News

RCC interim president named

RCC interim president named

ASHEBORO — William Aiken, a veteran in community college administration in the state, will be the interim president of Randolph Community College after Robert Shackleford Jr. retires at the end of the month. Aiken has been part of the North Carolina Community College System since 2000. “Hopefully, I can continue the vital role the college plays in serving its many constituents,” Aiken said in a statement. “While I recognize that my appointment is temporary, I will make every effort to keep the college moving in a positive direction.” Aiken was president of Sampson Community College from 2000-2012 years. Since then,…
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Commencement ceremonies move inside for RCSS; Almost 900 receive diplomas

Commencement ceremonies move inside for RCSS; Almost 900 receive diplomas

Here was the message on graduation night outside Providence Grove High School, where members of the Class of 2022 received diplomas. (Bob Sutton/Randolph Record) There was one last set of hurdles for members of the Class of 2022 in the Randolph County School System. That was adjustments for commencement ceremonies Wednesday night. All of those activities were moved indoors as storms battered the area. Nearly 900 graduates received from the six high schools holding events. While RCSS officials attended various commencements, superintendent Stephen Gainey naturally was present at Southwestern Randolph. His daughter, Kaitlyn Gainey, was one of the graduates –…
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Four Fire Districts officially restructured to remove fire tax cap

Four Fire Districts officially restructured to remove fire tax cap

ASHEBORO — The Randolph County Board of Commissioners met Monday, June 6 where they officially approved the abolishment and subsequent restructuring of four of the county’s fire districts. The County closed the final public hearings for the fire tax district restructuring for Climax, Franklinville, Guil-Rand and Westside fire departments and passed the resolution to officially change all four of them.  The four fire departments will still cover the same areas, the only change is that they will no longer be held to a 15 cent fire tax cap, albeit the departments still would have to get approval by the Board…
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Some county schools will see new start times this fall

Some county schools will see new start times this fall

ASHEBORO — The Randolph County School Board met Monday and approved a tiered bussing pilot program. The new program is intended to mitigate the current bus driver shortage and meet the State’s Department of Public Instruction efficiency ratings. County bus routes were more than two hours this school year, with pickup times starting before 5:30 am. In some cases, students were being dropped off at home after 5:30 pm. By focusing on elementary and middle school routes, the county expects to significantly cut down route times and limit the number of necessary drivers. This pilot system does not come without…
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Tigers cherish title repeat in state finals

Tigers cherish title repeat in state finals

Randleman baseball players celebrate after the final out of the Class 2-A state finals. (PJ Ward-Brown/North State Journal) Randleman finishes remarkable postseason run BURLINGTON – It was even better this time for Randleman baseball players. They should know. With the core of the team intact, the Tigers repeated as Class 2-A state champions with another emphatic result. “Senior year, a good way to go out,” center fielder Braylen Hayes said. Randleman capped a sterling season with Saturday afternoon’s 12-5 victory against Whiteville in Game 2 of the championship series at Burlington Athletic Stadium. “My last game is winning another state…
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Tears of joy for Warriors: Wheatmore girls capture state title

Tears of joy for Warriors: Wheatmore girls capture state title

Members of the Wheatmore girls' soccer team celebrate the school's first state championship Friday night in Cary. (PJ Ward-Brown/North State Journal) CARY – The Wheatmore girls’ soccer team fit right in at the state finals. The Warriors, who were the first Randolph County team to play in a state championship game in soccer, completed an unblemished season with Friday night’s 4-1 victory against Clinton to secure the Class 2-A title. “We definitely deserved it,” Wheatmore forward Summer Bowman said. The Warriors ended up with a 25-0-0 record. “You go 25-0, you set the bar so high for anybody,” coach Ricky…
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Schools set commencement times, activities

Schools set commencement times, activities

Commencement ceremonies for most high schools in Randolph County are scheduled for next Wednesday. June 8 events will take place for schools in the Randolph County School System. Asheboro High School’s commencement will be a night later, coming at 7 p.m. June 9 at Lee J. Stone Stadium on campus. If inclement weather interferes, that ceremony will be held in the South Asheboro Middle School gym. Here are June 8 times: Eastern Randolph (6 p.m.), Trinity (6 p.m.), Randleman (7 p.m.), Southwestern Randolph (7 p.m.), Uwharrie Ridge Six-Twelve (7 p.m. at Journey Church in Asheboro), Providence Grove (8 p.m.) and…
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Most highway construction on hold for Memorial Day weekend

Most highway construction on hold for Memorial Day weekend

RALEIGH – The Memorial Day holiday weekend is the unofficial start to summer, and many people will kick it off with a road trip. AAA predicts nearly 1.2 million North Carolinians will travel at least 50 miles or more from home this Memorial Day weekend, which is a 7.2% increase over 2021. The N.C. Department of Transportation will be shutting down major construction that could affect travelers because of lane closures along interstates, U.S. and key N.C. routes from this Friday morning until next Tuesday night. There are some exceptions where construction conditions do not allow for the opening of…
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Randleman’s Brannon bashes two homers, ties state record held by dad

Randleman’s Brannon bashes two homers, ties state record held by dad

Randleman’s Brooks Brannon connects on his 20th home run of the season, tying the state record as the Tigers opened the Class 2-A West Region finals with a blowout victory. PJ WARD-BROWN/RANDOLPH RECORD RANDLEMAN – Brooks Brannon didn’t have to be reminded that he was approaching the state record for home runs in a season. The Randleman slugger has been fully aware of the number to reach. It’s a mark set by his father, Paul Brannon, 33 years ago. Now the elder Brannon has company on that list. “I have been thinking about it,” Brooks Brannon said. “I think about…
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Towns of Archdale, Liberty selected for rural communities Commerce Dept. program

Towns of Archdale, Liberty selected for rural communities Commerce Dept. program

A total of 19 rural communities from across the state have been selected to participate in a new program to increase their capacity to plan, implement, and manage economic development programs and opportunities. The Rural Community Capacity (RC2) program, a pilot initiative from the N.C. Commerce Department involving Appalachian State University’s Walker College of Business, welcomed its first cohort of participants in Boone Tuesday. During an RC2 engagement, communities have direct access to Commerce’s Rural Planning team, who offer additional training and technical assistance to program participants, including a strategic planning process focused on identifying economic development assets and priorities…
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