NASHVILLE, TN - Christmas movies can be part of the fun during the holiday season from classics to rom-coms, with one of newest, "Get Him Back For Christmas" just released on Great American Family Dec. 14, with re-air dates on Dec. 19 and 21. This one, though, has a local connection: Megan Wordsworth of Nash County is its Associate Producer.
Wordsworth, formerly of Rocky Mount and with relatives there, in Nashville and Wilson, now lives in "the other" Nashville and works for Good For You Entertainment, one of several companies who backed the movie along with ViaMar, Roberts Media and Great American Family.

Mary Richardson, Brenda Richardson and Anne Richardson. Graphic photo by Nancy West-Brake

A local Nashville ministry, "Helping Hands Outreach Ministry," continues its Christmas tradition of supplying local kids with bike and toys. The ministry was organized by Anne Richardson and her family in 2015. This year, they served lunches an all-time high of 400 people. Toys were contributed by Dollar General and collected by Brenda Richardson throughout the year, particularly in post-Christmas sales.

NASHVILLE - County commissioners took the first step Dec. 16 towards consolidating the two Nash Health Department offices into the MedPark building, which is owned by the county on the grounds of UNC Nash hospital.
Commissioners voted Monday to spend $239,950 for a contract with Oakley Collier Architects to prepare design plans and specifications for interior building renovations and to advertise the project for bid, with a preliminary cost estimate at just over $2.9 million.

Brittany Hicks is pictured with "Jackson" after his adventure of falling into a swimming pool.

ROCKY MOUNT - It wasn't one of Santa's reindeer, but a horse that landed in a family swimming pool Dec. 9. "Jackson," a very spry 32-year-old Quarter horse belonging to the Alford family, is doing fine after his unexpected plunge, according to the equine veterinarian who checked him out afterwards.
Dr. Megan Tyrrell of Neuse River Equine Hospital in Wendell said she got a call from Tiffany Howard Monday afternoon, relaying that her sister's horse was in the swimming pool and asking if Dr. Tyrrell could come.

MOMEYER - A knock at Momeyer's doors December 23rd won't be by Publisher's Clearinghouse, but if it could mean cash prizes from the Light Up Momeyer contest.
A letter went out to Momeyer residents about the creation of a new community outreach council, tasked with beginning new traditions for the town, the first of which was dubbed "Light Up Momeyer."

NASHVILLE - A twenty-five acre undeveloped Rural-Commercial lot about a half mile north of Dortches has been rezoned for single family residential use by county commissioners, whose decision may have been made in part by the lack of commercial access from I-95.
Edison Mizelle asked for and received rezoning for the property, located north of the existing Deans Quail Roost subdivision, stating that his intention was to build a home for himself and his wife in the northern portion while leaving the southern section, currently being farmed, as farmland.

RED OAK - The squeaky wheel (or bolt) gets the grease, and in Red Oak's case, that means passing along a complaint about the exercise equipment in Ennis Park has gotten results.
Scott Briley, councilman, passed along a request at the Dec. 9 town council about maintenance for ADA equipment along the walking trail.
"They said only about 25% was operational," Briley quoted a couple telling him while attending the town's Veterans' Celebration in November.

NASHVILLE - People serving on the Library Advisory Board (LAB) in the town of Nashville now have clearly defined terms, thanks to action taken at the Dec. 3 Town Council meeting to amend a relevant ordinance.
Brian Booth, Director for the Harold D. Cooley Library, asked that terms be extended from two to three years in order to stagger service so that members "will know the exact date of their term and also stagger it so that the Advisory Board is not decimated in any particular year."

Both Northern Nash and Southern Nash High Schools are set to be the recipients of grant-funded green stormwater infrastructure projects coordinated by the Sound Rivers environmental group, with the latest project, a rain garden, completed Dec. 10 at Northern Nash.
Twelve more Nash County public school campuses are due be surveyed to assess for potential projects.

NASHVILLE - Nash County is moving ahead with two water and sewer improvements for the northern part of the county.
Jonathan Boone, Deputy County Manager, brought commissioners up to date at their Dec. 2 board meeting about the projects, one of which has to do with awarding bids to work on water mains in several locations and the other on the sewer force main and lift station in Dortches.

Christmas focuses solely on the virgin birth. I remember my doubt about it as an unbeliever. I thought it defied one of the most basic laws of nature.
So did Blaise Pascal. Pascal was a French scientist who lived in the 17th century. Pascal pointed out that the laws of nature do not contradict the pillar of virgin birth. He told his contemporaries that they didn't have to look any farther than their own barnyards.

The Lord's Prayer begins with God's glory. The second half focuses on our needs. These personal petitions begin with our bodies: "Give us this day our daily bread." The remaining petitions address our souls: "And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." Even though our bodies are addressed first, the priority is our souls.

