State - Randolph Record

13 Apr

Highly pathogenic avian influenza update

North Carolina Cooperative ExtensionStateavian flu, North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza has found its way into North Carolina’s commercial poultry industry after being found in wild waterfowl for the past several months. New updates have been provided recently from the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDACS) including a suspension of poultry events until further notice. This includes “exhibitions, farm tours, shows, sales, flea markets, auction markets, swaps and meets pertaining to poultry and feathered fowl in North Carolina.” “This suspension is due to the continued spread of HPAI that has affected commercial and backyard flocks in numerous states, including North Carolina,” said State Veterinarian…

06 Apr

Mountaire Farms will feed thousands for Easter

Bob SuttonFeatures, StateChatham County, chicken, Easter meal, Lee County, Moore County, Mountaire Farms, randolph county, Siler City

ASHEBORO — Mountaire Farms is extending its goodwill program to include a new spring event that will provide Easter meals for people near its plant in Siler City. It’s called “Easter for Thousands” and the company will expect employees and community members will participate in the endeavor Saturday morning. “We noticed a need in the community,” said Sasha Duncan, the community relations manager for Mountaire Farms of North Carolina. “It’s something that we’ve done in the past at Thanksgiving and now has expanded to Christmas and Easter.” The participants will pack and have ready to distribute approximately 3,000 boxed meals…

02 Mar

Randolph County’s deer harvest rates top in state

Bob SuttonStateDeer, hunting, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission

Deer hunting took place in Randolph County like in no other county in North Carolina. Again. With numbers tallied for the 2021-22 season through the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission’s electronic reporting system, it showed that 4,422 white-tailed deer had been successfully hunted in Randolph County. That was the most for any county in the state. “There’s a lot of people in Randolph County who hunt,” said Michael King of the NCWRC. “By and large, those out of that group (responsible for the county’s deer hunting total) are from Randolph County or local to that area.” Anson County was second…

01 Nov

Around the State: $261 million in bonds on Nov municipal ballots

Randolph RecordStategovernment, taxes

RALEIGH — Seven cities and towns will ask residents to approve bonds in their municipal elections next week. The majority are in Wake County, where Apex, Fuquay-Varina, Garner and Morrisville are asking for a total of 10 bonds for voters to approve. The bonds, if approved, would go towards a variety of street and sidewalk improvements, parks and recreation facilities improvements, public-safety improvements, and stormwater and drainage improvements. Elsewhere, Bald Head Island residents in Brunswick County are asked to approve $54 million in bonds in order to fund public transportation improvements. The Cleveland County city of Shelby is asking voters…

20 Oct

Quite a Fair growth spurt

Bob SuttonBusiness, Entertainment, Government, News, StateLiberty, NC State Fair, watermelons

Andrew Vial of Liberty brought the largest watermelon in North Carolina State Fair history (The North State Journal) Liberty man sets mark with large watermelons ASHEBORO — Andrew Vial calls growing big watermelons a hobby. Yet for the Liberty man, it’s truly a passion. He took another watermelon to a big stage and collected another special distinction. His 341-pound watermelon was the largest ever at the North Carolina State Fair in Raleigh. “You just don’t get melons like that every day,” Vial said. Vial, who calls his remodeling carpentry work his full-time job, said he logs 50 to 60 hours…

24 Aug

State Senate approves sports betting

Randolph RecordNews, Stategambling, Jones & Blount, sports

RALEIGH — Sports gambling would be authorized across N.C., with up to a dozen entities licensed to offer online and in-person betting, in legislation approved last week by the state Senate. The bipartisan measure advances to the House though a majority of Senate Republicans, who control the chamber, voted against the bill. Nine Republicans joined most Democrats attending Thursday’s floor session in approving the measure 26-19. Four GOP senators, including Randolph County’s Sen. Dave Craven, had excused absences and did not vote on the measure.

11 Aug

State superintendent won’t compel employee vaccination, will ask for shot status

A.P. DillonGovernment, StateEducation, schools

RALEIGH — N.C. state superintendent Catherine Truitt won’t force employees at the Department of Public Instruction to get a COVID-19 vaccine shot or compel them to provide proof of vaccination. In an Aug. 3 memo to staff obtained by North State Journal, Truitt outlines masking guidelines and employee attestations of vaccination status. The memo asks that all employees, including contractors, file an attestation form. Any individuals not filing the form will be considered unvaccinated and will be required to wear a mask inside the department offices. “Non-compliance or falsifying proof of a vaccine will subject employees to disciplinary action, up to and…

11 Aug

A step forward: App State hopes for breakthrough season

Shawn Krest | The North State JournalSports, StateAppalachian State

RALEIGH — Appalachian State has quietly built one of the nation’s top programs outside of the Power Five. Now the Mountaineers will look to take the next step. App has gone to six straight bowls, winning them all, sent their last two coaches to ACC and SEC head jobs, respectively, and last year snapped a string of four straight Sun Belt titles. This year, the Mountaineers return 17 starters, add veteran talent and have a schedule that could put them on the national radar, if things go well. Quarterback: Chase Brice arrives after a disappointing year as the Duke starter.…

21 Jul

County school boards rebel against K-12 mask mandates

A.P. DillonGovernment, News, Politics, StateEducation, K-12, masks, Roy Cooper

RALEIGH — At a meeting on July 12, the Rowan-Salisbury School Board voted to make masks optional for all students, staff and visitors. The measure passed by a 5-2 vote. Chair Kevin Jones, along with members Travis Allen, Susan Cox, Dean Hunter and Brian Hightower voted in favor while Vice-Chair Alisha Byrd-Clark and member Jean Kennedy voted against. “I’m willing to take that opportunity to make an example to the rest of the school boards in the state,” Allen said of the vote to make masks optional. A second motion was passed by the Rowan board in support of the General Assembly’s…

21 Jul

As session hits seven-month mark, bills continue to move through legislature

A.P. DillonGovernment, Politics, StateGeneral Assembly, legislation

RALEIGH — Heading into August, state lawmakers have been working to finalize the budget, but in the meantime other bills continue to be sent to Gov. Roy Cooper. As of July 20, there are six bills on his desk awaiting signature. The governor has signed over 60 bills since February of this year, with around 15 of them being signed in July. Cooper has vetoed four bills this year. The four vetoes are Senate Bill 63, In-Person Learning Choice for Families; Senate Bill 43, Protect Religious Meeting Places; House Bill 453, Human Life Nondiscrimination Act/No Eugenics; and Senate Bill 116, the Putting North Carolina Back to Work Act. Cooper holds the state…