Bob Sutton - Randolph Record

20 Oct

Patriots primed for crucial busy slate

Bob SuttonSportsfootball, Providence Grove, sports

Providence Grove's Zane Cheek scores a touchdown in the first quarter against Trinity in a 49-14 victory Monday night in Cilmax. PJ WARD-BROWN/NORTH STATE JOURNAL Providence Grove treads through hectic week of games CLIMAX – A schedule packed with critical games is coming fast for Providence Grove’s football team. The importance of each of those continues to be magnified for the Patriots, who’ll play for the third time in eight days Friday night when Southwestern Randolph visits. “I told our guys that as long as I’ve done it, I’ve never done anything like this,” coach Calvin Brown said Monday…

20 Oct

Quite a Fair growth spurt

Bob SuttonBusiness, Entertainment, Government, News, StateLiberty, NC State Fair, watermelons

Andrew Vial of Liberty brought the largest watermelon in North Carolina State Fair history (The North State Journal) Liberty man sets mark with large watermelons ASHEBORO — Andrew Vial calls growing big watermelons a hobby. Yet for the Liberty man, it’s truly a passion. He took another watermelon to a big stage and collected another special distinction. His 341-pound watermelon was the largest ever at the North Carolina State Fair in Raleigh. “You just don’t get melons like that every day,” Vial said. Vial, who calls his remodeling carpentry work his full-time job, said he logs 50 to 60 hours…

20 Oct

Eastern Randolph makes shift to 1-A classification

Bob SuttonSportsEastern Randolph, Education, schools, sports

Eastern Randolph’s Davonte Brooks runs the ball against Southwestern Randolph during a Piedmont Athletic Conference football game Oct. 1 in Ramseur. PJ WARD-BROWN/NORTH STATE JOURNAL RAMSEUR – For a school with so much athletic success through the years, it might be strange to view Eastern Randolph as the little guy. But that’s how the Wildcats are listed when it comes to the North Carolina High School Athletic Association. Eastern Randolph is a Class 1-A school, reflecting the group with the smallest enrollment. “For 1-A, we’re not bad,” football coach Burton Cates said. In football, the Wildcats are undefeated this season…

13 Oct

Aviation event set for visit from Golden Knights

Bob SuttonEntertainment, Newsairplanes, Golden Knights, Kim Markham, Wayne Broome

Sky divers, fly-in could attract thousands this weekend ASHEBORO – The North Carolina Aviation Museum and Hall of Fame counts on events to keep its operations running. It has a big one this weekend. The U.S. Army Golden Knights will perform as part of the fly-in Saturday. “We got a chance to get the Golden Knights,” said Wayne Broome, chairman of the museum’s board of directors. “We met people who knew people. … The Golden Knights take (the event) to the highest level that I thought we could be. It’s rare that they would come to a small event. I…

06 Oct

Warriors maintain high level in tennis

Bob SuttonSportsProvidence Grove, tennis, Wheatmore

Wheatmore girls hone in on another conference title TRINITY — Some of the key players have changed from just a few months ago but the rate of success related to the Wheatmore girls’ tennis team remains at a high level. “The key is having a solid team,” coach Doug Gore said. “The girls have worked really hard in the offseason.” The Warriors entered the week on the verge of clinching a conference championship for the third year in a row. Wheatmore is paced by returning starters Kara Comer in the No. 1 position and Kelly Carrick in the No. 3…

06 Oct

NASCAR Day returns with big crowds

Bob SuttonBusiness, NewsCOVID, NASCAR, Randleman, Richard Petty

Randleman Festival roars back to life to celebrate racing heritage RANDLEMAN — Last weekend’s NASCAR Day Festival went off pretty much without a hitch as several thousand people roamed Randleman streets. “We had a perfect weekend for it,” said Jeff Freeman, director of the festival. “The attendance was wonderful.” Saturday’s festival came after the 2020 version was cancelled because of the pandemic. There were precautions taken for this year’s edition, but Freeman said there were largely positive reviews. Asheboro cancelled it's annual Fall Festival for the second year in a row citing concerns over hospital capacity for such a large…

06 Oct

Revving up small-town roots

Bob SuttonBusinessAsheboro, Cox's Harley-Davidson, Harley-Davidson

Cox’s Harley-Davidson celebrates 60 years as Asheboro business ASHEBORO — When the late Recil Cox traveled into Asheboro from the country to take a job in textiles, it led to much more. Now 60 years later, that legacy continues to flourish in what became Cox’s Harley-Davidson of Asheboro. “You surround yourself with good people,” said Stephen Cox, grandson of the founder. “If these people are good people, you’re going to get everything out of them every single day.” A 60th anniversary celebration of the business will take place Saturday at the store on N.C. 134 near Pinewood Country Club. The…

06 Oct

Revving up small-town roots: Cox’s Harley-Davidson celebrates 60 years as Asheboro business

Bob SuttonBusiness, NewsAsheboro, business, celebrate, Harley-Davidson, Recil Cox

ASHEBORO – When the late Recil Cox traveled into Asheboro from the country to take a job in textiles, it led to much more. Now 60 years later, that legacy continues to flourish in what became Cox’s Harley-Davidson of Asheboro. “You surround yourself with good people,” said Stephen Cox, grandson of the founder. “If these people are good people, you’re going to get everything out of them every single day.” A 60th anniversary celebration of the business will take place Saturday at the store on N.C. 134 near Pinewood Country Club. The owner is Jan Cox, daughter of the founder.…

29 Sep

Wheatmore volleyball looks to spike cancer

Bob SuttonSportsTrinity, Wheatmore

Annual “Volley for the Cure” raises funds, awareness for worthy cause TRINITY — So many good vibes stemmed from last week’s volleyball match between Trinity and Wheatmore. The occasion was dubbed “Volley for the Cure,” designated as an event to bring awareness to the fight against breast cancer and to raise funds for the cause. It’s a decade-long tradition connected to the Wheatmore team. “The whole gym is decked out in pink,” Wheatmore coach Sarah Beth Campbell said. Breast cancer survivor Wendy Harmon gave a speech and delivered the ceremonial first serve. She’s a 1987 Trinity graduate, while her husband,…

29 Sep

Wildcats, Cougars to clash to set tone in league play

Bob SuttonSportsEastern Randolph, football, Southwestern Randolph, SWR

ASHEBORO — It’s easy to recognize all that Southwestern Randolph’s football team has done entering the Piedmont Athletic Conference portion of the schedule. And the opponent Friday night is the team with a No. 1 state ranking. So Eastern Randolph has some clout, too. “It’s a big game for the schools,” Eastern Randolph coach Burton Cates said. “It’s a great way to open conference.” Eastern Randolph (4-0) is the top-ranked team in Class 1-A. Southwestern Randolph (5-0) has cracked the Top 25 in Class 2-A. Southwestern Randolph coach Seth Baxter spent eight years coaching at Eastern Randolph before taking the…