Bob Sutton - Randolph Record

11 Apr

Eastern Randolph coach Burton Cates to be enshrined in hometown

Bob SuttonSportsBurton Cates, Eastern Randolph athletics, Graham, Hall of Fame, prep football

Another honor is coming for Eastern Randolph football coach Burton Cates. (Randolph Record file photo) GRAHAM – Eastern Randolph’s Burton Cates, the winningest active high school football coach in North Carolina, is receiving hometown recognition. He’ll be inducted into the Graham Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday night. “Being from Graham all my life, it’s very special recognition,” Cates said. “What I’ve accomplished isn’t about me by any stretch. It’s about the people around me.” Cates, 71, has more than 360 career coaching victories. Eastern Randolph won the Class 3-AA title in 2006. Even when Cates left the Wildcats for…

06 Apr

Early voting set in Randolph County for second primary

Bob SuttonNewsGOP Primary, Randolph County Board of Elections

ASHEBORO – Early voting for the special second primary election will be open April 25-May 11 in Randolph County. The Randolph County Board of Elections set those dates for the May 14 second primary. Early voting will have just one site as opposed to four sites used in advance of the March primary. The early voting will be held at the Randolph County Board of Elections office on North Fayetteville Street in Asheboro. The times for early voting will be 8 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, except for May 11, when voting ends at 3 p.m. That final date will be the…

05 Apr

College league to bring baseball finals to Asheboro

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro, College baseball, McCrary Park, South Atlantic Conference

ASHEBORO – The South Atlantic Conference is moving its baseball tournament’s championship series to Asheboro’s McCrary Park next month. The NCAA Division II league was in a pinch to find a new venue and chose Asheboro, with the Asheboro ZooKeepers acting as hosts. “We reached out to them,” SAC commissioner Patrick Britz said. “We were able to work something out. … We’re only a month out. We had to move pretty quickly.” The best-of-3 finals are set for May 10 and 11 (and May 12, if necessary). The SAC Tournament finals had been held in recent years at Smokies Stadium…

04 Apr

Concert series in Asheboro to bring back popular band

Bob SuttonEntertainment, Events, NewsAsheboro, Bicentennial Park, summer concert series

Number of Sunday events reduced, but longer shows ASHEBORO – One band is returning based on popular demand, while there’s a bit of a revamped schedule for spring and summer concerts in Asheboro. Downtown Asheboro Inc. and the City of Asheboro have put together a lineup of Friday and Sunday concerts at Bicentennial Park. First things first: On the Border is coming back as the lead-off for the Friday night series. “There were multiple requests to bring them back,” said Addie Corder, executive director of Down Asheboro Inc. “They had the availability and they love playing in Asheboro.” On the…

02 Apr

College notes: Coleman leads ACC in softball batting; Oakley wins two bouts in NCAAs

Bob SuttonSportsAlex Coleman, Appalachian State, College softball, College wrestling, Ethan Oakley, North Carolina Tar Heels

Alex Coleman (Courtesy photo) Southwestern Randolph alum Alex Coleman, an outfielder for North Carolina’s softball team, is the Atlantic Coast Conference’s leading batter more than halfway through the season. Coleman checked at .495 entering this week. Her numbers reflect a conference-leading 53 hits in 107 official at-bats with three doubles. The Tar Heels leadoff batter also has drawn 14 walks with only eight strikeouts. Behind Coleman in batting average is Florida State’s Jaysoni Beachum at .470. Coleman’s 37 runs scored rate second in the ACC. She’s also 20-for-21 on stolen-base attempts to rank tied for second…

31 Mar

Wheatmore’s Garrison sets state record with special goal

Bob SuttonSportsEllie Garrison, nchsaa, prep soccer, Ricky Maness, state record, Wheatmore athletics

Wheatmore’s Ellie Garrison takes a shot between two Pine Lake Prep players during last year’s state playoffs. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) TRINITY – There are lots of ways to score a goal in soccer, and Ellie Garrison’s state-record tally ranked up there as quite unique. The Wheatmore senior became North Carolina’s girls’ record holder for goals by scoring against Bishop McGuinness last week. The record came shortly after the Warriors gave up a goal. Garrison wanted to receive the first pass when play resumed. “She noticed the goalie was way off the line,’ Wheatmore coach Rick Maness said. “She struck it,…

31 Mar

Changes coming in large doses for Asheboro/Randolph Chamber

Bob SuttonNewsAsheboro/Randolph Chamber, Asheboro/Randolph Chamber of Commerce, Kelly Heath

Kelly Heath is interim president of the Asheboro/Randolph Chamber. (Courtesy photo) Search firm to be used to find new president ASHEBORO – Changes are in the works for the Asheboro/Randolph Chamber, with a search firm hired to assist in the selection of a new president. “It’s going to take someone who’s coming in with a vision,” said HR Gallimore, who’s chair of the Chamber’s executive committee. “We’re looking forward to finding the right person.” Linda Brown left her post as president of Asheboro/Randolph Chamber months ago to take a job at Randolph Community College. Kelly Heath, a past chair of…

19 Mar

Grays Chapel set for 100 years of school memories

Bob SuttonEvents, NewsEastern Randolph, Franklinville, Grays Chapel Elementary School, Providence Grove, Randolph County School System, Randolph County Schools

Grays Chapel Elementary School students gather for a photo last week in advance of the 100-year celebration at the school. (Photo courtesy of Dan Routh) FRANKLINVILLE – The 100-year celebration for Grays Chapel Elementary School this weekend means countless families will rekindle their connections and memories. That’s the whole idea involving this event. “To me, it’s the community involvement in the school that makes it so special,” said April Wood, a kindergarten teacher. “It’s a close-knit community that supports the school. I think that’s the best part about it.” Wood and fellow kindergarten teacher Jennifer Macfayden have been leading…

18 Mar

Oakley grapples with more success as conference champ for Appalachian State

Bob SuttonSportsAppalachian State, College wrestling, Ethan Oakley

Wheatmore graduate Ethan Oakley became a Southern Conference champion earlier this month. (Photo courtesy of Appalachian State athletics) Wheatmore alum heads back to NCAA championships Ethan Oakley keeps checking off goals as a college wrestler for Appalachian State. NCAA championships qualifier. Conference champion. The Wheatmore alum is heading back to the NCAAs for the second year in a row after riveting results to win a Southern Conference championship. “I wanted to achieve what I did, but I wasn’t sure I would,” Oakley said. “Unreal, I finally did it.” He captured the 133-pound league title earlier this month. This…

04 Mar

Trinity alum Sheffield takes football job at Wheatmore

Bob SuttonSportsJacob Sheffield, Philip Yarbrough, piedmont athletic conference, prep football, Trinity athletics, Wheatmore athletics

Jacob Sheffield (Courtesy photo) TRINITY – Jacob Sheffield is the new football coach at Wheatmore, but his ties to the school extend more than a decade. Most recently, Sheffield has been an assistant coach at rival Trinity, his alma mater. He said he has “fallen on both sides of the tracks” when it comes to the neighboring schools. He takes the vacancy left when Philip Yarbrough resigned after seven seasons as Wheatmore’s football coach. The Warriors were 2-8 last year. Sheffield, who’ll turn 37 in May, said it appears a foundation has been established at Wheatmore. When he met with…