Liberty - Randolph Record

12 Jun

Changes come for Liberty’s farmers market

Bob SuttonEvents, Newsfarmers market, Kolby Riddle, Liberty

The farmers market in Liberty is located along West Swannanoa Avenue. (Bob Sutton / Randolph Record) LIBERTY — The farmers market in Liberty has new rules this year as organizers hope to jumpstart interest. Kolby Riddle, director of the parks and recreation department for Liberty, said the farmers market near downtown is somewhat evolving. “It kind of depends,” Riddle said in reference to the turnout of vendors. “Some of them may come and stay for an hour. You might get five or six.” Riddle said rule changes require certain certifications for vendors selling food items such as meats or eggs.…

26 May

Toyota promotes Stewart to top position in Liberty

Bob SuttonNewsDon Stewart, Greensboro-Randolph megasite, Liberty, Toyota

Don Stewart (Courtesy photo) LIBERTY — There’s a change at the top of the Toyota Battery Manufacturing North Carolina plant as operations at the site continue to ramp up. Sean Suggs, who had been president at the Liberty plant, is retiring. Don Stewart is next up as president at the plant. He has been vice president of manufacturing for the facility. Stewart had been with Toyota since 1997 as a maintenance group leader at a plant in Buffalo, West Virginia. In 2018, he moved to Hino Motor Manufacturing before rejoining Toyota in 2021. He had held a role of plant operations…

03 May

Liberty adjusts festival schedule, sees work on park projects

Bob SuttonEvents, Newsfestivals, Freedom Park, Liberty, parks and recreation

LIBERTY — Liberty has reworked its festival schedule for 2025 in addition to a busy time for the town’s parks and recreation department. There was a spring festival and fall festival in 2024, but both have been set aside this year. Kolby Riddle, director of the parks and recreation department, said it’s about finding the right balance. The summer gathering, scheduled this year for July 12, remains in place. “That’s our biggest one,” Riddle said. The festivals generally feature food trucks, vendors with arts and crafts and baked goods and a kidszone. Inconsistent attendance, often related to the weather, had…

27 Feb

New church to launch in Liberty

Bob SuttonEvents, NewsGrowing Faith Church, Liberty

LIBERTY — The timing seemed right for Brian Beasley and others to organize a new church to serve the growing Liberty area. The launch of Growing Faith Church is set for Sunday. “A series of things called me to lead a church,” Beasley said, pointing to the Greensboro-Randolph megasite. “With the growth, it seemed like the Lord was pulling us to assembly there.” The first worship service is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. at Liberty Elementary School at 206 North Fayetteville St. Growing Faith Church stems from Pleasant Garden Baptist Church in Guilford County, slightly more than a dozen miles away.…

28 Jan

Controlled burn means progress for Randolph CC, training for firefighters in Liberty

Bob SuttonFeatures, NewsLiberty, Randolph Community College, Scott Kidd, Shah Ardalan

Firefighters pose in front of the house in Liberty at Saturday’s controlled burn on Randolph Community College’s new property. (Liberty Fire Department) LIBERTY — A controlled burn of a building on Randolph Community College’s Liberty campus served multiple purposes Saturday. The event marked a step in the plan to further develop RCC’s Liberty property. Shah Ardalan, president of RCC, called the event part of the process in moving toward the college’s mission. “This controlled burn is more than a training exercise,” Ardalan said. “It is a tangible representation of our commitment to Access and Success for Randolph County and beyond.…

09 Dec

Liberty cabinet plant to close in 2025, with 200 jobs lost

Bob SuttonNewslayoffs, Liberty, plant closings

LIBERTY – The UltraCraft Cabinetry plant, a division of Norcraft Companies, in Liberty is closing in 2025, with layoffs scheduled to begin in May. There are 200 people employed at the facility at 6163 Old 421 Road. “It’s definitely a sad thing,” said Amanda Price, executive director of the Liberty Chamber of Commerce. “They’ve been around awhile and a good Chamber member.” Layoffs are to commence in the spring and be completed by September, based on a notice to the North Carolina Department of Commerce. The site has operated under UltraCraft Cabinetry, a subsidiary of Norcraft Companies. Cabinets have been…

09 Oct

Commissioners approve purchase of property for new elementary school in Liberty

Ryan HenkelNewsEducation, Liberty, public schools, Randolph County Board of Commissioners, Randolph County School System, RCSS, Stephen Gainey

ASHEBORO – Randolph County has taken a big step toward the construction of a new elementary school as the Randolph County Board of Commissioners approved the purchase of land for the new Liberty Elementary School. At its Oct. 7 meeting, the board approved the purchase of 32 acres of land at a sale price of $62,500 per acre located at 4547 Starmount Road for the site. “The board and myself believe this is the best site for the new school,” Randolph County School System superintendent Stephen Gainey said. “The feasibility study may require us to buy more, so we’ve been…

20 Sep

Man charged after Toyota Battery Manufacturing plant bomb threat

Randolph RecordNewsbomb threat, Liberty, Toyota

Here's a photo of the Toyota Battery Manufacturing site from this summer. (Bob Sutton / Randolph Record) LIBERTY – An arrest was made following what was determined to be a false bomb threat directed at the under-construction Toyota Battery Manufacturing plant. Randolph County Sheriff’s Office announced that Michael John Poirier, 38, of Elon is facing felony charges for a false bomb report. The threat came Monday afternoon directed at the facility on Julian Airport Road. Poirier was arrested at his home and he’s being held on a $30,000 bond, the sheriff’s office said. A statement from Toyota said action was…

09 Sep

Liberty teen’s death brings protests, charges

Randolph RecordNewscrime, Liberty, N.C. Highway Patrol

GRAHAM – The death of a teenager Daniela Trejo Mendiola near Liberty has led to controversy and then an arrest last week. The accident occurred in rural Alamance County not far from the Randolph County line. Mendiola, 17, was a pedestrian when she was struck after dark on the night of Aug. 20 along Oak Grove Church Road. Despite the identity revealed of the driver of the vehicle involved in the incident, about two weeks passed without further resolution in the case. Last week, demonstrations took place in downtown Graham with protesters demanding justice. Then charges were filed Sept. 4…

07 Aug

New shops brewing in Liberty

Bob SuttonBusiness, Features, Newscoffee shop, Hops and Vine, Liberty, Liberty Grounds, Oak's Beans

Beverages and much more are available at Liberty Grounds. (Courtesy photo) LIBERTY – Two new business ventures are opening in Liberty with coffee themes and months of work in renovating buildings in an area of Randolph County that’s expected to grow rapidly. Liberty Grounds has opened, featuring a coffee shop and market. Soon, Oak’s Beans, Hops and Vine will be up and running, specializing in gourmet coffee, North Carolina wines and rotation options of craft beer. These are family operations and clearly new endeavors for the business owners. “This is a totally new adventure for all of us,” said Ginger…