Bob Sutton - Randolph Record

29 Sep

Robot knows way around Asheboro fields

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro City Schools, Asheboro High School, prep football, Turf Tank

A robot named “Comet” lines the stadium fields at Asheboro High School. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) School saves time in lining up for competition ASHEBORO – Everything is lining up just right for fields maintained by Asheboro City Schools. A robot is used to paint lines on the fields. “Once they came in and demo-ed for us, we saw it as a time saver and a cost saver,” said Jody Cox, interim director of maintenance and facilities for the school system. The robot is produced by Turf Tank, a Danish company that has taken the lead on lining fields around the…

28 Sep

With league play starting, it’s time to sort through possibilities in Randolph County prep football

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Eastern Randolph Wildcats, Mid-Piedmont Conference, piedmont athletic conference, prep football, Providence Grove Patriots, Randleman Tigers, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, Trinity Bulldogs, Wheatmore Warriors

Randleman’s Micah Thurston, here carrying the ball against Union Pines, has scored three touchdowns this season. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) It’s conference time for football teams from Randolph County and there are numerous similarities to recent seasons. Eastern Randolph goes for its third consecutive PAC championship. The Wildcats’ biggest challenge might come from Randleman. Those teams conveniently meet in the regular-season finale Oct. 27 at Randleman. There’s plenty to sort through prior to that potential showdown. Just like last year, the Wildcats are riding a four-game winning streak with a 4-1 mark entering league play. Randleman was last year’s PAC runner-up,…

21 Sep

Brewing company crafts something more in Asheboro

Bob SuttonBusiness, NewsAsheboro business, downtown asheboro, Downtown Asheboro Social District, The Pharmacy Craft Cocktails and Distilling

The Pharmacy Craft Cocktails and Distilling is a new spot in downtown Asheboro. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – Four Saints Brewing Company has expanded with a companion spot. The Pharmacy Craft Cocktails and Distilling opened last week – an adjacent gathering location under the same ownership. “These are two separate businesses,” events manager Sam Baker said. “We’re providing two vastly different experiences.” The Pharmacy will be geared toward a more sophisticated, adult crowd. In the new space, patrons will be limited to age 21 and older. No pets will be allowed. The tone will be distinctively different, Baker said. “There…

21 Sep

Randleman coach puts focus on daughter’s medical situation

Bob SuttonSportsprep football, Randleman athletics, Shane Timmons

Randleman football coach Shane Timmons has been dealing with a family medical situation during this season. (File photo) RANDLEMAN – Randleman has reached the middle of its football season with tremendous success, but coach Shane Timmons has more pressing matters on his mind. His daughter Ophie has been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. “I’m coaching each day like it’s my last day on earth,” Timmons said. “It’s a great way to live. It’s the hand that I was dealt.” Timmons’ attention has been detoured from his team at times during the past few weeks. Ophie’s condition is called Ependymoma,…

14 Sep

New Asheboro QB holds Randleman roots

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Calvin Brown, John Kirkpatrick, Logan Laughlin, prep football, Randleman athletics, Shane Timmons, transfer

Quarterback Logan Laughlin of Asheboro will be playing against his former team this week. (Scott Pelkey/Randolph Record) Football friends set to meet weeks after transfer RANDLEMAN – Logan Laughlin wanted a different situation as a high school quarterback this fall, so during the summer he chose to leave Randleman and transfer to Asheboro. “It’s going really good,” Laughlin said. “When I walked in there, I felt appreciated and it felt right.” The junior will be back in Randleman on Friday night when the Blue Comets (1-2) visit for a non-conference game. The Tigers (4-0) have sophomore John Kirkpatrick as their…

12 Sep

Southwestern Randolph set to induct first class into Hall of Fame

Bob SuttonSportsCharlie Chapman, Hall of Fame, randolph county, Southwestern Randolph, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, Southwestern Randolph High School

ASHEBORO – The first class for the Southwestern Randolph Hall of Fame will be inducted this week and it’s quite a blast from the past. Fourteen individuals were selected for the honor. A ceremony will be held in the school cafeteria Friday prior to the football game vs. Albemarle. The group will also be recognized at halftime of the game. The fathers of both athletics director Chris Chapman and football coach Seth Baxter are in the induction class. Charlie Chapman and Donnie Baxter are both still involved with the Cougars on the football coaching staff. Charlie Chapman was football coach…

11 Sep

Ag teacher finds right fit at Randleman

Bob SuttonNewsEducation, Mark Walker, Randleman, Randolph County School System, RCSS, Teacher of the Year

Teacher of the Year Mark Walker, center, is flanked by RCSS superintendent Stephen Gainey, left, and Randleman principal Corey Phillips at last week’s banquet. (Photo courtesy of RCSS) RCSS honors Walker with annual award RANDLEMAN – Once Mark Walker became involved with agricultural education, he sensed that would be his best avenue to make a difference at Randleman High School. He stuck with it and he was rewarded for his decades in that capacity as the Teacher of the Year for the Randolph County School System. “I hope I can be more of a voice and do more to…

10 Sep

Providence Grove group places in hunter safety regional competition

Bob SuttonNewsAmy Kidd, Education, FFA, Future Farmers of America, Providence Grove

Members of Providence Grove FFA hunter safety team went to Indiana this summer. They are, front row (seated), left to right: Amelia Lackey, Austin Williams and Troy Blakley. Back row: Cooper Wright, FFA advisor and coach Amy Kidd, instructor and coach Bruce Hicks and Christian Swaim. (Courtesy photo) CLIMAX – Members of Providence Grove’s Future Farmers of America hunter safety team placed in a regional competition this summer. Five students took part in the Eastern Regional Youth Hunter Education Challenge, which included safety trail, muzzleloader, rifle, orienteering, shotgun, test, wildlife identification, and archery. It took place in Versailles, Ind. “It…

07 Sep

Close connections define matchup for Blue Comets, Patriots

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Calvin Brown, David Hayes, Logan Fox, prep football, Providence Grove athletics

New Providence Grove football coach David Hayes, left, and former coach Calvin Brown talk at a Providence Grove basketball game last winter. (Randolph Record file photo) Asheboro staff stocked with ex-Providence Grove coaches CLIMAX – Providence Grove’s football team has thrived in the opening weeks of the season. Next comes a version of show-and-tell in a reunion of sorts when Asheboro visits Friday night. There’s far from an ordinary vibe for the non-conference matchup. “It’s weird, for sure,” Providence Grove senior running back/linebacker Logan Fox said. “It’s definitely going to be emotional on both sides. It will be more than…

05 Sep

UCA moves soccer games to new sportsplex

Bob SuttonSportsChris Waddell, piedmont athletic conference, prep soccer, Uwharrie Charter Academy athletics, Zoo City Sportsplex

ASHEBORO – Uwharrie Charter Academy’s new home for soccer games is the recently opened Zoo City Sportsplex. “We’ve worked with the City of Asheboro on this,” UCA athletics director Chris Waddell said. “It shows volumes the partnerships we’ve been able to create with the city and in Randolph County. Putting this together was a group effort.” The Eagles’ first game at their new home venue comes with Friday night’s boys’ soccer meeting with Woods Charter. Regular home game times will be 6 p.m. The site is less than a 10-minute drive from UCA’s main campus. The UCA girls’ soccer team,…