News - Randolph Record

20 Jul

Randolph County Schools drops mask mandate

Randolph RecordNews, Politics, StateRandolph County Schools

ASHEBORO — The Randolph County School Board adopted a resolution Monday night ending mask mandates in the county’s largest school system for the 2021-2022 school year. The resolution, adopted unanimously by the board, is effective immediately which allows teachers and students currently in summer school programs to make their own choices regarding mask usage. The new board policy cites CDC guidance and the board’s concern for individuals’ rights to make decisions regarding their own personal health in making the change. The resolution also said harassment, discrimination, bullying, or intimidation based a person’s decision to wear or not wear a mask…

19 Jul

Randolph County residents take advantage of property tax discount

Bob SuttonNewsdiscount, property tax, randolph county

ASHEBORO — More than two-thirds of Randolph County property owners benefited from a discount for paying their tax bills early during the past fiscal year. That report from county tax collector Debra Hill came during the first July meeting of county commissioners. “Our citizens do take advantage of this 2 percent discount,” she said. Hill’s numbers show that 68.96 percent of taxpayers took advantage of the discounts. That resulted in a total savings of $1,460,236 for residents on those tax bills. For the fiscal year that just concluded, there were $738,748.83 in delinquent taxes. Hill said Randolph County’s 99.25-percent collection…

19 Jul

Hospital funding becomes complex

Bob SuttonNewshospital funding, patient care, randolph hospital

ASHEBORO — The good news is that Randolph Hospital is operating and patient care is ongoing. But sorting out the financial picture under new ownership remains complex, a task that has been addressed in an ongoing manner by Randolph County commissioners. The State of North Carolina is a lender of a $12 million loan, though it’s up to commissioners to administer that grant. At last week’s monthly board meeting, chairman of the board of commissioners Darrell Frye said there’s still fact-finding taking place with the new owners. “So far, proper documentation requested has not been forthcoming. It’s too early to…

19 Jul

Deadline nears for local election filings

Randolph RecordNewsAsheboro, community report, local election filings, randolph county

ASHEBORO – The filing deadline for municipal elections ends at noon Friday for most of Randolph County communities. By the beginning of this week, 25 people filed as candidates across nine different spots on the ballot. That includes seven within the City of Asheboro (three for the city council, three for the board of education and incumbent mayor David Smith). City council members Clark Bell, Walker Moffitt and Katie Snuggs also filed to keep their seats. Vice chair Baxter Hammer and Beth Knott have their names on the list in bids to stay on the 11-member Asheboro City Schools board…

19 Jul

Judge questions treatment of suspended horse trainer Baffert

Associated PressNewsBob Baffert, horse trainer, Kentucky Derby, Medina Spirit

NEW YORK — A New York judge was sympathetic Monday to horse trainer Bob Baffert’s claims that his May suspension by the New York Racing Association — after Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit failed a postrace drug test — was unconstitutional. U.S. District Judge Carol Bagley Amon at a Brooklyn hearing repeatedly pressed a lawyer for the racing association to explain why the suspension was issued before Baffert was given a chance to defend himself. Henry Greenberg, arguing on behalf of the racing association, said Baffert will get a hearing after the association announces the length of his suspension by…

19 Jul

Digital ambassador will seek to close county’s digital divide

Randolph RecordNewsdigital ambassador, internet, N.C. Cooperative Extensions, randolph county digital ambassador

ASHEBORO — In the coming weeks, you may be hearing from or seeing Randolph County’s Digital Ambassador. The N.C. Cooperative Extension office in Randolph County recently received a grant from the BAND-NC program which will allow the Randolph County Digital Alliance to hire a Digital Ambassador. The Randolph County Digital Alliance is a group who is working to close the digital divide in Randolph County. BAND-NC is a grant program designed to increase the number of people with internet in their homes, with the goal of making the state “first in digital inclusion.” In February of this year, Randolph County…

13 Jul

AHS graduates head to college, work

Randolph RecordNewsEducation, schools

ASHEBORO — Asheboro High School celebrated 300 graduates in its class of 2021. Nearly one-third (91) of the graduates plan to join the workforce immediately. The class received over $10 million in scholarships and grants with 87 students headed to a four-year college or university and 113 off to community college. Seventeen students graduated with an associated degree in addition to a high school diploma.

12 Jul

Randolph Health Department ends regular COVID updates

Randolph RecordBusiness, NewsCOVID, Randolph Health Department

ASHEBORO — The county health department is ending its weekly COVID reports. According to the department, while COVID-19 is still present in the community, the case rate, percent positivity, etc. have leveled off the last few weeks. The weekly report evolved over time and included confirmed cases, deaths, and vaccinations.

12 Jul

Grizzly bear dies at NC Zoo

Randolph RecordEntertainment, Newsgrizzly bear, NC Zoo

ASHEBORO — The only grizzly bear at the N.C. Zoo died Friday. Tommo, a bear relocated from Yellowstone National Park, lived at the Zoo for 26 years. The zoo's staff made the decision to euthanize the 31-year old bear after his quality of life quickly declined. Tommo arrived at the Zoo in 1995 after being identified as a "nuisance bear" — a bear who has lost his fear of humans because they see people as suppliers of food. The grizzly bear habitat at the zoo will remain empty while the staff works with other agencies to offer a home for any…

11 Jul

Zoo announces red wolf pup names

Randolph RecordEntertainment, NewsAsheboro, NC Zoo

ASHEBORO — The N.C. Zoo announced the names of the six red wolf pups (four females, two males) born on the guest view habitat. The public was invited to vote in an online poll from a list of names provided by the Zoo’s red wolf keepers. The names are based on rivers in the Southeastern U.S. where red wolves used to range. The naming poll had over 6,500 responses. The chosen names are Eno, Harper, Pearl, Warrior, Fisher, Catawba.