Bob Sutton - Randolph Record

29 Jun

Good hands man for all seasons: Providence Grove’s Thomas makes positive impact

Bob SuttonSportsLuke Thomas, piedmont athletic conference, prep sports, Providence Grove, Providence Grove athletics, UNCG

Luke Thomas fires a pitch from the mound this spring. He's planning to play college baseball. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) CLIMAX – Whatever the sport at Providence Grove, Luke Thomas had the ball in his hands. Those were good hands for the Patriots. “I like being in control of the game. I don’t like leaning on other players,” Thomas said. “I like being the make-or-break type of guy.” Thomas helped make Providence Grove relevant on just about every level during a high school career that turned out unmatched. “A fixture not only in the football program but a fixture in the…

29 Jun

There’s still hope for Asheboro ZooKeepers despite tough times

Bob SuttonSportsAndrew Grande, Asheboro Zookeepers, Coastal Plain League, College baseball, summer college baseball

Andrew Grande hopes his time with the Asheboro ZooKeepers leads to other opportunities. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) Injury stalls plans for ‘free agent’ in search of new team ASHEBORO — No baseball team in the Coastal Plain League is probably ready for the season’s second half more than the Asheboro ZooKeepers. It’s bound to get better. The college summer league has had unfortunate stop-and-go nature for the ZooKeepers, both from a team perspective and an individual level. The ZooKeepers were forced on the road and into several situations necessitating make-up games because of delayed renovations at McCrary Park. Then there’s…

29 Jun

Superintendent Gainey proud of how RCSS pulled together

Bob SuttonNewsRandolph County School System

ASHEBORO — Superintendent Stephen Gainey of the Randolph County School System said it was a satisfying school year in many respects for his district. “We stayed open,” he said earlier this month. “Just about back to normal as far as what we knew.” RCSS was among the most aggressive districts in the state in the 2020-21 school year in terms of moving toward in-person instruction. That approach remained in place for 2021-22. Gainey said there was across-the-board support for RCSS and its determination to run operations in a manner that made students and staff comfortable and engaged. “We navigated it…

28 Jun

Asheboro hires new principal with ties to high school

Bob SuttonNewsAsheboro Blue Comets, Asheboro City Schools, Eden Morehead, Education, New principal, Ryan Moody

ASHEBORO – Dr. Ryan Moody will start his job as the new principal of Asheboro High School in mid-July. He should know his way around. Moody’s hiring was announced last week. He comes after serving as principal of Morehead High School in Eden for four years. Moody replaces Dr. Penny Crooks, who has been with the city school system since 2003 and held the title of principal at the high school since 2019. She’s taking a position in the central office. Moody spent part of his youth in Asheboro schools. His mother, Nancy Moody, was an administrator for the city…

23 Jun

Baseball coach Smith adds Randleman’s AD title

Bob SuttonSportsJake Smith, nchsaa, piedmont athletic conference, Randleman athletics, Randleman baseball, Randleman High School

Jake Smith has led Randleman to back-to-back state championships in baseball and is taking on additional duties. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) State-champion baseball coach expands role at school RANDLEMAN – Randleman baseball coach Jake Smith has a new job, but he’s not going anywhere because of it. Smith, who has directed the Tigers to the past two Class 2-A state championships, is adding the athletics director title to his duties. “I’m going to try my hand at that a little bit,” Smith said. “It’s something I’m excited about.” He takes over for Ryan Dobias, who’s stepping aside from that role…

22 Jun

Final service set for Asheboro church

Bob SuttonEvents, NewsAsheboro churches, Religion, United Methodist Church

Giles Chapel United Methodist Church has been around for almost two centuries. (Courtesy photo). ASHEBORO – The final service for Giles Chapel United Methodist Church is scheduled for Sunday. The church has been in existence for 189 years in rural Asheboro. “So many families and individuals have passed through these halls and sat in the pews,” said an announcement about the ceasing of services. “Endless numbers of memories that have been made here, from weddings, Christmas celebrations, Easter celebrations, Baptism ceremonies, and watching people kneel down in front of the altar giving all their concerns and worries to God.…

22 Jun

REMC stresses ‘Stronger Together’ as members gather again

Bob SuttonEventsREMC, U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson

ASHEBORO — The theme for the Randolph Electric Membership Corporation’s annual meeting was “Stronger Together.” That certainly held relevance Friday night. The gathering for the 84th annual meeting was the first in-person event in three years for the cooperative. “Randolph EMC invests in our communities and in our young people because we believe we are stronger together,” said Jerry Bowman, board president of REMC. “We also invest in you, our member-owner, by returning excess revenue to you in the form of capital credits.” Secretary-treasurer Billy Maness reported that REMC the cooperative’s total assets and liabilities is at nearly $185 million,…

15 Jun

ZooKeepers need results to go with home comforts

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Zookeepers, Coastal Plain League, summer college baseball

Chase Waddell takes a swing for the Asheboro ZooKeepers during their game Sunday night against the Savannah Bananas at McCrary Park. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) ASHEBORO — The Asheboro ZooKeepers are starting to feel right at home in their partially renovated ballpark. To be sure, they’re glad to settle in at McCrary Park. “Oh my Gosh, it looks awesome,” said pitcher Danny Heintz said. “The whole thing.” Heintz has a particular perspective because the pitcher from the University of Pennsylvania also played in 2021 for Asheboro’s team in the Coastal Plain League. Because of delays in construction on the first…

15 Jun

Championships, individual excellence highlight spring prep season in county

Bob SuttonSportsbaseball, prep sports, Randleman, soccer, track and field, Wheatmore

Asheboro’s Arianna Lovingood-Smith’s makes an attempt in the high jump during the Class 3-A state championships last month at North Carolina A&T. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) There was plenty to digest for spring prep sports involving Randolph County teams in addition to Wheatmore’s girls’ soccer team and Randleman’s baseball team winning Class 2-A state championships. Those accomplishments were certainly among the highlights, but other developments deserve certain attention as well. Blue Comets jump ahead Asheboro’s girls’ track and field team won the program’s first conference championship by capturing the Mid-Piedmont Conference title. “We’ve had some good talent come through, but…

09 Jun

Commencement ceremonies move inside for RCSS; Almost 900 receive diplomas

Bob SuttonNewsCommencement 2022, randolph county, Randolph County School System, RCSS

Here was the message on graduation night outside Providence Grove High School, where members of the Class of 2022 received diplomas. (Bob Sutton/Randolph Record) There was one last set of hurdles for members of the Class of 2022 in the Randolph County School System. That was adjustments for commencement ceremonies Wednesday night. All of those activities were moved indoors as storms battered the area. Nearly 900 graduates received from the six high schools holding events. While RCSS officials attended various commencements, superintendent Stephen Gainey naturally was present at Southwestern Randolph. His daughter, Kaitlyn Gainey, was one of the graduates –…