National Opioid Settlement is scheduled Thursday, July 11 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Nash County Ag Center in Nashville.
The forum, entitled "Nash County Opioid Settlement: A Community Conversation" aims to generate conversations between county officials and people impacted by opioid use and overdose.

A first county-sponsored Juneteenth celebration, held June 19th for Nash employees on the third floor of the Nash Administration building, attracted a steady stream of visitors who had the chance to enjoy a historical display, fellowship and refreshments.
Planned by the Nash Engagement Committee, the informal event was kicked off with a brief welcome by Tia Foula, Assistant County Manager, at 3 p.m. and lasted until 4 p.m.

KERIGAN

NASHVILLE - A last-minute agenda addition to the July 1 Nash Board of Commissioners' meeting produced introductions of two new department heads as HR Director and Public Utilities Facilities Director.
Tim Kerigan, who is coming to Nash from the Town of Smithfield, where he served as head of HR, Public Information Officer and Economic Development Liaison, will be starting July 15 as HR Director for Nash County.

INCIDENTS
Carrying concealed weapon reported at NC 58 / E. Old Spring Hope Rd. on 6/23/24
Larceny by employee reported at 242 N. Eastpointe Ave., Nashville on 6/2324
Firearm by felon; carrying concealed weapon; possession marijuana 1/2 to 1.5 ounce reported at mile marker 459 US 64 E., Nashville on 6/25/24

Warrant service reported at 100 N. Boddie St., Nashville on 6/19/24
Damage to personal property reported at 11379 Old US 64, Spring Hope on 6/20/24
Assault/strangulation reported at 1235 Poplar Creek Rd., Nashville on 6/21/24
Child abuse, felony reported at 1447 New Castle Ct., Rocky Mount on 6/16/24

NASHVILLE - As North Carolina state's fiscal year officially began July 1st, it remains to be seen how its unfinished budget will allocate state dollars - but Nash officials put a "wish list" in the hands of their state legislators over a month ago and resolved July 1 to share those goals with the NC Association of County Commissioners.
"It doesn't look like we'll be done by the end of June," predicted Lisa Barnes, Senator, about the budget review process at a May 30 recessed meeting with commissioners.

SPRING HOPE - Spring Hope's Downtown Development Board (DDB), armed with a list of potential economic development ideas, has chosen three to bring to town commissioners for approval to begin: a fall downtown cleanup, the designation of a specific area for the Hollywood-like 'Walk of Fame," and establishing a social media presence for downtown merchants.

NASHVILLE - Parking vehicles in front yards or having a vehicle impounded in Nashville is about to get more expensive, with relevant new or increased fees added to the town's fee schedule for FY 2024-2025 as of June 18, 2024.
Tomasine Jones, Nashville Planner and Code Enforcement Officer, said that she has investigated 71 cases of vehicles parked in front yards so far in 2024, with seven of those issued civil penalties of $25 for not complying within the time frame given. Five of those, she said, have since paid and complied.

The people of Nashville have spoken, and town officials have placed the order: snowflake Christmas decorations were chosen by an overwhelming majority vote of citizens attending the June 18 Nashville town council meeting.
The public had been invited in advance to weigh in on the choice of lighted outline decorations - the options including a green Christmas tree, red bells with bows, a golden angel with trumpet, a white lit candle adorned by green holly leaves, or a 'presidential snowflake.'

America's Got Talent is a show that reminds me of the old "Gong Show" from the 1970's. Have you seen it? It is a show the runs during summer. The head judge and creator is Simon Cowell. Years ago, he was on the old Tonight Show. He told Jay Leno that he had decided to freeze his body when he dies. Jay Leno said, "Are you serious"?
The process is called cryonics. Some of the rich and famous are turning to it. They think they can extend their life beyond the number of years they have.

Imagine you lived during the days of Jesus. You were able to see and hear the ministry of Jesus in person. Somehow, you finagle your way to the front of the large crowd, close enough to speak to Jesus. What would you ask or say to him in that moment?
That scenario is the occasion of the text. Luke 12:13 reads: "Someone in the crowd said to him, 'Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.'" In Jewish custom, the firstborn son was the heir of the father's estate, executor of his father's will, and recipient of the lion's share of his father's wealth.

Western Carolina University reported more than 1,000 students named to the Spring 2024 Dean's List. To qualify for this honor, students must achieve a GPA of 3.5 or higher while completing 12 or more credit hours. The following local students made this semester Dean's List:

Ava Moore of Nashville has been named to the Western Carolina University Spring 2024 Chancellor's List.
Moore was among more than 1,400 students to achieve this honor.

BANGOR, Wash. - Capt. Keith Floyd, a native of Rocky Mount, North Carolina, serves the U.S. Navy as the commanding officer of Submarine Development Squadron 5 at Naval Base Kitsap, homeport of West Coast ballistic-missile and guided-missile submarines.
Floyd graduated from Northern Nash High School in 1990. Additionally, Floyd earned a bachelor's in mechanical engineering from North Carolina State University in 1998 and a master's in engineering management from Old Dominion University in 2005.

NASHVILLE - Over four hundred students in Nash County Public Schools are classified as "homeless," meaning that they don't have a permanent nighttime place to lay their heads - but the last of some locally-held federal funding is going to get sixty of those (aged Kindergarten to 8th grade) the structure of a nine-week summer program that began June 17 to run through August 16.

William M. Richardson to Curtis Armstrong and Victor Garza; 835 Beal Street, Rocky Mount; $15,000
William Grant Wooten III and Kimberly Dawn Denton to 1005 Garden Gate, LLC; 1005 Golden Gate Drive, Rocky Mount; $248,500
Thomas J. Cornwelll to the Thomas J. Cornwell Living Trust, Thomas J. Cornwell and Jennifer L. Cornwell; property in Castalia Township

Commercial renovation/alteration; 5208 West Mount Dr., Nashville; Chelsea Benfield; $15,000
Detached accessory structure; 2110 Rocky Cross Rd., Zebulon; Cliff Richardson; $10,796.10
New single family dwelling; 2226 Reges Store Rd., Nashville; Donald Poland; $170,000

I attended a fireworks show this week where the person in charge briefly set himself on fire, so it must be July 4th week.
This is the number one week in redneck enclaves for beverages to be passed and someone to say "Watch this!" and then end up on the TV news and/or the front page of the paper.
Part of what makes America great is that a person can commit as many dumb acts as they can dream up, generally without government interference.

Nash County's manager spent a great deal of time this week to squash out social media misinformation and also to address a conversation during a morning show on a local TV station.
The fact of the matter is, one will never get ahead of the literal brushfire that is created on social media platforms. Once that fire begins, you'll never put it out.
What we can do, as your local trusted newspaper, is continue to attend local government meetings IN PERSON, covering the actual issues.

This photo was published in The Nashville Graphic on July 9, 1970. Bonnie Rose, Anna Cockrell and Beverly Gray (left to right) received G.A. Capes in a special service at Elm Grove Baptist Church.