News - Randolph Record

26 Jan

Asheboro Mall staple to close

Bob SuttonNewsAsheboro, asheboro mall, cookie jar, small business

ASHEBORO – Dallas Brooks is proud of what her family has meant to Asheboro Mall. So as the lone oven is turned off this weekend at Cookie Jar, she senses a bit of sadness. Her treats through the years brought happiness. “I hope I will forever be known as the ‘Cookie Lady,’” Brooks said. Cookie Jar is set to close Sunday. That will end nearly 40 years in business for one of the mall’s original tenants. Brooks is the daughter of Cookie Jar founder Wesley Vestal, who opened the store in September 1982 at what was then called Randolph Mall.…

25 Jan

Prosecutor: Alex Murdaugh now faces 71 charges; $8.5M stolen

Jeffrey Collins, Associated PressNewsMurdaugh, south carolina

COLUMBIA, S.C. — A once-prominent South Carolina lawyer now faces 71 charges that he stole nearly $8.5 million in wrongful death and wreck settlements from more than a dozen people after another round of indictments against Alex Murdaugh were handed up Friday. The 23 new charges issued by the state grand jury covered new victims but similar schemes, prosecutors said. Murdaugh, 53, would negotiate settlement money for his clients without telling them what they earned, then deposit the checks meant to pay for their pain and suffering or the anguish of the death of a loved one into his own…

25 Jan

McDonald’s expanding test of McPlant burger in US stores

Dee-Ann Durbin, Associated PressBusiness, Newsfood, McDonald's

NEW YORK — McDonald's is expanding sales of its meatless McPlant burger to hundreds of locations. The company said the McPlant — which it co-developed with plant-based protein company Beyond Meat — will be sold at 600 stores in the San Francisco and Dallas areas starting Feb. 14. It's a major expansion for the McPlant, which was introduced last November at eight stores in Texas, Iowa, Louisiana and California. That test run helped the company determine how a plant-based option would alter its kitchen operations. McDonald's said the larger product offering will help it understand customer demand. The Chicago company…

21 Jan

Randolph Mall staple to close

Randolph RecordBusiness, NewsRandolph Mall, The Cookie Jar

ASHEBORO — Generations of locals have enjoyed a sweet treat on their way around Randolph Mall but soon that tradition will end. The Cooke Jar — the original cookie store in Randolph Mall — will turn out its lights for the last time on January 30, according to employees at the store. Randolph Mall, which opened in 1982, has seen many restaurants come and go over its 40 years of existence. The Cookie Jar is one of the longest serving stores at Randolph Mall. Another long-time snack and treats store, The Peanut Shack, closed its doors in 2013. According to…

21 Jan

RCC president to retire

Randolph RecordBusiness, NewsBob Shackleford, Randolph Community College

Community Colleges president Thomas Stith and RCC president Shackleford talk to third-year Apprenticeship Randolph apprentice Abby Goss in the Gene Haas Computer-Integrated Machining Institute. (Photos courtesy of Randolph Community College) ASHEBORO – Randolph Community College president Dr. Robert Shackleford is retiring after slightly more than 15 years in the position and more than two decades at the two-year school. Shackleford notified the board of trustees and later emailed a letter to faculty and staff Jan. 20 to notify them of his intentions. “These 15 years you have granted me the opportunity to serve as President of RCC have been…

21 Jan

Robin Sage set to begin Jan 22

Randolph RecordGovernment, Newsmilitary

In this Jan. 14, 2009 photo, Bob Snyder, also known as Pineland Bob, right, maps out a transportation plan with a soldier during the Special Forces' Robin Sage exercise in Ramseur, N.C. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome) RALEIGH — Special Forces candidates will participate in a two-week training exercise across 25 North Carolina counties this week, a news release from the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School says. The participants are students at Fort Bragg. Robin Sage is the culmination exercise and has been the litmus test for Soldiers striving to earn the Green Beret for more than 40 years.…

19 Jan

Power restored after storm blows through

Randolph RecordNewsAsheboro, power outages, Randolph EMC, Winter Storm Izzy

ASHEBORO — Winter Storm Izzy struck Randolph County during the weekend, but power outages were mostly limited and crews worked to restore service quickly in many instances. By mid-morning Monday, Randolph Electric Membership Corporation reported that things were in good shape for its customers. “Crews worked into the late evening to restore damage from Winter Storm Izzy,” Randolph EMC said in a statement. “We’re happy to report no remaining outages at this time. We’ll continue to closely monitor conditions until the remnants of Izzy are long gone.” Across Randolph EMC’s five-county area, there were 1,865 members reported with outages. The…

16 Jan

Roads remain treacherous as power is restored

Randolph RecordBusiness, News

ASHEBORO – A dangerous winter storm combining high winds and ice swept through parts of North Carolina and the South on Sunday, knocking out power, felling trees, covering roads with ice. Tens of thousands of customers were without power in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida. Highway patrols were reporting hundreds of vehicle accidents, and a tornado ripped through a trailer park in Florida. More than 1,200 Sunday flights at Charlotte Douglas International were cancelled – more than 90% of the airport’s Sunday schedule, according to the flight tracking service flightaware.com. Winter Storm Izzy dumped as much as 10…

13 Jan

Utilities brace for potential snow and ice this weekend

Randolph RecordNewsREMC, Weather, winter

ASHEBORO – As locals make sure their cupboards are stocked and snow gear is located, energy providers are making sure they have enough spare power poles, transformers and wires as snow and ice are in the weekend forecast. Randolph Electric Membership Corporation has activated its Storm Response Plan and is currently monitoring winter weather advisories issued for its service area in Randolph, Moore, Montgomery, Chatham, and Alamance Counties. Recent models from the National Weather Service predict significant snow and ice accumulation this weekend. “We are preparing for a multi-day outage event,” said Randolph EMC CEO Dale Lambert. “We want our…

10 Jan

Asheboro fireman dies after long bout with COVID

Randolph RecordNewsAsheboro Fire Department, Chris Hoover

ASHEBORO — A 24-year veteran of the Asheboro Fire Department died Saturday after suffering from COVID-19 and associated lung damage. Battalion Chief Chris Hoover, 47, had been at UNC Hospital in Chapel Hill since November 24, 2021. “It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Battalion Chief Chris Hoover after a hard-fought battle with COVID-19. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Hoover family,” said a statement from the fire department. Following his passing, Hoover was carried home to Randolph County in a procession of emergency and rescue vehicles from Chapel Hill. Local fire departments — including…