Blog - Randolph Record

14 Jun

Graduating classes grow around Randolph County

Bob SuttonEvents, NewsAsheboro City Schools, Asheboro High School, commencement, Education, Randolph County School System, Southwestern Randolph High School, Stephen Gainey, Uwharrie Charter Academy, Wheatmore high school

Big graduating classes were among the themes for high school commencements this spring in Randolph County. The largest class was at Asheboro High School with 352 graduates. That marks the school’s biggest class in 25 years. Most high school commencements in the county were held this week, though there were a couple earlier. Within the Randolph County School System, there were 1,075 graduates across eight high schools. RCSS, citing a transition from one student information system to another, was unable to provide a school-by-school breakdown of graduates. The schools in RCSS include six traditional high schools (Eastern Randolph, Providence Grove,…

12 Jun

Water main break causes lane closures in Asheboro

Randolph RecordNewsAsheboro, traffic, water main

Workers try to fix a water main break on North Fayetteville Street in Asheboro on June 12. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – Southbound lanes on North Fayetteville Street were closed to traffic Thursday because of a water main break. The lanes closure extended from Presnell Street to Salisbury Street. This stretch is part of U.S. 220 Business. There are four lanes in that area. Two of the lanes were closed. This wasn’t far from the area of a closed bridge on West Salisbury Street due to an automobile wreck June 3.

12 Jun

Changes come for Liberty’s farmers market

Bob SuttonEvents, Newsfarmers market, Kolby Riddle, Liberty

The farmers market in Liberty is located along West Swannanoa Avenue. (Bob Sutton / Randolph Record) LIBERTY — The farmers market in Liberty has new rules this year as organizers hope to jumpstart interest. Kolby Riddle, director of the parks and recreation department for Liberty, said the farmers market near downtown is somewhat evolving. “It kind of depends,” Riddle said in reference to the turnout of vendors. “Some of them may come and stay for an hour. You might get five or six.” Riddle said rule changes require certain certifications for vendors selling food items such as meats or eggs.…

12 Jun

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Jay Richards

Randolph RecordSportsathlete of the week, Class 2-A, Jay Richards, prep track and field, Randleman Tigers, State meet

Randleman, track and field Richards was the Piedmont Athletic Conference’s champion in the pole vault and he excelled in several postseason competitions. He finished his high school career last month by placing fourth in the Class 2A state meet. That marked an improvement of two spots from his junior season. Richards also played on the Randleman football team as a receiver and defensive back. *** *** *** Photo: Randleman pole vaulter Jay Richards had another strong season. (Jann Ortiz / For Randolph Record)

10 Jun

Board of Education reverses decision, will close Virtual Academy

Ryan HenkelNewsboard of education, Education, Gary Cook, Randolph County School System, Stephen Gainey, The Virtual Academy at Randolph

ASHEBORO — The Randolph County School System will be closing The Virtual Academy at Randolph. The decision comes following a unanimous vote by the Randolph County Schools Board of Education at its June 2 meeting, which reversed a prior vote made just a few weeks earlier. “Last month, it was a 3-3 tie and it stayed as is,” said board chair Gary Cook. “I voted to leave it open. We didn’t have the full board here and we probably should have tabled it until we had a full board for a decision like that. I’ll own that mistake.” Board members…

10 Jun

Kiser takes spot as AD for Southwestern Randolph

Randolph RecordSportshigh school athletics, Matt Kiser, Southwestern Randolph Cougars

ASHEBORO — Matt Kiser is the new athletics director at Southwestern Randolph. Kiser, also the boys’ basketball coach at the school, has been handling many of the AD duties alongside Chris Chapman. In late May after all of Southwestern Randolph's teams completed competition for the school year, Chapman announced the change. Chapman spent 10 years as athletics director. He said this is an ideal time for a transition. “Being the AD here was an absolute honor, and I appreciate everything that everyone has done to help make that job better than it is in most places,” Chapman wrote in making his announcement. Chapman…

09 Jun

ZooKeepers ride early wave as team builds

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Zookeepers, Coastal Plain League, Davis Germann, Korey Dunbar, summer college baseball

Boaz Harper, who plays collegiately for North Carolina, takes a swing during a game for the Asheboro ZooKeepers last week. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) ASHEBORO — The Asheboro ZooKeepers have excelled in several areas early in the season and the team is still coming together. Third-year coach Korey Dunbar said the opening stretch of the season has been encouraging. Through Sunday, the ZooKeepers held a 6-2 record in the Coastal Plain League. “Trying to coach these guys up on a daily basis,” Dunbar said. “It all boils down to these guys doing the work. They’re all in and they…

09 Jun

Truck strikes Asheboro overpass, causes road closures

Randolph RecordNewsaccident, Asheboro, interstate

A truck overturned on the interstate in Asheboro. (Asheboro Police Department photo) ASHEBORO — A bridge over Salisbury Street in Asheboro has been closed for about a week after it was damaged last week. An accident over northbound Interstate 73-74 involving a tractor-trailer caused the damage June 3. According to the North Carolina Department of Transportation, crews need to perform inspections for damages and make any repairs before traffic is permitted back on that stretch of the road. Because of the wreck, traffic was detoured off the interstate and into Asheboro. It took several hours for authorities to get the…

08 Jun

Post 45 keeps Post 81 in check, pushes win streak to three games

Bob SuttonSportsAmerican Legion baseball, Caleb Coggins, Drew Harmon, Elijah Prince, Jackson Hill, Liberty Post 81, McCrary Park, Nate Cockman, Randolph County Post 45, Sam Gore, Tate Andrews

ASHEBORO — Three Post 45 pitchers combined on a four-hitter in an 8-3 victory against visiting Post 81 on Sunday night at McCrary Park. Drew Harmon pitched five innings, giving up three runs and three hits. Prince and Tate Andrews each threw an inning of shutout relief. Post 45 (5-2) never trailed in notching a third consecutive victory. Caleb Coggins ripped a two-run double to deep center field with the bases loaded in the third. Jackson Hill doubled and scored in the fourth. But Post 81 (0-8) got back in it, courtesy of some fielding blunders, pulling within 5-3 in…

07 Jun

Davidson, Hathcock pick up Caraway victories

Randolph RecordSportsBrody Duggins, Caraway speedway, Cody Norman, Dylan Ward, Grant Davidson, Justin Hathcock, London McKenzie, Stock car racing

Grant Davidson prevailed in an eventful feature at Caraway Speedway. (Caraway Speedway photo) SOPHIA — Grant Davidson remained undefeated on the track in Limited Late Models this season at Caraway Speedway with another victory in the 60-lap feature May 31. London McKenzie and Bryson Brinkley set the early pace before a mid-race caution. Soon after, Davidson had the lead. Dylan Ward ended up second and McKenzie placed third, followed by Camden Thomas and Daniel Schadt. Yet a postrace inspection found an unapproved part on Davidson’s car, meaning he was docked half of the points awarded. So he fell behind Brinkley…