Bob Sutton - Randolph Record

30 Jun

With state’s first measles case in Triad, Randolph County officials provide info, keep tabs on situation

Bob SuttonNewsmeasles, Randolph County Public Health, Tara Aker

ASHEBORO — Officials with Randolph County Public Health have been involved in efforts to keep tabs on a measles case stemming from nearby counties. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services confirmed the first case of measles this year in North Carolina last week. A child visiting Forsyth and Guilford counties became ill while traveling to North Carolina from another country where measles outbreaks have been reported. “We’ve been watching this since there were cases out West,” said Tara Aker, director of Randolph County Public Health. “We knew it would eventually make its way here (to North Carolina).”…

26 Jun

Former UCA pitcher finds new team after college closes

Bob SuttonSportsCatawba College, College baseball, Colt Wilkins, Limestone, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles

Colt Wilkins (Bob Sutton / Randolph Record) Former Uwharrie Charter Academy pitcher Colt Wilkins became a baseball player without a school or a team this spring. “It’s probably the craziest thing that has happened to me in my life,” Wilkins said. “You don’t hear about colleges closing down.” That’s what happened when school officials at Limestone announced this spring that the university would close at the end of the school year last month because of financial problems. Wilkins, a right-hander, still has another season of college eligibility remaining. “Thankfully, I had good numbers and I had a lot of schools…

24 Jun

There have been big catches at Ramseur Lake

Bob SuttonFeatures, NewsHampton Spivey, Ramseur, Ramseur Lake, recreation

The pier at Ramseur Lake draws some people to fish. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) RAMSEUR — New rules for Ramseur Lake have been good for fishing, town officials said. Mayor Hampton Spivey said the recreational area has seen steady use since it opened for the year in March. “The lake is rather busy,” Spivey said. “It’s pretty steady.” Starting this year, gas-powered motors are no longer allowed on the lake. So watercraft must be powered by electric motors or man powered. “Some of the fishermen who were opposed to (the new watercraft regulations) told me it’s the best thing…

23 Jun

ZooKeepers produce hot stretch as season heats up

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Zookeepers, Boaz Harper, Coastal Plain League, McCrary Park, Sal Laimo, summer college baseball

Sal Laimo of the Asheboro ZooKeepers beats the throw to first base last week against the Holly Springs Salamanders at McCrary Park. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) ASHEBORO — The Asheboro ZooKeepers have clicked at home and on the road during the first few weeks of the Coastal Plain League baseball season and the results back those up. While outfielder Kruise Newman racked up one of the special accomplishments in all of the CPL, the ZooKeepers as a whole have been doing much the same. Asheboro won five of six games across an eight-day period to improve to 13-5. That…

23 Jun

Country store in Liberty closes

Bob SuttonBusiness, NewsArt's Town and Country, Liberty

The building that used to house Art’s Town and Country is now vacant. (Bob Sutton / Randolph Record) LIBERTY — Art’s Town and Country, a store that provided a variety of goods on the outskirts of Liberty, has closed. The last day of business apparently was May 31. Owner Art Jordan was unable to be reached for comment as the phone number for the store is no longer in service. The store had been in operation for 13 years at 6976 N.C. 49 North. In a social media post from the store, the management expressed appreciation for the loyalty and…

21 Jun

Nine is enough: Post 81 figures out path to success with low numbers

Bob SuttonSportsAmerican Legion baseball, Bryson Marley, Cade McCallum, Chance Holdaway, Eastern Randolph, Liberty Post 81, Nate Cockman

Eastern Randolph rising juniors Cade McCallum, left, and Chance Holdaway have been key players for Liberty Post 81. (Bob Sutton / Randolph Record) RAMSEUR — The victories have started to add up for Liberty Post 81 even if the nightly roster numbers haven’t. But the American Legion baseball team is making the best of the recent situation, winning five games in a row through the weekend. “We’re just barely making it through,” Post 81 player Chance Holdaway said. “Sometimes everybody shows up. Sometimes only nine people show up. We just got to play with what we got.” Liberty has gone…

20 Jun

Ropin’ Roosters set up coop for summer baseball in Ramseur

Bob SuttonSportsCaleb Dunn, Canaan Sheppard, Craven Stadium, Jake Little, Old North State League, Providence Grove, Ramseur, Randolph Ropin' Roosters, Shane Worth, summer college baseball

Former Providence Grove pitcher Canaan Sheppard delivers a pitch for the Randolph Ropin’ Roosters. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) RAMSEUR — The Randolph Ropin’ Roosters are a new summer collegiate baseball team making their home in Ramseur. There’s a local element with the rosters along with coach Shane Worth, who coaches the high school team at Providence Grove. “They called in November,” Worth said. “I’ve coached JUCO before and this level before. It’s a learning process.” The Old North State League team is comprised mostly of junior college players or Division III players. “It don’t seem any different. It’s college…

16 Jun

Time with ZooKeepers can be period of transition for transfers

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Zookeepers, Coastal Plain League, Rylen Stockton, summer college baseball, transfer portal

Rylen Stockton (ZooKeepers photo) ASHEBORO — When Rylen Stockton signed up to play this summer for the Asheboro ZooKeepers, he was a member of UNC Asheville’s baseball team. Yet a couple of weeks ago when it was his turn to go to the plate for the ZooKeepers, the introduction said he plays for Maryland. That’s part of the evolving nature of collegiate summer baseball. “I just committed to Maryland a few days ago,” Stockton said June 3. So after one season with UNC Asheville, the catcher from Sarasota, Florida, will be heading elsewhere in August when he reports for his…

16 Jun

Randolph County Agricultural Center construction reaches late stages

Bob SuttonNewsrandolph county, Randolph County Agricultural Center, Taylor Wright

The main sign is up as work continues in advance of the opening of the Randolph County Agricultural Center. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) ASHEBORO — The opening of the Randolph County Agricultural Center is a few months away. Construction work is in the late stages on the 104 acres purchased by Randolph County in 2016. “Folks are definitely getting more curious about what’s out there,” Taylor Wright, the agricultural center’s coordinator, said last week. Wright said a fall completion should be in the works after initial projections had targeted an opening for this past January. The site is off…

15 Jun

Post 45 seeks good blend with returners, newcomers

Bob SuttonSportsAmerican Legion baseball, Jackson Hill, Liberty Post 81, Randolph County Post 45, Ronnie Pugh

There’s a different mix in the Randolph County Post 45 dugout this year for American Legion baseball. (P.J. Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – There might be good pieces to the puzzle for Randolph County Post 45’s baseball team. It’s largely a new roster from a year ago, so manager Ronnie Pugh will see how it all comes together after seeing encouraging results during the first stretch of the season. There are players representing numerous high schools in the area and that’s the blend Post 45 will be counting on this summer. “We played against or with each other for…