Blog - Randolph Record

20 Apr

Rural areas aim for expanded internet service

Bob SuttonFeatures, StateAsheboro, Randolph Communications

ASHEBORO — If the need arises and enough interest is generated, Randolph Communications will respond. That’s the message from the telephone cooperative when it comes to providing fiber optics and expanded internet service. “Once we see a high enough interest to make a business commitment, we will try to go to certain areas,” said Stephanie Gee, marketing director for Randolph Communications. “The need is widespread.” The Asheboro-based group, which also has an office in Liberty, is looking for opportunities to increase its footprint, Gee said. Randolph Communications serves parts of eight counties. The key tends to come from community members…

20 Apr

REMC seeks grant applicants from teachers

Randolph RecordNewsAsheboro, Randolph Electric Membership Corp

ASHEBORO — Local educators can apply for a Bright Ideas grant from Randolph Electric Membership Corp. through Sept. 15. The grants, offered annually to teachers to bring creative classroom learning projects to life, support innovative projects that energize classroom learning and enhance student success. Educators can apply online at www.ncbrightideas.com “We are pleased to continue our long history of supporting teachers and students with grants that fulfill needs in local classrooms,” said Nicole Arnold, communications and public affairs manager at Randolph EMC. “As a community-focused organization, we are committed to building a brighter future for our students and our region,…

20 Apr

Prep Notes: Trinity jumper rates high in state

Randolph RecordSportsbaseball, prep sports, softball, track and field

Randleman's baseball team has largely continued its success this season. Here, players Gus Shelton, left, Bryson Sweatt and Brooks Brannon meet with coach Jake Smith. Dylan Hodges’ mark of 6 feet, 4 inches in the high jump is tied for the second-best leap in the state this year behind Kyzaiah Stone, a senior from Clayton Cleveland. Hodges, a Trinity junior, had his top effort March 19 at the Mighty Viking Invitational. Stone posted a leap of 7 feet on April 9 in the All-American Track Classic at Spring Valley, S.C. Among other North Carolina prep athletes with recorded jumps of…

20 Apr

Beard boasts best results at Caraway

Randolph RecordSportsCaraway speedway, Coy Beard

SOPHIA – Coy Beard was the fast qualifier and backed that up in the Late Models feature Saturday night at Caraway Speedway. Beard finished first in the race ahead of Daniel Schadt, with Wesley Hawkins third and Gavan Boschele in fourth and Jeffrey Wood in fifth. Cody Norman won for the third straight Modifieds race at the track, claiming the 30-lap event. Carson Loftin placed second and Dean Lowder was third. Loftin earlier won a 10-lap qualifying event in the division. With four cars entered in Mini Stocks, Brandon Clements was the winner with Jimmy Crigger in second. In the…

20 Apr

Budd, McCrory still close in NC Senate campaign fundraising

Associated PressPolitics, StatePat McCrory, Ted Budd, U.S. Senate

RALEIGH — North Carolina Republican U.S. Senate candidates Ted Budd and Pat McCrory remained neck-and-neck with their campaigns’ own fundraising entering the final full month before the May 17 primary. Campaign finance reports for the first quarter show McCrory, the former governor, and current U.S. House member Budd collecting essentially the same level of contributions and other funds. But Budd is separately benefiting from a political action committee that has already spent several million dollars on ads and mailers praising Budd and attacking McCrory. A pro-McCrory super PAC is trailing. Budd also has received former President Donald Trump’s endorsement. Looking…

20 Apr

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Brody Gardner

Randolph RecordSportsathlete of the week, Brody Gardner, prep sports

Eastern Randolph | baseball Gardner had a role in the most successful week of the season for the Wildcats as they sweep three games in the ZooKeepers Baseball Invitational at Southwestern Randolph. Eastern Randolph topped Wheatmore 11-4, beat Southwestern Randolph 5-1 and hammered Rockingham County 14-5. Gardner is a senior pitcher and utility player. He was the winning pitcher against Wheatmore, working six innings. He also went 3-for-3 with a home run and double at the plate in that game. He had a hit and scored a run against Southwestern Randolph. The Wildcats won just five of their first 17…

20 Apr

Maness excels for Wingate softball

Randolph RecordSportsHeaven Maness, softball, Wingate

Southwestern Randolph softball alum Heaven Maness was the Player of the Week for South Atlantic Conference softball earlier this month. Maness is a sophomore infielder for Wingate. She batted 8-for-16 with two home runs, a double and three stolen bases during a four-game stretch. The Bulldogs won each of those games. Maness was last year’s SAC Freshman of the Year. Since the week for which Maness was honored, Division II Wingate has stretched its winning streak to eight games. The Bulldogs entered this week, which marks the last of their regular-season games, with a 32-15 record.

13 Apr

Tigers blank Patriots twice as Randleman closes in on outright PAC title

Bob SuttonSportspiedmont athletic conference, Randleman, Randleman baseball

Randleman’s Hunter Atkins drills the ball during a game against Southwestern Randolph in Piedmont Athletic Conference action last month at Randleman. CLIMAX — Randleman’s baseball team was close to perfect in a couple of ways during a pair of Piedmont Athletic Conference shutouts last week. Those results allowed the Tigers to clinch at least a share of the PAC regular-season championship. “We’ve been swinging it really well,” outfielder Braylen Hayes said. “Pitching is amazing.” Indeed, in Wednesday’s 10-0 victory at Providence Grove, Ryan White retired the first 17 batters he faced. So he had a perfect game until Brady Collins…

13 Apr

Prep Notes: Races brew in PAC standings

Randolph RecordSportsbaseball, piedmont athletic conference, prep sports, soccer, softball

Ethan Frye of Eastern Randolph takes a swing during a baseball game last week against Uwharrie Charter Academy. With schools in the Piedmont Athletic Conference on spring break this week, the schedules are limited in many sports. It’s also a good time to check on some key remaining matchups. For instance, Wheatmore and Uwharrie Charter Academy are unbeaten in PAC girls’ soccer games. Those teams will meet April 22 in what is bound to be a critical clash, though there will be a rematch May 10. In softball, undefeated Providence Grove has defeated second-place Southwestern Randolph twice. The only remaining…

13 Apr

City council hears public comments on development, alcohol

Ryan HenkelGovernmentalcohol, Asheboro, Asheboro City Council

ASHEBORO — The City of Asheboro Council met last Thursday with hearings for two residential projects and the presentation of the final report on the city’s sewer system on the agenda. While no decision is imminent, the topic of allowing alcoholic beverages to be possessed outside of restaurants and bars was also discussed in the public comments. Freese and Nichols, Inc. presented their final report and findings for the city’s sanitary sewer collection system before the council. The engineering firm had been commissioned to assess the wastewater collection system and see where the sanitary overflow problem areas were and how…