NASHVILLE - The third of five community conversations about the Nash County Opioid settlement took place July 11 at the Nash County Agriculture Center, with participants given a chance to suggest how money should be spent after listening to overdose statistics and a "lived experience" panel with people who battle addiction.
Tia Foula, Assistant Nash County Manager, said the purpose of the meetings was to educate people about the extent of the opioid problem, to engage the community for ideas, and to recognize existing resources and support.

An expected vote Tuesday night by the Nashville Town Council on the purchase of the Fellowship Church property has been delayed until August 6, and the due diligence period extended, in order to give the council time to hear back from Nash county Environmental Health on whether expansion of the drain field would work with surrounding soils; this would affect whether the current septic system could accommodate anticipated usage, or not.

Edwards family members gather to celebrate the opening of an on-site farm store at M&H Edwards Farm. Graphic photo by Nancy West-Brake

The M&H Edwards Farm, named for owners Mike and Hope Edwards, have expanded operations to open an on-site farm store to sell their produce.
Located at 1157 Old White Oak Road, the store and its people celebrated a ribbon-cutting with the Nashville Chamber of Commerce July 11, attracting most of the Nashville town council along with friends and supporters, who happily filled shopping baskets with tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, yellow squash, cucumbers, lettuce, blueberries, and peaches, among other earthly delights.

SPRING HOPE - A new, more detailed system for reporting code violations to Spring Hope town officials is also turning up the heat on property owners who are out of code compliance.
Shawn Lucas, Code Enforcer, presented commissioners with a printed list of 19 home violations in addition to four that had been turned over for "abatement," or cleanup, at their July 1 meeting.

WHITAKERS - Nash County and farming: a traditionally cherished connection. Tobacco farms, sweetpotatoes, soybeans, pumpkin, corn and more: row crop farms. Cattle, horses, emu's and alpaca farms: yep, got 'em. But one of Nash's least known farms is west of Whitakers. The crop? White-Tailed Deer.
Tina and Howard Moore, the owners of Southern Raised Whitetails, are one of thirty deer farmers in the state, "but only a handful are growing Whitetails," Howard said, adding that there are only between 350 and 400 captive deer in the state.

A property donation may help rejuvenate the Town of Castalia's farmer's market.
Castalia Commissioners approved the donation from Felton Parrish at their regular board meeting in July. The property is at 8950 Main Street and is around .80 acres.
Mayor James Alston told commissioners the property was the "old cucumber shed" and Parrish donated it so the town could make use of it.

NASHVILLE - The Nash County Board of Elections is putting the word out now: they are looking to hire about 30 assistant poll workers for November 5th.
"We're gearing up for what could be the biggest election we have held," said John Kearny, Director of Elections.
Each of the 24 voting sites in Nash will be staffed with poll workers on Election Day, "so we are looking for workers across the county," Kearney said.
"In total, I expect to have about 225 workers working on Election Day," Kearney said, adding that people comfortable with laptops are especially needed.

Unexpected issues with both the HVAC and septic system at the Pet Connection Center Monday led to a temporary relocation of fifty to fifty-two dogs, who were all back at the facility by Friday morning.
According to William Hill, Nash Health Director, the first sign of trouble was detected over the weekend when a worker found the kennel area "a little warm," but thought little of it because of the very warm temperatures outside.

People interested in running on the November ballot for Nash County Schools Board of Education seats have to sign up by noon this Friday, July 19th, in an unusual situation where the number of school board seats is being reduced from 11 to 7.
Senate Bill 248, introduced by Senator Lisa Barnes in March of 2023, passed into law, requiring school board districts to align with those of county commissioners.
Regardless of when the terms expire by current school board members, all members who want to represent a district must run again.

The next phase of the Spring Hope Historic Train Depot restoration project has just received a major shot in the arm with the arrival of a $537,000 grant from the North Carolina Department of Commerce.
Andrew DeIonno, Town Manager, shared the news with town commissioners at their July 1 meeting, saying that the money was targeted to build an outdoor platform to use as a stage or event space. That area would have its own restroom facilities, allowing it separate use from the enclosed depot space.

Council members met in a 10 a.m. July 10 special meeting to receive and discuss a follow-up report from Dawson Construction Services on the condition and remodeling costs.

MOMEYER - Momeyer's ongoing mission to document its history continues, with new, color photographs of the current town council planned for display at the town hall, along with colorized photos of former mayors and council members.
Black and white photos of three former Mayors - Frederick Hinton, Nelson Puckett and Kenneth Lee Parker - hang in the town hall lobby, but council members wanted to honor all those who had served in office, deciding to hunt down photographs of former council members to add to the expanded display.

A few years ago, I was involved in a misunderstanding that turned out to be a real source of embarrassment.
The particulars are not important because the embarrassment that I experienced had nothing to do with the nature of the misunderstanding. I was embarrassed because the circumstances that surrounded the incident made me look as if I was the farthest thing from a Christian.
I know I didn't say what others were told I said. Those type of statements cut directly across my Christian principles.

