ROCKY MOUNT - One of Spring Hope's own, Lt. Jason Leary, stood in front of a crowd of 400 at Nash Community College Tuesday night to receive one of the most meaningful honors anyone can get: the Carnegie medal, "awarded to civilians who risk death or serious physical injury to an extraordinary degree saving or attempting to save the lives of others."
Leary, who stood silently on a dais flanked by Spring Hope Police Chief Nate Gant, Nash Sheriff Keith Stone, and Spring Hope Mayor Kyle Pritchard, accepted the award from Senator Lisa Barnes after Barnes told the story of what happened on August 6th, 2025, in the area of 687 N NC-581 .

NASHVILLE - Public complaints about the town's pickup schedule for curbside collection of yard waste and bulk trash are hitting town council ears, with a decision made last week to give the twice a month schedule- newly amended- another 60-day trial period.
In order to avoid having to hire additional public works personnel and to free up time for workers to attend to other public works tasks, town officials made the decision two months ago to change curbside collection from every week to the first and third weeks of the month.

NASHVILLE - An announced plan by the Long Island-based company BuildLabs to put a $12 million dollar precision-engineering facility on Lot 4 of the Nashville Business Center has withered on the vine, with the announcement last week that the town was getting its land back.
Randy Lansing, town manager, read through a Real Estate Conveyance Agreement at the Sept. 16th town council meeting, relaying that BuildLabs owner Punit Chugh had told town officials that the company was not going to be able to "meet the terms of the development agreement" for construction of the promised manufacturing facility.

Nashville Police Chief Caleb Shockley was the guest speaker for the 2026 CRD Banquet. Graphic photo by Amanda Clark

Brenda Foster knows community service isn't always easy, but after years of giving her time to organizations throughout Nash County, walking away has never really been an option.
"Sometimes it gets kinda hard, but I got a passion for it, I guess, and I don't want to let it go," Foster said.
That passion was recognized Saturday when Foster was named the 2026 Community Champion during the annual Community and Rural Development (CRD) of Nash County Banquet at the Nash County Agriculture Center.

NASHVILLE - Five decades ago, a vision took shape inside the walls of Nashville Methodist Church to create a dedicated program to meet the developmental needs of local children. The program wasn't designed just for members of the church, but as a resource for families across the entire community.
On Saturday, Sept. 26, Nashville Methodist Church Weekday School will celebrate five decades of education, care and growth with a 50th anniversary community celebration, "Legacy of Little Feet: Planting Faithful Seeds for 50 Years."

The bridge on Old Carriage Road over U.S. 64 may be little more than concrete and steel to the motorists who cross it each day, but for the family, friends and fellow officers of Nash County Sheriff's Deputy Jared Allison, it now carries something much more -- his name and the promise that his service will not be forgotten.
The bridge was officially dedicated on Friday, Sept. 18 as the Jared M. Allison Bridge in honor of the 26-year-old deputy and Army veteran who died in 2020 from injuries sustained in the line of duty.

NASHVILLE - The revised Nash County Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) is nearly complete, and a second and final set of community meetings to gather public input is now on the calendar.
Announced at the Sept. 21st meeting of the Nash County Planning Board, the three UDO update community meetings, located in the northern, southern and central parts of the county, will be as follows:

NASHVILLE- Rise Church, Nashville has been approved to hold a timed 5K 'fun run' on Saturday, December 5th.
Trey Sanderson, former Nashville HR Director and now Executive Pastor at Rise Church's Nashville campus, asked for and received approval at the Sept. 1 town council meeting for a special event permit approval.
"We're excited about the opportunity. We think it will be great for the town," Sanderson said, adding that race organizers planned the race route so as not to have it run in front of businesses on Washington Street.

NASHVILLE - Nash County's new Outdoor Classroom, recently erected on the grounds at the Nash Ag Center and conveniently close by the Arboretum, had its official ribbon-cutting Sept. 21st in bright sunshine.
Built earlier this year using a $102,000 grant from the 2025 Tobacco Trust Fund Program, the attractive open-air pavilion, complete with arching beams, has a concrete floor, picnic benches and overhead fans.

At 22 years old, Bobby joined the Braswell Family Farms team in December 1962. Sixty-three years later, he can proudly say he spent his entire adult working life at Braswell Family Farms; a milestone few can claim. Over the years, Bobby worked alongside all four generations of Braswell leadership, witnessing decades of growth and change in both our company and the egg industry.

SPRING HOPE - Long-planned street paving in Spring Hope, tabled in July until the board's August meeting, is still hung up for lack of a detailed map as of the latest board of commissioners meeting Sept. 8th.
Weaver's Asphalt & Maintenance has been recommended as the contractor of choice, as reported by Jonathan Allen, town manager, who described Weavers as a "reputable contractor" that also submitted the low bid for the work.