Red Oak Baptist Church members and guests enjoyed the Christmas Cantata, "Emmanuel", on Sunday, Dec. 8. Following the presentation there was time for fellowship and Christmas goodies!
The Baptist Men had their monthly breakfast on Sunday, Dec. 15.

Rocky Mount
12/23/2024: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., Harrison Family YMCA, 1000 Independence Drive
12/29/2024: 12:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m., Shenandoah Baptist Church, 3894 Shenandoah Road
1/3/2025: 10:30 a.m. - 3 p.m., Braswell Memorial Library, 727 North Grace Street

Addition (Covered); 9230 BRAY RD, BAILEY; Gene Piotrkowski; $18,000.00
New Single Family Dwelling; 585 Wollett Mill Rd, Battleboro; Jerry Soles; America's Home Place of Rocky Mount, LLC; $170,437.00
Detached Accessory Structure; 8590 Claude Lewis Rd, Middlesex; Scott Betts; $100,000.

Breaking and entering, felony/forced/no larceny reported at 100 W. Edgecombe St., Whitakers on 12/8/24
Motor vehicle theft; obtain property by false pretense reported at 10882 Old Smithfield Rd., Bailey on 12/9/24
Possession of weapon of mass destruction; warrant service reported at 124 W. Taylor St., Whitakers on 12/13/24

INCIDENTS
DWI reported at 255 N. Eastpoint Ave., Nashville on 12/13/24
DWI reported at mile marker 459 US 64 W on 12/11/24
Exploitation of disabled or elderly adults reported at 1022 Eastern Ave., Nashville on 12/11/24

The Graphic would like to post a correction concerning information reported in a Dec. 5 edition story, "Health Department Office to Merge In Rocky Mount."
It was incorrectly reported that the cost of the mobile units ($371,108 to $528,206, depending on if purchased new or used) includes staffing. Liz Lord, Deputy Nash Health Director, said that the listed price includes support for recruiting and training staff, but does not include staff costs.

A few weeks ago I wrote about selling things online and how everyone should experience it. It allows for some odd interactions.
For example, I was trying to sell some wood flooring that I'd gotten for a project that was clearly never going to happen. My message app was flooded with people wanting to buy it -- a sure sign I had it marked too cheap. One person was upset because I would not give it to him for free.
Anyway, I said I'd be back once we sold my daughter's car to share how that went. Let's just say it had a drama all its own.

Nash County Commissioners made a surprise announcement this week voting to transfer the property deed of the 1914 church which houses Nash Arts Center to the non-profit organization.
A knee-jerk response would be extreme excitement that Nash Arts will now own their facility with no fear of government attempting to solicit the organization into the a partnership causing a loss of independence.

This photo published in The Nashville Graphic on May 28, 1964. Betty Woodard, who was named Miss Nash County, is presented the keys to a Buick convertible by A.E. Raley, owner of Raley Chevrolet-Buick, Inc. for use during the Miss North Carolina Pageant.

LYNCHBURG, VA. -- What a way to go out.
That's the main theme of Quinton Cooley's senior season as a member of the Liberty University football squad as the former Southern Nash legend once again excelled as the Flames' star running back during the 2024 campaign.
Coming off a monstrous junior year, Cooley kept the pace this fall as the rushed for 1,254 yards (19th in the nation) and 13 touchdowns (26th in the nation) while helping the Flames post a strong 8-3 overall record.

ROCKY MOUNT -- Building from the ground up is the philosophy as Nash Central continues its boys basketball rebuilding work into the 2024-25 campaign under the direction of head coach BT Thomas.
The Bulldogs are still in the process of building themselves back toward an elite program after a few down seasons -- and signs are there that the program is headed down the right path.

ROCKY MOUNT -- Another round of the Big East Conference swim schedule took place last Thursday at the Harrison Family YMCA, and the Northern Nash Knights appear on the verge of an early TKO in their quest to repeat as the league's boys team champions.
Northern was dominant once again, piling up 128 points to outdistance runner-up Nash Central, which closed with 83 tallies.

CHAPEL HILL -- Here are the pairings for this weekend's North Carolina High School Athletic Association state football championship contests:

What Christmas means to me

Christmas is a special time of the year when Jesus was born. And Jesus saved us from our bad sin. And going to church and praying to God and Jesus makes them happy.

The annual Christmas in Spring Hope event was held Friday, Dec. 13th featuring horse and carriage rides, local holiday shopping, lighting the town's Christmas tree, Santa & Mrs. Claus along with many other activities. Pictured with Santa and Mrs. Claus are Lucy Pritchard, Noah Jones and Asher Taylor.

Dear Santa,
I enjoy Elfie, Snowball, Buddy, Cookie, Jingles and it is so fun to play hide and seek. They almost win every time. And I hope you are feeling good.
So what I want for Christmas is: