ROCKY MOUNT - A state investigation is underway into the death of a 19-year city of Rocky Mount employee, Trace Christman, reportedly electrocuted Sunday evening at the Tar River Water Treatment Plant at 4489 Leaston Road, Rocky Mount.
Bryant Fisher, Nash 9-1-1 Director, said the call came in at 5:54 p.m. July 21 that a subject had received an electric shock. Nash EMS responded, as did the Nash County Sheriff's Office, West Mount Fire Department, Coopers Fire/Rescue Department, Nash County Fire Marshall's Office and Rocky Mount Fire Department.

NASHVILLE - Nashville town officials have adopted an amended public comment policy which includes a reversal of a prior policy rule: a public comment period will no longer be held during special "called" meetings unless authorized by the Mayor.
This is the third time that Nashville's policy has been changed in the last seven years.

Cindy Scheipers shakes hands with Hasan Hasan during a ribbon cutting ceremony hosted by the Nashville Chamber of Commerce celebrating the opening of Global Pack & Ship. Graphic photo by Jo Anne Cooper

NASHVILLE - Nashville's newest business is filling a niche, according to the man behind it; Hasan Hasan, the owner of Global Pack & Ship, said he got the idea because the town needed the services it offers.
"People have had to go to Rocky Mount just to send something by UPS or Fed Ex, or just to make copies, get office supplies or get something laminated," Hasan said. "I live here, so I got a sense for what was needed."

NASHVILLE - Twenty new hires into Nash County public schools, including two Assistant Principals, are one result of a special called meeting of the Board of Education Monday, July 22.
The brief 12 p.m. meeting was held virtually and recorded in two separate segments, accessible on You Tube, before and after a closed session for which Chris Bissette, board member, motioned to do so under several permitted state statutes, including "to prevent disclosure of confidential personnel files..."

AYSCUE

CASTALIA -- It's been 15 years since family and friends saw Roger Wade Ayscue, or Kojack as he was better known to those in the northeastern edges of Franklin County and into Castalia.
And, while it wasn't completely dark last Friday, those who still hold Kojack dear held a candlelight vigil -- shining a light on his case and hoping that their continued efforts spark someone to come forward with information on his whereabouts.

ROCKY MOUNT - The new Rocky Mount-Wilson Regional Airport Director, Josh Pusser, really likes where he works; compared with other local airports, he says, it has a huge runway which gives it flexibility and a good balance of businesses. It also has a lineup of people waiting for hangar space.
Occupying over 500 acres and with its main entrance along NC-97, RWI, which regularly houses about forty private planes, pulls about 50% of its business from corporate planes. Those can be really big if they fly cargo; the biggest Pusser has seen is a 737, which can carry up to 23 tons of freight.

Nashville's Farmers Market has an extra fun-filled day planned Friday, July 26th from 3:00 p.m. -8:30 p.m.
Local vendors will open at 3 p.m. featuring all of the local favorites including fresh produce, local meats, farm fresh eggs, baked goods, garden plants, cut flowers, crafts, coffee, dairy products and more.

A tiny piece of land may have a big impact on visitors to Nashville, if its planned use for a monument-style welcome sign is put into place.
Michael Hurt with Hurt LLC, the owner of the Nashville Junction, has donated a 0.15 acre of land at the corner of Barnes Street and Western Avenue adjacent to the Fuel Doc to the town, which was accepted by the town council at their July 16 meeting.

Non-partisan filing ended at 12 noon Friday, July 19, with twelve people filing to run for seven Nash County School Board district seats.
Several current board members will face off against each other, due to the number of school board district seats being reduced from 11 to 7 after a senate bill passed making school district seats align with seats held by county commissioners.
Incumbent Doneva Chavis of Nashville is the only one to file to represent district 1 and will run unopposed.

NASHVILLE - Nash County has been awarded $132,000 to mete out for urgent home repairs to ten very low and low-income households whose residents have special needs, with a very brief application period beginning in mid-September.
The 'Urgent Repair Program,' according to Emily Moore, Nash Grants & Intergovernmental Relations Director, will actually have $137,000 to draw upon because of a $5000 match the county put in it to strengthen its grant application.

