Bob Sutton - Randolph Record

15 Sep

Wolfspeed should have impact in Randolph County

Bob SuttonNewsCarolina Core, Chatham County, randolph county, Siler City, Wolfspeed Inc.

SILER CITY — Randolph County officials had roles in helping secure a major industrial project for nearby Siler City. Certainly, the impact will be felt in neighboring counties when Wolfspeed, Inc. cranks up operations in 2023 in Chatham County. The 1,800 new jobs should be created by 2030. Wolfspeed will construct a manufacturing campus for the production of Silicon Carbide materials. The governor’s office reported that an investment of approximately $5 billion across the next eight years will be made in the Town of Siler City. Founded and headquartered in Durham, Wolfspeed is described as a global leader in the…

13 Sep

Area Prep Notes: Asheboro hits pause in volleyball season; Blue Comets excel in soccer

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Mid-Piedmont Conference, prep cross country, prep soccer, Prep volleyball

Cristian Ortiz, right, of Asheboro makes a move on Southwestern Randolph’s Richard Dominguez during a boys’ soccer game earlier this season. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – The Asheboro volleyball team hoped to be back in action this week after a health-related pause. The Blue Comets called off two matches last week and another for Monday night. Athletics director Wes Berrier said five team members were hit by COVID-19, so team activities were shut down. A Mid-Piedmont Conference match with Oak Grove was reset for Thursday at South Asheboro Middle School, which is the team’s temporary home court. A non-conference match…

09 Sep

Area Sports Briefs: Fall baseball league nears; Poole, Shiflet help college teams; Check on Caraway

Bob SuttonSportsCaraway speedway, Dominick Poole, McCrary Park, Payton Shiflet, Prep baseball

Fall league approaches for area high schools ASHEBORO – The annual fall baseball league that involves teams representing high schools around the region is set to begin next week at McCrary Park. Seven teams will participate, representing Asheboro, Uwharrie Charter Academy, Chatham Central, Jordan-Matthews, Lee County, Montgomery Central and North Moore. There are two games on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays beginning at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., with one game Thursday at 6 p.m. Each team will play two games per week. The Asheboro ZooKeepers organization is the host for the league. Poole plays role for Citadel in opener…

08 Sep

NCDOT meeting draws big turnout in Liberty

Bob SuttonNewsGreensboro-Randolph megasite, Liberty, North Carolina DOT, Toyota

New road patterns are in place along U.S. 421 and Browns Meadow Road near Liberty. (PJ Brown-Ward/Randolph Record) LIBERTY – There was considerable interest from Randolph County residents at a public meeting held by the North Carolina Department of Transportation to discuss potential changes based on the Greensboro-Randolph megasite. There were 247 attendees signing in for last week’s session. “That’s sizable,” said Harris Kay, a communications officer with NCDOT. “That’s what we want, people coming to ask questions.” Liberty Town Hall was packed with members of the public at some points during the two-hour meeting. There’s much curiosity about the…

02 Sep

Goodwill expands in Randolph County with Liberty store

Bob SuttonFeaturesGoodwill, Goodwill Industries, Liberty, Triad Goodwill

Shoppers took advantage of the grand opening of the new Goodwill store in Liberty. (Courtesy photo) LIBERTY – A Goodwill Industries store and donation center opened in Liberty a few weeks ago, becoming the fourth such location in Randolph County. “We are so excited to be part of the Liberty community and have already been blown away by the generosity of the donors in the area,” said Brady Craven, district manager for Triad Goodwill. “Right when people saw our signs go up, we were welcomed with bags and literal truckloads of donations.” The store has gently used and new clothing…

01 Sep

Second year means more identity for Trinity Middle School

Bob SuttonFeaturesAaron Barr, Randolph County School System, Trinity Middle School

ARCHDALE – Year 2 for Trinity Middle School has arrived, and it should feel more like home for students and staff. “It does,” principal Aaron Barr said. “It’s a continuation of last year.” A year ago, the opening of the new school was a special occasion, though it also came with normal challenges. There was a merging of students from previous schools that became part of the process. “Everybody was kind of trying to feel their way,” Barr said. “You’re getting the culture of a new school worked out.” Classes began this week for the new school year in the…

30 Aug

Prep Notes: Asheboro to move to another volleyball venue

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, nchsaa, prep soccer, prep sports, Salem Lee

Wheatmore senior Haley Pease spikes the ball during Monday night's victory at East Davidson. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – The Asheboro volleyball team is moving practices and matches to South Asheboro Middle School from Sept. 8-26. For the second season in a row, the Blue Comets have been displaced from the high school’s gym because of the massive construction and renovation project taking place on campus. The Blue Comets had been using North Asheboro Middle School as its home facility. This latest move comes as repairs to the gym floor at North Asheboro Middle School are scheduled to begin next…

28 Aug

Former Ramseur man runs summer baseball circuit for college-age players

Bob SuttonSportsAlec Allred, College baseball, Craven Stadium, Eastern Randolph Post 81, Faith Christian, Old North State League, summer college baseball

Alec Allred oversees the Old North State League. RAMSEUR – Alec Allred is making a career out of baseball and it’s not on the field. He’s the president of the Old North State League, a summer college circuit that wrapped up what he called a successful season earlier this summer. “This is my full-time job now, trying to coordinate everything,” Allred said. “It’s a lot that goes into it, but it’s a ton of fun.” Allred, 27, is from Ramseur and a 2014 graduate of Faith Christian. His family has largely overseen Eastern Randolph Post 81’s program on the…

26 Aug

Post 45 could have core of roster back next year

Bob SuttonSportsAdam Cole, American Legion baseball, Braylen Hayes, McCrary Park, Post 45, Randleman baseball, Randolph County Post 45, Ronnie Pugh, Southeast Regional, Tanner Marsh, Trey Way, Tyler Parks

Alex Martinez, shown here batting for Randolph County Post 45 during the Southeast Regional earlier this month in Asheboro, could be among the team's returning players for 2023. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – When the season ended for Randolph County Post 45 earlier this month, it was a downer. The team lost back-to-back games to be eliminated from the Southeast Regional in American Legion baseball in its home ballpark. Yet there might have been a ray of hope regarding the future that day at McCrary Park. “Only three of our 17 players are gone,” Randolph County manager Ronnie Pugh…

24 Aug

Things to know as school year about to begin in Randolph County

Bob SuttonNewsAsheboro City Schools, Randolph County School System, Randolph County Schools

ASHEBORO – The first day of classes is set for Monday at public schools around Randolph County. Here are a few things to know: Administrators in place The Randolph County School System made several new appointments for the school year during its August board of education meeting. They were: Judi Cagle, principal at Farmer Elementary; Shawn Garrett, assistant principal at Eastern Randolph high school; Jessica Green, assistant principal at Randleman High School; Stephanie Hatcher, assistant principal at Southwestern Randolph Middle School. Food for thought Kelly Green, director of school nutrition for RCSS, said there are 30 total positions vacant within…