NASHVILLE- Three babies died of unknown causes in Nash County last year, with local health educators working to ramp up safe-sleep education and resource access as a result.
Liz Lord, Interim Nash County Health Director, also chairs the county's Local Child Fatality Prevention Team (LCFPT), and shared the results of the annual LCFPT report with those attending the most recent meeting of the Health and Human Services Committee.

Ross Strickland (left) presents the 2026 Nashville Chamber of Commerce Distinguished Citizen award to William Wallace. Wallace was nominated for his many years of leadership of Scout Troop 76. Graphic photo by Nancy West-Brake

NASHVILLE - What many are calling the largest crowd to attend the annual Nashville Chamber of Commerce Distinguished Citizen Awards Ceremony over the last few years thronged Nash Arts Thursday night, April 23rd, to celebrate all those who give of their time to volunteer for good causes.
"You are the reason Nashville is the community it is today," said Sandy Hall, guest speaker, to those assembled after she asked anyone who had ever volunteered to raise a hand.

SPRING HOPE - Spring Hope museum recently unveiled its newest season exhibit, "Stagecoach to Depot: The History of Spring Hope," which will be on display through November.
An open house and reception for the 2026 opening of the exhibit was held Sunday, April 19. About 40 people turned out for the event, which included refreshments, punch and musical entertainment consisting of gentle guitar strumming by regulars Michael Boone and Tim Renfrow.

BUSH

NASHVILLE - What began with the theft and recovery of an automotive scanner ended up with a Nashville house boarded up as unfit to live in and the arrest of two men for selling drugs.
Terrence Frederick Cooke, 57, of 841 Brooklyn Blvd, Nashville, along with 19-year-old Dawood Matthew Bush, who lived with Cooke in Nashville but also had a Woodmeadow Drive address in Rocky Mount, were charged with multiple drug-related felonies April 17th.

ROCKY MOUNT - The local chapter of the Blue Knights, the law enforcement motorcycle club composed of present and former officers and deputies, including military, is playing host to potentially more than a thousand of their brethren this weekend; the Regional Mason-Dixon conference, consisting of members from NC, VA, WV, TN, MD, KY and DE, is rolling into Rocky Mount.

DERRS Volunteer readers receive certificates of appreciation.

ROCKY MOUNT- The Volunteer Appreciation Dinner 2026 held by the Down East Radio Reading Service, (DERRS) Inc., April 14th at North Carolina Wesleyan University was spent celebrating both volunteer readers and their vision-impaired clients.
"It's all about understanding the clients," said Brigadier General Arnold Gordon-Bray, retired, DERRS Chairman.
Two clients, Jack Bynum of Tarboro and Larry Herring of Battleboro, were program speakers.

Sandy Hall (left) presents the Nashville Chamber of Commerce 2026 Junior Achievement award to Corbin Clark.

MIDDLESEX- One man is dead and another charged with his murder after a shooting the night of April 21st in Middlesex.
Marcus Jamar Toney, 33, of 3795 Brantley Road was pronounced dead at the scene despite life-saving efforts made after the incident, which occurred before Nash County Sheriff's deputies and other law enforcement agencies responded at 10:59 p.m. to a reported shooting.
An April 22 NCSO press released stated that Toney was found at his Brantley Road residence suffering from a gunshot wound to the groin.

MIDDLESEX- Two men and one woman from Middlesex are being held in the Nash County Detention Center after their arrests April 16th during a drug bust at their home.
Taylor Austin Proctor, 27, and Valentina Elena Gonzalez, 19, face multiple felony drug trafficking charges after they were found in possession of 70 grams of methamphetamine and 272 dosage units of heroin inside their home at 3511 Bryantown Road, Middlesex.

RALEIGH - Both of Nash County's state legislators, Senator Lisa Barnes and Rep. Allen Chesser, have been seated on a new state subcommittee designed to investigate prisoner releases during COVID by then-governor Roy Cooper.
An April 20 press release from Barnes stated that a joint legislative commission on Governmental Operations: Subcommittee on Prisons was announced that day by Senate Leader Phil Berger (R) of Rockingham and House Speaker Destin Hall (R) of Caldwell.

Jackie Pridgen of Nashville, center, holds a box with milkweed, salvia and a tomato. She is assisted by Master Gardeners Karen Bessey of Rocky Mount, left, and Deborah Webb of Sandy Cross, right.

