Bob Sutton - Randolph Record

11 Aug

Austin, York retire from county jobs

Bob SuttonGovernment, News

ASHEBORO – Two longtime Randolph County employees have retired this summer, diminishing the level of experience in a couple of departments. Melissa Austin retired after 36 years in the tax department. Danny York has stepped away after 26 years in building inspections. “We can’t replace 62 years of experience from our county,” commissioners board chairman Darrell Frye said. Austin began in a part-time role at age 19. She ended her career as the department’s personal property and business property supervisor. “Melissa’s work was always performed at a high level of proficiency and significantly exceeded job requirements,” tax department administrator Debra…

11 Aug

County set to buy emergency equipment

Bob SuttonGovernment, NewsAnn Shaw, Darrell Frye, landfill, Maxton McDowell

ASHEBORO — Randolph County commissioners approved more than $1 million in purchases for the emergency services department at its August meeting. There were unanimous votes for two ambulances at a total of $489,548 and 16 cardiac monitor/ defibrillators at a total of $534,869. Both purchases will come from budgeted funds. The 2021 model ambulances could be in place by December. As for the defibrillators, emergency services chief Donovan Davis said a trade-in of 11 monitors means there’s a savings of about $137,000 that’s calculated into the purchase. Battle joins council Alvin Battle, who was a member of North Carolina State’s…

04 Aug

Post 45 vies for another regional title

Bob SuttonSportsAmerican Legion, Asheboro, McCrary Park, Post 45

ASHEBORO — It’s a well-rested Randolph County Post 45 baseball team competing in this week’s American Legion postseason games at McCrary Park. Perhaps experience is on Post 45’s side along with homefield advantage for the eight-team Mid-Atlantic Regional. Randolph County begins its quest to make the national tournament by taking on Allentown, N.J., at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. The five-day regional runs through Sunday. The winner advances to the American Legion World Series later this month in Shelby. Also on the opening-day regional docket is Harrisburg (Pa.) Post 370 vs. Wilmington (Del.) Post 1; Ridge (Md.) Post 255 vs. Pottstown, Pa.;…

04 Aug

Scoring big for Faith Christian

Bob SuttonSportsEducation, Faith Christian, Ramseur, schools, Trevor Brunson

With more than 2,000 points, Brunson reached new heights RAMSEUR — By the time Trevor Brunson reached the high school grades at Faith Christian, he was well-known on and off the basketball court. His name figures to last in the athletic department’s record books for quite some time. Brunson finished with 2,045 career points, averaging about 23 points per game in the process in a four-year varsity career. This was in the works for quite some time since he moved up to the junior varsity while still in eighth grade. “I got a lot of experience playing against older guys,”…

04 Aug

Farmer’s baseball championship revisited

Bob SuttonEntertainment, NewsAsheboro, Farmer, Just Plowboys, Sunset Theater

New version of documentary to be shown in Asheboro ASHEBORO — When filmmaker Michael Bronfenbrenner heard a few details about a small-town baseball team from several decades ago, it perked his interest. From there, it became an obsession to tell the backstories of the 1970 Farmer High School baseball team. “Oh my gosh, this should be a film,” Bronfenbrenner said of his reaction. A revised version of the film, Just Plowboys, will be shown at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday at Sunset Theatre in Asheboro. Woody Younts was the coach of the team that captured the Class A state…

04 Aug

Ford counts on rural health connections

Bob SuttonBusiness, NewsAsheboro, healthcare, Randolph Health, Tim Ford

Hospital’s new CEO looks to foster new feelings related to medical facility ASHEBORO – Tim Ford says understanding the importance of a medical facility in a mostly rural setting might be his most vital asset as he oversees operations at Randolph Hospital. He hopes to foster a new era at the once-bankrupt hospital. “There’s kind of a different feeling that the hospital is out of bankruptcy and the uncertainty (that came with it),” Ford said. “That we’re moving forward.” Upon the sale to American Healthcare Systems, Ford became CEO of Randolph Health on July 1, though he had been on…

29 Jul

Copperheads navigate tricky season, seek playoff spot

Bob SuttonSportsCooperheads

ASHEBORO -- Closing in on the completion of a full season is an accomplishment in many ways for the Asheboro Copperheads, who are about to wrap up their Coastal Plain League baseball schedule. For first-year head coach Jeremy Knight, the challenges showed up at just about every turn but he was happy to have the chance to navigate the season. “Doing stuff like this is a great opportunity for me,” Knight said. A spot in the CPL postseason seems possible for the Copperheads, who entered the last week of the regular season playing at about a .500 clip for the…

29 Jul

City explores major McCrary Park renovations

Bob SuttonGovernment, Sports

Ballpark overhaul includes several stages, fundraising needs ASHEBORO -- The Asheboro City Council is looking for a collaborative project involving public and private money for a major renovation of McCrary Park. The city-owned baseball facility attracts thousands of visitors a year and a facelift is in order, council members have said. “We see this investment as a true form of economic development,” mayor David Smith said. “Tournaments and ball games at McCrary Park consistently bring people to Asheboro businesses throughout the spring and summer. These improvements will further strength our partnership with the American Legion baseball program, Copperheads baseball and…

28 Jul

Randolph County schools end mask mandate

Bob SuttonNews, PoliticsEducation, randolph county, schools

Deadline to sign up for virtual learning looms ASHEBORO — Cloth face coverings will be optional in the Randolph County School System when classes begin next month, a logical next step in returning closer to normal, district superintendent Steven Gainey said Tuesday. “This is giving people their option,” Gainey said. “The board just felt like it should be the individual decision. … The board and I have been listening to questions about cloth facing coverings for several weeks.” Last week, Gov. Roy Cooper announced the upcoming elimination of many mask mandates. However, he also recommended that students in grades K-8…

28 Jul

Foust continues to shine in showcase event

Bob SuttonSportsProvidence Grove

Basketball player becomes first from Providence Grove as N.C. East-West All-Star ASHEBORO -- When playing for Providence Grove, Jonathan Foust made steady improvements on the basketball court the past couple of seasons. “Once he got comfortable, he did some really good things,” coach Wes Luther said. Much of that could apply to how Foust handled his role last week in the North Carolina East-West All-Star game. “I had a great time,” Foust said. “It was different from what I’m used to.” Luther became the first participant in any sport from Providence Grove to be selected for a North Carolina East-West…