News - Randolph Record

11 Aug

Austin, York retire from county jobs

Bob SuttonGovernment, News

ASHEBORO – Two longtime Randolph County employees have retired this summer, diminishing the level of experience in a couple of departments. Melissa Austin retired after 36 years in the tax department. Danny York has stepped away after 26 years in building inspections. “We can’t replace 62 years of experience from our county,” commissioners board chairman Darrell Frye said. Austin began in a part-time role at age 19. She ended her career as the department’s personal property and business property supervisor. “Melissa’s work was always performed at a high level of proficiency and significantly exceeded job requirements,” tax department administrator Debra…

11 Aug

County set to buy emergency equipment

Bob SuttonGovernment, NewsAnn Shaw, Darrell Frye, landfill, Maxton McDowell

ASHEBORO — Randolph County commissioners approved more than $1 million in purchases for the emergency services department at its August meeting. There were unanimous votes for two ambulances at a total of $489,548 and 16 cardiac monitor/ defibrillators at a total of $534,869. Both purchases will come from budgeted funds. The 2021 model ambulances could be in place by December. As for the defibrillators, emergency services chief Donovan Davis said a trade-in of 11 monitors means there’s a savings of about $137,000 that’s calculated into the purchase. Battle joins council Alvin Battle, who was a member of North Carolina State’s…

11 Aug

Asheboro City Schools to make mask decision Thursday

Randolph RecordNewsAsheboro City Schools, Education, schools

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…

11 Aug

Health department pays people to receive vax

Neal RobbinsGovernment, NewsCOVID, public health, vaccines, 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…

04 Aug

Farmer’s baseball championship revisited

Bob SuttonEntertainment, NewsAsheboro, Farmer, Just Plowboys, Sunset Theater

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…

04 Aug

Ford counts on rural health connections

Bob SuttonBusiness, NewsAsheboro, healthcare, Randolph Health, Tim Ford

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…

04 Aug

State legislators report political fundraising totals

Randolph RecordNews, PoliticsAllen McNeill, Dave Craven, Pat Hurley, politics

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.

04 Aug

Ribbon cutting set for new middle school

Randolph RecordNewsEducation, schools, Trinity

TRINITY — A ribbon cutting will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday for the new Trinity Middle School. The Randolph County Board of Education and members of the school system’s leadership team are holding the event. The public is invited to attend. The new school opens for classes this month.

29 Jul

Master Gardeners hosts events to promote horticulture and native plants

Annie Mills | For the Randolph RecordBusiness, NewsCooperative Extension, Master Gardners

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…

28 Jul

City schools announce substitute teacher partnership

Randolph RecordGovernment, NewsEducation, schools

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.