SPRING HOPE- With time running out to use up an $800,000 state grant for Depot renovations, town officials are putting new pressure on the architectural company involved: the board of commissioners has voted to send a default letter to the bond company stating contractor breach of contract.
"This is a process and a first step. It does not mean that the contract is null or voided at this time," Jonathan Allen, town manager, explained to The Graphic.
During action taken after a closed session at the Sept. 8th board of commissioners' meeting, the board voted unanimously to send a default letter to the Performance Surety Bond Company.

ROCKY MOUNT - Following a failed facility compliance inspection earlier this month, primarily over issues with animal records, Nash County Animal Services has "implemented several corrective actions to strengthen documentation, medical oversight, and compliance." No violations or disciplinary actions have been taken by the state, and a follow-up inspection is scheduled soon.

The Nashville Chamber of Commerce honored the Elks Lodge #1038 at Birchwood as its Member of the Season for Summer 2026.

NASHVILLE - The North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement Division (ALE) has charged five individuals following an investigation into a serious motor vehicle crash involving underage individuals that occurred on Sept. 6 in Nash County. ALE routinely conducts criminal investigations to identify the source of alcoholic beverages provided to underage individuals, particularly in cases that result in serious injury or fatalities.

We heard so much over the past few weeks about the events of September 11, 2001. If there's one thing that fateful day has taught us, it's that tomorrow is not promised.
If only we could apply that line of thinking to other areas of our life. The truth from the 9/11 tragedy is that many of us now realize that the nice cars, big homes, and many of the dreams that we have been chasing are just not all that important.

The German philosopher Karl Marx famously said religion was "the opium for the masses." Friedrich Nietzsche, Charles Darwin, and Sigmund Freud, along with a host of other notable thinkers of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, were in adamant agreement. In fact, most materialists (those who believe there is nothing but material, non-spiritual things in the world) consider the Christian idea of a human soul enjoying eternal life after death as nothing more than a coping mechanism to soothe the cruel reality of our death and destruction.

The Cpl. Suzi Sannes Detachment 1262 of The Marine Corps League presented a certificate of appreciation to Johnson Funeral Home and Cremation Services in Rocky Mount on July 28, 2026 for "For Loyalty And Patriotism To Our Country As Exemplified By Publicly And Proudly Displaying The Flag Of The United States Of America With Honor And Dignity." Pictured, left to right, are Chad Thomas, funeral director, Gary Moore, Detachment Commandant, and Rick Thomason, past Detachment Commandant.

Eighteen youth from Nash County 4-H competed at District Activity Day held at Edgecombe Community College over the summer. The competition focused on public speaking and presentation.
Local youth brought home eight gold awards, three silver, one bronze, two Cloverbuds, two Entertains, and two Participation Ribbons
Topics consist of basketball, heath fitness, nutrition, digital media, careers, small animals and ag science. Youth had to speak for 5-12 mins on their topic.

Nash County Cooperative Extension is hosting a hands-on homesteading workshop where you'll learn the essential skills needed to live a self-sufficient lifestyle. Taking place on Saturday, October 3rd at 9 a.m. , this event is perfect for anyone interested in getting back to basics and embracing a simpler way of life.
Located at 1006 Eastern Ave, Nashville, the workshop will cover a range of topics, including gardening and soils, backyard poultry, food preservation, beekeeping basics, and raising livestock for meat and milk.

Nash Community College has recognized students for outstanding academic achievement during the Summer 2026 semester by naming them to the college's President's List and Dean's List.
The academic honors recognize students who demonstrated a strong commitment to their studies and achieved high levels of academic performance during the summer semester.

MIDDLESEX - Free Will Baptist Children's Home (FWBCH), which currently houses 30 children from elementary school through high school age, has received an unexpected half million dollars from the 2026 NC General Assembly budget.
A group of about 25 people, including elected officials, FWBCH board members, donors and leadership, gathered at the home August 26th for an afternoon press conference to celebrate the event and to hear more about it.

"Cemetery Maps of the Bailey Area with Family Notes" has recently been released by James A. and Margaret B. Bailey. The volume is shaped by the long‑standing challenge genealogists face when locating burial grounds on private land. Parcels may pass through several owners and the small cemeteries within them may be left unmarked, forgotten, or concealed by later improvements, with many now resting in former fields no longer worked, in woodlots that have thickened over decades, or along property lines redrawn more than once.

To advance its mission of improving patient outcomes beyond the hospital's walls, the UNC Health Nash Foundation relies on funding provided by individual donors and philanthropic organizations. The UNC Health Nash Foundation has received a $3,400 grant from the Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation to support the UNC Health Nash Inpatient Food Pantry, which provides disease-specific food boxes to eligible patients transitioning from hospital care to home.
The award comes as the pantry approaches five years of operation.

Heather Glennon, Nash County Cooperative Extension Director, center, presents the NC Cooperative Extension County Partnership award to Marvin Arrington, Nash Board of Commissioners Chair, at the Sept. 8th commissioners meeting.Nash County was named award recipient August 20th in Durham at the NCACC (North Carolina Association of County Commissioners) meeting. Nash was one of seven counties to receive the state award, which was given "in recognition of the outstanding commitment of resources, inclusion of its local extension office, advocacy, and involvement in extension programs."

