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Jeopardy! Champion coming to Asheboro

Jeopardy! Champion coming to Asheboro

ASHEBORO — Ken Jennings, all-time Jeopardy! champion, will be on stage at the Sunset Theatre Saturday, August 28th at 7pm. Jennings will talk about his experiences appearing on the game show, techniques for winning, and how his life has changed since. Jennings became the stuff of legends when he beat fellow game show champions James Holzhauer and Brad Rutter to be named the "Greatest of All Time" player. He still holds three major Jeopardy! records: longest winning streak, 64 games; highest regular-season winnings, $2,520,700; and highest average number of correct responses per game, 35.9.
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RCC pays off student account balances

RCC pays off student account balances

ASHEBORO — Randolph Community College recently paid off outstanding student debt for approximately 200 students. The amount totaled nearly $113,000. Any student who was enrolled at the College between March 13, 2020 — the start of the COVID-19 pandemic — until the end of the Summer 2021 semester was eligible for the assistance. In addition to paying off outstanding student account balances, RCC has provided emergency financial assistance for food, housing, laptops, and internet access.  
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SWR’s Parks picks Tar Heels for baseball

SWR’s Parks picks Tar Heels for baseball

ASHEBORO — Tyler Parks says he has lots of things he needs to do regarding baseball across his final two years of high school with Southwestern Randolph. Selecting a college destination isn’t one of them. Parks made a verbal commitment to play for North Carolina, a choice that was solidified Friday. “When they offered, I took it the next day,” Parks said of his goal to play for the Tar Heels. “It has been a dream of mine ever since middle school. I grew up watching Carolina play.” Parks, a member of the Class of 2023, is primarily an infielder.…
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Construction on campus means different venues for Blue Comets

Construction on campus means different venues for Blue Comets

ASHEBORO — Many of Asheboro High School’s teams will be on the move this school year, playing at alternate venues while a construction project is ongoing at the school. The changes largely will impact volleyball, basketball and wrestling teams, though some teams that play at outdoor venues also will be affected. “There’s a lot of moving parts right now,” athletics director Steve Luck said. “Everything is going to be OK, but we haven’t started doing anything yet other than practice. … There’s changes just about every moment. I feel like I have my head on a swivel like a linebacker.”…
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Post 45 bows out in regional

Post 45 bows out in regional

ASHEBORO — Randolph County Post 45 couldn’t repeat its recent success in American Legion baseball regional play. The host team for the Mid-Atlantic Regional was bounced after three games last week, unable to navigate the eight-team field and make it back to the American Legion World Series. The five-day tournament concluded Sunday with Ridge (Md.) Post 255 defeating North Carolina state champion Fuquay-Varina Post 116 by 8-1 to claim the regional championship. That sends Ridge to the American Legion World Series, which begins Thursday in Shelby. Ridge went 5-0 in the regional, defeating Fuquay-Varina twice. Randolph County (16-8), which captured…
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Marsh finds value in hometown summer

Marsh finds value in hometown summer

Asheboro grad gives thumbs-up to season with Copperheads ASHEBORO — A summer of baseball in his hometown was just the right thing for Trevor Marsh. Marsh, an Asheboro High School graduate, took advantage of his role with the Asheboro Copperheads. He said it was well worth his time. “It was more than I expected. I didn’t think the experience was going to be as good as it was,” Marsh said. He was a make-up of sorts from last summer, when he was slated to play for the Copperheads before the 2020 season was scrapped because of the pandemic. The Coastal…
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Future teachers earn scholarships

Future teachers earn scholarships

Local chapters of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society also helped send students off with a dorm shower ASHEBORO – The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International announced three local scholarship winners this spring. The local Alpha Upsilon and Delta Nu chapters awarded three $1,500 scholarships which are aimed to assist future female educators. Last month, the chapters honored the winners with a “dorm shower” to show their support and encouragement by giving each recipient an array of items useful for college. Jenna Brinkley, a graduate of Asheboro High School, will be attending Appalachian State University. She is the daughter of Dale…
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Austin, York retire from county jobs

Austin, York retire from county jobs

ASHEBORO – Two longtime Randolph County employees have retired this summer, diminishing the level of experience in a couple of departments. Melissa Austin retired after 36 years in the tax department. Danny York has stepped away after 26 years in building inspections. “We can’t replace 62 years of experience from our county,” commissioners board chairman Darrell Frye said. Austin began in a part-time role at age 19. She ended her career as the department’s personal property and business property supervisor. “Melissa’s work was always performed at a high level of proficiency and significantly exceeded job requirements,” tax department administrator Debra…
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County set to buy emergency equipment

County set to buy emergency equipment

ASHEBORO — Randolph County commissioners approved more than $1 million in purchases for the emergency services department at its August meeting. There were unanimous votes for two ambulances at a total of $489,548 and 16 cardiac monitor/ defibrillators at a total of $534,869. Both purchases will come from budgeted funds. The 2021 model ambulances could be in place by December. As for the defibrillators, emergency services chief Donovan Davis said a trade-in of 11 monitors means there’s a savings of about $137,000 that’s calculated into the purchase. Battle joins council Alvin Battle, who was a member of North Carolina State’s…
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State superintendent won’t compel employee vaccination, will ask for shot status

State superintendent won’t compel employee vaccination, will ask for shot status

RALEIGH — N.C. state superintendent Catherine Truitt won’t force employees at the Department of Public Instruction to get a COVID-19 vaccine shot or compel them to provide proof of vaccination. In an Aug. 3 memo to staff obtained by North State Journal, Truitt outlines masking guidelines and employee attestations of vaccination status. The memo asks that all employees, including contractors, file an attestation form. Any individuals not filing the form will be considered unvaccinated and will be required to wear a mask inside the department offices. “Non-compliance or falsifying proof of a vaccine will subject employees to disciplinary action, up to and…
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