Blog - Randolph Record

01 Mar

HUDSON: There’s no place like home

U.S. Rep. Richard HudsonOpinions911 operators, Congress, editorial, north carolina, opinion, randolph county, Richard Hudson, US Rep

It’s been a busy start to the year under a new Republican majority in the U.S. House. Yet last week, it sure was good to be home. It’s so important to travel across this district and hear from you about issues facing our community and nation. One thing is for sure—Washington needs more common sense and less government bureaucracy. Each week, I try to bring some of that North Carolina wisdom back to our nation’s capital. In order to best address the challenges you and our communities are facing, I stayed busy over the work period and held roundtable discussions…

01 Mar

Randolph Electric Membership Corp. helps purchase new fire engines

Randolph RecordNewsfire engines, funding, Moore County, randolph county, Randolph Electric Membership Corp, REMC, USDA

Last week, Randolph Electric Membership Corporation (REMC) officials presented state and local fire representatives with checks to assist with purchasing new fire engines. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) awarded the REMC grants for each fire truck – $225,000 to Robbins Fire Rescue in Moore County and $360,000 to the Ulah Volunteer Fire Department in Randolph County – through the Rural Economic Development Loan & Grant program. “We are thankful to receive this funding from Randolph EMC,” said Charlotte King, fire chief of Ulah VFD. “This new fire engine will benefit the residents and businesses of southern Randolph County,…

01 Mar

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Payton Purdue

Randolph RecordSportsathlete of the week, Eastern Randolph, girls' basketball, high school basketball, Payton Purdue, Prep Basketball, prep sports, student athlete

Eastern Randolph, girls’ basketball Eastern Randolph had a breakthrough season in girls’ basketball, and Purdue, a senior, played a significant role. The team secured its first winning season in six years. Purdue was one of three seniors on the Eastern Randolph roster. She was the starting center. The Wildcats reached the third round of the Class 1-A state playoffs. They finished with a 19-8 record.

01 Mar

New male lion officially arrives at NC Zoo

Randolph RecordNewsanimals, Haji, lion, NC Zoo, zoo

ASHEBORO — A new lion residing at the North Carolina Zoo is available to be seen by the public as of last week. All 400 pounds of him. The 3-year-old male lion, Haji, came from Audobon Zoo in New Orleans. He’ll be a companion for Mekita, 13. Haji and Mekita are on a rotating schedule where guests can see them in their habitat. Guests should be able to spot Haji by his growing mane, which is mohawk style. His mane will continue to grow and darken as he ages. “We’re excited our guests now get to see Haji more often,”…

01 Mar

Prep basketball: Eastern Randolph boys keep season going, win regional semi on road

Randolph RecordSportsclass 1-A, Class 2-A, Devonte Brooks, Eastern Randolph athletics, Elizabeth York, Gracyn Hall, Johnny Thomas, nchsaa, Pierce Leonard, Prep Basketball, Randleman athletics, Timothy Brower

Coach Johnny Thomas makes a postgame video with his Eastern Randolph boys’ basketball team after winning the Class 1-A West Region semifinal at South Stokes. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) WALNUT COVE – Pierce Leonard scored 10 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter and Eastern Randolph rallied past South Stokes to continue its best postseason in program history. The Wildcats put together a strong second half to pull out the Class 1-A West Region semifinal, winning 74-71 on Tuesday night. “I told them, ‘I am proud of you. We’ve had a long season, but this is not it,’ ” first-year…

28 Feb

New-look Tigers keep lofty goals for baseball season

Bob SuttonSportsClass 2-A, Hunter Atkins, Jake Smith, nchsaa, piedmont athletic conference, Randleman athletics, Randleman baseball, Seth Way

Randleman coach Jake Smith receives a water bath courtesy of Riley Edwards after the Tigers won the 2022 state championship in Burlington. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) Randleman’s baseball team embarks on another season of high expectations RANDLEMAN – Randleman has been at the top of the Class 2-A baseball world in the state for the past two years. Going into this season, the Tigers are going to look different. The goals haven’t changed. “It’s exciting for the kids, a lot of them waiting their turn,” coach Jake Smith said. “I think we’ve got a lot of guys who are excited about…

27 Feb

New Eastern Randolph baseball coach holds ties in region

Bob SuttonSportsBrent Haynes, Eastern Randolph athletics, Eastern Randolph baseball, Hunter Atkins, Prep baseball, Tyler Parks

RAMSEUR – Brent Haynes figured that he would land a job as a head coach for a baseball team when the right opportunity came around. Eastern Randolph athletics director Foster Cates had the same thing in mind for Haynes. So this week, Haynes begins his first season as coach of the Wildcats. “I’m pumped up. I’ve always wanted to have my own program,” Haynes said. “To have the opportunity present itself is pretty exciting for me.” Eastern Randolph was in need of a coach last summer after Mitchell Frazier stepped away. “I had been telling (Haynes) that when we had…

26 Feb

Shore likes set-up with UCA baseball

Bob SuttonSportsGrant Little, Old North State League, piedmont athletic conference, Prep baseball, Rob Shore, Uwharrie Charter Academy

ASHEBORO – Rob Shore knows what it takes to be successful in high school baseball and he likes what he sees entering his first season as Uwharrie Charter Academy’s coach. Shore moved up to the top spot after one season as an assistant when Lee Kennell stepped down. “I’ve always liked the smaller school and smaller setting,” Shore said. Keeping track of Shore’s credentials is no simple task. He was an assistant coach for six years at Southwest Guilford before an 11-year run as Trinity’s coach. That was followed by four years at Ledford, where his 2018 team reached the…

25 Feb

Prep basketball: Randleman girls, Eastern Randolph boys move on

Randolph RecordSportsBrecken Snotherly, Eastern Randolph athletics, nchsaa, Prep Basketball, Randleman athletics

Eastern Randolph’s Nicah Taylor goes up for a shot against Robbinsville in the third round of the Class 1-A state playoffs Saturday. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) RANDLEMAN – Top-seeded Randleman fended off another challenge in the Class 2-A state playoffs, defeating eighth-seeded East Rutherford 62-55 on Saturday afternoon in the third round. Elizabeth York scored 19 points, Gracyn Hall had 18 points and Audra Petty and Jordan Booker both posted 10 points for Randleman. The Tigers (27-1) move on to the West Region semifinals Tuesday night at home against East Burke (26-2), a 54-37 winner against No. 13 seed Newton-Conover. Randleman…

24 Feb

Prep boys: Special season ends on downer for Blue Comets; Eastern Randolph advances

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Brian Nance, Camden Walker, D.J. Headen, Davonte Brooks, Hakeeme Butler, nchsaa, Pierce Leonard, Prep Basketball, Trinity athletics

Hakeeme Butler tries to get Asheboro on the board in the first quarter of Thursday night’s loss to Greensboro Smith in the Class 3-A state playoffs. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – Asheboro’s special season in boys’ basketball didn’t come to a fitting conclusion. That’s what made losing so hard to grasp for the Blue Comets. Ambushed from the start by Greensboro Smith, Asheboro couldn’t sustain any of its rallies long enough in a 73-46 loss in the second round of the Class 3-A state playoffs Thursday night at raucous Asheboro Recreation Center. “That’s the thing about this team, we all…