SPRING HOPE - A 32-year-old Spring Hope man is being held in the Nash Detention Center without bond after reportedly operating a drug "trap house" about one mile from the center of town.
A 'trap house' is a location used by drug dealers to store, package and sell illegal narcotics; one of its characteristics is said to be frequent, short-term visits by people arriving at odd hours.

1308 S Franklin St, Rocky Mount; 09/15/26 warrant service; resisting arrest/hinder & delay; possession with intent to sell/deliver cocaine; possession with intent manufacture/sell/deliver
2413 Goldrock Rd, Rocky Mount; 09/13/26; carrying concealed weapon; DWI
Wintergreen Rd, Nashville; 09/19/26; DSS Referral

09/14/26; Indian Trail, Nashville; child abuse-misdemeanor
09/14/26; Saint Annes Rd., Nashville; sexual battery
09/17/26; Brake St/Ward St., Nashville; possession/ carry firearm by minor
09/17/26; Eastern Ave/Forest Nashville; possession marijuana less than half ounce; possession schedule I controlled substance -felony

On September 3, 2026, the Nash County Sheriff's Office Community Action Team (CAT) arrested Nicole Lynn Pappalardo for outstanding parole violation warrants in Nash County.
The Community Action Team was working proactive patrol in the area of Old Bailey Highway and NC 97 when a member observed Pappalardo operating a vehicle at the intersection. The member knew Pappalardo had an outstanding warrant for violating parole and was able to conduct a traffic stop.

On September 17, 2026, the Nash County Sheriff's Office Narcotics Division and Patrol Division executed a search warrant at 6922 Bunting Rd. Nashville after investigators concluded an investigation regarding the sale of narcotics from the residence by Terrance Sinclair.
Upon execution of the search warrant, deputies witnessed Sinclair exiting the bathroom and took him into custody without incident. Deputies searched the bathroom and noticed it appeared that Sinclair attempted to flush narcotics and other items in the toilet as law enforcement arrived at the residence.

Sheriff Stone (center) is pictured with Mrs. Hall with Wilson Community College, Coastal Plains Law Enforcement Training Center and the North Carolina Gang Investigators Association. Hall worked with Nash County Sheriff's Office School Resource Officers during a week-long training. SROs received specialized gang training to aid in the efficient recognition and investigation of gang members and gang related activities. Stone said by having all Nash County SRO Deputies trained in Gang Investigations, it serves as a means of early recognition and early intervention for youths of all ages.

Sheriff Stone sent his Elementary School SRO Deputies to DARE Officer Training this summer. The 80-hour instructor program was held at the Samarcand Training Facility in Moore County. D.A.R.E., established in 1983 by the LAPD and the Los Angeles Unified School District, has grown into a nationwide program. It has adapted over the years to address current issues such as bullying, vaping, and peer pressure, in addition to its original focus on anti-drug messaging. The program emphasizes the importance of making good decisions in various situations and equips children with skills they can use throughout their lives.

I'll be honest, I could not foresee that Ed Sheeran or Macklemore would ever be a topic in the Soapbox. As I hear more frequently from the more experienced generations these days, "we must be in the end times."
If you don't know who they are, Sheeran is a British pop music singer and Macklemore is a past-his-prime rapper. They were both involved in what's being called free-speech suppression, but that's not the case at all.

Something I've heard more times than once over my four decades in the newspaper business is that newspapers should print more good news. We don't control what happens, we just cover it to make sure you, our readers, are well informed.
This week's edition is packed full of good news due to so many great things happening. Seldom are there weeks where there are such a smorgasbord of good happenings!
I figured this makes for a good time to use my column space for some more good vibes since we're on a roll this week.

Dear editor:
As Paul Harvey said, here's "The rest of the story."
Nashville recently lost a genuine kind-hearted community champion recently, Lee Roy Jones.
Lee Roy and I became like brothers.
Due to my infirmity, I was unable to get to the podium to speak at his funeral. I hope, in this letter, to relay how much he meant to me, and to Nashville.

Dear editor: AI is powerful, it can be used for good or bad depending on who is in control of it. That is why it makes more sense to me for the United States to lead the way instead of communist China.
In my humble opinion China is responsible for a lot of negative propaganda being feed to Americans about the down side of AI, and there are some down sides. Why the negative buzz from China? So, we will reject it, and they will advance it and control it.

This photo published in The Nashville Graphic in October of 1978. Three members of the Nashville Police Department received certificates upon completion of the basic 240-hour recruit training course required by the state for all law enforcement officers. All were among the top five percent in the class, taught at Nash Technical Institute, and one, Sandra Pridgen, with a 98.9 average, ranked first in the class of 50 students.

NASHVILLE - Kids love rocks and treasure hunts - and that's what they will find during the week of Sept. 24-30 at the Nash County Arboretum.
"Rock Around the Arboretum," a family-friendly activity developed by Master Gardener volunteers in honor of 'Take A Child Outside Week,' involves exploration of the gardens using a series of clues to find 25 painted rocks.
And those aren't just any painted rocks.