Blog - Randolph Record

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…

19 Jul

Copperheads see plenty of UNCG influence

Bob SuttonSportsasheboro copperheads, Coastal Plain League, coppherheads, UNC Greensboro, UNCG

ASHEBORO — When something notable happens for the Asheboro Copperheads, there’s a good chance it could have something to do with one of their players from UNC Greensboro. The time this summer with the Coastal Plain League team has been an ideal proving grounds for the college players. “It’s top-level competition, really good,” said infielder Matt Kemp, who’s from Randleman. “It’s better than I thought it would be.” While Kemp is getting back in the swing of things after his freshman season, pitcher Jared Mathewson is trying to tune up for a final go-around at the college level. “It has…

19 Jul

Judge questions treatment of suspended horse trainer Baffert

Associated PressNewsBob Baffert, horse trainer, Kentucky Derby, Medina Spirit

NEW YORK — A New York judge was sympathetic Monday to horse trainer Bob Baffert’s claims that his May suspension by the New York Racing Association — after Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit failed a postrace drug test — was unconstitutional. U.S. District Judge Carol Bagley Amon at a Brooklyn hearing repeatedly pressed a lawyer for the racing association to explain why the suspension was issued before Baffert was given a chance to defend himself. Henry Greenberg, arguing on behalf of the racing association, said Baffert will get a hearing after the association announces the length of his suspension by…

19 Jul

Deadline nears for local election filings

Randolph RecordNewsAsheboro, community report, local election filings, randolph county

ASHEBORO – The filing deadline for municipal elections ends at noon Friday for most of Randolph County communities. By the beginning of this week, 25 people filed as candidates across nine different spots on the ballot. That includes seven within the City of Asheboro (three for the city council, three for the board of education and incumbent mayor David Smith). City council members Clark Bell, Walker Moffitt and Katie Snuggs also filed to keep their seats. Vice chair Baxter Hammer and Beth Knott have their names on the list in bids to stay on the 11-member Asheboro City Schools board…

19 Jul

Hospital funding becomes complex

Bob SuttonNewshospital funding, patient care, randolph hospital

ASHEBORO — The good news is that Randolph Hospital is operating and patient care is ongoing. But sorting out the financial picture under new ownership remains complex, a task that has been addressed in an ongoing manner by Randolph County commissioners. The State of North Carolina is a lender of a $12 million loan, though it’s up to commissioners to administer that grant. At last week’s monthly board meeting, chairman of the board of commissioners Darrell Frye said there’s still fact-finding taking place with the new owners. “So far, proper documentation requested has not been forthcoming. It’s too early to…

19 Jul

Randolph County residents take advantage of property tax discount

Bob SuttonNewsdiscount, property tax, randolph county

ASHEBORO — More than two-thirds of Randolph County property owners benefited from a discount for paying their tax bills early during the past fiscal year. That report from county tax collector Debra Hill came during the first July meeting of county commissioners. “Our citizens do take advantage of this 2 percent discount,” she said. Hill’s numbers show that 68.96 percent of taxpayers took advantage of the discounts. That resulted in a total savings of $1,460,236 for residents on those tax bills. For the fiscal year that just concluded, there were $738,748.83 in delinquent taxes. Hill said Randolph County’s 99.25-percent collection…

19 Jul

Digital ambassador will seek to close county’s digital divide

Randolph RecordNewsdigital ambassador, internet, N.C. Cooperative Extensions, randolph county digital ambassador

ASHEBORO — In the coming weeks, you may be hearing from or seeing Randolph County’s Digital Ambassador. The N.C. Cooperative Extension office in Randolph County recently received a grant from the BAND-NC program which will allow the Randolph County Digital Alliance to hire a Digital Ambassador. The Randolph County Digital Alliance is a group who is working to close the digital divide in Randolph County. BAND-NC is a grant program designed to increase the number of people with internet in their homes, with the goal of making the state “first in digital inclusion.” In February of this year, Randolph County…