Asheboro

Republican candidates debate as primary campaigns kick off

Republican candidates debate as primary campaigns kick off

ASHEBORO — Candidates for Randolph County commissioner and Randolph County sheriff debated Monday night with conservative principles, the role of local leaders and the use of public funds as primary topics. North State Journal editor-in-chief Matt Mercer served as the moderator of the two debates, which featured seven total candidates at the Sunset Avenue Church of God in Asheboro.  Before the debates started, North State Journal publisher Neal Robbins welcomed the crowd of nearly 300 to the first debate sponsored by the newspaper. Sunset Avenue Church of God pastor Boyd Byerly also welcomed the audience and candidates and gave the…
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Zoo will host three-day science festival

Zoo will host three-day science festival

ASHEBORO — A month-long celebration of science will include an event at the North Carolina Zoo in April. The North Carolina Science Festival presents events across the state and this year Asheboro will host the three-day “Tinkering for Tomorrow” experience at the Kidzone at the zoo. The event runs April 1 through April 3 from 10am to 2pm. During the festival, the zoo will provide fun places where craft supplies, and recycled items are available to create solutions to science problems. There is no additional charge for the activities. The festival features hundreds of community events and is the first…
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A menu for success: Restaurant neighbors feed need to help each other

A menu for success: Restaurant neighbors feed need to help each other

ASHEBORO – A couple of Sunset Avenue eateries have bonded rather than competed. It’s working out well. When The Bun Hut was to open earlier this month, staffing shortages were a concern. Just down the street, Nannie Mae’s Café & Bakery owner Katherine Stroud was ready to help. On the day of the Bun Hut’s opening, Stroud closed her business to lend a hand. “We know how stressful it is when you’re just opening and we wanted them to be able to get going,” Stroud said. “Everything always goes slower than anticipated. He said things were ready, but we knew…
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Asheboro shoe company changes hands

Asheboro shoe company changes hands

ASHEBORO — Tyler Fortner views B.B. Walker Company as an iconic brand, so becoming part of that interested him. Fortner has purchased the Asheboro business – called Walker Shoe Outlet – and is relocating down the street on Dixie Drive. “Walker Shoe has been a well-known shoe store across the Southeast for a number of years, so it was important to keep that going,” Fortner said. “To keep that Walker Shoe name going. It’s kind of an honor to say we own it.” Steve Andrews has sold the business. There will be a move from 414 East Dixie Dr. to…
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Chamber honors locals, installs new leaders

Chamber honors locals, installs new leaders

New chamber chair Nicki Hill presents 2020-2021 Chair Kelly Heath with a plaque to recognize her service to the Chamber. (North State Journal) ASHEBORO — After a pandemic delay and during a trying time for many local businesses, there was still much to celebrate for the Randolph County business community. The Asheboro/Randolph Chamber of Commerce held its annual awards dinner Friday night at Pinewood Country Club. The celebration marked the business group's 96th annual meeting and included awards for citizen of the year, emerging leader, volunteer of the year, woman business leader, and business, industry, and organization of the year.…
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Asheboro names scoreboard after former softball coach

Asheboro names scoreboard after former softball coach

Carol McCauley, left, and assistant coach Kristen Faircloth help unveil of the new softball field scoreboard in memory of former coach Lisa Robertson at Asheboro High School on March 2. ASHEBORO – Asheboro High School has a new scoreboard at its softball field named after former coach Lisa Robertson. The dedication ceremony took place last week prior to this season’s home opener. “She left an indelible mark on not just coaches and staff, but also look at all the people around here,” athletics director Steve Luck said after the ceremony. “Former players are bringing their kids back to see the…
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Commissioners vote leaves courthouse monument in place

Commissioners vote leaves courthouse monument in place

ASHEBORO — The Randolph County Board of Commissioners met on Monday to vote on and discuss multiple items on the agenda, in particular ones pertaining to emergency services and the allocation of funding for special projects. As promised at the previous meeting, the board also voted on the status of the Confederate monument standing in front of the historic courthouse. After nearly an hour of public comments related to the Confederate monument, Board Chairman Darrell Frye said he believed it was time to take a vote related to the statue to make the board’s position clear. Commissioner Hope Haywood asked…
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Prep basketball: Season comes with highlights for area teams

Prep basketball: Season comes with highlights for area teams

Uwharrie Charter Academy’s Alijah Barker shoots the ball against Albemarle’s Walker Wilkins in the first round of the Class 1-A state playoffs Feb. 22 at Uwharrie Charter Academy in Asheboro. Basketball season came to a close for Randolph County boys’ teams in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association by the end of the second round last week. On the girls’ side, only Randleman and Uwharrie Charter Academy made it to the weekend’s third round. Randleman’s season was still going this week. Here are a few notables as the postseason unfolded: Patriots tripped by familiar foe Providence Grove’s boys’ season-ending…
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Black returns to Asheboro volleyball team

Black returns to Asheboro volleyball team

ASHEBORO – It turns out Kim Black was pulled back to Asheboro High School volleyball after all. She’ll be in her third stint as coach of the program, where she won a state championship, when the season begins in the late summer. “I can’t make any promises except to promise to do my best,” Black said. She’s the all-time winningest coach at Asheboro, holding a 246-97 record as a varsity coach. She directed the Blue Comets to three state finals, including the Class 3-A title in 1994, and eight conference crowns. Black has made the rounds among schools in Randolph…
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Area wrestlers stick with it for solid finishes

Area wrestlers stick with it for solid finishes

Uwharrie Charter Academy’s Doug Bowles lifts Mount Airy’s Connor Medvar in the air during the 170-pound bout in the Class 1-A finals Saturday at the Greensboro Coliseum. PJ WARD-BROWN/NORTH STATE JOURNAL GREENSBORO – It was an encouraging start to the state tournament for Randolph County wrestlers Thursday. And not a bad finish either by Saturday. Aside from state champions David Makupson (138 pounds, Class 2-A) of Trinity and Aldo Hernandez (132, Class 1-A) and Grayson Roberts (160 pounds, Class 2-A), there were solid performances that lasted all the way to their final matches. Randolph County wrestlers excelled in the first…
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