Bob Sutton - Randolph Record

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 –…

08 Jun

Post 81 takes satisfaction by topping county rival Post 45

Bob SuttonSportsAmerican Legion baseball, Craven Stadium, Post 45, Post 81, randolph county

Shortstop Nate Gardner played a key role for Post 81 in its victory against Randolph County Post 45. (PJ Ward-Brown/North State Journal file photo) RAMSEUR – It felt like an important game for Eastern Randolph Post 81 in the American Legion rematch with in-county rival Randolph County Post 45. The outcome seemed huge as well. “It’s big for Post 81 and Eastern Randolph district,” said center fielder Brody Gardner. “We don’t do it very often.” That’s because Post 81 pulled off a 15-6 victory Tuesday night at Craven Stadium. This was no sure-thing result. A nine-run outburst in the bottom…

08 Jun

Zoo hooks up more hiking options

Bob SuttonFeaturesAsheboro, hiking trails, North Carolina Zoo, Purgatory Mountain

ASHEBORO — Another trail opened during the weekend as part of the North Carolina Zoo’s system and this one has a theme that might intrigue many folks in Randolph County. The grand opening of the completed Purgatory Mountain Trail Network was held as part of Saturday’s National Trails Day. A moonshining component was highlighted as part of the weekend hike. That seemed appropriate to Randolph County commissioner Hope Haywood. “If we think about history and culture, the moonshine trail is also closely connected to another part of our culture, which is the pottery culture here,” she said. “Our potters got…

04 Jun

Tigers cherish title repeat in state finals

Bob SuttonNews, SportsBrooks Brannon, Burlington Athletic Stadium, Class 2-A, nchsaa, Randleman athletics, Randleman baseball, Ryan White

Randleman baseball players celebrate after the final out of the Class 2-A state finals. (PJ Ward-Brown/North State Journal) Randleman finishes remarkable postseason run BURLINGTON – It was even better this time for Randleman baseball players. They should know. With the core of the team intact, the Tigers repeated as Class 2-A state champions with another emphatic result. “Senior year, a good way to go out,” center fielder Braylen Hayes said. Randleman capped a sterling season with Saturday afternoon’s 12-5 victory against Whiteville in Game 2 of the championship series at Burlington Athletic Stadium. “My last game is winning another state…

04 Jun

Randleman begins state finals with no-hitter, another record

Bob SuttonSportsBrooks Brannon, Burlington Athletic Stadium, Class 2-A, Drake Purvis, nchsaa, Randleman athletics, Randleman baseball

Here's Drake Purvis of Randleman after his no-hitter against Whiteville to begin the Class 2-A state finals. (Bob Sutton/Randolph Record) BURLINGTON – Randleman’s baseball team wants to repeat its Class 2-A state championship this weekend and the Tigers were in a reminiscing mood based on Game 1 of the title series. How does another no-hitter sound? That’s two in a row in the state finals on the same field, dating to last June. Drake Purvis’ masterful 12-strikeout performance boosted the Tigers in a 10-0 victory against Whiteville on Friday night at Burlington Athletic Stadium. There was yet another state record…

03 Jun

History runs deep for Class 2-A title contenders Randleman, Whiteville

Bob SuttonSportsClass 2-A, high school athletics, nchsaa, Randleman, Randleman athletics, Randleman baseball, Tigers, Whiteville

Powerhouse teams Randleman and Whiteville will meet in the best-of-3 state finals for Class 2-A at Burlington Athletic Stadium. (Bob Sutton/Randolph Record) This Randleman-Whiteville championship matchup, beginning at 8 p.m. Friday at Burlington Athletic Stadium, is ripe with historical overtones. Randleman is in the finals for the sixth time in a 11-season span in which the postseason was conducted. The COVID-19 pandemic wiped out most of the 2020 season, including the playoffs. The Tigers won the 2011 title and then lost in the 2012 finals to Whiteville, were beaten by South Granville in 2015 and fell to North Lincoln in…