NASHVILLE - North Carolina is no stranger to hurricanes, with August, September and October the most active months for trouble from tropical storms.
Tripp Bunn, Assistant Director for Nash Fire and Rescue Services/Emergency Management, is encouraging residents to be "disaster ready," and that includes making plans for helping those who cannot help themselves. In that group are the elderly, pets and livestock.

NASHVILLE - A $17-million state-directed grant has washed down into Nash County coffers, with the target water and wastewater infrastructure projects. The money, facilitated through the NC Department of Environmental Quality under the 2023 State Appropriations Act, will be used for twelve projects across the county, with six for municipal projects in Nashville, Spring Hope, Bailey, Middlesex, Whitakers and Rocky Mount. The other six projects are county-related.

Laurie Buckhout speaks during the 5th Annual Heroes Field of Honor 9-11 ceremony.

NASHVILLE - The 5th Annual Heroes Field of Honor 9-11 ceremony drew over one hundred people Wednesday, Sept. 11, many of them veterans but all of them patriots, who gathered in remembrance and appreciation for those who serve.
Three hundred flags, bathed in light night and day out of respect, waved in the grassy lot at 1114 First Street, Nashville, on the grounds of the Fellowship Church.

NASHVILLE - An informational public meeting to promote two grant incentives for downtown businesses drew an audience of 25 property owners to the Downtown Nashville Strong Advisory Board Sept. 16.
Shawn Lucas, Planning and Development Director, gave a power point presentation about the Downtown Incentive Grant (DIG) and the Façade Improvement Grant. Printed information and applications were also available.

NASHVILLE - Topics of discussion at the Sept. 16 monthly meeting of The Voice of Nashville ranged from contractor impersonation to higher taxes to the need for youth mentors.
Held at its usual location in the council chambers, the September meeting, conducted by President Ted Davis, drew approximately ten residents, among them town councilmen Larry Taylor and Xavien Harrison.

Melanie Meeks, left, Care Coalition Program Manager, and Tracey Neal of UNC Nash show off contents of Harm Reduction Kits during the recovery awareness event held Sept. 7 in Nashville.

September is National Recovery Month, celebrated locally Sept. 7 at the Nash County Agricultural Center with the Second Annual Recovery Event.
Sponsored by Trillium Health Resources, Nash County, UNC Health Nash and HRSA (Health Resources and Services Administration), the program had three parts: a community mix and mingle from 11 a.m. to 12:45, a dynamic panel discussion from 1 to 2 p.m. and a commemorative walk/wheel ending at the Nash county courthouse.

NASHVILLE - Nash County has applied for, and received $950,000 to use to address housing needs, and one commissioner is asking that a program committee be established to work on the issue of affordable housing.
"In our rural areas, I think the county should take a look at getting into affordable housing," Fred Belfield, Commissioner, said at the Sept. 9 Nash County Board of Commissioners meeting.

Photo ID required - Voters who vote in-person will be asked to present a valid photo-ID. Voters who cast an absentee ballot will be asked to submit a copy of the photo ID with their ballot.
Free photo ID available at Elections Office

PRESIDENT OF THE US
Kamala Harris (D)
Donald J. Trump (R)
Chase Oliver (LIB)

The Nashville town council, meeting Sept. 17, is drawing down on two possible spending targets for the $1.5 million appropriated for water and wastewater infrastructure improvement.
Topping the priority list are continued work to line sanitary sewage manholes and the elimination or re-routing of two-inch galvanized water lines in the oldest part of town.

With the gift of the Red Oak Classic now opened, enjoyed and the wrappings put away, Red Oak town officials are working on setting up the town's Christmas Festival, to be held Saturday, Nov. 30 from 1 to 6 p.m., with the parade at 4 p.m. A Christmas tree lighting at the Red Oak Fire Station will conclude the event.
The theme will be "Home Alone: Lost in Red Oak" as selected by nearly 30% of town residents who responded to a digital Google Forms survey sent out through the town's Facebook page August 21st by Averi Parker, Town Clerk.

SPRING HOPE - Two intertwined trees at the corner of N. Pine and E. Franklin Streets in Spring Hope are due to be cut following a resolution from the Spring Hope Board of Commissioners, who believe the trees present a hazard.
The trees, which appear to be one but are actually two Willow Oaks, have grown together, with their height and size presenting a problem with dropped limbs, some of which are tree-sized themselves;

NASHVILLE- Nash County has a new full-time staff member, courtesy of the NC Association of County Commissioners. Erick Mendez, a native of Franklin, NC, who relocated to Wilson in July, is the first to be placed with Nash County as a Strategic Project Coordinator through the NCACC Strategic Member Services program.
Mendez, who is paid through NCACC's SMS program, was introduced to commissioners at their Sept. 9 meeting.

SPRING HOPE ‑ Final details for Spring Hope's Depot platform, also known as the "Spring Hope Railroad Cotton Platform," have been rubber-stamped for approval following the Sept. 3 board of commissioners' meeting.
Alliance Architecture of the Triad, the architectural designer company from the Winston-Salem who is performing renovation work on Spring Hope's historic depot, submitted details to Andrew DeIonno, town manager, which he shared with commissioners.

Jeannie Miller, left, and Tiffany Edwards, right, NC State University Mounted Police Officers, pose with Clydesdale mares Phoenix and Ember during a coffee stop in downtown Nashville Sept. 12. Miller said the mounted unit was on the way to do a demonstration at Martin Community College, Williamston, for students in its Equine program.

