Government - Randolph Record

09 Sep

City Schools extend mask mandate

Randolph RecordGovernment, News

ASHEBORO — The Asheboro City School Board voted to extend mandatory mask-wearing for another month. The School Board voted 6-3 at their August 12 meeting to require masks to start the school year but set the policy to be reviewed at each meeting. This time the vote was 7-1 in favor of extending the mask mandate. Gidget Kidd was the lone vote against extending the mandatory masks. Archie Priest, Jr. and Ryan Patton, who joined Kidd in supporting a mask-optional start at the August meeting were absent. Art Martinez, who had supported the mask mandate at the August meeting, was…

09 Sep

Seabolt won’t be charged after allegations of misuse of county vehicle

Randolph RecordGovernment, Politics

ASHEBORO — Multiple sources have confirmed that Sheriff Greg Seabolt will not be charged with a crime after a summer-long investigation by the State Bureau of Investigation stemming from allegations that Seabolt used a county vehicle to aid his campaign. According to media reports in May, the SBI opened an investigation of Seabolt on May 5 following complaints that he had used a county-issued SUV for his political campaign. One of the complaints was filed by Eric Hicks, a former Libertarian candidate for sheriff, who shared photos of an SUV parked at the Sheriff's Office with an trailer attached. The…

09 Sep

Safely sharing the road with farm equipment

Blake Szilvay | For the Randolph RecordBusiness, Governmentagriculture, farming, NC State

ASHEBORO — During the Spring and Fall, the volume of farm equipment appearing on the road increases significantly. In the Fall, farmers are working hard to harvest crops in a narrow window of time with unpredictable weather. They rely on large equipment designed to aid them in these tasks, equipment that is not designed to match the speed of a common automobile on the road. Generally, this equipment will be travelling no more than 30 mph. Public roads are dangerous with passenger vehicles and commercial vehicles interacting. Adding farm equipment increases accident risks for farmers and for motorists. Studies in…

01 Sep

Daniel cites conservative values in entering county race

Bob SuttonGovernment, News, PoliticsCounty Commissioners, GOP, Todd Daniel

ASHEBORO – Todd Daniel said he’s concerned about the reduction of certain liberties because of pandemic-related restrictions and that has caused him to enter the 2022 race for a seat among the Randolph County commissioners. “This past spring I’ve had some people ask me to run, representing the values of the county,” Daniel said. Daniel, 51, ran unsuccessfully for a county seat in 2014, part of a three-way race. He’s aiming to take the seat of incumbent David Allen in District 3. “It is time for conservative Americans to rise up and defend the values of our nation and heritage,”…

29 Aug

Randolph County Schools reverses course on masks

Randolph RecordGovernment, News

ASHEBORO — Students, teachers and staff in the county school system will be required to wear masks inside school buildings starting Monday, August 30. The Randolph County Board of Education met for a special meeting on Sunday and a divided board voted 4-3 to require mask-wearing at all schools. The change comes after one week of in-person classes and marks a change to the board's policy making masks optional in July. "We have the rules that we have to follow," said superintendent Stephen Gainey. "Last week, we sent 530 children home for exposure to 81 cases ... universal cloth face…

25 Aug

Randolph County school board calls special meeting on COVID

Randolph RecordBusiness, Government, Newsboard of education, Education, schools

ASHEBORO — With eight schools currently affected by COVID-19 quarantine protocols due to contact tracing, The Randolph County Board of Education has called a special meeting for Sunday, August 29 at 2pm In an email to the North State Journal, the county’s largest school system said its leaders would meet at the R. Alton Cox Learning Resources Center Auditorium at Randolph Community College, 629 Industrial Park Avenue, Asheboro, for the purpose of discussing the current status of COVID-19 in the Randolph County School System and COVID-19 protocols. The system said Monday that Southeastern Randolph Middle School, Southwestern Randolph high School, Southwestern Randolph Middle School, Randleman…

20 Aug

Two file for mayor’s race in Trinity

Bob SuttonGovernment, Newsgovernment, politics, Trinity

Candidates view dealing with development as key topic ASHEBORO — Two candidates will square off for the mayor’s position in Trinity. Sitting mayor Richard McNabb will be opposed by Veronica (Vickee) Armstrong in the Nov. 2 election. McNabb said he sees unfinished business, while Armstrong said she’ll focus on a long-term vision for the community. McNabb was appointed to the position in February 2020 to fill the unexpired term of late mayor Jesse Hill. Prior to that, McNabb spent about a dozen years on the city’s planning and zoning boards, serving as chairman for about half that time. “Somebody has…

12 Aug

City schools will require masks

Randolph RecordGovernment, News, PoliticsAsheboro, Education, schools

ASHEBORO — Following a last-minute plea from Gov. Roy Cooper, the Asheboro City School Board voted Thursday to require all students within the school system to wear masks as the 2021-22 school year opens. The divided board voted 6-3 to require masks. Board members Ryan Patton, Archie Priest, and Gidget Kidd voted to make mask wearing optional. In a letter to the board dated August 12, 2021, signed by Gov. Roy Cooper, DHHS Sec. Mandy Cohen, and State Health Director Betsey Tilson, state officials urged the board to mandate masks wearing for all students and teachers, regardless of vaccine status.…

12 Aug

RCC pays off student account balances

Randolph RecordBusiness, Government, NewsEducation, Randolph Community College, RCC, schools

ASHEBORO — Randolph Community College recently paid off outstanding student debt for approximately 200 students. The amount totaled nearly $113,000. Any student who was enrolled at the College between March 13, 2020 — the start of the COVID-19 pandemic — until the end of the Summer 2021 semester was eligible for the assistance. In addition to paying off outstanding student account balances, RCC has provided emergency financial assistance for food, housing, laptops, and internet access.

11 Aug

Austin, York retire from county jobs

Bob SuttonGovernment, News

ASHEBORO – Two longtime Randolph County employees have retired this summer, diminishing the level of experience in a couple of departments. Melissa Austin retired after 36 years in the tax department. Danny York has stepped away after 26 years in building inspections. “We can’t replace 62 years of experience from our county,” commissioners board chairman Darrell Frye said. Austin began in a part-time role at age 19. She ended her career as the department’s personal property and business property supervisor. “Melissa’s work was always performed at a high level of proficiency and significantly exceeded job requirements,” tax department administrator Debra…