NASHVILLE - What started out as a routine rezoning request about the planned expansion of the Nash County Senior Center unearthed what could be an unexpected complication: the possible presence of a small family graveyard on the site.
Ross Strickland, Nashville planning board member, said he believes there may be up to four unmarked graves at the northeast corner of the property based on the presence of an appropriately-sized concrete foundation.

NASHVILLE - Three new Blooming Festival prohibitions involving dogs, guns and face masks have been adopted as Nashville town ordinance, based on requests by the Nashville Chamber and Nashville Police Department.
NPD Police Chief Caleb Shockley, who was a lieutenant at the time of the request, went over the requested ordinances at the March 4 and March 19 town council meetings, beginning with the prohibition of dogs at the Blooming Festival.

Castalia firefighters push Engine 7, a Spartan FC-94 Custom Pumper, into the station as a long-time fire service tradition.

CASTALIA - Castalia Fire Department's newest engine, Engine 7, a Spartan FC-94 Custom Pumper from Atlantic Coast Fire Trucks, has officially been pushed-in. It was ceremonially put into service during a celebratory event Sunday, March 30.
Engine 7, also called "the Main Station Express," will replace Truck 75, a 20-year-old pumper tanker, which contributed some of its equipment to be transferred to the new truck. The new engine cost is approximately $750,000.

NASHVILLE - The number of Nash County children in Foster Care is growing, and so are their expenses, both from increased cost of living and from the elimination of a cap on services for children requiring Special Assistance.
A budget amendment approved at the March 10 board of commissioners' meeting allows $344,000 to be taken out of the county's general fund to cover mandated services for children in foster care to get them through the end of the fiscal year.

Nashville welcomes David Davis as its new Farmers Market Manager. Contributed photo

NASHVILLE - The Nashville Farmers Market will be opening for its fourth season in just over a week, with music and homemade or home-raised goods for sale starting Friday, April 11 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Nashville Junction, located at 725 S. Barnes Street.
Twenty-eight vendors will be operating on opening day, so many that they will be overflowing the covered shelter and setting up on a lawn.

NASHVILLE - A new, 18-lot subdivision near Spring Hope at the intersection of Peachtree Hills Road and Savage Road has been approved by county planners, with the next step preparation of plats for review.
LD Land Holdings LLC, the Cary-based owner of 129 acres near the Franklin County line on both sides of Peachtree Hills Road and along the south side of Savage Road, put in a request to subdivide the large parcel to break off a 27.5 acre section for what is being termed "Peachtree Hills Road, Phase 1."

NASHVILLE - Bumpy sidewalks, lack of pedestrian-friendly green spaces with benches and planters, and too few trash cans are working against Nashville's 'walkability,' - so those are the latest ideas for improvement by the Downtown Strong Advisory Board (DSAB).
Meeting March 24th, the committee, newly strengthened with the addition of four new members, set goals of doing some pricing for the physical items while directing the town manager to identify the worst sidewalk spots.

MOMEYER - Ruritan Clubs, like many service organizations, are in need of new and younger members to fill their shoes- and ranks - in order to keep numerous community benefits alive.

MOMEYER - A man injured by being hit by a car outside A Touch Of The Father's Love in Momeyer has died, and the driver involved faces new charges.
Samuel Wheeler Briley Jr., 79, of Carriage Trail, Rocky Mount, a volunteer at the food bank, was hurt March 14 when he was backed into by a car driven by Carolyn Cooper Johnson, also 79, of Washington Street, Rocky Mount.

NASHVILLE- The Nash Arts Center has come to the rescue of Spring Hope's Pumpkin Festival, stepping in to act as fiscal sponsor since the new event organizers are not yet incorporated as a 501 c 3 non-profit group, and thereby unable to apply for or receive grant funds.
Shelly Gray, Nash Arts Executive Director, said the arrangement is temporary "while they get the new organization on its feet."

