NASHVILLE - An unexpected, last-minute job reclassification for Nash County's Emergency Services Director's position Oct.7 is raising questions, some of which have to do with the legality of the move.
Less than five hours after Sue Leggett, commissioner, again addressed the priority of filling the position, the board went into closed session for approximately four hours, re-convening for less than five minutes to vote in open session on "reclassifying" the Emergency Services Director job as "Emergency Services Manager," which carries a lesser pay grade; Charles "Tripp" Bunn, existing Assistant Director of Emergency Management, was given the position.

NASHVILLE - A new public records request policy adopted by the town of Nashville establishes the request process, but also imposes charges for staff time spent over four hours, a stipulation that may be illegal under state statute.
Lou Bennett, town clerk, presented the new policy at the Oct. 1 town council session, explaining that a recent "very large request" made her realize that there was no form in place for public records requests, with the town website advising members of the public to just "call the town clerk, basically." In response to a question from The Graphic, Bennett said she most often gets requests for emails, police reports and financial reports.

The Nash Central High School dance team performs with the marching band in the 51st annual Spring Hope Pumpkin Festival Parade. Photo by Meryn Johnson

NASHVILLE- A recent violation of drinking water standards for Nashville's water system is not categorized as an emergency, but Health Department officials are recommending that pregnant women, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems drink bottled water until the situation is resolved. This includes infants, who should have bottled water used for their formulas.

NASHVILLE - The proposed Baker Property subdivision, planned for 137 acres on both sides of NC Highway 58 and along the north side of Boddie Mill Pond Road, Nashville, was narrowly approved for a conditional rezoning request Monday, Oct. 7, when its motion squeaked by in a 4-3 split vote by the county board of commissioners.
Located north of Nashville and south of Castalia, the subdivision plan includes 141 new residential lots and three special purpose lots for stormwater management.

Members of the Sasser family gather during a ceremony to honor Barbara Sasser, former Nash County Register of Deeds. Graphic photo by Nancy West-Brake

NASHVILLE- Smiles, expressed appreciation and memories shared were some of the experiences at the Oct. 8 Nash County Commemorative Courtyard 2024 Induction Ceremony, where Judge Quentin Sumner and Barbara Sasser were honored with courtyard stones.
Over fifty people attended the event in front of the Nash administrative building Tuesday morning, enjoying the cool morning air and the chance to recognize the "Nash county superstars," as Wayne Outlaw, commissioner, named them.

WILSON -- Barton College announced the selection of associate professor of English Michael K. Brantley as the College's third faculty member to hold the distinguished Elizabeth H. Jordan Endowed Chair of Southern Literature. Brantley's new appointment was effective at the beginning of the fall 2024 semester.
In addition to his current teaching responsibilities in the English program, Brantley's new role includes oversight of the Barton College Homegrown Writers Series he has established to showcase the written works of Barton faculty and students.

NASHVILLE- Glover Park may soon be in the running to host district and state all-star Baseball and Softball tournaments, now that a new audio/announcement system and upgraded scoreboard have been approved by the Nashville town council.
Thomas Gillespie, Nash county Parks and Rec Director, along with Josh Daniels, Nash program supervisor for Baseball, Softball and Volleyball, presented dual requests under the interlocal agreement between Nash and Nashville, in existence since 2019 and renewed several times since then.

Castalia is seeing an uptick in residential development with several new subdivisions planned for the town.
Commissioners have approved plans for three new subdivisions this year.
The largest is next to Castalia's park, with 160 acres planned for development. Commissioners approved an annexation and rezoning request for the property in April.

NASHVILLE- The Nashville town council, presented with the option of offering water and sewer line insurance for its customers, say they want to hear from the public before making a decision about opting in.
Emilie Zalfini, the Southern Regional Water Director with HomeServe, a company based in Canonsburg, PA, made a detailed presentation at the Oct. 1 council meeting about two of its programs- one on leak protection and one on service line warranties in the event of breakage

NASHVILLE- Relief efforts of goods and personnel continue to travel to western NC, with local law enforcement and firefighters lending aid.
Nash County Sheriff Keith Stone and 13 current or former deputies left Sept. 30 for Watauga county; photos on the NCSO Facebook page show deputies carrying supplies and using chainsaws, boats and their cadaver dog, K9 Fiji, amidst destruction of homes, roadways, and bridges.

