Blog - Randolph Record

17 Aug

Brown encouraged as first football season with Asheboro Blue Comets nears

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Logan Laughlin, prep football, Providence Grove athletics, Wes Luther

First-year Asheboro coach Calvin Brown, shown here during a practice earlier this month, is encouraged by improvement from the Blue Comets. (Scott Pelkey/Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – Another phase of Asheboro football takes form with the beginning of the season under first-year coach Calvin Brown. There’s a new set of optimism for the Blue Comets, who’ve won a total of two games the past three seasons. The season begins with Friday night’s home game against Albemarle. “There’s a lot of excitement in Asheboro,” said Brown, who arrived after seven seasons as Providence Grove’s coach. “We’re not going to start winning…

17 Aug

HUDSON: Protecting our veterans & honoring our fallen heroes

U.S. Rep. Richard HudsonOpinionseditorial, opinion, rep. richard hudson, veterans

As the representative of the largest Army base in the world, making sure our community’s veterans, troops, and their families get the support they deserve is among my top priorities. At the end of July, the House passed the FY24 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. This legislation will strengthen our commitment to our veterans by fully funding veterans’ health care programs, benefits, and other critical VA programs. This legislation is also providing nearly $800 million above President Biden’s budget request for military construction to improve our national security. I was able to secure large wins for…

17 Aug

Former Klaussner Furniture workers react to shutdown

Randolph RecordBusiness, NewsAsheboro, Klaussner Furniture, layoffs, randolph county

ASHEBORO – A lawsuit has been filed against Klaussner Furniture after the Asheboro-based company abruptly ceased operations last week. Former employees of the manufacturing company allege that Klaussner Furniture didn’t provide proper notice of the shutdown. Information in notification from Klaussner Furniture that was listed as part of the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act shows that 884 jobs were to be lost. The WARN Act requires employers to provide 60 days’ notice. The shortened time frame on the notice came from what appeared to be unforeseen business issues. The company, which had been operating since 1963, announced Aug. 7…

16 Aug

UCA’s high school building ready; Delays expected for younger students

Randolph RecordNewsEducation, Randolph County Schools, ribbon cutting, UCA, Uwharrie Charter Academy

ASHEBORO — The new high school building for Uwharrie Charter Academy opens next week. The new facility will house the high school and career academy. A ribbon cutting was held last Thursday, with an appearance by Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, who’s running for governor in 2024. Classes begin Monday, and students will be welcomed to the new facility. Staff members have spent the past couple of weeks on-site preparing for the opening. It hasn’t gone quite as smoothly for UCA’s elementary school facilities. UCA superintendent Sharron Castelli announced an adjustment to the school calendar for early grades. “We will have…

16 Aug

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Kearns Trotter

Randolph RecordSportsAOTW, athlete of the week, Prep Basketball, randolph county sports, tennis

Southwestern Randolph, basketball / tennis Kearns Trotter made his mark on the courts for Southwestern Randolph, both in basketball and tennis. He wrapped up his career with the Cougars on a couple of teams with winning records. Those squads were Piedmont Athletic Conference regular-season runners-up. Trotter, a guard, made regular contributions for the boys’ basketball team. Among those was 11 points in a home upset of eventual Class 1-A state finalist Eastern Randolph. Trotter wasn’t done after the winter. In boys’ tennis, he was named to the All-PAC team in each of the past two seasons. *During the summer, we…

16 Aug

Nominations open for upcoming state fair’s ‘Farm Family of the Day’

A.P. DillonBusinessFarm Family of the Day, NC State Fair, state fair

RALEIGH — While the 2023 N.C. State Fair is still a couple of months away, competition applications and event planning are already in motion. The fair officials have opened up nominations to honor 11 farm families to be recognized as the Tractor Supply Company’s “Farm Family of the Day.” This is the third year Tractor Supply Company has sponsored the program to celebrate farm families behind the state’s “$103.2 billion agriculture and agribusiness industry.” “The State Fair’s earliest beginnings sought to elevate the understanding of new agricultural practices and technology. Helping people make the connection between farming and the food…

16 Aug

Board of Commissioners approves strategic funding for various projects

Ryan Henkel, North State JournalGovernmentcommissioners meeting, Randolph County Board of Commissioners, Randolph County government

ASHEBORO — The Randolph County Board of Commissioners met Monday, August 14, with various budgetary and funding matters on the agenda. The board was first presented with an updated strategic planning funding request. “The county completed its most recent strategic planning process in 2016, and it involved citizens and communities from all over Randolph County,” said County Manager Hal Johnson. “It focused on the role of county government – and local governments also – which is the protection of the public health, the public safety and the public well-being. In 2017, the board of county commissioners made the decision to…

15 Aug

Norwood eyes big impact in final season for Eastern Randolph Wildcats

Bob SuttonSportsBurton Cates, Eastern Randolph athletics, Eastern Randolph Wildcats, Jani Norwood, North Carolina Tar Heels, prep football

Eastern Randolph’s Jani Norwood is set for his senior season. (Bob Sutton/Randolph Record) North Carolina football commit excels as Eastern Randolph lineman RAMSEUR – Jani Norwood’s goal is to take care of business on the football field for Eastern Randolph in the coming months. The focus became clear after he made a college commitment in the spring. The offensive lineman chose North Carolina for his college destination. “I wanted to do it before the start of my senior season,” Norwood said. “UNC felt like the most home to me.” Eastern Randolph, the two-time defending Piedmont Athletic Conference champion, opens the…

14 Aug

Area Sports Briefs: Kidd, teammate place 12th in CGA event; Fall sports begin at high schools

Bob SuttonSportsAmateur golf, nchsaa, prep sports, Steve Kidd, summer college baseball

Kidd, partner play well in senior four-ball PINEHURST – Steve Kidd of Liberty and Linley Tate of Greensboro combined to tie for 12th place in the North Carolina Senior Four-Ball Championship last week at Pinewild Country Club. The winning team was Gastonia’s Larry Cloninger and Belmont’s Mark Hodges at 17-under-par 199. The Kidd/Tate combo checked in at 9-under. Brian Skeen of Trinity and Craig Stroup of Thomasville tied for 21st place at 5-under. There were 79 teams entered in the Carolinas Golf Association event. ** Asheboro’s Sam Davidson didn’t make it to the round of 16 in the North Carolina…

13 Aug

Roberts walks away after historic UCA career on mats

Bob SuttonSportsChris Waddell, class 1-A, Grayson Roberts, prep wrestling, State wrestling, Uwharrie Charter Academy

Uwharrie Charter Academy’s Grayson Roberts reacts after winning a Class 1-A individual state title at 160 pounds in February 2022 to cap his junior season. (Randolph Record file photo) ASHEBORO – Grayson Roberts tends to downplay some of his accomplishments from high school wrestling. But the recent Uwharrie Charter Academy graduate doesn’t dismiss the impact the sport had on his life. “I love the sport. It definitely changed my life,” Roberts said. “Speaking on my younger self, I was a little bit of a wild child.” Roberts is the only four-time state place finisher in UCA history. He placed…