Bob Sutton - Randolph Record

29 Sep

Randolph County recovers from damage spawned from Hurricane Helene

Bob SuttonNewsAsheboro, Hurricane, Hurricane Helene, randolph county, Randolph Electric Membership Corporation

Duke Energy crews work on downed power lines Friday along Balfour Road in Asheboro after the remnants of Hurricane Helene caused damage across the state. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – Power outages and other damages coming from storms and rains connected to the leftovers of Hurricane Helene were documented in Randolph County, with most of them coming Friday. Randolph Electric Membership Corporation reported nearly 1,200 power outages in Randolph County before 9 a.m. That number dwindled rapidly even with a tornado watch issued for the area. By 5 p.m., the REMC announced that there was one remaining outage…

26 Sep

RCSS graduation rates show slight uptick

Bob SuttonNewsAsheboro City Schools, commencement, Education, graduation rates, Randolph County School System

Commencement dates have been set for the Class of 2025 at county schools ASHEBORO – The Randolph County School System reported a four-year graduation rate of 88.6% for the Class of 2024. That was a slight increase from the 88.1 percent for the Class of 2023. At 90.2%, Asheboro City Schools saw a rather large bump up in its graduation rate. That was an increase from 84.3%, marking the largest increase for any district in the Triad. The statewide average was listed at 86.9% (up from 86.5% from the previous year). The four-year graduation rates are based on the students…

17 Sep

Wheatmore player makes comeback to playing field

Bob SuttonSportsJacob Sheffield, Prep Basketball, prep football, Riley Strickland, Wheatmore Warriors

Riley Strickland (Bob Sutton / Randolph Record) TRINITY – Riley Strickland says he’s excited to participate in high school sports again about nine months after a scary incident in a basketball game. The Wheatmore senior, who was the starting quarterback a year ago, returned to action with the football team in Friday night’s loss to Bishop McGuinness. “It feels good to be back,” Strickland said. “Hopefully, we can get the win next week.” Strickland decided in the spring that he wouldn’t play football as a senior. “I thought I was done,” he said. “After the first game, I had to…

17 Sep

Trinity’s Tillery selected for RCSS teaching honor

Bob SuttonNewsEducation, Elizabeth Tillery, Randolph County School System, RCSS, Teacher of the Year, Trinity High School

Here’s English teacher Elizabeth Tillery in a Trinity classroom earlier this month. (Courtesy of Caiden Brown / Trinity student) TRINITY – Elizabeth Tillery wasn’t all that familiar with Trinity High School when she took her first job out of college. But she was quite certain that teaching was going to be her passion. That hasn’t changed. “I love being a teacher,” she said. “I think it’s very important for teachers to like the job.” Tillery, an English teacher at Trinity, has been named Randolph County School System’s Teach of the Year. She’s in the early stages of her 14th school…

16 Sep

Cougars, Blue Comets hit early soccer strides, but won’t meet this year

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Cam Letterlough, prep soccer, Southwestern Randolph Cougars

Asheboro boys’ soccer players react following a goal by Win Smith (No. 6) earlier this year at Randleman. Other Blue Comets are, left to right, Diego Bustamante, Ozmar Martinez, Gerarrdo Medina Chi and Cam Letterlough. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – The boys’ soccer teams from Southwestern Randolph and Asheboro have excelled across the first month of the season. They’re hoping for even better fortunes ahead. Southwestern Randolph won its first eight games of the season. Asheboro has been off to a 7-2 start. “You got to have a lot of moving parts to be healthy and ready for…

10 Sep

Asheboro sets stadium rules to monitor fans

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Asheboro City Schools, prep football, Wes Berrier

ASHEBORO – Safety is at the forefront of new spectator rules established for Asheboro’s Lee. J. Stone Stadium, athletics director Wes Berrier said. The rules require that spectators remain in the stands unless they’re in line for the restrooms or concession stands. No longer allowed will be standing or sitting on stadium walls, handrails, walkways or the concourse. “We want to keep (those areas) clear for any kind of emergency that might occur,” Berrier said. “We’re looking after the safety of everybody.” The Blue Comets (1-1) will play their home-opening football game Friday night against Providence Grove (1-2). School officials…

08 Sep

Randleman’s resiliency goes well with Kirkpatrick-to-Goldston connections in conquering Bunker Hill

Bob SuttonSportsClass 2-A, John Kirkpatrick, Payton Patterson, prep football, Randleman Tigers, Tyshaun Goldston

Randleman quarterback John Kirkpatrick looks to throw downfield against Bunker Hill on Friday night. (Jann Ortiz / For Randolph Record) RANDLEMAN – Randleman’s football team put on an impressive aerial show Friday night before the need to regroup against Bunker Hill. The Tigers mastered that as well in pulling out a 35-21 non-conference home victory in a matchup between teams that might be Class 2A state contenders. “We knew it was going to be a challenge,” Randleman quarterback John Kirkpatrick said. “I’m just glad my guys could come out here and execute the way they could. I’m just thankful for…

08 Sep

Funds tagged for Randleman road upgrades; Group awards scholarships

Bob SuttonNewsGolden LEAF Foundation, Randleman, Ross Stores

ASHEBORO – Funding from the Golden LEAF Foundation in the amount of $400,000 has been designated for Randolph County to aid in roadway improvements associated with the Ross Stores distribution center in Randleman. The money comes in addition to the Golden LEAF Foundation’s $4.4 million distribution connected to 10 projects across the state. The award to Randolph County comes under a separate category for economic catalyst. This spring, Ross Stores announced plans to build a distribution center of about 1.7 million square feet. Public road improvements have been deemed necessary as part of the development of the area. Golden LEAF…

07 Sep

Smith won’t seek another term as Asheboro’s mayor

Bob SuttonGovernment, News, PoliticsAsheboro, Asheboro City Council, David Smith, mayor

David Smith is serving his fourth term as Asheboro's mayor. (Randolph Record file photo) ASHEBORO – David Smith won’t run for re-election as Asheboro’s mayor next year, so that will mark the end of more than a quarter-century of time as an elected city official. Smith said Friday he thought it was important to provide plenty of advance notice. “I wanted to make the announcement far enough out so anyone who wanted to run would be prepared,” he said. Smith, 71, has won four four-year terms as mayor after serving on city council for 12 years. He’ll serve through 2025,…

05 Sep

Andrews excited about transition at Trinity as new basketball coach

Bob SuttonSportsBrett Andrews, Prep Basketball, Providence Grove, Tim Kelly, Trinity Athletics Hall of Fame, Trinity Bulldogs

Brett Andrews (Courtesy photo) TRINITY – Brett Andrews doesn’t need to look at the projected Trinity roster for the upcoming boys’ basketball season. Nor does he have to scan the Bulldogs’ schedule. None of that matters because he knows he has his work cut out for him. He’s following legendary Tim Kelly as the Trinity coach. “I’d say coaching behind him is probably one of the toughest gets in North Carolina,” Andrews said. Andrews is a former Trinity standout athlete and ex-junior varsity coach for the Bulldogs. He’s back at the school after one season as Providence Grove’s coach. Kelly…