News - Randolph Record

19 Jul

NC Zoo’s new chimp needs name

Randolph RecordNewsbaby animals, chimp, name, NC Zoo

ASHEBORO – Earlier this month the North Carolina Zoo welcomed a newborn chimp. The baby girl still needs a name. NC Zoo’s troop now consists of 17 chimpanzees – females Gigi, Amy, Ebi, Gari, Genie (the mother of the new chimp), Gerre, Ruby, Tammy, Asha and the new infant; males – Jonathan, Lance, Sokoto, Kendall, Gus and Obi and the new infant. The North Carolina Zoo Society members will vote on the baby chimpanzee’s name in the upcoming weeks. The newest baby has been active and nursing, according to Zoo officials. “Genie is doing so well being a first-time mom,”…

17 Jul

Spirits up as Franklinville church building comes down

Scott PelkeyNewsChurch wall collapse, Franklinville, Franklinville United Methodist Church

Demolition crews were working at the site of Franklinville United Methodist Church last week. (PJ Ward-Brown/North State Journal) FRANKLINVILLE – Members of the Franklinville United Methodist Church are saving what they can as the church is demolished following a wall collapse July 6. Emergency crews responded to the Franklinville United Methodist Church on South Main Street after a report of a commercial fire. The arriving units didn’t find a fire but did find that one of the walls of the church had collapsed. Initial reports from fire crews were that the collapse may have been caused by an explosion from…

12 Jul

Commissioners approve select programs for opioid settlement funds

Ryan Henkel, North State JournalNewsdrugs, opioid, Randolph County Commissioners, settlement

ASHEBORO — The Randolph County Board of Commissioners met Monday, July 10, with decisions on opioid settlement funding and project bids as the main items on the agenda for consideration. The board was first presented with a final update on the design of the Farm, Food and Family Center from HH Architecture, the firm working on the project. “With all of the updates that we’ve made, we’re still right around a $29.2 million total budget,” said HH Architecture Project Architect Daniel Jencks. “That’s a touch more than the $28.3 that we currently have secured, but it’s important to note that…

09 Jul

Ten file on first day for fall elections

Bob SuttonNewsAsheboro City Council, Asheboro City Schools, Randleman city council, randolph county, Randolph County Board of Elections, Town of Liberty

ASHEBORO – Ten Randolph County residents filed to run for office during the first five hours of filing. Three of those are seeking to retain spots on the City of Asheboro’s city council. Filing opened at noon Friday and continues through noon July 21. Incumbents Eddie Burks, Jane Hughes Redding and Charles Swiers signed up for the candidate list for Asheboro’s city council. Gidget Kidd and Ryan Patton are bidding to keep their seats on the Asheboro City Schools board of education. For Randleman’s city council, first-day filers were Mike Dawkins (at-large), Steve Grooms Jr. (Ward 1) and Lee Hinson…

06 Jul

Church wall collapse causes commotion in Franklinville

Randolph RecordNewsChurch wall collapse, Franklinville, Randolph County Sheriff's Office

Emergency workers gather at Franklinville United Methodist Church. (Scott Pelkey/Randolph Record) FRANKLINVILLE – A side of Franklinville United Methodist Church collapsed Thursday night, with one wall blown out. There were no injuries and no one was in the building at the time of the incident, according to emergency workers on the scene. The cause of the collapse is unclear and there were a couple of early theories. One, it has been linked to a wall collapse of the brick structure without other factors. The other possible cause was a gas explosion. An initial call to the Franklinville Volunteer Fire Department…

05 Jul

Board expresses concerns over middle school athletics

Ryan Henkel, North State JournalNewsnc education, public schools, Randolph County Schools Board of Education, virtual academy

ASHEBORO — The Randolph County Schools Board of Education met Thursday, June 29, with primarily discussions and presentations on the agenda. The board was given an update on the status of the Randolph Virtual Academy following the decision to emphasize endorsing the school rather than closing it. “Since May 1, enrollment has continued to grow,” said Superintendent Stephen Gainey. “On May 10, it had grown to 59, and it has continued to grow since. [On] May 17, it went to 70. May 24, to 83. June 4, to 86, and the last enrollment number I have for this week is…

03 Jul

Power restored after storms strike Ramseur area

Randolph RecordNewsinclement weather, power outages, Ramseur, randolph county

RAMSEUR – More than 1,000 power outages were reported in Randolph County after severe thunderstorms rolled through late Saturday afternoon. The hardest hit area was in Ramseur, where the total outages exceeded 950. By Sunday afternoon, there were no outages in the county listed on Duke Energy’s “Outages in the Carolinas” map. Flood advisories were also issued by the National Weather Service for parts of Randolph County stemming from the line of storms. Locations in Guilford County and Alamance County also reported power outages.

28 Jun

U.S. Forest Service proposes recreation fee changes for Uwharrie National Forest

Randolph RecordNewsprice increase, U.S. Forest Service, Uwharrie National Forest

The U.S. Forest Service, an agency under the jurisdiction of the Department of Agriculture, is proposing to change recreation fees at two sites in the Uwharrie National Forest. The public has been invited to provide input to these proposed fee changes for 60 days from June 23 until August 22. According to the Forest Service, the goal of these changes is to improve the visitor experience through site upgrades paid for by the collected fees. At this time, the fees are only a proposal. After public comment is received, the Forest Service will assess the comment and concerns of the…

28 Jun

More poll workers sought for elections in Randolph

Bob SuttonNewselection, needed, poll workers, vote

ASHEBORO — The Randolph County Board of Elections is making a push to replenish its roster of poll workers. Melissa Kirstner, director of the Randolph County Board of Elections, has described an urgent need to secure more workers. “We always really scramble to find people to work,.” Kirstner said. “It’s a long day, and a lot of people can’t make that commitment.” Workers are needed for early voting days as well as Election Day. Kirstner said more than 25 percent – and perhaps up to one-third – of the election workers have dropped off the list in Randolph County in…

28 Jun

Senate resolution honors Tillman’s legacy

Bob SuttonNewsrandolph county, Sen. Jerry Tillman, senate resolution, Senator Tillman

A North Carolina state senate resolution honoring the life and memory of former state Sen. Jerry Tillman passed last week. Tillman spent nine terms in office representing Randolph County before stepping down in 2020. He died Feb. 4 at age 82 in Greensboro. In part, Senate Resolution 753 states: “The Senate wishes to express its highest appreciation of Jerry Wayne Tillman, former State Senator, as a citizen and public servant and extend its sympathy to his family for the loss of its distinguished member.” The resolution’s sponsors included David Craven, who has filled Tillman’s seat. Senior president pro tem Phil…