News

Annual Randolph County visitor impact report shows 3.8% increase

Annual Randolph County visitor impact report shows 3.8% increase

ASHEBORO — Domestic and international visitors to and within Randolph County spent $178.63 million in 2022, an increase of 3.8% from 2021, according to new data.   The spending report comes from an annual study commissioned by Visit North Carolina, a unit of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina.  State tax revenue generated in Randolph County totaled around $7.9 million through state sales and excise taxes, and taxes on personal and corporate income. About $4.7 million in local taxes were generated from sales and property tax revenue from travel-generated and travel-supported businesses.  Statewide, North Carolina set a record for visitor…
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North Carolina Zoo to send flamingos to South Carolina

North Carolina Zoo to send flamingos to South Carolina

Flamingos will be leaving North Carolina Zoo. (Photo courtesy of NC Zoo)   ASHEBORO – Flamingos are leaving the North Carolina Zoo. A flock of 15 Chilean flamingos will be moved to the Greenville Zoo in South Carolina by late September. A “Farewell Flamingos” event was held Saturday at the zoo. Some of the flamingos in the flock are from the original flock that arrived at the zoo in August 1982. The aviary closed in April 2022 because of its age. In order to demolish the building that housed the aviary, the flamingos had to be moved, according to information…
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Archdale bags one form of yard waste collection

Archdale bags one form of yard waste collection

ARCHDALE – Bagged yard waste collection services in Archdale are being suspended by the end of the month. City manager Zeb Holden said that the change in policy impacts a small percentage of residents but solutions are being sought. Holden said the facility where bagged yard waste has been going discontinued accepting plastic bags. “I know some folks are going to be disappointed,” Holden said. A notice from the city reads, in part: “City staff continue to evaluate options for the possibility collecting yard waste in the future. … The City understands the inconvenience this suspension may cause and encourages…
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After years at Randleman, Hamilton becomes principal at Providence Grove

After years at Randleman, Hamilton becomes principal at Providence Grove

 Dennis Hamilton (Courtesy photo) CLIMAX – It’s a different location for high school principal Dennis Hamilton, but the people connected to Providence Grove are plenty familiar to him. Hamilton had administrative roles at Randleman for two decades. “I was given an opportunity to take a new adventure at a different school,” Hamilton said. He’s the new principal at Providence Grove after holding a similar position at Randleman. Hamilton was principal of Randleman Middle School when the Providence Grove district was formed and so in 2008 there was a new high school in the Randolph County School System. Many of the…
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Former Klaussner Furniture workers react to shutdown

Former Klaussner Furniture workers react to shutdown

ASHEBORO – A lawsuit has been filed against Klaussner Furniture after the Asheboro-based company abruptly ceased operations last week. Former employees of the manufacturing company allege that Klaussner Furniture didn’t provide proper notice of the shutdown. Information in notification from Klaussner Furniture that was listed as part of the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act shows that 884 jobs were to be lost. The WARN Act requires employers to provide 60 days’ notice. The shortened time frame on the notice came from what appeared to be unforeseen business issues. The company, which had been operating since 1963, announced Aug. 7…
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UCA’s high school building ready; Delays expected for younger students

UCA’s high school building ready; Delays expected for younger students

ASHEBORO — The new high school building for Uwharrie Charter Academy opens next week. The new facility will house the high school and career academy. A ribbon cutting was held last Thursday, with an appearance by Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, who’s running for governor in 2024. Classes begin Monday, and students will be welcomed to the new facility. Staff members have spent the past couple of weeks on-site preparing for the opening. It hasn’t gone quite as smoothly for UCA’s elementary school facilities. UCA superintendent Sharron Castelli announced an adjustment to the school calendar for early grades. “We will have…
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Asheboro-based Klaussner Furniture Industries, Inc. to close all facilities

Asheboro-based Klaussner Furniture Industries, Inc. to close all facilities

ASHEBORO – Klaussner Furniture Industries, which once had been the largest employer in Randolph County, is shutting down operations at all its facilities, the company announced Monday. The company was tightly tied to Asheboro, which housed its corporate headquarters. According to a news release: “Klaussner’s lending source has unexpectedly refused to continue to fund the Company’s operations. This outcome was not reasonably foreseeable, but due to these unexpected circumstances, Klaussner can no longer sustain its operations.” There will be more than 800 job losses, with a majority of those connected to Asheboro and Randolph County, based on some reports. The…
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VinFast breaks ground on automotive manufacturing facility in Chatham County

VinFast breaks ground on automotive manufacturing facility in Chatham County

MONCURE – VinFast, a Vietnamese electric vehicle manufacturer, broke ground on their proposed billion dollar facility in Chatham County Friday, July 28. In an event attended by VinFast executives, the Vietnam Ambassador to the United States, Gov. Roy Cooper as well as various government officials, VinFast laid out their future plans and goals regarding the factory located in the Triangle Innovation Point megasite. “Just over a year ago, Vinfast announced the plan to build our first North American manufacturing facility and today we are here to start the construction of the first EV factory in North Carolina which will have…
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Randolph Health adds inpatient services

Randolph Health adds inpatient services

ASHEBORO – TeleNephrology consultations and dialysis for inpatient hospitalizations are being added as part of expanded services at Randolph Health. The hospital has partnered with Renasolve and nephrologist Dr. Rubin Chandran to provide inpatient nephrology services. Renasolve specializes in providing daily 24-hour inpatient nephrology and TeleNephrology services to rural communities, according to Randolph Health. This is the first time the hospital has offered these services even when the hospital was under different ownership, spokeswoman Paula Richards said. The hospital’s announcement said this will “allow patients to remain in their local community – close to family and close to home. Our…
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