RALEIGH - Six months after the unofficial resignation of former District Court Judge William Solomon, a new judge has been appointed by the governor to take his place: Tia Hudgins Taylor of Rocky Mount was appointed by Governor Josh Stein to District Court for Judicial District 8, which serves Nash, Edgecombe and Wilson Counties.
A March 31 press release from the Governor's office states that Taylor's appointment was made the same day.

NASHVILLE - A pilot program for Flag Football is planned to begin this fall at four Nash County high schools: Northern Nash, Southern Nash, Nash Central and Rocky Mount High School.
Angie Miller, Executive Director of Athletics, School Nutrition and Maintenance, kicked off the news at the March 31 board of education committee meetings.

RALEIGH - Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler announced Tuesday that the Agricultural Disaster Crop Loss Program is open and accepting online applications through May 4 from farmers who suffered crop losses from Hurricane Helene, Tropical Storm Debby and drought and other weather-related conditions in 2024.
The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is administering the statewide program as part of the more than $524 million disaster package approved by the N.C. General Assembly, with nearly $311 million designated for relief for farmers.

Gabrielle Long, nursing student and 2024 winner of the Colon Furr Nursing Scholarship.

NASHVILLE - Respect and acknowledgement of sacrifice was a major theme for Ladies Night 2025, American Legion Post 110, with an evening program held March 17 at the Nashville Methodist Church on E. Washington Street.
Well over 100 people were in attendance for the event, held yearly to honor the contributions of women as well as to honor the service of American military, both past and present.

D.R. Horton, Inc. to Kevin Nguyen and Kayla Nguyen; Bentridge Subdivision, Section 5, Lot 50
The Benjamin Cohanzad Trust and Benjamin Cohanzad to Tiffany Square Shopping Center, LLC; 1214-1254 North Wesleyan Boulevard, Rocky Mount
Staton Mill Holdings, LLC to Alphonso Hinton and Mary Hines; property along Savage Road
Gamax Enterprise, LLC to Guido Alejandro Murillo Mendoza; 50 Center Street, Rocky Mount

New single family dwelling; 264 Regency Dr., Nashville; $89,000
Renovation/alteration; 9292 West Mount Dr., Rocky Mount; $65,000
New single family; 6826 Fire Tower Rd., Bailey; $95,000
New single family dwelling; 6840 Fire Tower Rd., Bailey; $95,000

Nash County 4-H'ers collected pet food during a recent event to donate to the Nash County Pet Connection animal shelter. Pictured above, left to right, are, Brenda Wind, Corbin Clark, Brendin Clark and Devin Clark.

Our 16 year old granddaughter has been going through a difficult time in her Christian walk recently. While discussing it with her mom, she said she felt like was letting God down because she wasn't perfect.
Her mom taught her a song that she grew up singing in church. Lauren reminded her that God understood, and he was still molding her.
The song Lauren taught Kherington was, "He's Still Working On Me". It was written in the early 1970's by a southern gospel songwriter named Joel Hemphill.

Discipleship is a foundational aspect of the local church, serving as the means by which believers are nurtured, equipped, and empowered to grow in their faith. It involves the process of teaching, mentoring, and modeling the Christian faith for individuals and communities, emphasizing the importance of spiritual growth and maturity. The significance of discipleship in the local church cannot be overstated, as it plays a vital role in fulfilling the Great Commission and fostering a vibrant church community.

"What are you now, like 85?"
That was the first thing my youngest son asked when he skulked into the living room on my birthday. It seemed like an insult, mostly because that was how it was intended.
I realized it was fairly accurate. You may remember reading in this very space in 2024 the culmination of my years of research into aging that resulted in the True Dad Age©.

Sometimes hard truths have to be presented in order for us to find solutions. Such is the current situation in many volunteer-based organizations who continue to offer a plethora of services - with fewer members and volunteers than ever. Those who continue to spend countless hours serving such organizations have done so for many decades.
Traditionally when covering a Ruritan event, the story features a specific honor or extra-ordinary thing a club is doing in its respective community.

This photo published in The Nashville Graphic on April 23, 1964.