SPRING HOPE - Spring Hope's Downtown Development Board, newly revitalized with the addition of new members, wants the town website to become "more user-friendly" and plans to add its own affiliated page.
Max Cohen, Elle Browder, and Chris Jones, the newest members, were active and vocal during their first meeting April 20th. The trio joined relative newcomers Brian Wood and April Barner, who came on board in February, along with Lori Harris, Chair and Brandi Jobe, Vice-Chair. Pam Brantley, commissioner, is an ex-officio or non-voting board member.

DERRS "Rock Stars," recognized with medallions for volunteering multiple years, stand together for a photo at the DERRS 2026 Volunteer Appreciation Dinner. From left: Nancy Blount, Bruce, Cathy Earp, Sheryl Love-Johnson, Gregg Beck, Antonia Vital, Ed Sexton and Ivan Price.

"Jesus replied, 'If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.' " (John 14:23)
Last weekend, our grandson went to church with us. We had a baptism service where they baptized 2 adults and 5 teenagers that had recently accepted Christ into their lives. Our church celebrates baptism by immersion. Easton's church celebrates baptism by sprinkling.
Well, Easton was just in awe. Since it was following the morning service, Easton got as close as he could and watched with great interest.

Sure enough, Christians unequivocally believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried;
He descended; on the third day, he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
And we could say that, in light of the evidence presented here, over the last several months, Christians are rationally warranted to believe in such things based upon the considerable, compelling evidence that exists.

ARE YOU A COMPLAINER?
We have traced Nehemiah's steps since he was in Persia. He became burdened concerning the situation in Jerusalem, with the walls now in shambles. He takes on the task of traveling to Jerusalem to organize the rebuilding efforts and then the opposition begins. Opponents like Sanballat and Tobiah oppose the workers' efforts and mock their labors to rebuild.

Nash Community College has announced the appointment of Brian Hutson to its Board of Trustees, bringing with him a strong background in business, community service and youth development. Hutson was appointed by the Nash County Board of Commissioners.
Hutson has served as an independent insurance agent since 2004 and is co-owner of Hedgepeth-Hutson Insurance Services Inc., which he operates alongside his wife. In addition to his professional experience, he has been actively involved in the community for more than two decades, including coaching youth athletics and mentoring students.

David Brantley and Sons, Inc. to Axel Vinico Salazar Cristales and Rosa Elida Salazar; 2.03 acres
Jo Ellen Lane Ewing to Eric Wade Smith; Saddlebrook Subdivision, Phase 1-B, Lot 107
William Michael Griffin and Rebecca Griffin to Mirna Guadalupe Alvarado; .50 of an acre and .15 of an acre
Randy C. Flowers and Angela H. Flowers to Brandi Ezzell and Ann T. Ezzell; Lot 10

Second degree kidnapping; physical assault with sexual motive; assault on a female reported at 100 N. Boddie St., Nashville on 4/17/26
Missing persons reported at 11066 Kevin Lane, Wilson on 4/16//26
Identity fraud reported at 1158 Stonybrook Lane, Nashville on 4/17/26
Forgery-notes, checks, securities reported at 13019 Semper FL Lane, Zebulon on 4/15/26

There were hints back in January. It was one of those typical North Carolina weeks when it was 45 early in the week and near 80 at the end. I knew something wasn't right.
I cranked the dial on the dash from red to blue on my Honda and was greeted with a warm blast. It just takes it time to switch over to cold air, I thought. It never did.

Congratulations to the Nashville Chamber of Commerce 2026 Distinguished Citizen recipient William Wallace and to Junior Achievement Award winner Corbin Clark.
The turnout at last week's award ceremony for Mr. Wallace is plenty of evidence of this man's impact on Nashville. Nash Arts Center seats were filled across the room with people to celebrate the award presentation to Mr. Wallace.
Though I do not know him personally, I've heard his name countless times over the last 30 years, usually when we published features of a new Eagle Scout.

This photo published in The Nashville Graphic on August 22, 1968. ABC Chief Alfred Joyner is shown unpacking 679 gallons of distilled liquor found at a still site on the Beverly Privette farm in the Peachtree Community. Joyner said he thought it was the largest still ever found in Nash County.