News - Randolph Record

07 May

County commissioners recognize citizen volunteers

Ryan HenkelNewsAmy Rudisill, Maxton McDowell, Randolph County Board of Commissioners

ASHEBORO – The Randolph County Board of Commissioners took the time to recognize select citizens for their volunteer work within the county. At the board’s meeting Monday, five county residents were recognized with the Governor’s Volunteer Service Awards. “These awards recognize the individuals in our community that give their time, energy and compassion to help others, often behind the scenes, and always without expecting anything in return,” said Samantha Baker, United Way of Randolph County executive director. “Their efforts strengthen our county and our community and they inspire us all.” Those recognized included Amy Rudisill for her mentorship and work…

03 May

Liberty adjusts festival schedule, sees work on park projects

Bob SuttonEvents, Newsfestivals, Freedom Park, Liberty, parks and recreation

LIBERTY — Liberty has reworked its festival schedule for 2025 in addition to a busy time for the town’s parks and recreation department. There was a spring festival and fall festival in 2024, but both have been set aside this year. Kolby Riddle, director of the parks and recreation department, said it’s about finding the right balance. The summer gathering, scheduled this year for July 12, remains in place. “That’s our biggest one,” Riddle said. The festivals generally feature food trucks, vendors with arts and crafts and baked goods and a kidszone. Inconsistent attendance, often related to the weather, had…

25 Apr

Providence Grove student dies from wreck; Woman faces charges

Randolph RecordNewsaccident, Asheboro, crime, Providence Grove

ASHEBORO — A Providence Grove student died in an Easter Sunday traffic accident and a driver of one of the vehicles involved faces charges. Michael Bautista-Chauiz, 16, was pronounced dead at the scene. He was a passenger in the back seat. Suzanne Lewis, 43, was charged with felony death by motor vehicle, involuntary manslaughter, driving with a revoked license, expired registration and failure to reduce speed. The police reports says that Lewis was traveling westbound on East Dixie Drive on the afternoon of April 20 when her vehicle struck a vehicle that had stopped for a red light in the…

24 Apr

Furniture-related jobs take dip in county; High Point Market coming up soon

Bob SuttonEvents, Newsfurniture, High Point Market, randolph county, Randolph County Economic Development Corporation

Here's one of the world's largest dressers in Jamestown in nearby Guilford County. ASHEBORO — The number of furniture-related jobs has declined in recent years in Randolph County, but the impact from the furniture industry remains crucial in the county. The status of the furniture industry will be one of the major topics of conversation revolving around High Point Market, with the spring dates scheduled for April 26-30. This is an international trade fair for residential furniture and interior design. Lisa Bennett, manager for marketing and research with the Randolph County Economic Development Corporation, said a couple of years ago…

23 Apr

Asheboro council approves playground repair contract at sportsplex

Ryan HenkelGovernment, NewsAsheboro City Council, David Smith, Joey Trogdon, Kevin Franklin, Zoo City Sportsplex

ASHEBORO – The City of Asheboro is aiming for a summer reopening of the playground area at the Zoo City Sportsplex. At its April meeting, the council approved a $200,000 allocation for needed repairs to the playground. “Basically what we had were drains that were stopped up and a compaction issue,” city manager Donald Duncan said. “So we’re going to go back, remove some of the equipment, kind of do a surgical operation in place, repair the equipment and compact and solidify the area to get it back in service.” Barring any setbacks, the reopening is anticipated for the middle…

18 Apr

County lures manufacturer to former Hughes Furniture site

Bob SuttonNewsDarrell Frye, randolph county

ASHEBORO — A manufacturer that has been mostly based in Mid-Atlantic states is coming to Randolph County. Gillespie Precast is expected to bring about 60 jobs across a five-year period to a location in the southwestern part of the county on High Pine Church Road based on this week’s announcement. Gillespie Precast is a family-owned and operated precast concrete manufacturer serving utility and site contractors in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Virginia. “While we had several locations within North Carolina and Virginia targeted in our expansion plans, once we walked the property at High Pine Church Road it was…

16 Apr

Public hearing to be held for potential closure of Virtual Academy at Randolph

Ryan HenkelNewsEducation, Randolph County Board of Education, Randolph County School System, RCSS, Stephen Gainey, The Virtual Academy at Randolph

ASHEBORO — The Randolph County School System is looking to close the Virtual Academy at Randolph. At the Randolph County Schools Board of Education’s meeting this month, the board was presented with a study the district had done which focused primarily on the “welfare of the students who are enrolled in the school should the Virtual Academy at Randolph be closed.” “If we sent the students back to their schools that they were assigned to because of the closure of this school, it would not lead to any disruptive enrollment increases in those schools,” said Stephen Gainey, RCSS superintendent. “The closure…

14 Apr

Illegal gambling targeted by Asheboro police

Randolph RecordNewsAsheboro, Asheboro Police Department, crime

Utopia on North Park Street in Asheboro is one of the establishments included in the police department’s investigation. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) ASHEBORO — A crackdown on illegal gambling rooms in Asheboro has resulted in five arrests after an extended operation. The Asheboro Police Department executed search warrants on four locations. The targeted establishments were Oklahoma Games on Zoo Parkway, Utopia on North Park Street, Spin City on South Cox Street and The Room II on White Oak Street. Police seized 314 hard drives, five firearms, four video surveillance systems and almost $70,000 The police department says that detectives found that the establishments…

11 Apr

Randolph Community College hires new academic chief

Randolph RecordNewsLisa Johnson, Randolph Community College

Lisa Johnson (Courtesy photo) ASHEBORO — Lisa Johnson will be Randolph Community College's chief academic officer beginning next month. Johnson has been hired away from Alamance Community College to become RCC's next vice president of learning and workforce development. She has more than 16 years of experience in academic administration, workforce development, and student support in the North Carolina Community College System. “Dr. Johnson is a transformational leader who understands the evolving needs of our students, faculty, and communities,” said Shah Ardalan, RCC's president. “Her personal story — from first-generation college graduate to First Sergeant in the U.S. Air Force to community…

10 Apr

Commissioners approve purchase of property for new Randleman High School

Ryan HenkelNewsDarrell Frye, Education, Randleman High School, Randolph County Board of Commissioners, Randolph County School System

ASHEBORO – Randolph County has moved one step closer toward the construction of a new high school. At this week's meeting, the Randolph County Board of Commissioners approved a budget amendment to allocate $6 million for the purchase of approximately 90 acres of property located on Walker Mill Road intended to be utilized for the site of a new Randleman High School. “Approximately one year ago, this board authorized the Randolph County School System to begin looking for land for future locations for Liberty Elementary School and Randleman High School,” county manager Zeb Holden said. “It took some time, but…