Government

County schools to spend some COVID relief funds on employee bonuses

County schools to spend some COVID relief funds on employee bonuses

ASHEBORO — The Randolph County Public School System will pay every employee a $5,000 bonus, according to a resolution adopted by the school board on Monday. The resolution says the bonuses will be paid from funds received by the system from the Elementary and Secondary Schools Emergency Relief Funds from the federal government. Randolph County Schools has received nearly $50 million in ESSER funding which was included in the Coronavirus Aid Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to provide premium pay to employees and substitutes to address COVID-related disruptions and staff shortages. According to the school board, substitutes who work…
Read More
Early voting tops 100 after opening days

Early voting tops 100 after opening days

ASHEBORO – A total of 115 voters cast ballots during one-stop early voting last week for municipal elections in Randolph County. Early voting began Oct. 14 at the Randolph County Board of Elections office on North Fayetteville Street in Asheboro. The first-week total involved the total for the first two days. Early voting continues through 3 p.m. Oct. 30. Election Day is Nov. 2, when voters must cast ballots at their designated polling places. Municipal elections are on the ballot this cycle, including Asheboro City School Board.
Read More
School COVID numbers decline

School COVID numbers decline

ASHEBORO — Positive cases and quarantines in schools are on the decline in Randolph County and around the country. In the Asheboro City Schools, 13 positive cases were reported last week resulting in 43 people quarantined. In Randolph County Schools, there were 73 positive cases and 361 people quarantined. Just 10 of the 361 people quarantined were from a school exposure. Asheboro City Schools reported a 33% reduction in positive cases in the first three weeks of October compared to the first three weeks of September. Randolph County reported a 46% reduction in positive cases during the same period. Last…
Read More
Quite a Fair growth spurt

Quite a Fair growth spurt

Andrew Vial of Liberty brought the largest watermelon in North Carolina State Fair history (The North State Journal) Liberty man sets mark with large watermelons ASHEBORO — Andrew Vial calls growing big watermelons a hobby. Yet for the Liberty man, it’s truly a passion. He took another watermelon to a big stage and collected another special distinction. His 341-pound watermelon was the largest ever at the North Carolina State Fair in Raleigh. “You just don’t get melons like that every day,” Vial said. Vial, who calls his remodeling carpentry work his full-time job, said he logs 50 to 60 hours…
Read More
Early voting set for Randolph County

Early voting set for Randolph County

ASHEBORO — Early voting for this fall’s municipal elections in Randolph County begins this week and runs for more than two weeks. Early voting will take place at the Randolph County Board of Elections office at 1457 North Fayetteville St., Asheboro. Times and dates for early voting are from 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Oct. 14, 19, 21, 26 and 28; from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 18, 20, 22, 25, 27 and 29; and from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 30. Election Day is Nov. 2. Voters must vote at their polling places on Election Day.  
Read More
Meet the Candidates: Asheboro School Board

Meet the Candidates: Asheboro School Board

Asheboro City School Board candidates respond to candidate survey ASHEBORO – Municipal elections in Randolph County begin this week with early voting with election day on Nov. 2. The contest for Asheboro City School Board has seven candidates vying for four seats. Voters are allowed to select their top four candidates on the ballot. North State Journal circulated a survey to all of the candidates with the same questions. Each candidate was given the same amount of space to respond to each question. Their responses are below.   Adam Hurley What office are you seeking? Asheboro City School Board Are…
Read More
Community College System President visits RCC

Community College System President visits RCC

ASHEBORO — North Carolina Community College System President Thomas Stith III toured Randolph Community College in Asheboro last week. Stith, in his first year at the NCCCS helm, has now visited 31 of the state’s 58 community colleges. Stith visited the new Allied Health Center, Continuing Education and Industrial Center, Photography Imaging Center and JB and Claire Davis Corporate Training Center. “We have 58 great community colleges throughout the state of North Carolina,” said Stith in a release from RCC. “We just saw state-of-the-art healthcare facilities, and I’m just so impressed with the programs that are offered here and the…
Read More
County schools honor teacher, principal of the year

County schools honor teacher, principal of the year

ASHEBORO — Katie Husband of Franklinville Elementary is the Randolph County School System 2021-2022 Teacher of the Year. Finalists for Teacher of the Year were Paige Rollins of Eastern Randolph, Philip Schuyler of Randolph Early College, Emily Caudill of Trindale Elementary and Eliza Sanders of Northeastern Randolph Middle. Jamie Armfield of Seagrove Elementary is the RCSS Principal of the Year.
Read More
Commissioners review infrastructure requests

Commissioners review infrastructure requests

Proposed enhancements for water, sewer projects become focus of meeting ASHEBORO — Finding the best way to distribute funds for infrastructure projects was the focus of a special meeting of the Randolph County commissioners this month. Most of the presentations were centered on water and sewer topics. The county will receive $28 million federal funds that will be designated for certain projects. “Now we have more requests than we have monies,” commissioners chairman Darrell Frye said. “Our plan is to take advantage of every dime we can that will build and better secure the future of Randolph County.” Randy Tedder,…
Read More
County gives go-ahead to explore projects

County gives go-ahead to explore projects

ASHEBORO — The Randolph County commissioners gave the go-ahead for collaboration to pursue projects in three different votes at the September meeting. Crystal Gettys of the Randolph County Economic Development Corporation made presentations for each of the situations. There’s a feasibility study on water and sewer for a site off I-74 and N.C. 311 near Wall Brothers Road. This is a potential industrial park involving about 260,000 acres. Gettys, the business recruitment director for Randolph County EDC, said it’s a marketable site for an industrial park. The $30,000 cost of the study will be split three ways between the City…
Read More