News

Asheboro City Schools to make mask decision Thursday

Asheboro City Schools to make mask decision Thursday

ASHEBORO — The August 12 meeting of the Asheboro City School Board will see the elected board decide on mask wearing for the beginning of the 2021-22 school year. The first day of classes for all students is August 24. Randolph County Schools and Uwharrie Charter announced that masks would be optional following July meetings of their school boards. Gov. Roy Cooper eliminated the statewide mask mandate in July but recommended that students in grades K-8 wear masks at school. Contradicting its own mask recommendations from May, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revised its mask guidance saying fully…
Read More
Health department pays people to receive vax

Health department pays people to receive vax

ASHEBORO — The Randolph County Health Department is offering $100 to anyone 18 or older who receives the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The department is also offering $25 to anyone 18 and older who drives someone to receive the shot. The county’s health department opted into a program launched by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services agency on Aug. 3. The state program offers $100 prepaid cash cards after someone receives their first shot of the vaccine at a participating county health departments during the promotional period. The Summer Card program previously came with a…
Read More
Farmer’s baseball championship revisited

Farmer’s baseball championship revisited

New version of documentary to be shown in Asheboro ASHEBORO — When filmmaker Michael Bronfenbrenner heard a few details about a small-town baseball team from several decades ago, it perked his interest. From there, it became an obsession to tell the backstories of the 1970 Farmer High School baseball team. “Oh my gosh, this should be a film,” Bronfenbrenner said of his reaction. A revised version of the film, Just Plowboys, will be shown at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday at Sunset Theatre in Asheboro. Woody Younts was the coach of the team that captured the Class A state…
Read More
Ford counts on rural health connections

Ford counts on rural health connections

Hospital’s new CEO looks to foster new feelings related to medical facility ASHEBORO – Tim Ford says understanding the importance of a medical facility in a mostly rural setting might be his most vital asset as he oversees operations at Randolph Hospital. He hopes to foster a new era at the once-bankrupt hospital. “There’s kind of a different feeling that the hospital is out of bankruptcy and the uncertainty (that came with it),” Ford said. “That we’re moving forward.” Upon the sale to American Healthcare Systems, Ford became CEO of Randolph Health on July 1, though he had been on…
Read More
State legislators report political fundraising totals

State legislators report political fundraising totals

RALEIGH — The three Republicans representing Randolph County in the General Assembly reported fundraising numbers from the first six months of 2021. State Sen. Dave Craven, in his first full term representing Randolph County in Raleigh, reported raising $43,345 in the fundraising period. He spent $25,422.71 and has just over $42,000 in cash on hand. The county’s two state representatives, Pat Hurley and Allen McNeill, reported similar amounts. Hurley raised $17,125 and spent $6,042, and has $14,217 on hand. McNeill reported raising $18,525 and spent $4,642 and has just shy of $16,000 on hand.
Read More
Master Gardeners hosts events to promote horticulture and native plants

Master Gardeners hosts events to promote horticulture and native plants

ASHEBORO — After a year of coping with a global pandemic, the Randolph County Master Gardner Extension Program is finding new ways to engage citizens with plants and gardening. Volunteers with the Master Gardeners held two programs in June for Randolph County employees and kicked off a gardening program with Alpine Health and Rehabilitation of Asheboro. Research studies show that interaction with nature can positively impact our physical and mental health resulting in increased productivity and satisfaction in the workplace. At a “lunch and learn” event, volunteers and county staff installed North Carolina native pollinator plants in the courtyard of…
Read More
City schools announce substitute teacher partnership

City schools announce substitute teacher partnership

ASHEBORO -- Asheboro City Schools announced a new partnership with ESS who will manage the district’s substitute program. ESS will recruit, screen, train, hire, and manage applicants looking to be part or full-time substitutes in Asheboro City Schools. ESS will place substitute teachers and provide an online substitute management program that allows full-time teachers and staff to log their absences electronically. Those absences are then immediately visible to the substitutes interested in accepting the vacant positions.
Read More
Randolph County schools end mask mandate

Randolph County schools end mask mandate

Deadline to sign up for virtual learning looms ASHEBORO — Cloth face coverings will be optional in the Randolph County School System when classes begin next month, a logical next step in returning closer to normal, district superintendent Steven Gainey said Tuesday. “This is giving people their option,” Gainey said. “The board just felt like it should be the individual decision. … The board and I have been listening to questions about cloth facing coverings for several weeks.” Last week, Gov. Roy Cooper announced the upcoming elimination of many mask mandates. However, he also recommended that students in grades K-8…
Read More
Filings start in Randleman, Trinity

Filings start in Randleman, Trinity

ASHEBORO - -Candidates showed interest in mayor positions on the first day of candidate filings for Randleman and Trinity. Alderman Gary Betts has filed to move into the mayor’s position in Randleman when filings began Monday. Also in Randleman, Craig Hancock and Melissa Blalock filed for alderman seats in Ward 2 and Nancy Henderson filed in Ward 3. Blalock and Henderson are incumbents. In Trinity, Richard McNabb is back on the ballot in a bid to remain mayor. The filing period remains open until noon Aug. 13. Other municipalities in Randolph County had filing deadlines earlier this month.  
Read More