Bob Sutton - Randolph Record

24 Aug

Concerns calmed about Asheboro water

Bob SuttonNewsAsheboro, water

Annual changeover brings unusual volume of questions for city ASHEBORO — There has been plenty of curiosity about the status of City of Asheboro water during the past few weeks, but the good news is that there’s really no new news. “Nothing out of the ordinary,” said Bryan Lanier, manager for the city’s water treatment plant. The city’s annual month-long use of a pure chlorine treatment to help ensure a high level of disinfection in water mains concludes this week – with a return to the standard practices set for Aug. 30. For the other 11 months, a chloramines treatment…

22 Aug

Blue Comets collect early prize

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro, Education, football, Randleman, schools, sports

Asheboro pulls opening surprise at Randleman RANDLEMAN — Asheboro’s football team won for the first time in more than 600 days to open the season. Now the Blue Comets will have their sights set on more conquests. After a winless record in seven games when the 2020 season was shifted to this past spring, Asheboro might have been largely dismissed as a factor entering the new campaign. That was far from the case in Friday night’s season-opening 20-7 conquering of Randleman. “We proved that we got the talent,” linebacker / running back Qamelo Butler said. Asheboro plays its home opener…

20 Aug

Uwharrie Charter Academy lends support to South Sudan

Bob SuttonNewsEducation, schools

Local school digs helping role ASHEBORO — It seems like a world away for Uwharrie Charter Academy seventh graders, but helping people on another continent find fresh water tends to hit home. For the past five years, students in Suzanne Bryant’s classes have raised money in what’s called the Iron Giraffe Challenge to support water for South Sudan. “The students were very interested,” Bryant said. “Probably close to 700 students have been involved.” That’s because members of the first group to take part in the project have just entered their senior year at the school. Because the school has sent…

20 Aug

Schools embrace new conferences

Bob SuttonSports

Aside from Asheboro, county schools clustered together ASHEBORO — Randolph County schools largely got what they’ve been hoping for in the latest realignment involving the North Carolina High School Athletic Association. The new sports season begins this week and that means the area teams are clustered together in one conference, with the exception of Asheboro High School. But with seven in-county schools all in the same league, the benefits are numerous. “We have wanted this for a while,” said Charlie Chapman, a longtime athletics administrator and coach in the county. “This worked out real good.” Chapman will be the commissioner…

20 Aug

Two file for mayor’s race in Trinity

Bob SuttonGovernment, Newsgovernment, politics, Trinity

Candidates view dealing with development as key topic ASHEBORO — Two candidates will square off for the mayor’s position in Trinity. Sitting mayor Richard McNabb will be opposed by Veronica (Vickee) Armstrong in the Nov. 2 election. McNabb said he sees unfinished business, while Armstrong said she’ll focus on a long-term vision for the community. McNabb was appointed to the position in February 2020 to fill the unexpired term of late mayor Jesse Hill. Prior to that, McNabb spent about a dozen years on the city’s planning and zoning boards, serving as chairman for about half that time. “Somebody has…

19 Aug

New football season begins with chance to upgrade point totals

Bob SuttonSportsfootball, randolph county, sports

Getting the offenses going could be the main mission for Randolph County football teams as the season begins this week. The scheduled openers come Friday night. The 2020 season was wiped out in its traditional manner because of the pandemic. Teams played that season during the spring semester of 2021, so the offseason was shortened. Area teams will hope that was enough to figure out how to crank up the offenses. RANDLEMAN Randleman was an exception to the sluggish offenses for area teams. The Tigers had nine players score at least one touchdown a year ago. Randleman is 32-3 across…

12 Aug

Forty years of flowers

Bob SuttonBusiness, NewsAsheboro, Burge Flower Shop, business, retail

Asheboro woman has designs on customer satisfaction for local shop ASHEBORO — For many of the big occasions for residents around Randolph County, Bettina Hunter has been a part of those. Even if she’s not present at a particular function. But it’s her work in floral design that has provided this form of outreach. “We see them from when they’re born and all the big moments – the happy moments, the sad moments,” Hunter said of customers at Burge Flower Shop. The Asheboro woman completed 40 years of employment at the shop in July – and she’s not ready to…

12 Aug

SWR’s Parks picks Tar Heels for baseball

Bob SuttonSportsEducation, schools, sports, UNC

ASHEBORO — Tyler Parks says he has lots of things he needs to do regarding baseball across his final two years of high school with Southwestern Randolph. Selecting a college destination isn’t one of them. Parks made a verbal commitment to play for North Carolina, a choice that was solidified Friday. “When they offered, I took it the next day,” Parks said of his goal to play for the Tar Heels. “It has been a dream of mine ever since middle school. I grew up watching Carolina play.” Parks, a member of the Class of 2023, is primarily an infielder.…

12 Aug

Construction on campus means different venues for Blue Comets

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro High School, Education, schools

ASHEBORO — Many of Asheboro High School’s teams will be on the move this school year, playing at alternate venues while a construction project is ongoing at the school. The changes largely will impact volleyball, basketball and wrestling teams, though some teams that play at outdoor venues also will be affected. “There’s a lot of moving parts right now,” athletics director Steve Luck said. “Everything is going to be OK, but we haven’t started doing anything yet other than practice. … There’s changes just about every moment. I feel like I have my head on a swivel like a linebacker.”…

12 Aug

Marsh finds value in hometown summer

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro, Coastal Plain League, Copperheads, Education, schools, UNCW, Wilmington

Asheboro grad gives thumbs-up to season with Copperheads ASHEBORO — A summer of baseball in his hometown was just the right thing for Trevor Marsh. Marsh, an Asheboro High School graduate, took advantage of his role with the Asheboro Copperheads. He said it was well worth his time. “It was more than I expected. I didn’t think the experience was going to be as good as it was,” Marsh said. He was a make-up of sorts from last summer, when he was slated to play for the Copperheads before the 2020 season was scrapped because of the pandemic. The Coastal…