Bob Sutton - Randolph Record

05 Dec

Prep Notes: Trinity players keep rapid scoring paces; Wrestlers win from Trinity, Wheatmore

Bob SuttonSportsAutumn Gentry, Dominic Payne, Prep Basketball, prep wrestling, Tyshaun Goldston

Tyshaun Goldston of Randleman dunks against Lexington during one of his big games last week. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) TRINITY – It was another big week for Trinity guard Dominic Payne. He racked up 32 points in a 66-53 victory at Jordan-Matthews. That was just the appetizer. He scored 27 points in a 61-45 victory against visiting North Carolina Leadership Academy. Then he finished the week in style by going for 42 points when the Bulldogs defeated host East Rowan 82-68. Payne wasn’t the only big scorer during the week for Trinity. Autumn Gentry poured in 33 points to go with…

03 Dec

Troutman returns to UCA, passes 1,000 points

Bob SuttonSportsAshton Troutman, piedmont athletic conference, Prep Basketball, UCA, Uwharrie Charter Academy

Ashton Troutman of Uwharrie Charter Academy goes up for a shot against Trinity last season. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record). ASHEBORO – Ashton Troutman returned to the Uwharrie Charter Academy boys’ basketball team and pretty much picked up where he left off. After spending a few months as a transfer at The Burlington School, Troutman decided to finish his high school career where it began. “It was just a lot (of reasons), nothing basketball related,” Troutman said of coming back to UCA. “I just had a good three years at Uwharrie and I missed what was going on. I was missing my…

07 Nov

Turnout strong for early voting in Randolph County

Bob SuttonNews, Politicsearly voting, Randolph County Board of Elections

The election sites, like this one in Asheboro, were busy at times during the past couple of weeks. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) Almost 27,000 residents cast ballots during early voting in Randolph County in advance of this week’s general election. The turnout proved particularly heavy on the final days. Of the 15 days used for early voting in the county, three of the heaviest four turnouts came in the last three days. The high total was Friday’s 2,742. Next was Oct. 24 – the fourth day of early voting – with 2,080. The third busiest day was Thursday with 2,068 and…

05 Nov

Brewer out as Asheboro’s football coach

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Asheboro City Schools, Asheboro football, Blake Brewer, Mid-Piedmont Conference

Blake Brewer gives instructions from the sideline during a 2021 game. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – Blake Brewer, who as an Asheboro football player had considerable success, couldn’t turn around the Blue Comets’ sluggish program as a coach and is no longer in that position. Brewer is done as the coach after three seasons. “I had every intention of continuing and putting our best foot forward,” Brewer said Monday. “We’re just behind. We just were not successful enough on Friday nights. That’s what it came down to.” Brewer said during a postseason meeting with principal Ryan Moody and athletics director…

03 Nov

New GM for ZooKeepers holds unique background

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Zookeepers, Coastal Plain League, College baseball, McCrary Park, Melissa Godwin, summer college baseball

Melissa Godwin has joined the front office of the Asheboro ZooKeepers. (Courtesy photo) ASHEBORO – Melissa Godwin has clear baseball connections and those could be a boost for the Asheboro ZooKeepers. Godwin is the team’s new general manager and director of baseball operations. She’s wife to UNC Greensboro baseball coach Billy Godwin. “My résumé is pretty good without Billy,” she said. “(Taking this job) was the culmination of everything I’ve done.” She’ll largely handle the ZooKeepers operations. Dennis Garcia, who had been in that role, will concentrate primarily on the American Legion programs that are McCrary Park tenants and the…

27 Oct

Liberty man repeats title with big watermelon

Bob SuttonFeaturesAndrew Vial, Liberty, North Carolina State Fair, watermelons

RALEIGH — Andrew Vial of Liberty calls his watermelon-growing expertise a hobby. It’s a pretty good one. Vial was the winner again in the Great Pumpkin & Watermelon Weigh-off that’s associated with the North Carolina State Fair at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds. Vial was the winner with an entry of 306 pounds. There were 22 watermelons entered into the contest. A year ago, Vial’s 341-pound entry was the largest in the history of the N.C. State Fair. Vial, 39, puts in up to 60 hours a week tending to his crop of watermelons. Second place went to Patrick VanBeck…

21 Oct

McCrary Park takes on another new look

Bob SuttonNews, SportsAmerican Legion baseball, Asheboro Zookeepers, City of Asheboro, Coastal Plain League, McCrary Park, Randolph County Post 45

The grandstand has been flattened at McCrary Park as another phase of the renovation is in the works at the baseball park in Asheboro. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) ASHEBORO — The grandstand is gone, and renovations are picking up again at McCrary Park. This latest development marks the latest phase in the upgrades for the baseball park. “It’s a lot of work to do,” said Ronnie Pugh, an owner of the Coastal Plain League’s Asheboro ZooKeepers. “It’s moving along, and it’s pretty exciting. It can’t happen soon enough.” For any past visitors, the sight of the grandstand no longer in place might…

13 Oct

Public encouraged to express views on air quality

Bob SuttonNewsGreensboro-Randolph megasite, North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, Toyota

LIBERTY — With such a major project involving the Greensboro-Randolph megasite, there are bound to be new topics that might create attention in the region. One of them is air quality. The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Air Quality is seeking public comment on a draft air quality permit modification for the Toyota Battery Manufacturing facility. “We want to solicit public comment before we make any decision,” said Shawn Taylor, a public information officer with the department. “We’re really hoping to hear from the people, both pro and con.” A change of classification is requested. Public comments will…

06 Oct

Nixed festivals will have to wait until next year

Bob SuttonEventsFall Festival, Hurricane Ian, NASCAR Day Festival, Randleman Chamber of Commerce, Randolph Arts Guild

ASHEBORO — Two major festivals in Randolph County were called off last weekend because of weather concerns related to the impact from Hurricane Ian. The Fall Festival in Asheboro and NASCAR Day Festival in Randleman were wiped off the schedule. The Randolph Arts Guild, which manages the event in Asheboro, announced the decision to nix the event. “for the safety of our vendors, entertainers, attendees, sponsors, and downtown merchants,” according to a statement from the guild. The group cited an executive order from Gov. Roy Cooper, who declared a state of emergency on Wednesday as the path of Hurricane Ian…

05 Oct

Power restored after storm punishes county

Bob SuttonNewsHurricane Ian, power outages, REMC

A tree fell across Park Street and power lines in Asheboro during the storm. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) ASHEBORO — About one-third of the accounts for Randolph Electric Membership Corporation experienced some sort of power outage stemming from the leftovers from Hurricane Ian. REMC reported that all power had been restored by early Sunday morning. “I am proud and appreciative of our line personnel and support team for going the extra mile for our members,” said Dale Lambert, CEO of REMC. “As always, our team worked as safely and efficiently as possible to repair the damage.” The cooperative said that crews…