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.
Last week, Davis said he was moving to have an emergency declaration called by the governor and the USDA to begin the process of assisting farmers.

NASHVILLE - Nashville leaders are working to revise and update land use regulations ahead of any future townhouse applications coming in.
A two-hour June 26 special town council meeting, labelled as a joint work session with the town planning board, involved a presentation by Michael Harvey of N-Focus Consultants, a Planning, Zoning and Subdivision Administrator from Kannapolis.
N-Focus was hired by the town March 25, 2024, to do the job for $5,950.

Jerry Sherrod

NASHVILLE - A well-loved volunteer fireman who has put his life on the line with three local companies - Nashville, West Mount and Red Oak - was celebrated at the Elks Lodge at Birchwood July 8 in an NFD retirement ceremony attended by friends, family and other firefighters.
Jerry Sherrod received a 50-year helmet from the Nashville Fire Department and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

NASHVILLE MAYOR BRENDA BROWN

NASHVILLE - A partnership between the town of Nashville and Nash County looks due to hit paydirt, as town and county officials took to shoveling at a groundbreaking ceremony for the Nashville Business Center Shell Building.
The 10 a.m. July 9 ceremony, while well-attended, was apparently planned short and sweet to get people out of the heat, taking just 20 minutes to complete.

NASHVILLE - The number of office referrals for students caught vaping, smoking, or possessing a controlled substance in Nash County schools is increasing, and a new program is being developed to address the needs of students with vaping and substance abuse.
Christy Grant, Executive Director of EC & Student Support Services, recently informed the Board of Education that the district had received a $675,000 grant to be used over three years for that purpose, with plans to hire two behavioral support specialists: one to work schools in the southern end of the county and one to work schools in Rocky Mount.

Twelve to fourteen commercial water users in downtown on lower Washington Street in Nashville, including Hardees, Dos Hermanos and A Slice of Italy, had to close their doors from approximately 9 a.m. to Noon Tuesday while repairs were effected on a water main.
Randy Lansing, Town Manager, said the problem began Monday afternoon when Reedy Ready Contractors, hired to work on old lead and galvanized water lines, clipped a line with a backhoe in front of Dos Hermanos, causing a drop in water pressure on Washington Street from Stoney Creek to Barnes Street.

NASHVILLE - A much-lauded Coopers volunteer fireman has been honored by Elks Lodge #1038 at Birchwood as the recipient of an American flag for Elks Flag Day 2024.
Aaron Becerra of Sandy Cross was celebrated Thursday, June 27, in a ceremony at the Elks Lodge, with several of his fellow fire and rescue mates nearby. About forty people were in attendance.

"There are still a lot of unknowns," summarized Larry Taylor, Nashville town councilman, about the proposed purchase of the Fellowship Church property during a July 10 special meeting. The 10 a.m. meeting, with one active agenda item, was planned to receive and discuss a follow-up report from Dawson Construction Services on the condition and remodeling costs.

SPRING HOPE - A map amendment and rezoning approval is paving the way for a new 26-27 unit housing development in Spring Hope.
Bryson's Ridge, a multiphase development on about 68 acres, runs parallel to N. Louisburg Road, or NC 581 N. Ethan Avarette from Stocks Engineering appeared before the town council July 1 to ask for a rezoning from RA (Residential Agricultural) to R8, which would permit 8,000 square foot lots.

NASHVILLE - A new 12-lot subdivision called River Stone has been approved under a general rezoning request to be build off S NC 58 in Elm City.
A 7.2 acre tract of land owned by Williams Builders of Rocky Mount just north of Winstead Crossroads at the intersection of Highway 58 and 97 was rezoned from RC Commercial to RA-40, single-family residential, by Nash County Commissioners July 1.

NASHVILLE - Pending Nashville Town Council approval, seed money to start up a Barn Quilt project on the side of the new Rec Center has been okayed by the Downtown Nashville Strong Advisory Board.
Nashville Parks and Rec Director Koy Worrell asked for $2500 to start the ball rolling for creation of a Barn Quilt, similar to a mural, to be put on the Church Street side of the new Parks and Rec center- the former Acme Cleaners - at the corner of Church and S. Boddie Streets.