NASHVILLE - The town of Nashville has joined the towns of Tarboro, Pinetops, the city of Rocky Mount and Governor Roy Cooper in proclaiming the importance of Summer Learning Week, a national event celebrated July 15-19 this year.
Brenda Brown, Nashville Mayor, made a proclamation to that effect at the town council's July 16 meeting while recognizing the contributions of Down East Partnership for Children, whose 'Ready Schools' initiative includes summer learning as one of its four focus areas along with school attendance, school readiness and summer learning.

American Legion Post 110 of Nashville donates a check for $250 on July 10 to the town of Nashville for the purchase of two town flags, sporting the new town logo with "The Original Nashville," to be flown over the Battleship and at the town police and fire complex. Pictured, left to right, are: Ross Strickland, American Legion Post 110 Post finance officer; Mike Page, post commander; Chris Aycock, Nashville facilities maintenance technician; James Ervin, former post chaplain.

CASTALIA -- A man who led deputies on a chase in a tractor was treated for minor injuries sustained in the stop, authorities said.
According to authorities and published reports, just after 5 p.m. on July 11, a man attempted to get away from deputies using a tractor.
According to Franklin County Emergency Management Director Nicholas Thorpe, someone performed a pit maneuver to stop the tractor and it rolled onto its side.

A 43-year-old Virginia man with ties to southern Nash County is being held in jail after his arrest Monday on charges relating to a sexual attack on a young girl in June.
Justin Wayne Parham, who has no current permanent address but is originally from Virginia, was taken into custody by Nash County Sheriff's deputies at a Wilson County Motel July 22, with assistance from Wilson County police.

LOUISBURG -- Two wrecks in Franklin County last month killed a Kittrell woman and a Castalia man.
Careless and reckless driving appeared to be the connecting factor in both, separate incidents.
According to a report by Trooper C.I. Hundley, Leonel Pedraza was driving a 2009 Honda north on U.S. 401 near E.F. Cottrell at just after 1:30 p.m. on June 22 when he crossed the center line.

Felony breaking and/or entering reported at 10581 E. NC 97, Rocky Mount on 7/7/24
Larceny of a firearm; felony breaking and/or entering reported at 10680 W. NC 97, Middlesex on 7/13/24
Breaking and entering auto larceny from auto reported at 11092 Simms Rd., Bailey on 7/13/24
Obtain property by false pretense reported at 113 S. Whitfield Dr., Whitakers on 7/10/24

INCIDENTS REPORT
Larceny of items for sale reported at 100 East Evans Dr., Nashville on 7/7/24
Financial transaction card fraud reported at 208 Woodfield Dr., Nashville on 7/10/24
Larceny misdemeanor reported at 1205 Eastern Ave., Nashville on 7/9/24

A program coming out of UNC Chapel Hill designed to improve the lives of veterans has been launched in Nash County, with a "Community Conversation" held in Rocky Mount July 13.
It is the second such program in NC, having begun in Alamance County.

The Nash Community and Rural Development (CRD) Council will host its annual banquet on Saturday, September 21, 2024 at 4 p.m.
The guest speaker will be the Honorable Judge Alicia Slaughter, District County Judge, District 8. In addition, Robin Dunn of It's a Done Deal Music is the musical guest.

RALEIGH. -- The application period for the next session of the NC Rural Center's Homegrown Leaders training is now open. People who live or work in Eastern North Carolina are encouraged to apply. The training will be held September 10-12 in Kinston.
Homegrown Leaders is a three-day regional leadership and community economic development training that equips existing and emerging leaders with the skills they need to lead long-term economic advancement in their community and region.

RALEIGH - The N.C. State Fair will be returning to the fairgrounds Oct. 17-27, so it's time to start thinking about planning your visit. One great way to participate is by entering a competition, and the fair is currently welcoming people to show off their skills.

North Carolina District VIII (Daughters of the American Revolution) held their annual meeting, Wednesday, July 17th, at the Walnut Creek Country Club in Goldsboro. Attending from the Micajah Pettaway-Halifax Resolves Chapter (Rocky Mount) were, left to right, Linda Shepherd, Regent Carol Ludwig, Linda Hardy, Edith Whitby, Past Regent Laura Earp and Meg Cooke

"But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed." (James 1:14)
Have you ever noticed what we often do to explain sin in our lives? Many of us tend to blame it on someone else.
From the beginning of time, we have looked for an excuse for our sin. Adam, when he committed his first sin, blamed it on Eve. He told God, "The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate". (Genesis 3:12) Not much has changed over the last 6,000 years.