SPRING HOPE - In the wake of the first successful Semi-Annual Spring Hope Sweep, Downtown Development Board (DDB) members are looking to build on that momentum with a questionnaire to downtown merchants about what else can be done to beautify the town.
Meeting Sept. 16, the Spring Hope DDB discussed results of the first "sweep," Sept. 14, which focused on downtown and Spring Hope park. Approximately 25 people showed up to work, generating 13 bags of weeds and 23 piled of tree limbs.

Stephen Brumfield poses with broom and blower prepared to work during the sweep.

When I was a small child, my family watched Oral Roberts on television every week. In the early years of his ministry, Roberts conducted healing services and won notoriety nationwide for the miracles that God performed.
I remember one particular Sunday morning at the end of his program when Roberts encouraged his viewers to reach out in faith if someone was in need of healing in their home. My brother had been sick, so I followed his instructions to the letter and placed one hand on the television screen and my other hand on my brother. I just knew that God was going to work a miracle and heal my brother.

Fear is a common emotion. We might tease our friends for their fear of clowns or mice, but deep down, we all know that we have our own fears. It might not be furry creatures that startle us. Instead, we might fear being alone, or losing everything we've worked to gain, or being rejected. Whatever its form, fear is something we've all encountered at some point in our lives.
Scripture has a lot to say about fear. If we were to look up the word "fear" in our English Bibles, we'd find hundreds of occurrences.

Congratulations to Robby and Sahnnon Gault on the birth of their daughter, Patten Estes Gault, on August 17! Proud grandparents are Doug and Sue Ella Johnson. Proud great-grandmother is Sue Edwards.
The Baptist Men enjoyed their monthly breakfast on Sunday, Sept. 15.
Pray for the youth of Red Oak Baptist Church as they leave Friday, Sept. 20 for a retreat at Camp Don Lee.

Wayne Outlaw (right) of West Mount Ruritan Club Foundation, presents a check to Rick Thomason (left) of Cpl. Suzi Sannes Detachment for the 2024 Toys For Tots Program starting up on 01 October 2024. Toys For Tots Program celebrates 77 years of giving in 2024.

American Legion Post 91 of Spring Hope and Woodmen Life, Chapter 1087, presented flags for classrooms at Spring Hope Elementary School. Pictured, left to right, are: Larry Walker, member of American Legion Post 91, Spring Hope; Shirley Peele, Secretary Woodman Life Chapter 1087, Wilson; Chicquita Lucas, bookkeeper and data entry manager, Spring Hope Elementary School; and Dickie Bass, Commander American Legion Post 91, Spring Hope.

Red Oak Area Rotary Club second annual fundraising event for a local charity, Banner Bears, was held Aug. 3rd.
This is the second annual event and the community support was outstanding. The Banner Bear Paint Party was held in the Family Life Center of the Red Oak Baptist Church.
Banner Bears gives a teddy bear in a red bag with a coloring book and crayons to children who are traumatized.

It's time to show off your wild food cooking skills! Our first annual Wild Foods Cooking Contest - hosted by Nash and Edgecombe Counties Family and Consumer Sciences Program. Event will be held at the Eastern Carolina Livestock Arena.

Annie Grace Manning of Nash County has received one of two 2000 hours Belt Buckle awards in the 2024 NC 4-H Horse Program Inaugural Recreational Riding Rewards Program. She received her award during the 2024 NC State 4-H Horse Show.
The Recreational Riding Rewards Program is an annual submission of recreational riding hours logged with an equine partner to earn awards and recognition at the state level.

Travella A. Sellers-Wilkins, Travella A Sellers Wilkins and Anthony E. Wilkins to Patricia Sumlin; 1725 Burnt Mill Road, Rocky Mount; $180,000
Timothy S. Kelly to Karen L. Kelly; .727 acres
Dalton N. Barrett and Allison B. Barrett to Leroy Samuel Whitted; Bishops Row Subdivision, Phase 3, Block A, Lot 13
Ignacio Vasquez Sanquan and Ignacio Vasquez Sanjuan to Sarah N. Whitley; .98 acres

Singlewide; 5956 Janice Ct., Bailey; Keith Eleazer; $2,500
New single family dwelling; 10434 Tar River Church Rd., Wilson; Josh Reason; $235,000
Miscellaneous; 6898 Colleen Rd., Rocky Mount; Keith Price; $15,000
Addition (covered); 5520 Tar Island Dr., Rocky Mount; Jim Pope; $40,000

At first, they were funny.
I love those Progressive Insurance ads that featured Dr. Rick, a therapist working with young homeowners trying to keep from turning into their parents.
One featured a man who was thinking about buying two identical shirts, and storing one for when the first wore out. I have a friend that used to buy multiple pairs of shoes when he found a pair he liked and stuffed them in the closet.

Tucked inside today's Graphic is a special publication, "Nashville, Your Hometown." Each page gives you a snap-shot on where we are today and projections of where we are headed.
Nashville leaders were interviewed to give their viewpoints on where Nashville is heading, and what is keeping us true to our roots.
One thing you'll find to be similar among many of the interviews is most every person always mentions the importance of being a part of the community, and how much they love Nashville - a huge key to keeping our town moving forward with never forgetting why people moved here in the first place.

This photo was published in The Nashville Graphic on May 21, 1953. Seniors from Red Oak High School had their picture taken during a stopover at Luray Caverns, Virginia, on their trip to Washington.

Pianist Benjamin Hochman will return to Cherry Hill in a performance of Beethoven works on Sunday, September 22nd. Hochman, born in Jerusalem, now resides in Berlin, Germany. He performed at Cherry Hill when he was visiting professor of piano at East Carolina University.
Hochman fills many roles, from orchestral soloist, recitalist, and chamber musician to conductor. He regards music as vital and essential, and members of the music performance world recognize his deep commitment to insightful programming and performances of quality.