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Early voting tops 100 after opening days

Early voting tops 100 after opening days

ASHEBORO – A total of 115 voters cast ballots during one-stop early voting last week for municipal elections in Randolph County. Early voting began Oct. 14 at the Randolph County Board of Elections office on North Fayetteville Street in Asheboro. The first-week total involved the total for the first two days. Early voting continues through 3 p.m. Oct. 30. Election Day is Nov. 2, when voters must cast ballots at their designated polling places. Municipal elections are on the ballot this cycle, including Asheboro City School Board.
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School COVID numbers decline

School COVID numbers decline

ASHEBORO — Positive cases and quarantines in schools are on the decline in Randolph County and around the country. In the Asheboro City Schools, 13 positive cases were reported last week resulting in 43 people quarantined. In Randolph County Schools, there were 73 positive cases and 361 people quarantined. Just 10 of the 361 people quarantined were from a school exposure. Asheboro City Schools reported a 33% reduction in positive cases in the first three weeks of October compared to the first three weeks of September. Randolph County reported a 46% reduction in positive cases during the same period. Last…
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PREP FOOTBALL ROUNDUP: Cougars’ comeback leads to record night

PREP FOOTBALL ROUNDUP: Cougars’ comeback leads to record night

Southwestern Randolph’s Eli Gravely makes a catch over Randleman’s Jozey Akines. PJ WARD-BROWN/NORTH STATE JOURNAL Southwestern Randolph hits seven wins as Cole collects school TD mark RANDLEMAN -- It took a record-breaking performance for Southwestern Randolph to win its latest football game. And that could mean more records for the Cougars this season. Southwestern Randolph overcame host Randleman for a 28-23 victory Friday night. Junior receiver Adam Cole scored two touchdowns to set the single-season school record for touchdowns. The Cougars (7-1, 2-1 Piedmont Athletic Conference) have matched the school record for wins. They’ll try to break that in Friday…
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Quite a Fair growth spurt

Quite a Fair growth spurt

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…
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Eastern Randolph makes shift to 1-A classification

Eastern Randolph makes shift to 1-A classification

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…
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New Miss Randolph County crowned

New Miss Randolph County crowned

(L-R) Heather Young, Alyssa Millikan, Lauryn Mallard, and Karie Grace Shields. (Photos courtesy of the Miss Randolph County Pageant Committee.) UNC-Greensboro student wins first competition in two years RANDLEMAN – A UNC-Greensboro student and a Uwharrie Charter student will represent Randolph County at the Miss North Carolina scholarship competition in 2022. Lauryn Mallard, a native of Advance, captured the crown of Miss Randolph County Saturday night at the Randleman Elementary School auditorium. High schooler Alyssa Millikan will serve as Miss Randolph County’s Outstanding Teen. Mallard performed a lyrical dance in the talent portion of the competition and chose “St. Jude’s…
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Athlete of the Week: Gracey Menscer

Athlete of the Week: Gracey Menscer

GRACEY MENSCER Providence Grove High School | Junior | Volleyball Gracey Menscer turned in almost identical outings as the Providence Grove Patriots won twice last week in four sets. Menscer was charted with 48 assists in a victory against Eastern Randolph. Two nights later, Menscer ended up with 48 assists and 12 digs as the Patriots topped Wheatmore. Those outcomes gave Providence Grove a four-match winning streak and a 12-9 overall record heading into this week’s Piedmont Athletic Conference Tournament.            
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Cougars’ comeback leads to record night

Cougars’ comeback leads to record night

RANDLEMAN — It took a record-breaking performance for Southwestern Randolph to win its latest football game. And that could mean more records for the Cougars this season. Southwestern Randolph overcame host Randleman for a 28-23 victory Friday night. Junior receiver Adam Cole scored two touchdowns to set the single-season school record for victories. The Cougars (7-1, 2-1 Piedmont Athletic Conference) have matched the school record for wins. They’ll try to break that in Friday night’s showdown at Providence Grove. It took plenty to defeat Randleman, which built a 10-0 lead. The Tigers (3-5, 1-2) have been on a conference championship…
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Deplatform the police? Facebook “depublishes” North Carolina town’s police dept. page

Deplatform the police? Facebook “depublishes” North Carolina town’s police dept. page

RALEIGH — The police department in Liberty, North Carolina logged on to its social media account last week to find that Facebook had “depublished” their page. Liberty is located in northeastern Randolph County with a population of just over 2,650 people. Unable to get the news out on their own page, the Liberty Police Department utilized the Town of Liberty’s official Facebook page on Oct. 13 to update citizens of the situation. “If you have been following the rapidly growing Liberty Police Department Facebook page, you may have had trouble finding it lately.  Don't worry, it isn't your search prowess…
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Randleman extends all-state streak to a decade

Randleman extends all-state streak to a decade

ASHEBORO — The North Carolina Baseball Coaches Association released its 2021 all-state teams and the list is heavy on players from Class 2-A state champion Randleman. Randleman’s Hunter Atkins, Brooks Brannon, Andrew Cox, Braylen Hayes, Trey Way and Ryan White made the Class 2-A list. They were joined by Southwestern Randolph’s Bryson Hogan on the Class 3-A list and Uwharrie Charter Academy’s Hunter Hill and Colt Wilkins on the Class 1-A list. Randleman has had at least one selection in 10 consecutive seasons when an all-state team was named (skipping 2020 because of the pandemic-shortened season). The Tigers have had…
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