ROCKY MOUNT - A "can do" attitude can make the difference between self-confidence and doubt, success and failure: and one person who epitomizes that is Marie Owens, born on Christmas Eve; Marie just had a party for her 100th birthday.
Still living in the same house she's had since building it in 1966 with her late husband, Cecil, south of Rocky Mount, Marie has lessons to teach about resilience and not giving up.

NASHVILLE - With the planned move of Nash County Parks and Recreation Department to the former Fellowship Church at 981 Old White Oak Road, Nashville, the wheels are already turning about new programs to offer there, particularly for individuals with disabilities.
To that end, county officials are applying for a $500,000 Accessible Parks Grant, and are inviting the public to a meeting at Nashville Elementary Jan. 6 to weigh in on which specialized programs to invest in.

Santa Claus breezed through Nashville stopping at various places on Dec. 23rd.
Children from all neighborhoods slipped outside to receive candy from Santa.
Pictured, children gather as Santa arrives escorted by Nashville Public Safety Director Chris Joyner.

SPRING HOPE - Street closures are coming up in downtown Spring Hope the week of January 6 in order to safely take down two intertwined Willow Oak trees at the corner of N. Pine and E. Franklin Streets.
N. Pine Street will be closed to through traffic from W. Nash Street (US64A) to Mclean Street. Traffic will be able to detour via Mclean to Hopkins.
The stretch of Franklin St. from N Walnut to N. Pine Street will be inaccessible during the day.

NASHVILLE - Less than ten months before his scheduled release from prison, a 43-year-old habitual felon has died at Nash Correctional Institution, apparently from suicide.
Timothy Wayne Beaver was found unresponsive in his cell around 7 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 21, according to a press release from the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction.

All hands helping with the Nash County Sheriff's Office Christmas delivery pose for a photo.

NASHVILLE - A fleet of patrol cars and trucks from the Nash County Sheriffs Office mobilized for Christmas Cheer duty Dec. 23, delivering clothes, toys, food and other items to eight families and three elderly citizens in need.
Sheriff Keith Stone and his deputies collected donations and shopped for children before the annual event, assisted by Piggly Wiggly of Nashville, which donates money towards the food given to families.

NASHVILLE - A misdemeanor 'Death By Vehicle' charge has been dismissed in the case of a Nashville man, charged in an October 2023 accident that took the life of a Spring Hope man.
Martin Samuel Donaldson, 27, of Grover Road, Nashville, a NC Department of Transportation employee, was charged with "unintentionally causing the death of John Frank Steed," according to court reports, from an Oct.3, 2023, accident on US264 near Bailey.

ROCKY MOUNT - The mountain may not go to Mohammed, but mountain trout have come to Nash County: about 1,500 hungry Rainbow, Brown and Brook Trout were released into Rocky Mount's City Lake on Monday, Dec. 16.
"It's an early Christmas present for anglers," Kirk Rundle, District 3 Fisheries Biologist said of the gift from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources commission, who delivered equal numbers of fish that day to both City Lake and Indian Lake in Tarboro.

Nashville's Police Department hosted its annual Shop with a Cop this year. Nashville Fire Department and Nashville Parks and Recreation assisted with the shopping event.

Join us for evenings of informative and engaging discussions about gardening at the Nash County Agriculture Center. The Garden Talks will be on the second Thursday of January, February, March, May, August, September, and October. The educational sessions will begin at 6:30 p.m. and last approximately 30 minutes.
Don't miss out on this opportunity to learn from experts and fellow gardening enthusiasts. Registration is free and is available by visiting go.ncsu.edu/ncagardentalks

Kendall Ayscue

RALEIGH - The North Carolina State Fair has long since wrapped up, but the ribbons, trophies and bragging rights are still fresh for Nash County youth who proudly showed their livestock.
The N.C. State Fair Junior Livestock Sale of Champions raised $213,000 in bids for the top turkeys, steers, barrows, lambs, and goats in the Oct. 27 sale.
"Congratulations to all the winners and participants in the N.C. State Fair junior livestock shows," said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler.

The Town of Momeyer held its first annual Light up Momeyer decorating contest. Pictured above winning first place is the Tucker Bass family at 6256 US 64. Tucker Bass, 2nd from left, holds his $100 first place check with Dad Kelvin Bass, left; Will Funderburg, Momyer Mayor, center right, and Tucker's Mom Meredith Bass, right.

The Nashville Chamber of Commerce recognized the Nashville Diner as its Business of the Season for Winter 2024. Owners Tammy and Bob Davis were surprised by the chamber presentation on Dec. 20th.

