Bob Sutton - Randolph Record

02 Nov

Early voting draws more to polls

Bob SuttonGovernment, News, Politics2021, election

Candidates and poll workers gather outside the polling place at Sunset Avenue Church of God on Election Day 2021 in Asheboro. (L-R) Justin Lee, Asheboro City School Board candidate Hailey Trollinger Lee, Asheboro city councilman Walker Moffitt, poll worker Laura King, school board member Baxter Hammer, school board member Beth Knott and poll worker Nicki McKenzie (The North State Journal) ASHEBORO — Early voting turnout was higher this year than in recent municipal elections on odd-numbered years in Randolph County. The 13 days of early voting drew a total of 1,288 voters to the Randolph County Board of Elections office…

01 Nov

ER, Providence Grove, SWR to open football playoffs at home

Bob SuttonSportsEastern Randolph, football, Providence Grove, Randleman, Southwestern Randolph, SWR

ASHEBORO — Three football teams from Randolph County will play in home games to begin the state playoffs, though one of them will have to wait an extra week before playing. Undefeated Eastern Randolph (9-0) is the No. 1 seed for the Class 1-A West Region, receiving a bye to the second week of the playoffs. That’s when the Wildcats will be slated for a home game Nov. 12 against the Draughn / Elkin winner. Eighth-seeded Providence Grove (8-2) and 16th-seeded Southwestern Randolph (8-2) will open the Class 2-A states at home Friday night. Providence Grove takes on No. 25…

29 Oct

Four soccer teams to start states at home

Bob SuttonSportsAHS, Asheboro, Eastern Randolph, Education, schools, soccer, Trinity, UCA, Uwharrie Charter

Uwharrie Charter Academy's Max DeNamur takes a shot on goal against Wheatmore during their conference soccer game last month in Asheboro. PJ WARD-BROWN/NORTH STATE JOURNAL ASHEBORO — Four boys’ soccer teams from Randolph County schools will open the state playoffs with home games Monday. Asheboro tops the list as a No. 4 seed in the West Region bracket for Class 3-A. The Blue Comets (14-1-3) take on North Lincoln in the first round. Asheboro gained the top spot for seeding out of the Mid-Piedmont Conference after it tied with Ledford in the regular season. Both teams had 8-0-2 records, though…

27 Oct

Halloween events geared toward youth, adults in Asheboro

Bob SuttonEntertainment, NewsHalloween, holidays

City to hold drive-thru, while car club gears up for festive cruising on Saturday, October 30 ASHEBORO — At least two major Halloween-related activities are slated for Asheboro on Saturday, one geared toward youth and the other more oriented toward youth and adults. Either way, the intent is to provide good times for all involved. The 13th annual Trick or Treat in the Park is put on by the City of Asheboro’s Cultural and Recreation Service department. For the second year in a row, it will be a drive-thru event at Bicentennial Park as part of pandemic-based precautions. “Because this…

25 Oct

Restaurant to open in former Dixie III building

Bob SuttonEntertainment, NewsDixie III, PawPaw's Place, restaurants

Paw-Paw’s Place to add location ASHEBORO – Paw-Paw’s Place is expanding, with a second location to fill a void at a recently closed business. The family-style restaurant will take the spot where Dixie III long held a presence on East Dixie Drive in Asheboro. “We’re adding a location,” Paw-Paw’s Place owner Mitchell Simmons said Monday. “I’ve been looking to expand. It was a good fit for us.” Simmons said he’s aiming to open the second location within the next 30 days, hoping to nail down a date within a week or two. “I’m pushing for the next 30 days,” he…

20 Oct

Patriots primed for crucial busy slate

Bob SuttonSportsfootball, Providence Grove, sports

Providence Grove's Zane Cheek scores a touchdown in the first quarter against Trinity in a 49-14 victory Monday night in Cilmax. PJ WARD-BROWN/NORTH STATE JOURNAL Providence Grove treads through hectic week of games CLIMAX – A schedule packed with critical games is coming fast for Providence Grove’s football team. The importance of each of those continues to be magnified for the Patriots, who’ll play for the third time in eight days Friday night when Southwestern Randolph visits. “I told our guys that as long as I’ve done it, I’ve never done anything like this,” coach Calvin Brown said Monday…

20 Oct

Quite a Fair growth spurt

Bob SuttonBusiness, Entertainment, Government, News, StateLiberty, NC State Fair, watermelons

Andrew Vial of Liberty brought the largest watermelon in North Carolina State Fair history (The North State Journal) Liberty man sets mark with large watermelons ASHEBORO — Andrew Vial calls growing big watermelons a hobby. Yet for the Liberty man, it’s truly a passion. He took another watermelon to a big stage and collected another special distinction. His 341-pound watermelon was the largest ever at the North Carolina State Fair in Raleigh. “You just don’t get melons like that every day,” Vial said. Vial, who calls his remodeling carpentry work his full-time job, said he logs 50 to 60 hours…

20 Oct

Eastern Randolph makes shift to 1-A classification

Bob SuttonSportsEastern Randolph, Education, schools, sports

Eastern Randolph’s Davonte Brooks runs the ball against Southwestern Randolph during a Piedmont Athletic Conference football game Oct. 1 in Ramseur. PJ WARD-BROWN/NORTH STATE JOURNAL RAMSEUR – For a school with so much athletic success through the years, it might be strange to view Eastern Randolph as the little guy. But that’s how the Wildcats are listed when it comes to the North Carolina High School Athletic Association. Eastern Randolph is a Class 1-A school, reflecting the group with the smallest enrollment. “For 1-A, we’re not bad,” football coach Burton Cates said. In football, the Wildcats are undefeated this season…

13 Oct

Aviation event set for visit from Golden Knights

Bob SuttonEntertainment, Newsairplanes, Golden Knights, Kim Markham, Wayne Broome

Sky divers, fly-in could attract thousands this weekend ASHEBORO – The North Carolina Aviation Museum and Hall of Fame counts on events to keep its operations running. It has a big one this weekend. The U.S. Army Golden Knights will perform as part of the fly-in Saturday. “We got a chance to get the Golden Knights,” said Wayne Broome, chairman of the museum’s board of directors. “We met people who knew people. … The Golden Knights take (the event) to the highest level that I thought we could be. It’s rare that they would come to a small event. I…

06 Oct

Warriors maintain high level in tennis

Bob SuttonSportsProvidence Grove, tennis, Wheatmore

Wheatmore girls hone in on another conference title TRINITY — Some of the key players have changed from just a few months ago but the rate of success related to the Wheatmore girls’ tennis team remains at a high level. “The key is having a solid team,” coach Doug Gore said. “The girls have worked really hard in the offseason.” The Warriors entered the week on the verge of clinching a conference championship for the third year in a row. Wheatmore is paced by returning starters Kara Comer in the No. 1 position and Kelly Carrick in the No. 3…