Government - Randolph Record

18 Nov

Franklinville’s tight races lead to mayoral change

Bob SuttonGovernmentelection, Franklinville, mayor

A.C. Hurley FRANKLINVILLE — A.C. Hurley has spent more than two decades in municipal government as a town commissioner in Franklinville. He’s moving to another seat after an incredibly close election earlier this month. “I want to get more for the people in the town,” Hurley said. Hurley received 50 votes. Incumbent Perry Conner, who was seeking a fifth term as mayor, received 49 votes. Hurley, who has been on the town board for about 28 years, didn’t file for the mayor’s seat until the final day of the filing period in the summer. He said he weighed the pros…

03 Nov

Staffing shortages, increase in calls strain emergency services

Bob SuttonGovernment, Newsambulances, emrgency services, EMS

ASHEBORO -- A staff shortage is a concern for Randolph County’s emergency services, department director Donovan Davis said. In a report to the county commissioners at the October meeting, Davis provided details on the challenges facing his department, particularly with call loads increasing. EMS staffing has become a concern, with Davis telling the commissioners that staff members are often frustrated and / or exhausted. There are 18 vacancies throughout the department. That includes eight paramedic positions. Because of that, some vacation requests have been denied, adding to declining morale. “The reason is because of our staffing,” he said. At times,…

03 Nov

County schools use federal COVID education funds for bonuses

Bob SuttonGovernment, News, PoliticsCOVID, Education

Randolph County Schools employees will receive $5,000 RALEIGH — Some North Carolina school boards have announced they will use federal COVID-19 relief funds to give bonuses to educators. The Randolph County Public School System will pay every employee a $5,000 bonus, according to a resolution adopted by the school board on Oct. 25. The resolution described the bonuses as “retention” and “premium pay.” Alamance County schools are giving full and part-time employees a $3,000 bonus while Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools employees will get a $1,400 bonus. According to the American Rescue Plan’s ESSER "FAQ," a district can use federal Elementary and…

02 Nov

High turnout, GOP ground game impacts contested municipal races

Randolph RecordGovernment, News, PoliticsAsheboro, Education, local, schools

Hailey Lee, left, and current Asheboro School board member Gidget Kidd react to Lee winning a seat on the Asheboro City School board Tuesday, November 2, 2021 (The North State Journal) ASHEBORO — Municipal races in Randolph County are technically non-partisan races but the presence of partisan poll workers and field operations in this year's Asheboro races proved that politics is rarely without partisan influence. In this year's race for Asheboro City School board, the county Republican Party endorsed four candidates and sent mailers on behalf of their preferred candidates. Those four candidates — incumbents Baxter Hammer and Beth Knott…

02 Nov

Two newcomers win seats on Asheboro City Council

Randolph RecordGovernment, News2021, Asheboro City Council, election

Republican Walker Moffitt is top vote-getter ASHEBORO — In an off-year election where Republicans flexed their muscle in municipal elections, the only Republican candidate for Asheboro City Council received the most votes in a race for four seats. Incumbent Walker Moffitt, the lone GOP candidate on the Asheboro ballot, received more than 1,325 votes. His fellow incumbent Clark Bell received the second-most votes. Newcomers Bill McCaskill and Kelly W. Heath will join the city council. Incumbent Katie L. Snuggs finished fifth in a race where the top four vote-getters win seats. Delilah Perkins Warner was sixth.

02 Nov

GOP-backed candidates sweep Asheboro School Board

Randolph RecordGovernment, NewsAsheboro City Schools, election 2021

ASHEBORO — In a technically non-partisan race, the Randolph County Republican Party showed the strength of its ground game as the four candidates backed by the GOP swept to victory Tuesday in the race for Asheboro City School Board. In a race that featured seven candidates where voters could pick their top four, the Republican Party backed only four candidates and fielded poll workers who handed out yellow cards with the party's recommendations. With masks mandates, vaccines requirements and critical race theory as key issues, incumbents Baxter Hammer and Beth Knott cruised to victory with newcomers Hailey Trollinger Lee and…

02 Nov

Early voting draws more to polls

Bob SuttonGovernment, News, Politics2021, election

Candidates and poll workers gather outside the polling place at Sunset Avenue Church of God on Election Day 2021 in Asheboro. (L-R) Justin Lee, Asheboro City School Board candidate Hailey Trollinger Lee, Asheboro city councilman Walker Moffitt, poll worker Laura King, school board member Baxter Hammer, school board member Beth Knott and poll worker Nicki McKenzie (The North State Journal) ASHEBORO — Early voting turnout was higher this year than in recent municipal elections on odd-numbered years in Randolph County. The 13 days of early voting drew a total of 1,288 voters to the Randolph County Board of Elections office…

01 Nov

Redistricting debate begins in earnest at NC legislature

Associated PressGovernment, News

RALEIGH — The North Carolina General Assembly is starting to debate some redistricting maps drawn by lawmakers for the state's legislative and congressional seats. Senate and House committees were scheduled to meet Monday to consider boundaries redrawn based on 2020 census figures. The Senate panel was likely to advance a Republican-penned map for the U.S. House delegation that redistricting experts estimate would give the GOP a good chance to win 10 of the state's 14 seats. And the House committee was slated Monday to take up a state House map that likely would help Republicans retain their majority in that…

29 Oct

County schools will hold mask vote Tuesday

Randolph RecordGovernment, NewsEducation, schools

ASHEBORO — The Randolph County Board of Education will meet for a Special Called Meeting on Tuesday, November 2, 2021 at 6:30 pm at the R. Alton Cox Resource Center Auditorium at Randolph Community College. According to a release from the school system, the meeting is for the purpose of discussing the school mask mandate which has been in place since the start of the school year. The school board will hear information from the Randolph County Board of Health which precedes a vote on the system-wide mask policy, according to the announced agenda. The county Board of Health recently…

26 Oct

Coyote pups add a howl to Halloween

Randolph RecordGovernment, News

RALEIGH — Wildlife officials in North Carolina are advising residents to expect to hear some howling this week, not because Halloween is approaching but instead because young coyotes are leaving their parents to strike out on their own. The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission said in a news release Monday that people could see and hear more coyotes in the coming weeks. The commission said the pups may travel up to 300 miles before they settle down in a place not already occupied. Commission biologists say as the young coyotes roam, they expect an increase in reported sightings. According to the…