The Teddy Bear Paint and Brunch is coming soon! This is a fundraiser sponsored by the Red Oak Area Rotary for Banner Bears, an organization which shows comfort, peace, and hope to children in traumatic or emergency situations. Children are given a bear bundle which includes a teddy bear, coloring book, and crayons to share with them that they are special and Jesus loves them. The Teddy Bear Paint and Brunch will be Saturday, August 3 at 10:00 am - 12 noon at Red Oak Baptist Church Family Life Center. Tickets are $40 + fees on eventbrite.com or from Linda Sheets (of Banner Bears) or Red Oak Area Rotary members.

Rocky Mount
7/8/2024: 1:30 p.m. - 6 p.m., St. Paul Baptist Church, 1151 N. Winstead Avenue
7/10/2024: 12 p.m. - 4:45 p.m., Englewood Baptist Church- Edge Building, 1350 S Winstead Ave
7/17/2024: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Honeywell Corporation, 3475 Wesleyan Blvd

Vince Sievert, VFW Post 2057, accepts a $5,000 check from Pruitt Cares Foundation. Pictured right is MaryAnn Knarr-Avery of PruittHealth Hospice-Rocky Mount. Graphic photo by Nancy West-Brake

Nashville's American Legion Post 110 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2057 have been recognized for their community impact and awarded checks from the Pruitt Cares Foundation, with funding raised from the 2023 Veterans' Day Ride of Honor.
Mike Page, American Legion Post 110, was given a $2,500 check and Vince Sievert, VFW Post 2057, received a $5,000 check during a celebration June 26 at Station Square, Rocky Mount. Also awarded was Pete Rossi of American Legion Post 58 of Rocky Mount, who received $2,500.

All students in Nash County public schools will be able to get breakfast and lunch at no charge this school year, thanks to the CEP (Community Eligibility Provision), a federal program for schools and school districts in low-income areas.
Whereas in the past, some but not all of NCPS schools qualified, this year all schools fell under the qualifications thanks to the inclusion of Medicaid-eligible students.

A Rocky Mount man, reportedly drunk when he drove around a West Washington Street barricade with a loaded gun in his car after the 2023 Blooming Festival, has been convicted in federal court for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.
John Joseph Simmons II, 34, of 3827 Carriage Farm Road, faces a maximum sentence of fifteen years in prison when he is sentenced in federal court. He has yet to answer charges for DUI.

What began as the search of a suspicious vehicle after its driver fled from police ended up with the confiscation of nearly half a million dollars, and a Maryland man arrested on multiple charges.
Michael De Baugh, 37, of Glen Burnie Maryland, was questioned by Nash County Sheriff's Deputies after NCSO received a call from a concerned citizen about a suspicious vehicle parked in a dark area at the I-95 southbound rest area near Dortches at around 10:20 pm Sunday night, July 14.

Danny L. Hyman to Danny L. Hyman and Barbara Ann Hyman; property along South Grace Street
Pierce Investments, LLC to Fredonna Whitfield; Oak Level Crossing, Phase 3, Lot 40
Amy J. Denton to Kriss E. Wendling; Section 2, Winders Creek at Weatherstone Subdivision, Phase 2, Block B, Lot 3
Danny L. Bell and Linda T. Bell to Michael Shane Thomas and Sheila Jean Thomas; 11.202 acres

Detached accessory structure; 1498 E. Old Spring Hope Rd., Unit A., Nashville; Samuel Joyner; $9,000
Detached accessory structure; 14188 US 264A, Zebulon; Lawson Williams; $69,000
New single family dwelling; 11217 International Dr., Middlesex; Steven Futrell; $250,000
New single family dwelling; 11217 International Dr., Middlesex; Steven Futrell; $250,000

They started playing and singing "Nothing But the Blood" at church on Sunday and my wife Kristi elbowed me. "That's what I've been thinking this week with the mosquitoes."
I looked over at our youngest son and his arms and legs looked like a scene from one of those movies where this is an outbreak of a lethal virus. Yeah, it's just a typical July in North Carolina.

Dear editor: As you all know, it has been over a week now since my husband, Tony Cameron, was asked to resign by Mrs. Stacie Shatzer, the county manager, from his position as the Director of Emergency Services. I feel that there are some things that I need to point out and clear the air about, not because my husband asked me to, because he has not and will not say anything about this issue to the public, but rather just for myself and to let the citizens of Nash County better understand what happened. Also, I would like to thank everyone who has reached out to us to show their support during this time.

This photo published in The Nashville Graphic on Nov. 6, 1970. A loan of $20,000 and a grant of $19,000 were closed for the Drake Water Association, Inc. Larry Whitehurst (left) Nash Farmers Home Administration Supervisor; Otto Moore (center) president of the Drake Water Association; and Donald Norman, District FHA Supervisor discuss the FHA Contract.