Business - Randolph Record

11 Mar

Chamber honors locals, installs new leaders

Randolph RecordBusiness, NewsAsheboro, Asheboro/Randolph Chamber

New chamber chair Nicki Hill presents 2020-2021 Chair Kelly Heath with a plaque to recognize her service to the Chamber. (North State Journal) ASHEBORO — After a pandemic delay and during a trying time for many local businesses, there was still much to celebrate for the Randolph County business community. The Asheboro/Randolph Chamber of Commerce held its annual awards dinner Friday night at Pinewood Country Club. The celebration marked the business group's 96th annual meeting and included awards for citizen of the year, emerging leader, volunteer of the year, woman business leader, and business, industry, and organization of the year.…

09 Mar

Gas prices continue to rise

Randolph RecordBusiness, Government, Nation, Newsfuel, gas, Joe Biden, Russia, Ukraine

Gas prices are advertised at $4.19 per gallon, Monday, March 7, 2022, in downtown Asheboro. (PJ WARD-BROWN/The North State Journal) ASHEBORO — Governors and state lawmakers across the U.S. are scrambling to provide relief from soaring prices at the gas pump. Gas prices were climbing before Russia invaded Ukraine. With Russian crude out of the energy mix in the U.S., fuel prices will likely continue to climb as inflation reaches new high across the U.S. economy. In Asheboro, regular unleaded gasoline topped $4.00 this week with prices as high as $4.19 on Monday. Diesel fuel exceeded $5.00. In announcing a…

09 Mar

Hearing provides chance for sharing educational ideas

Randolph RecordBusinessboard of education, randolph county education, Randolph County Schools

ASHEBORO — Developing the best ideas with students in mind and securing the support to pursue those goals is what Randolph County educators advocated for during a special public hearing Monday. “Think about where we’re going. Being innovative,” said Aaron Woody, superintendent of Asheboro City Schools. The House Select Committee held a public hearing on “An Education System for North Carolina’s Future” at South Asheboro Middle School. Renee Hayes was one of three speakers who requested to make comments following the formal presentation. The Asheboro woman said state leaders should follow the guidelines in place to make sure there’s proper…

15 Feb

Toyota announces electric car parts production expansion

The Associated PressBusiness, Government, NewsElectric Vehicles, Toyota

BUFFALO, W.Va. — Toyota Motor Corp. announced Friday that it will further expand production of electric vehicle parts at plants in West Virginia and Tennessee in a $90 million investment. The announcement comes three months after the Japanese automaker said it would invest $240 million to add a production line dedicated to hybrid powertrains at its facility in Buffalo, West Virginia. The latest upgrade involves spending $73 million at the plant to annually assemble an estimated 120,000 rear motor stators, a key component in electric motors. “Toyota is moving quickly toward an electrified future, and West Virginia will play a…

02 Feb

Asheboro ABC Board seeks additional site

Bob SuttonBusinessABC stores, Asheboro

ASHEBORO – The Asheboro ABC Board is looking to open another location in Asheboro, board general manager Rodney Johnson said. Business has been on the uptick for Asheboro’s only ABC store and keeping enough inventory in stock has been troublesome at times. The best-case scenario would be to secure a second venue in north Asheboro. “We’re trying to do everything we can to help north Asheboro,” Johnson said. Johnson said traffic studies and addresses of building permits have gone into determining where another store should be located. He said it’s clear that’s a part of the city and county that…

26 Jan

Justices to hear challenge to race in college admissions

Randolph RecordBusinessHarvard, SCOTUS, UNC

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear a challenge to the consideration of race in college admissions, adding affirmative action to major cases on abortion, guns, religion and COVID-19 already on the agenda. The court said it will take up lawsuits claiming that Harvard University, a private institution, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a state school, discriminate against Asian American applicants. A decision against the schools could mean the end of affirmative action in college admissions. Lower courts rejected the challenges, citing more than 40 years of high court rulings that…

25 Jan

McDonald’s expanding test of McPlant burger in US stores

Dee-Ann Durbin, Associated PressBusiness, Newsfood, McDonald's

NEW YORK — McDonald's is expanding sales of its meatless McPlant burger to hundreds of locations. The company said the McPlant — which it co-developed with plant-based protein company Beyond Meat — will be sold at 600 stores in the San Francisco and Dallas areas starting Feb. 14. It's a major expansion for the McPlant, which was introduced last November at eight stores in Texas, Iowa, Louisiana and California. That test run helped the company determine how a plant-based option would alter its kitchen operations. McDonald's said the larger product offering will help it understand customer demand. The Chicago company…

21 Jan

Randolph Mall staple to close

Randolph RecordBusiness, NewsRandolph Mall, The Cookie Jar

ASHEBORO — Generations of locals have enjoyed a sweet treat on their way around Randolph Mall but soon that tradition will end. The Cooke Jar — the original cookie store in Randolph Mall — will turn out its lights for the last time on January 30, according to employees at the store. Randolph Mall, which opened in 1982, has seen many restaurants come and go over its 40 years of existence. The Cookie Jar is one of the longest serving stores at Randolph Mall. Another long-time snack and treats store, The Peanut Shack, closed its doors in 2013. According to…

21 Jan

RCC president to retire

Randolph RecordBusiness, NewsBob Shackleford, Randolph Community College

Community Colleges president Thomas Stith and RCC president Shackleford talk to third-year Apprenticeship Randolph apprentice Abby Goss in the Gene Haas Computer-Integrated Machining Institute. (Photos courtesy of Randolph Community College) ASHEBORO – Randolph Community College president Dr. Robert Shackleford is retiring after slightly more than 15 years in the position and more than two decades at the two-year school. Shackleford notified the board of trustees and later emailed a letter to faculty and staff Jan. 20 to notify them of his intentions. “These 15 years you have granted me the opportunity to serve as President of RCC have been…

16 Jan

Roads remain treacherous as power is restored

Randolph RecordBusiness, News

ASHEBORO – A dangerous winter storm combining high winds and ice swept through parts of North Carolina and the South on Sunday, knocking out power, felling trees, covering roads with ice. Tens of thousands of customers were without power in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida. Highway patrols were reporting hundreds of vehicle accidents, and a tornado ripped through a trailer park in Florida. More than 1,200 Sunday flights at Charlotte Douglas International were cancelled – more than 90% of the airport’s Sunday schedule, according to the flight tracking service flightaware.com. Winter Storm Izzy dumped as much as 10…