Blog - Randolph Record

21 Jul

Asheboro’s Kidd elevates role with UNCW

Bob SuttonNewsGidget Kidd, UNC Wilmington, UNCW, university

ASHEBORO — Gidget Kidd views her newest assignment with the UNC Wilmington board of trustees as an ideal next step in public education. “I have a passion for public education,” said Kidd. “I think it’s a natural progression. It’s a nice chapter.” Kidd was elected chair of the board this month. Kidd’s involvement has been extensive on the UNCW board, previously holding the position of vice chair and twice serving as secretary. She has chaired all board committees except for one. Although she’s a UNCW graduate from the Class of 1991, much of her role in education stems from time…

21 Jul

County school boards rebel against K-12 mask mandates

A.P. DillonGovernment, News, Politics, StateEducation, K-12, masks, Roy Cooper

RALEIGH — At a meeting on July 12, the Rowan-Salisbury School Board voted to make masks optional for all students, staff and visitors. The measure passed by a 5-2 vote. Chair Kevin Jones, along with members Travis Allen, Susan Cox, Dean Hunter and Brian Hightower voted in favor while Vice-Chair Alisha Byrd-Clark and member Jean Kennedy voted against. “I’m willing to take that opportunity to make an example to the rest of the school boards in the state,” Allen said of the vote to make masks optional. A second motion was passed by the Rowan board in support of the General Assembly’s…

21 Jul

Teen creates family connection at Caraway

Bob SuttonSports

ASHEBORO — When Blaise Brinkley is behind the wheel of his stock car at Caraway Speedway, there are all sorts of connections that surface. “I get told that every time I go race out there,” Brinkley said of spectators recalling his father’s racing days. “They said, ‘I watched your dad here and he was a wheelman.’ ” That’s in reference to Brad Brinkley, a past champion at the track. Now there’s a new generation emerging, with 18-year-old Blaise Brinkley leading the Late Models points as the 2021 season has passed the midway mark. “He races more like a veteran,” Brad…

21 Jul

As session hits seven-month mark, bills continue to move through legislature

A.P. DillonGovernment, Politics, StateGeneral Assembly, legislation

RALEIGH — Heading into August, state lawmakers have been working to finalize the budget, but in the meantime other bills continue to be sent to Gov. Roy Cooper. As of July 20, there are six bills on his desk awaiting signature. The governor has signed over 60 bills since February of this year, with around 15 of them being signed in July. Cooper has vetoed four bills this year. The four vetoes are Senate Bill 63, In-Person Learning Choice for Families; Senate Bill 43, Protect Religious Meeting Places; House Bill 453, Human Life Nondiscrimination Act/No Eugenics; and Senate Bill 116, the Putting North Carolina Back to Work Act. Cooper holds the state…

21 Jul

City school system announces administrative leadership changes

Randolph RecordNewsAaron Woody, Asheboro City Schools, Education, schools

ASHEBORO — The Asheboro City Board of Education approved several administrative changes for the 2021-2022 at their regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday, July 15. “We’re pleased to announce Ms. Julie Brady will be the new principal at South Asheboro Middle School and Mr. Chris Burian will move into his first principal position at Charles W. McCrary Elementary School,” said Dr. Aaron Woody, Superintendent in a statement released by the school system. “While we are saddened to see the departure of Mr. Ron Dixon, current principal at South Asheboro Middle School, we know he will continue the tremendous ‘heart’ work of…

21 Jul

Bucks win NBA title

Cory LavaletteSportsNBA

MILWAUKEE — Giannis Antetokounmpo had the Larry O’Brien Trophy in one arm, the NBA Finals MVP trophy in the other and there was a cigar on the table in front of him. All the work it took to lift the Milwaukee Bucks from a team that won 15 games when he was a rookie to one with 16 wins this postseason was finally finished. “This is time to celebrate,” Antetokounmpo said. Milwaukee waited 50 years for that. Antetokounmpo ended one of the greatest NBA Finals ever with 50 points, 14 rebounds and five blocked shots as the Bucks beat the…

21 Jul

Hiring issues impact Zoo

Randolph RecordBusiness, Newseconomy, jobs, NC Zoo

ASHEBORO — At the same time the North Carolina Zoo is seeing a huge increase in visitors compared with last year, it's struggling to find staff to keep all of its exhibits open. Most attractions are open, but certain features like an obstacle course and feeding activities have remained closed. Twenty people recently turned out for a job fair with dozens of open positions. Many of the jobs at the zoo are part time, temporary and pay about $10 to $12 per hour.

21 Jul

Amazon to end testing for COVID-19 at warehouses this month

Associated PressBusiness, NationAmazon

Amazon will stop testing workers for COVID-19 at its warehouses at the end of this month, citing the availability of vaccines and free testing. The company began testing warehouse workers last year when tests were more difficult to secure. Warehouse workers, who were considered essential, packed and shipped orders throughout the pandemic. Amazon disclosed in October that nearly 20,000 workers, or about 1.4% of its total workforce, had been infected with COVID-19 by that point in 2020. Vaccines began to roll out about two months later and in May, employees who uploaded a picture of their vaccine cards to an…

20 Jul

Randolph County Schools drops mask mandate

Randolph RecordNews, Politics, StateRandolph County Schools

ASHEBORO — The Randolph County School Board adopted a resolution Monday night ending mask mandates in the county’s largest school system for the 2021-2022 school year. The resolution, adopted unanimously by the board, is effective immediately which allows teachers and students currently in summer school programs to make their own choices regarding mask usage. The new board policy cites CDC guidance and the board’s concern for individuals’ rights to make decisions regarding their own personal health in making the change. The resolution also said harassment, discrimination, bullying, or intimidation based a person’s decision to wear or not wear a mask…

19 Jul

Wake Forest teen collects title in Asheboro

Randolph RecordSportsAsheboro, Asheboro Municipal Golf Course, Davis Wotnosky, Wake Forest

ASHEBORO — Davis Wotnosky of Wake Forest won the North Carolina Junior Boys’ 14-and-under championship last week at Asheboro Municipal Golf Course. Wotnosky shot rounds of 71 and 69 for an even-par 140, giving him a one-shot victory on John John Santospago (69-72) of Charlotte. Matthews’ Caedmon Albertyn and Winston-Salem’s Luke Tisdale shot 144s to tie for third place, while Wallburg’s Lincoln Newton, Morganton’s Alex Bock and Waxhaw’s Lucas Cron shot 146s to share fifth place in the 55-golfer field. Clodfelter contends at qualifier At Mebane, Jake Clodfelter of Trinity came up a few strokes shy of advancing in a…