Bob Sutton - Randolph Record

06 Jun

Asheboro/Randolph Chamber selects new president

Bob SuttonBusiness, NewsAdam Deathe, Asheboro/Randolph Chamber of Commerce

Adam Deathe will assume duties as president of the Asheboro/Randolph Chamber of Commerce later this summer. (Courtesy photo) ASHEBORO – A man with international connections has been hired as the new president and chief executive officer of the Asheboro/Randolph Chamber of Commerce. The chamber’s board of directors announced Wednesday that Adam Deathe will take the position that has been vacant since the end of October. “I have been looking for the right community to build upon the skill sets that I have learned over the past several years and be a part of a growing area,” Deathe said in a…

05 Jun

Archdale golfer casts Spell on Asheboro City Amateur

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro City Amateur, Asheboro Country Club, Asheboro Municipal Golf Course, Connor Carter, JD Bass, Joshua Spell, Pinewood Country Club, Steve Kidd

Joshua Spell holds the winner’s trophy. (Courtesy photo) ASHEBORO – Joshua Spell took a page out of his occupation to help win the Asheboro City Amateur. The Archdale man said the keys for him last weekend were “putting and the mental game.” Spell, a mental coach for college and high school golfers, posted a one-shot victory on Steve Kidd after three rounds at three different courses. It came down to the final hole, with Spell’s birdie on the par-5 18th at Pinewood Country Club lifting him to his first championship in the event. Spell’s 3-under-par 69 gave him the title…

05 Jun

High schools set to bestow diplomas in Randolph County (updated with RCSS graduation numbers)

Bob SuttonNewsAsheboro City Schools, commencement, Education, Randolph County School System, Stephen Gainey, Uwharrie Charter Academy

Commencements coming up for hundreds of area students Commencements for most high school seniors will be held across the next several nights in Randolph County. Hundreds of students will take part in ceremonies marking the ends of their high school days. Friday night’s ceremony for Asheboro City Schools is set for Lee J. Stone Stadium, where there are expected to be 307 graduates. Asheboro has the largest senior class of any school in the county. Uwharrie Charter Academy’s ceremony will be Friday night in the central gym on campus, with about 150 graduates marking the school’s largest class. Last year,…

04 Jun

Former Trinity, Asheboro football coach retires

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Kevin Gillespie, prep football, Thomasville, Trinity Bulldogs

Gillespie coached state champions in Greensboro Kevin Gillespie, who made two of his four stops as a high school football head coach in Randolph County, announced his retirement Friday. Gillespie stepped down from his post at Thomasville, where he spent the past four seasons. Gillespie coached at Trinity and Asheboro, with a stop in between to guide Greensboro Page to a state championship. He had an overall record of 172-110 after going 32-12 with Thomasville. Gillespie’s final game came last November in a 40-19 road loss at Eastern Randolph in the third round of the Class 1-A state playoffs. The…

01 Jun

Good to the last play: Cougars claim state title with two runs on final pitch

Bob SuttonSportsClass 2-A, Kami Dunn, Macie Crutchfield, Prep softball, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, State championships, state playoffs, Toby Strider

Here’s the aftermath of the tying and winning runs scoring for Southwestern Randolph on the final play of the Class 2-A softball state championship series. (Bob Sutton / Randolph Record) GREENSBORO – Madelyn Smith’s dash from first base to home plate that sent Southwestern Randolph’s softball team to a Class 2A state championship came amid chaos on the final play of the season. It created more mayhem in terms of a celebration for the Cougars, who won the program’s first title in 14 years. “We have this saying, ‘Why not us?’ ” said third baseman Kami Dunn, who took that…

30 May

Asheboro ZooKeepers crank up with busy baseball slate

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Zookeepers, Coastal Plain League, College baseball, Hunter Atkins, Korey Dunbar, summer college baseball

James Hankerson Jr. has been active early in the season for the Asheboro ZooKeepers. (Courtesy photo) College summer team looks for right blend ASHEBORO – More winning is one of the objectives for the Asheboro ZooKeepers this year. There have been a few seasons of occupying low spots in the Coastal Plain League standings, but second-year head coach Korey Dunbar said there has been a good tone for the first week of the season. “We definitely want to win,” said shortstop Zach Evans, a rising senior at Lenoir-Rhyne. “There are a lot of people counting on us to win.” Dunbar…

29 May

Post 45 looking to fit parts together as season launches

Bob SuttonSportsAmerican Legion baseball, Austin Lemons, Braxton Walker, Carter Brown, Connor Adams, Drew Harmon, Grat Dalton, Jake Riddle, McCrary Park, Post 45, Randolph County Post 45, Ronnie Pugh, Tanner Marsh

Manager Ronnie Pugh says that pitching could be strong for Randolph County Post 45. (Bob Sutton / Randolph Record) Young team to play for Randolph County ASHEBORO – It’s going to take time for Randolph County Post 45 to put it all together with a more youthful roster than in the past. But the group still intends to be one of the top American Legion baseball teams in the state. A week into the season, Post 45 split its first two outings. “We’re getting some things done,” manager Ronnie Pugh said. “All of the things we’re going to put in,…

28 May

Ross Stores to build distribution center in Randleman

Bob SuttonBusiness, NewsEmployment, jobs, Randleman, Ross Stores

More than 850 new jobs expected by 2026 RANDLEMAN – Ross Stores, a Fortune 500 company, is planning to build a Southeastern region distribution center in Randleman, state officials announced Tuesday. The distribution center will add 852 jobs to Randolph County by late in 2026. It's an investment listed at $450 million. The Randleman site – covering about 330 acres near N.C. 74 in the northwest corner of Randleman – will be the company's ninth distribution center. It will be in a 1.7 million square-foot facility on 330 acres for warehousing, fulfillment, and packing operations. Ross Stores is a $20 billion,…

27 May

Southwestern Randolph to play state softball finals at UNCG; In baseball, UCA goes back to same site as last year

Bob SuttonSportsclass 1-A, Class 2-A, nchsaa, Prep baseball, Prep softball, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles

Southwestern Randolph’s softball team will have to go just one county away to play in the Class 2A state finals this week. The Cougars will take on Midway in the best-of-3 series at UNC Greensboro. The Class 4A series between Garner and Weddington also will be at UNCG. In Class 2A, Game 1 will be at 8 p.m. Friday followed by Game 2 at 2 p.m. Saturday. If a third game is necessary, it’s tentatively set for 8 pm.. Saturday, though it will move to the 5 p.m. slot if a third game isn’t needed in Class 4A. The other…

26 May

New playground coming for Grays Chapel Elementary School

Bob SuttonFeatures, NewsApril Wood, Education, Franklinville, Grays Chapel Elementary School, Randolph County School System

The daughter/father combination of Melanie Neighbors, left, and Lonnie Allred pose with memorabilia during Grays Chapel Elementary School’s 100-year celebration this spring. (Courtesy photo) Funds raised during 100-year celebration aid project FRANKLINVILLE – The 100th anniversary celebration for Grays Chapel Elementary School went so well this spring that a new playground will be installed soon on the rural school’s grounds. “All the funds we raised that day went toward the playground,” said April Wood, a kindergarten teacher and one of the anniversary event organizers. “We raised enough money to pay for the installment and some additional pieces.” The Randolph County…