Government

City council hears public comments on development, alcohol

City council hears public comments on development, alcohol

ASHEBORO — The City of Asheboro Council met last Thursday with hearings for two residential projects and the presentation of the final report on the city’s sewer system on the agenda. While no decision is imminent, the topic of allowing alcoholic beverages to be possessed outside of restaurants and bars was also discussed in the public comments.  Freese and Nichols, Inc. presented their final report and findings for the city’s sanitary sewer collection system before the council. The engineering firm had been commissioned to assess the wastewater collection system and see where the sanitary overflow problem areas were and how…
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Commissioners approve budget amendments, hospital funding

Commissioners approve budget amendments, hospital funding

ASHEBORO — The Randolph County Board of Commissioners held a meeting Monday to vote on multiple budget amendments as well as to approve a funding for new projects.  To kick off the meeting, Lieutenant Reid Linthicum was recognized before the board for 40 years of voluntary service as a Reserve Deputy for Randolph County Sheriff’s Office. “It’s been an honor,” said Sheriff Greg Seabolt on working with Lt. Linthicum. “I’ve been working some more at night and I’ve observed Reid as he’s working with the younger guys. I’ve seen what kind of mentor he is to them. He’s a great…
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Early voting site moves to Trinity

Early voting site moves to Trinity

ASHEBORO — An early voting site for the Archdale and Trinity areas is moving to a new location to help alleviate congestion and create a smoother voting experience, the director of the Randolph County Board of Elections said. The board gave its approval Monday to move the one-stop early voting site to the former Braxton Craven School gym for this spring’s primary. The new location is near Trinity High School. The address is 3037 N.C. Highway 62, Trinity. This is 3.2 miles from the previous location in Archdale. Early voting is scheduled from April 28-May 14. Board director Melissa Johnson…
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Republican candidates debate as primary campaigns kick off

Republican candidates debate as primary campaigns kick off

ASHEBORO — Candidates for Randolph County commissioner and Randolph County sheriff debated Monday night with conservative principles, the role of local leaders and the use of public funds as primary topics. North State Journal editor-in-chief Matt Mercer served as the moderator of the two debates, which featured seven total candidates at the Sunset Avenue Church of God in Asheboro.  Before the debates started, North State Journal publisher Neal Robbins welcomed the crowd of nearly 300 to the first debate sponsored by the newspaper. Sunset Avenue Church of God pastor Boyd Byerly also welcomed the audience and candidates and gave the…
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Gas prices continue to rise

Gas prices continue to rise

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…
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Election contests set after filing deadline

Election contests set after filing deadline

ASHEBORO — Following several delays, the election filing period closed Friday. Republican primary voters will see numerous contested elections in local races while the only Democratic primaries will occur at the state and federal levels.  Highlights on the GOP primary ballot include two contested county commissioner races as well as a three-way primary battle for sheriff.  Redistricting has resulted in three N.C. House districts and two State Senate districts serving the county.  Longtime state Rep. Pat Hurley faces a challenge in the seat she has held for eight terms. The seat being vacated by the retirement of Allen McNeill has…
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Four candidates file early for county school board

Four candidates file early for county school board

Four candidates filed to run for the Randolph County Schools Board of Education, three of them since the filing period resumed last Thursday. Shannon Craven Whitaker of Franklinville, Kurt Melvin of Trinity, Fred Burgess of Climax and Phillip Lanier of Asheboro have formally declared their intentions. Burgess is an incumbent. The filing period was suspended in December, and then reopened last week. Whitaker had put her name in Dec. 6 before filings were cut off based on a ruling from the North Carolina Supreme Court. The other three filed last week. The filing period runs through noon Friday. The date…
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Randolph Hospital relaxes COVID restrictions

Randolph Hospital relaxes COVID restrictions

ASHEBORO — Visitors to Randolph County’s only hospital will have more access and patients will be able to see more visitors after changes announced Monday. Randolph Hospital said in a press release that due to decreased COVID-19 activity the hospital would implement new visitation rules effective Tuesday. Visiting hours will now be 7am to 8pm. Visitors will be screened for COVID symptoms, including a temperature check, and must be 12 years of age or older. Visitors will still be required to wear masks. COVID patients can now have two visitors from 4pm to 8pm while inpatients and emergency patients can…
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Hudson will seek Congressional seat that includes Randolph

Hudson will seek Congressional seat that includes Randolph

RALEIGH — After a three-judge panel redrew Congressional maps for North Carolina, a current U.S. House member who previously represented Randolph County has announced he will run in a new district that now includes Randolph. Rep. Richard Hudson (R-08) is in his fifth term in the U.S. House serving the N.C.'s eighth congressional district. Hudson represented Moore, Anson, Randolph, Scotland, Hoke and Cumberland in current and previous versions of the 8th District. All or part of those counties are not included in the new 9th District. Hudson represented the southwestern corner of Randolph County as part of the 8th District…
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Virtual Academy student wins Randolph County spelling bee

Virtual Academy student wins Randolph County spelling bee

Marcie Rudzinski of the Virtual Academy after spelling the final word “primordial” winning the Randolph County Schools Spelling Bee at Randleman Elementary school in Randleman on February 15th, 2022. PJ WARD-BROWN/NORTH STATE JOURNAL RANDLEMAN — Maycie Rudzinski of The Virtual Academy at Randolph was the winner of Randolph County School System’s District Spelling Bell on Tuesday at Randleman Middle School. Rudzinski, a seventh-grader, emerged from a field of 25 entrants. She spelled “primordial” – meaning existing at or from the beginning of time -- correctly to clinch the victory. “I wasn’t expecting it,” Rudzinski said of winning and the opportunity…
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