NASHVILLE - The first meeting of 2025 for the Downtown Nashville Strong Advisory Board (DNSAB) was a bumpy one for its newest members present, as board members came out swinging at town planner Shawn Lucas and the Nashville town council and asking for a joint meeting.
At issue are recent town council decisions on DNSAB appointments, the purchase of Christmas decorations, and the use of Municipal Service District (MSD) money to pay for the repair of a fence railing near merchant stores on W. Washington Street.

NASHVILLE- A preliminary site plan on the as yet unpurchased land eyed for the new Southern Nash Middle School has been approved by DOT, who weighed in this month on entrance and exit routes for the school.
Robbie Davis, county commissioner, shared an update with members of the Nash County Public Schools' Administration and Operations committee Jan. 27, stating "I have all good news in the site as far as it working in the layout."

MIDDLESEX- The extraordinary life of Pastor Roy Jernigan, one hundred years old and counting, was celebrated Jan. 23rd at the Stony Hill Free Will Baptist Church, drawing over one hundred for a catered luncheon event and watching Jernigan receive a special award from Keith Stone, Nash County Sheriff. The gathering was sponsored by the American Legion Post 110 of Nashville.

MOMEYER - Longtime Momeyer Ruritan Club member and town Mayor Kenneth Parker has passed away, leaving behind a legacy of service to community.
Parker, 78, departed this life January 26, survived by his wife and partner Colleen Bass Parker; son Stuart Lee Parker with wife Amy; brother Edward Ray Parker; two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

NASHVILLE- Less than five months after appointing a new Finance Director, Nash County is posting the job again and has appointed the former Assistant Finance Director to the position, but under a different title.
Melanie Eason, the former Assistant Finance Director under Mary Hogan, was appointed "Finance Officer" at the Jan. 21 Nash board of commissioners' meeting, with the appointment said to be temporary.

NASHVILLE- What is currently an open dorm room will be renovated into a "pod" situation at the Nash County Detention Center, now that commissioners have approved a capital project ordinance to fund the change.
Melanie Eason, the newly-appointed Finance Officer, asked and received approval for the project ordinance amendment at the Nash commissioners' Jan. 21 meeting, which involved budgeting $250,000 for phase one of the 'Detention Facility Renovation Project.'

A Nash County advisory board says North Carolina is remiss in not raising its minimum tobacco sales age to 21 to match federal law, and is looking for legislators willing to take up the cause to get state law changed.
The Nash County Health Department issued a recent press release on the topic, which was also brought up by Gwen Wilkins, commissioner, a member of the Nash County Human Services Board.

Pictured above are teachers recognized during the celebration.

ROCKY MOUNT- A huge number of Nash County school teachers and principals have been designated "All Stars" by district officials for achieving exceptional growth in the 2023-2024 school year.
Filling multiple rows of reserved seats at Rocky Mount High School's 'black box' auditorium, teachers and principals were called up one at a time during the Jan. 9 Board of Education meeting for hand-shaking, and the presentation of envelopes, before being ushered into another location for celebratory photographs.

NASHVILLE- Nash leaders are willing to set aside future funding to support renovations to an unnamed local industry, should a grant be awarded for the purpose from the NC Department of Commerce.
Emily Moore, Nash Grants and Intergovernmental Relations Director, asked commissioners at their Jan. 21 meeting to support the application and the project, code-named "Project Center," which would entail an investment of $600,000 to add a training and sales center to an existing 100,000 square foot industry manufacturing building.

History tells us that Thomas Edison invented the microphone, the phonograph, the incandescent light, the storage battery, movies with sound, and more than 1,000 other things. The truth is the quality of our lives has been immeasurably improved by the genius of a man who overcame dyslexia and found that there was a great deal to learn from the failures and trials that life brought his way.
In 1914, the laboratory where many of Edison's inventions were birthed caught on fire.

The concept of forgiveness holds a profound place in many religious traditions, particularly within Christianity. Central to the faith is the belief that God extends His forgiveness to all who sincerely repent, offering them a pathway to reconciliation and renewal. This article explores the nature of God's forgiveness, the process of repentance, and the transformative power of grace.
At the heart of God's forgiveness is His unwavering love and mercy.

NASHVILLE- With the new year, come new resolutions for many people- resulting in an upsurge in gym visits or membership. The top goals, according to local fitness trainers, are losing weight, getting fit and becoming healthier. All good: but why do so many of us fail? 15-20% of people who start new regimens begin to fade in a month, according to Tipp Allen, owner of Active Fitness.
Why does that happen? Both Allen and Norris Morgan, the latter the owner of 3D Fitness, have answers.

ARRESTS
Ezavier Radennes Williams was charged on 1/17/25 with driving while license revoked/not impaired rev and identity fraud
Jason Scott West was charged on 1/16/25 with misdemeanor larceny
Stacy Daniel Peele was charged on 1/16/25 with misdemeanor larceny

A call for service was reported on 1/13/25 at 100 N Boddie Street, Nashville
A larceny of a firearm was reported on 1/16/25 at 10190 LA Green Farm Road, Whitakers
An assault on a female was reported on 1393 Maudis Road, Bailey
A domestic disturbance was reported on 1/18/25 at 2260 Tom George Road, Nashville

Of all the lists and predictions that pop up each January, my favorite just arrived.
Lake Superior State University, in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan (just across the water is a Canadian town with the same name where Wayne Gretzky played his junior hockey) puts out a list of words each year that should be banned from the English language.
While I pride myself on being a free speech guy, the list is usually right on with its inclusion of overused and annoying words and phrases.

KNITTING - This photo was published in The Nashville Graphic on February 13, 1964. A group of ladies are learning to knit in an adult class which was being conducted by Mrs. Ruth Perry, a local home economics teacher.