Mr. & Mrs. Rouhan Palmer

Hattie and Bobby Dunn of Zebulon attended their granddaughter Keirah (Kiki) Davis and Rouhan (Ron) Palmer's wedding and reception which was held at The Mansion on Main Street Voorhees, New Jersey on August 29, 2024. Keirah is the daughter of the late Kymbhali Davis who planned the wedding but passed away just prior to the event.

Aren't you glad the political ads are going to end soon? It seems like they've been on TV forever. If you don't remember, the political ads for president began running almost a year before the Republican and Democratic Party Conventions even began!
The Madison Avenue crowd was trying to get a head start on convincing us that the candidate who's signing their paycheck is the one who should get the ticket to Washington. The irony is those ads are doing more to divide our country than they'll ever do to convince us who should be president.

In one of my favorite snippets in the Scriptures, a lawyer, after receiving from Jesus confirmation that he rightly understood the law's demand to love "your neighbor as yourself " (Luke 10:27), sought to justify himself by requesting a definition. "And who is my neighbor?" the lawyer snapped back at Jesus (v. 29). He was asking, in effect, "Whom do I have to love?"
Loving is hard enough when it comes to family and friends. But loving my neighbor as myself? That's only possible (if at all) with a cramped definition of "neighbor."

Congratulations to Alaina and Jamie Frazier and Bob Dornseif who were baptized and joined the Red Oak Baptist Church family!
Welcome Eli Jones to the Red Oak Baptist Church family!
The Fisher Pumpkin Farm is open! Go check out all the pumpkins for those wonderful decorations and delicious pumpkin dishes! Farm is open Fridays 12p.m. - 6 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., and on Sundays 1 p.m. - 6 p.m. through October.

Ashley Barkley, Ashley Faith Barkley, Devan Barkley and Ashley Friedrich to Ashley Faith Barkley and Devan Alexander Barkley; property in Rocky Mount
C.T. Williams Corporation to NVR, Inc.; Williams Run, Phase I, Lots 3-5 and 151-152
Chase Cuocci and Nicholas Cuocci to Michael D. Knight and Bianca Kelly; 13671 Burgess Road, Middlesex; $662,500
Mary Cuocci to Michael D. Knight and Bianca Kelly; 2.914 acres, 0 Burgess Road, Middlesex; $50,000

Damage To state or local government property at 100 N. Boddie St., Nashville on 10/1/24
Obtain property by false pretense at 104 N. Vance St., Whitakers on 10/4/24
Felony possession marijuana at 10820 Lancaster Store Rd., Castalia on 10/3/24
Warrant service at 11486 Anderson Rd., Spring Hope on 10/3/24

New single family dwelling; 9211 Byron Ct., Bailey; Erin Matherly; $250,000
New single family dwelling; 9216 Byron Ct., Bailey; Erin Matherly; $250,000
New single family dwelling; 9200 Byron Ct., Bailey; Erin Matherly; $250,000
New single family dwelling; 8450 Shallow Creek Trail, Bailey; Erin Matherly; $250,000

ARRESTS
Jennifer Lynn Radford was charged with larceny, misdemeanor on 9/3/24
Julia Barnett Green was charged with possession methamphetamine on 10/4/24
Caden Banks Diven was charged with resisting arrest/hinder and delay on 10/3/24

The old country had finally met its long-expected fate. I shouldn't have been surprised when I saw that the backhoe had started its work on my way to Wilson the other day.
I was transported back to standing on the seat of my daddy's old Chevrolet pickup truck, hard vinyl squeaking under my bare feet. On those hot and humid July mornings, he'd make the early morning run to Pace's Store for breaktime supplies.

We're 26 days from the big day - the 2024 election that promises to change the world, but most likely won't.
The older I get, and the more I truly look at politics for what it is, the more I realize election season is merely a season of unfounded allegations and tons of promises that most likely will never come to fruition.
Some of the promises we're hearing are down right scary.

This photo published in The Nashville Graphic on Oct. 14, 1954. The caption read "HIGH STEPPERS." Majorettes for the Nashville High School Band pose in their new uniforms.

Jaxon Rierson and Morgan Murray of Spring Hope examine Danny Vester's pumpkin. Graphic photo by Nancy West-Brake