Bob Sutton - Randolph Record

23 Sep

Spooky Woods scares up attention for Archdale

Bob SuttonFeaturesArchdale, Haunted houses, Kersey Valley, Spooky Woods, Tony Wohlgemuth

Kersey Valley has become a must-visit attraction for many thrill seekers each autumn. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) ARCHDALE – While Kersey Valley’s Spooky Woods has grown to become more technical with special effects, owner Tony Wohlgemuth said he understands the grassroots nature of the themed venue. Now the Archdale business has gained considerable national attention. “This particular year, it got picked up a lot,” Wohlgemuth said of listings among the best haunted attractions nationally. “It puts Archdale on the map with a lot of big cities.” The scene is a fictional town called Kersey Valley. The oldest attraction at Kersey Valley…

22 Sep

Eastern Randolph QB cuts weight, but still wants to feast on victories

Bob SuttonSportsBurton Cates, Eastern Randolph, football, piedmont athletic conference, prep football, prep sports, Stratton Barwick

Quarterback Stratton Barwick of Eastern Randolph bulls his way for a touchdown against Walkertown earlier this season. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) RAMSEUR – The thought of the quarterback for Eastern Randolph’s wildly successful football team being the big man on campus wasn’t a grand idea for veteran coach Burton Cates. He put Stratton Barwick on a diet. Now a bit swifter, Barwick hopes to put the Wildcats on the fast track again this year. Listed at 6-foot-1, Barwick is down to about 235 pounds after playing the 2021 season at 250. “He has gotten a step quicker,” Cates said. This weight…

20 Sep

Elementary teacher takes pride in RCSS honor

Bob SuttonNewsRandolph County School System, Randolph County Schools, RCSS, Teacher of the Year

Sophie Herring was selected as the Teacher of the Year for the Randolph County School System. (Courtesy photo) ASHEBORO – Once Sophie Herring discovered the joys of teaching, she became hooked. The elementary school teacher has been rewarded for her efforts in classrooms and among her peers by being named the Teacher of the Year for the Randolph County School System. “I know I’m young in the career,” she said. “It’s a huge honor. I’ve been overwhelmed with the love I’ve gotten from this.” She spent the past six school years teaching third grade at Trindale Elementary School. Her selection…

16 Sep

Former Asheboro AD takes conference role

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Charlie Chapman, Mid-Piedmont Conference, Steve Luck

ASHEBORO – Steve Luck didn’t stay away from high school athletics for long. The former Asheboro High School athletics director is the new commissioner of the Mid-Piedmont Conference. “Those ADs in the Mid-Piedmont know me and I know them,” Luck said. “I’m working with six ADs and those guys are good at what they do.” Luck replaces long-time commissioner Charlie Chapman, who reduced his workload and yet remains commissioner of the Piedmont Athletic Conference. Luck retired from Asheboro in the spring. Yet he remained an interested observer of the Blue Comets as his son, sophomore Ben Luck, is a participant…

15 Sep

Wolfspeed should have impact in Randolph County

Bob SuttonNewsCarolina Core, Chatham County, randolph county, Siler City, Wolfspeed Inc.

SILER CITY — Randolph County officials had roles in helping secure a major industrial project for nearby Siler City. Certainly, the impact will be felt in neighboring counties when Wolfspeed, Inc. cranks up operations in 2023 in Chatham County. The 1,800 new jobs should be created by 2030. Wolfspeed will construct a manufacturing campus for the production of Silicon Carbide materials. The governor’s office reported that an investment of approximately $5 billion across the next eight years will be made in the Town of Siler City. Founded and headquartered in Durham, Wolfspeed is described as a global leader in the…

13 Sep

Area Prep Notes: Asheboro hits pause in volleyball season; Blue Comets excel in soccer

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Mid-Piedmont Conference, prep cross country, prep soccer, Prep volleyball

Cristian Ortiz, right, of Asheboro makes a move on Southwestern Randolph’s Richard Dominguez during a boys’ soccer game earlier this season. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – The Asheboro volleyball team hoped to be back in action this week after a health-related pause. The Blue Comets called off two matches last week and another for Monday night. Athletics director Wes Berrier said five team members were hit by COVID-19, so team activities were shut down. A Mid-Piedmont Conference match with Oak Grove was reset for Thursday at South Asheboro Middle School, which is the team’s temporary home court. A non-conference match…

09 Sep

Area Sports Briefs: Fall baseball league nears; Poole, Shiflet help college teams; Check on Caraway

Bob SuttonSportsCaraway speedway, Dominick Poole, McCrary Park, Payton Shiflet, Prep baseball

Fall league approaches for area high schools ASHEBORO – The annual fall baseball league that involves teams representing high schools around the region is set to begin next week at McCrary Park. Seven teams will participate, representing Asheboro, Uwharrie Charter Academy, Chatham Central, Jordan-Matthews, Lee County, Montgomery Central and North Moore. There are two games on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays beginning at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., with one game Thursday at 6 p.m. Each team will play two games per week. The Asheboro ZooKeepers organization is the host for the league. Poole plays role for Citadel in opener…

08 Sep

NCDOT meeting draws big turnout in Liberty

Bob SuttonNewsGreensboro-Randolph megasite, Liberty, North Carolina DOT, Toyota

New road patterns are in place along U.S. 421 and Browns Meadow Road near Liberty. (PJ Brown-Ward/Randolph Record) LIBERTY – There was considerable interest from Randolph County residents at a public meeting held by the North Carolina Department of Transportation to discuss potential changes based on the Greensboro-Randolph megasite. There were 247 attendees signing in for last week’s session. “That’s sizable,” said Harris Kay, a communications officer with NCDOT. “That’s what we want, people coming to ask questions.” Liberty Town Hall was packed with members of the public at some points during the two-hour meeting. There’s much curiosity about the…

02 Sep

Goodwill expands in Randolph County with Liberty store

Bob SuttonFeaturesGoodwill, Goodwill Industries, Liberty, Triad Goodwill

Shoppers took advantage of the grand opening of the new Goodwill store in Liberty. (Courtesy photo) LIBERTY – A Goodwill Industries store and donation center opened in Liberty a few weeks ago, becoming the fourth such location in Randolph County. “We are so excited to be part of the Liberty community and have already been blown away by the generosity of the donors in the area,” said Brady Craven, district manager for Triad Goodwill. “Right when people saw our signs go up, we were welcomed with bags and literal truckloads of donations.” The store has gently used and new clothing…

01 Sep

Second year means more identity for Trinity Middle School

Bob SuttonFeaturesAaron Barr, Randolph County School System, Trinity Middle School

ARCHDALE – Year 2 for Trinity Middle School has arrived, and it should feel more like home for students and staff. “It does,” principal Aaron Barr said. “It’s a continuation of last year.” A year ago, the opening of the new school was a special occasion, though it also came with normal challenges. There was a merging of students from previous schools that became part of the process. “Everybody was kind of trying to feel their way,” Barr said. “You’re getting the culture of a new school worked out.” Classes began this week for the new school year in the…