Features - Randolph Record

08 Jun

Zoo hooks up more hiking options

Bob SuttonFeaturesAsheboro, hiking trails, North Carolina Zoo, Purgatory Mountain

ASHEBORO — Another trail opened during the weekend as part of the North Carolina Zoo’s system and this one has a theme that might intrigue many folks in Randolph County. The grand opening of the completed Purgatory Mountain Trail Network was held as part of Saturday’s National Trails Day. A moonshining component was highlighted as part of the weekend hike. That seemed appropriate to Randolph County commissioner Hope Haywood. “If we think about history and culture, the moonshine trail is also closely connected to another part of our culture, which is the pottery culture here,” she said. “Our potters got…

01 Jun

Strawberry season brings joy, strong harvest in Randolph County

Bob SuttonFeaturesagriculture, family fun, farm, north carolina agriculture, strawberry season

Strawberry season is a time for reunions for Sarah Beal of Kildee Farm in Ramseur. “I get to see a lot of people I haven’t seen since last year,” Beal said. Beal is the mother of Kildee Farm owner Michael Beal, but she pretty much runs the operation on site. “We’ve had a good six weeks and that’s normal,” Sarah Beal said. “It has been OK. We haven’t lost a lot because of the rain.” Kildee Farm, which has about 2 ½ acres of strawberries, had its last day for sales Monday. For the final days, strawberries were only available…

11 May

Bossong Memorial golf tournament raises funds for YMCA

Randolph RecordFeaturesAsheboro, Pinewood Country Club, Sam Bossong Memorial Golf Tournament, YMCA

ASHEBORO — A rain-delay did not dampen the spirits of over 100 golfers who came out to support the local YMCA on Friday. Rain threatened the Sam Bossong Memorial Golf Tournament at Pinewood Country Club and the single-round tournament was stopped briefly for a thunderstorm but teams ultimately returned to the course to complete the 22nd iteration of the tournament. This year’s winning team of Chad Clark, Shawn Hogan, Clint Smith and Mark Vuncannon shot a 49 which included five eagles on holes 3, 4, 6, 7 and 16. The team did not record any scores of less than a…

05 May

Cabin fever gives new life to Worth Street structure

Bob SuttonFeaturesAsheboro, log cabin, Worth Street

ASHEBORO — Mark Dillon viewed the cabin sitting at 426 Worth St. differently than others who checked out the property. “It just hadn’t been loved,” Dillon said. He has changed that. Dillon, and his wife, Carol Schuck Dillon, purchased the cabin and are turning it into a home. “When we walked in, there was some potential for someone dumb enough to do it,” Mark Dillon said. It was purchased in December of $48,500 – or about $20,000 below the listed price. Now, passersby marvel at the structure. Others have been excited when they’ve seen the possibilities for the cabin, which…

20 Apr

For Earth Day, plant native plants, practice benign neglect

Jessica Damiano via The Associated PressFeaturesEarth Day, gardening

Does your idea of the perfect garden include abundant plants that thrive with relatively little human intervention? Do they attract and support all kinds of pollinators? Sounds like a dream. And you can make it real by planting native plants. Native plants don’t need a lot of extra watering or fertilizing because they are already growing in the conditions they’re adapted to. Likewise they provide food for native insects and birds. Planting non-native plants can create a food desert for native pollinators. Check with your county’s cooperative extension office or other online resources to find out which plants are native…

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…

07 Apr

Asheboro sets Easter events

Bob SuttonEvents, Featuresactivities, Easter, Easter Sunday, events

ASHEBORO — An Easter-based program improvised last year by the City of Asheboro’s Cultural and Recreation Services department is back again this year, along with a more traditional event. When the normal Easter youth activities for 2021 were cancelled because of concerns related to COVID-19, the City of Asheboro created a different type of Easter egg hunt. Eggs were placed in several city parks, with the people finding the eggs directed to the recreation department’s office to claim prizes to create an Easter egg scavenger hunt. The more traditional Easter egg hunt is also back on the docket. The Easter…

06 Apr

Mountaire Farms will feed thousands for Easter

Bob SuttonFeatures, StateChatham County, chicken, Easter meal, Lee County, Moore County, Mountaire Farms, randolph county, Siler City

ASHEBORO — Mountaire Farms is extending its goodwill program to include a new spring event that will provide Easter meals for people near its plant in Siler City. It’s called “Easter for Thousands” and the company will expect employees and community members will participate in the endeavor Saturday morning. “We noticed a need in the community,” said Sasha Duncan, the community relations manager for Mountaire Farms of North Carolina. “It’s something that we’ve done in the past at Thanksgiving and now has expanded to Christmas and Easter.” The participants will pack and have ready to distribute approximately 3,000 boxed meals…

30 Mar

Randolph entrants excel in hunter skills tourney

Bob SuttonFeatures

BEAR CREEK — Students from Randolph County were among the top entrants in the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission’s Youth Hunter Education Skills Tournament held for District 5 earlier this month at Chatham County Wildlife Club. In the high school division, Providence Grove was the overall team runner-up to Southern Alamance among 41 team entries. Wheatmore placed fifth and Randleman was sixth. Austin Williams of Providence Grove had the top score in archery among 203 participants. Second place and third place went to Wheatmore’s Stephen Marshall and Austin Cox. All three of those entrants had scores of 199, but their…

30 Mar

It’s time to get your pressure canner tested

Jeannie M. LeonardFeaturesJeannie M. Leonard, pressure canner

If the past two years has taught us anything it is that home food preservation is on the rise in Randolph County. With all the work it takes to preserve garden foods, make sure you are off to a successful canning season and get your pressure canner gauge tested. The main reason for testing; pressure canning is for low-acid foods. Low-acid foods include red meats, fish, poultry, and all vegetables, except for most tomatoes. Low-acid foods can support the production of the deadly botulism toxin if they are not processed properly in a pressure canner. A pressure canner needs to…