Heather Thompson, Counselor at Nash Central High School, is looking for people willing to open their hearts and homes to hosting a high school foreign exchange student- or two. Applications must be started by end of July.
Thompson, who is also the Local Coordinator for Eastern North Carolina under the CIEE (Council on International Educational Exchange) Program, places international students within 120 miles of her location, including in homes for Nash County high schools along with schools in Edgecombe, Pitt, Wilson, Franklin, and Duplin Counties.

Larceny misdemeanor reported at 100 N Boddie St., Nashville on 6/25/24
Felony breaking and/or entering; larceny after breaking and entering reported at 10335 W. Old Spring Hope Rd., Spring Hope on 6/26/24
Larceny misdemeanor reported at 10696 E NC 97, Rocky Mount on 6/28/24

INCIDENT
Resisting arrest/hinder and delay reported at 227 Barnes St., Nashville on

NASHVILLE - The number of Nash County farmers participating in farm field trials is the highest on record this year, with one farmer, Richard Sapp of Edwards Farm Equipment, Whitakers, handling one with soybeans and a second with corn.
Sapp is growing two varieties of soybeans on Lonesome Pine Road as part of the NC Soybean On-Farm Trial Program, a joint initiative between the NC Cooperative Extension and the NC Soybean Producers Association. He is also participating in an irrigated corn hybrid trial.

Do you remember the story of Sodom and Gomorrah? God brought judgment on both those cities. In fact, Genesis 19:24 records, "Then the Lord rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah".
Interestingly, God promised Abraham that he would not destroy Sodom and Gomorrah if just 10 righteous people could be found living there. Apparently that didn't happen. Two angels later said to Abraham's nephew, Lot, "Have you anyone else here?

Congratulations to Sawyer Boone, son of Wesley and Allison Boone, who was baptized Sunday, June 30 at Red Oak Baptist Church!
The Red Oak Area Rotary is sponsoring a Teddy Bear Paint and Brunch at Red Oak Baptist Church Family Life Center on Saturday, August 3. Event will be held at 10:00 am - 12 noon and tickets are $40 + fees on eventbrite.com. This is a fundraiser for Banner Bears.

Remote Area Medical - RAM® - a major nonprofit provider of pop-up clinics delivering free, quality dental, vision and medical care to those in need - will hold a free, two-day clinic on August 10-11. RAM will be set up at Nash Central High School located at 4729 Nash Central High for two days only. This clinic is in collaboration with Ripple Effects Group.
All RAM services are free, and no ID is required. Free dental, vision and medical services will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Nash Central High School Class of 1964 celebrated its 60th Class Reunion over the weekend of June 7 - 9, 2024. They enjoyed a meet and greet on Friday night, remembrances and picture taking on Saturday morning and an elaborate dinner on Saturday night. Two of their former teachers, Ms. Katherine Lucas and Mr. Bobby Dunn, were in attendance on Saturday night.

Nash-Rocky Mount Early College High School has been recognized by the Center for Supportive Schools (CSS) as a certified Peer Group Connection Program (PGC) school. This designation signifies that the school has demonstrated exemplary performance in implementing the PGC program with the highest quality and fidelity. The certification process includes accreditation for the school, program advisors, and student peer leaders.

This week, I am praising countries not named America.
I know this seems weird, so I want to assure you've I've had no kind of serious head injury, although one of my sons did drop something on my head out of the attic last week.
I'm still as patriotic and America-loving as ever. However, my trip to Ireland and Great Britain last month not only left me with some incredible memories, but lots of lingering things to think about.

If you Google "What is the difference between leadership and management?" - you'll find a plethora of opinions.
Many links will take you to studies at well known universities that have researched and produced tons of insight on the differences between the two. Other links will take you to motivational sites with all sorts of uplifting theories of what separates the two.

Nash County Citizens, As a former volunteer Fire Chief and paid Fire Captain with 30 years of service to Nash County and a lifelong resident who is now retired as a volunteer, I have asked myself many questions about how our EMS service arrived at the point where it is today.
Here is my synopsis:

This photo was found in The Graphic's 1970 archives. We are not exactly sure where the photo was taken, but it looks as though the truck lettering may be Spring Hope.