How can I pray for you?" When I am asked this simple question, it is a great kindness from the Lord. Not knowing what to say, I often answer by asking that person to pray Psalm 90:12 for me: "So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom."
Psalm 90 is a prayer of Moses - the only psalm attributed to Moses. The psalm begins by declaring the eternality of God (Psalm 90:1-2). In contrast to the God who is from everlasting to everlasting, Moses then declares the brevity and frailty of human life (Psalm 90:3-11).

The Baptist Men had their breakfast meeting on Sunday, July 21.
Red Oak Baptist Church will continue to collect donations of new backpacks for their Backpack Giveaway until August 11.
There will be a Crayon Drive at Red Oak Baptist Church through the month of August to support Banner Bears. Banner Bears is a ministry which provides comfort, peace, and hope to hurting children in tragic situations.

UNC Health Nash Foundation was recently awarded a $2,000 grant from the Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation, marking the second consecutive year Food Lion's support will help the UNC Health Nash Inpatient Food Pantry continue its work of providing disease-specific nutrition to qualifying patients transitioning from hospital care to home.

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

Friends, family, and colleagues gathered at a Carolinas Gateway Partnership event recently to celebrate Norris Tolson, a lifelong public servant.
A native of Pinetops, Tolson recently retired as president of Carolinas Gateway Partnership. To honor his many contributions to the Partnership and community, the E. Norris Tolson Endowed Scholarship has been established at Edgecombe Community College.

Plans are firming up for the "Spring Hope Sweep," a grass-roots downtown cleanup effort spearheaded by the Downtown Development Board, set for September 14th with a rain date of Sept. 21.
While board members plan to reach out to Southern Nash High School in search of club members who might volunteer to help, also on the contact list are area churches and scouting groups, although any and all who want to bring a shovel or trimmer to help with grass removal will be welcomed and fed pizza and drinks.

Former American Legion Post 110 Chaplain, James Ervin, (far right), swears in the new officers for the legion.

Detached accessory structure; 11753 Lodge Rd., Middlesex; Allen Duke; $20,000
Addition (covered); 505 Davis Farms Dr., Nashville; Marvin Wadsworth; $28,500
Renovation/alteration; 617 Sanibel Dr., Nashville; Marvin Wadsworth; $12,000

Tosha Nicole Patterson to Delia E. Montoya Urbina; 6505 Crowned Court, Zebulon; $190,000
POP Homes-RDU, LLC to Stacy Filkovski and Jeffrey Filkovski; 3847 Baker Pond Trail, Nashville;
U.S. Bank Trust, N.A., LSF8 Master Participation Trust and Hudson Homes Management, LLC to Elbert Ellis and Gennie Ellis; 3112 Wellington Drive, Rocky Mount; $199,000

It's got to be a hard go for fortune tellers and psychics these days, because I don't know that anyone had an attempted assassination of a former president and the current president completely changing his mind about running for re-election, all in the course of eight days.
It's going to be an exhausting three and a half months in politics, folks.
With that being said, the Soapbox staff wanted to offer some relief and we've decided to bring back an old favorite: Dumb Crook News.

A year ago, we were dealing with the aftermath of a tragic tornado which swept across Dortches, leaving a path of destruction all the way to Rocky Mount.
I recall that afternoon how people came together, like during most times of natural disasters. When life is so close to slipping away, we all tend to behave a bit differently. At least for awhile.
Looking at the time line of events that have taken place right here in the United States of America recently - it seems nothing surprises us from one day to the next.

Dear editor, As a lifelong resident of the area, I have watched the nucleus of Nashville or the center of downtown disappear. In my lifetime, commerce existed on both sides of Washington Street, except for the Nash County Courthouse, which was erected in 1921. I remember the public parking lot also having businesses.
Downtown Nashville was truly a beautiful quaint downtown and it was all Nashville's.

This photo originally published in The Nashville Graphic on March 5, 1953. Pictured were cast members for the Nashville High School play to be presented the following Friday evening in the school auditorium.

Internationally acclaimed pianist Thomas Pandolfi will present a concert of the music of Frederick Chopin at Cherry Hill on Sunday, July 28th. The concert will begin at 3 p.m. and will be followed by a reception for attendees and the artist.
Mr. Pandolfi, a great favorite of Cherry Hill audiences, will play etudes, ballads, polonaises, nocturnes, and other works by the beloved composer. Entitled "The Language of Infinity," the program promises to delight the audience.