Blog - Randolph Record

24 Apr

Photos from Zoo City StrEAT Fest in Asheboro

Randolph RecordEntertainment, FeaturesAsheboro, North Carolina Zoo, Zoo City StrEAT Fest

A petting area with two tiny goats, a tiny pig and a rather large bunny was a hit with attendees Saturday at the Zoo City StrEAT Fest on Sunset Avenue in Asheboro. The event, to celebrate the North Carolina Zoo’s 50th birthday, included outdoor dining, live music and more. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

24 Apr

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Carlisle Dozier

Randolph RecordSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, athlete of the week, Carlisle Dozier, Mid-Piedmont Conference, prep soccer

Asheboro, girls’ soccer Dozier has provided an ideal final layer of defense for the Blue Comets. The senior goalkeeper has averaged nearly 10 saves per game this season. Her six saves helped the Blue Comets defeat Ledford last week. She also was credited with a late-game tip save to preserve a shutout of Central Davidson earlier this month. In March, she made 23 saves in a game. Dozier was a Mid-Piedmont Conference all-league selection last year. With a 9-3-1 record entering this week, the Blue Comets had already matched last season’s win total.

23 Apr

Caraway Speedway alters slate for Late Models

Bob SuttonSportsCaraway speedway, Darren Hackett, Late Models division, Stock car racing

Low car counts cause changes in key division SOPHIA – Changes are coming to the Late Models division just a few weeks into the Caraway Speedway season. After the division was scratched from the racing card for the first slated race of April because of low entry numbers, track officials revised the plan for that class. “We are not giving up on the division,” speedway owner Darren Hackett said, making it clear the class won’t be eliminated. “We will however, rework the 2024 schedule to give more teams the chance to compete with us without having a schedule that conflicts…

23 Apr

Superintendent presents budget for next school year

Bob SuttonNewsbudget, Education, North Carolina Governor's School, Randolph County Board of Education, Randolph County School System, Stephen Gainey

Salary increases make up bulk of expanded RCSS costs ASHEBORO – Stephen Gainey, superintendent of the Randolph County School System, submitted a proposed budget of nearly $27 million for the 2024-25 school year, representing an increase of almost 1.1 percent. The budget as presented last week to the RCSS board of education is listed at $26,846,240. That’s more than a $2 million increase from the proposal for this school year, which checked in at $24,762,040. The increase comes primarily, based on a report from finance officer Marty Trotter, from continuation costs (such as insurance increases, match in retirement increases, charter…

22 Apr

Prep Roundup: PAC softball race tightens after upset

Randolph RecordSportsAddie Flinchum, Asheboro Blue Comets, Eastern Randolph Wildcats, Ellie Garrison, Macie Crutchfield, Natalie Bowman, Parker Kines, Prep baseball, prep soccer, Prep softball, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, Taryn Waugh, UCA Eagles, Wheatmore Warriors

Anaeli Puente Garza cuts between Randleman’s Jocelyn Segovia, left, and Lacy Nelson during last week’s game. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) Fourth-place Eastern Randolph muddled the Piedmont Athletic Conference softball race by defeating first-place Southwestern Randolph 4-1 last week with Addie Flinchum striking out seven in the road victory. Uwharrie Charter Academy closed within a half-game of Southwestern Randolph by week’s end. The teams will meet April 25 at Southwestern Randolph to end the regular season. UCA nipped host Eastern Randolph 5-4 behind Mollie Bulla’s pitching. Jayla Hurley and Aubrie Kauffman both doubled and scored a run. Earlier in the week UCA,…

22 Apr

Downtown Asheboro walk comes with a cause

Randolph RecordEvents, NewsChild Abuse Prevention, downtown asheboro

ASHEBORO – The second annual Child Abuse Prevention walk will be held from 9-11:30 a.m. April 26 in downtown Asheboro. The Randolph County Department of Social Services and partners including Randolph Partnership for Children, Randolph County Emergency Services, Randolph County Public Health, Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, Asheboro Police Department, Emmy's House Children's Advocacy Center, and Randolph County Guardian Ad Litem, are hosts for the event to raise public awareness during National Child Abuse Prevention Month. The event will begin with an opening ceremony, followed by a mile walk that will focus on advocating for prevention, building community capacity, and raising awareness…

21 Apr

Hitting his Mark: Sprinter gives boosts to Blue Comets

Bob SuttonSportsAdam Cole, Asheboro Blue Comets, Elijah Woodle, Lance Everhart, prep track and field, Randleman athletics, Ty Moton, Valentino Mark, Wheatmore athletics, Zach Hazelwood

Asheboro’s Valentino Mark leads at the beginning of the final leg of the 400-meter relay in the Randolph County Championships. (Bob Sutton/Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – Valentino Mark is in a hurry, and that’s showing. Mark set two personal-best times in a dominating performance in Tuesday’s Randolph County championships. “Time is ticking,” Mark said of his urgency as a senior. Mark, the triple jump champion, won the 100 and 200 meters and anchored the winning 400 relay as part of host Asheboro’s team championship. Teammate Lance Everhart was a four-time winner as the Blue Comets racked up 220 points to runner-up…

20 Apr

Record-setting Asheboro girl moves at fast pace on track

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Auman Jensen, Gracie Beane, Jalaya Showers, Mirianna Corea, prep track and field, randolph county athletes, Sion Murrain

Jalaya Showers of Asheboro has become a record-setting sprinter. (Bob Sutton/Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – Jalaya Showers has been a headliner for the Asheboro girls’ track and field team. She’s not alone among the Blue Comets. “This team is gunning for all the records,” coach Vincent Cable said. Asheboro set a brisk pace in many events in capturing the Randolph County Championships on Tuesday. Showers, a sophomore who recently became a school record-holder sprinter, won the 100 and 200 meters and participated on two winning relays. Asheboro had an overwhelming edge in points among the seven teams, scoring 184 to runner-up…

19 Apr

Randleman seeks new girls’ basketball coach

Bob SuttonSportsAudra Petty, Brandon Varner, Gracie Beane, piedmont athletic conference, Prep Basketball, Randleman athletics, Steve Rightmyer

Steve Rightmyer had the Randleman girls’ basketball team going in the right direction for much of his one season as coach. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) Rightmyer’s one season produced another title RANDLEMAN – Randleman will be trying to keep a high winning percentage in girls’ basketball next season after another coaching change. Steve Rightmyer stepped away from the position after one season, though the Tigers maintained their perch atop the Piedmont Athletic Conference. He referred to the time commitment as being overwhelming in his situation. “It was a lot,” Rightmyer said. “I knew it would be.” Randleman went 20-7 last season,…

18 Apr

Randleman Tigers conjure more magic for PAC baseball supremacy

Bob SuttonSportsBraxton Walker, Jake Smith, piedmont athletic conference, Prep baseball, Randleman Tigers, Seth Way, Trinity Bulldogs

Randleman’s Braxton Walker had a big impact at the plate and on the mound earlier this week. (Bob Sutton / Randolph Record) RANDLEMAN – Randleman had just enjoyed another one of those defining moments that seem to come so often for the school’s baseball team. There were various assessments of what that meant after Tuesday night’s 6-5, eight-inning victory against visiting Trinity. “We got to get better,” shortstop Jake Riddle said. “We got to.” While it wasn’t the smoothest outing for the Tigers, they again found a way. The result secured another outright Piedmont Athletic Conference regular-season championship and kept…