Actors in the Bright Star Touring Theatre perform "Christmas With Santa" Dec. 5 in the Nashville Town Council chambers under a program provided by the Harold D. Cooley Library. The performance was offered free of charge to theater-lovers of all ages. Bright Star Tourism Theatre is a national touring theatre company based in Morrisville.

Senior Chief Boatswain's Mate Isham Spann, from Rocky Mount, assigned to deck department establishes communications from a fueling station aboard Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) during a fueling-at-sea with guided-missile destroyer USS Higgins (DDG 76) in the Pacific Ocean, Nov. 7, 2024.

The annual meeting of the North Carolina Farm Bureau Federation was held December 8-10th at the Sheraton Four Seasons and Joseph S. Koury Convention Center in Greensboro. Nash County Farm Bureau President Greg Bunn was recognized among his peers at the Presidents' and Agents' Luncheon. Farm Bureau President Shawn Harding presented each winning County President with a limited edition case knife.

Nash Community College has announced the selection of 11 students to the prestigious 2025 UNC Health Nash Nurse Scholars Program. This year's cohort of 29 students marks the largest group to date and highlights the expanded reach of the program, which now includes partnerships with NCC, Edgecombe Community College, Wilson Community College and Halifax Community College.

Kamal Rasool Abdal-Rafi, Kamal Rasool Abdal Rafi, Sakinah Abdal-Rafi and Sakinah Abdal Rafi to The Ssakra Trust, Sakinah Sabreen Abdal Rafi, Sakinah Sabreen Abdal Rafi, Kamal Rasool Abdal-Rafi and Kamal Rasool Abdal Rafi; 404 Estell Street, Rocky Mount
D.R. Horton, Inc. to Joseph Scott Elias and Elizabeth Aileen Little; Saddlebrook, Lot 31
Barnes Land Corporation to Nugen Building, LLC; .1.71 and 1.47 acres

Forgery-notes, checks, securities reported at 10063 E. NC 97, Rocky Mount on 12/15/24
Forgery-credit card reported at 12975 Hwy. 43, Rocky Mount on 12/18/24
Possession drug paraphernalia(not marijuana); possession methamphetamine; possession heroin reported at 12978 W NC 97, Zebulon on 12/18/24
Damage to personal property reported at 2292 Bryantown Rd., Spring Hope on 12/18/24

Simple possession schedule IV controlled substance; possession marijuana 1/2 to 1 1/2 oz; possess ion drug paraphernalia(not marijuana); possession heroin; DWI; drive while license revoked/not impaired rev; reckless driving; drive while license revoked/not impaired rev; flee/elude reported at mile marker 461 US 64E, Nashville on 12/20/24
Possession of methamphetamine reported at 174 Brunswick Dr., Nashville on 12/19/24

The six days between Christmas Day and New Year's Day is a time when we look back at the year and reflect upon our successes and our failures. We look at the good times as well as the bad times. Most of us even make resolutions for the new year that we rarely keep. Yet, it's important that we bring closure to the past year and make sure that we've learned and grown from whatever came our way. Indeed, real growth can come this time of the year.

As we stand on the threshold of a new year, the events and decisions of the past year weigh heavily on our minds. In this moment of reflection and anticipation, we can turn to the powerful message found in Joshua 1:1-9, a passage that offers both encouragement and guidance.
The book of Joshua begins with a significant transition. Moses, the revered leader who brought the Israelites out of Egypt, has passed away. God speaks directly to Joshua, the new leader, reminding him of the responsibility before him.

Spring registration ends Jan. 7 at Nash Community College for the 2025 semester, with classes starting January 8, and additional "Flex Start" courses available beginning January 23 and March 10.
Flex Start courses are designed for students who are unable to begin the semester on the traditional start date. These courses allow students to start their classes later in the semester, giving them a flexible, alternative option for completing their studies without missing out on the educational opportunities they need.

You may have awakened after passing out from binging too many Little Debbie Christmas Tree cakes and wondered if 2024 was a fever dream.
I liken it to the time I was on an out-of-state research trip and got talked into eating at an Indian restaurant where the food set my face on fire from the inside out. My nose and lips were literally floating in front of my face for about 20 minutes. For the rest of the night, I kept asking "what the heck just happened?"
What I really should have written about this week was something highbrow, such as the fact that it is the 150th anniversary of the Impressionism movement.

The Nashville Chamber of Commerce began a new tradition this year of presenting quarterly awards to members based on their contributions to the community and other criteria.
A suggestion to add a little more flavor to the quarterly award by Chamber Board Member Diane Taylor was quickly approved by fellow members - branding the presentation to sync with the four seasons of the year.

This photo published in The Nashville Graphic on January 23, 1964. Three South American Exchange Students who were visiting in Red Oak observe the operation of a linotype machine during a visit to The Nashville Graphic office.