randolph county

Randolph Electric Membership Corp. helps purchase new fire engines 

Randolph Electric Membership Corp. helps purchase new fire engines 

Last week, Randolph Electric Membership Corporation (REMC) officials presented state and local fire representatives with checks to assist with purchasing new fire engines. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) awarded the REMC grants for each fire truck – $225,000 to Robbins Fire Rescue in Moore County and $360,000 to the Ulah Volunteer Fire Department in Randolph County – through the Rural Economic Development Loan & Grant program. “We are thankful to receive this funding from Randolph EMC,” said Charlotte King, fire chief of Ulah VFD. “This new fire engine will benefit the residents and businesses of southern Randolph County,…
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Board of Education accepts grant to help supply new SROs

Board of Education accepts grant to help supply new SROs

ASHEBORO — The Randolph County Board of Education met Monday, February 20, with mostly financial updates and dealings on the agenda.  Superintendent Stephen Gainey presented to the board a current expense request to be brought before the Randolph Board of Commissioners in May for a supplement increase for classified employees. “The new current expense request will be a supplement increase for classified employees by 1.5%,” Gainey said. “The total cost of this additional current expense request will be $430,000, and if approved, it would take our supplement percentage for classified employees from 3.75% to 5.25%.” “Many times when the state…
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Board of Commissioners presented with design for Health Department renovations

Board of Commissioners presented with design for Health Department renovations

ASHEBORO — The Randolph County Board of Commissioners met Monday, February 6, where they were provided updates on two of the county’s major construction projects. The first item of new business was an update on the Health Department renovations. “Last summer, you awarded a contract to Smith Sinett Architecture to design a renovation to the health department, which is located at the Ira McDowell Center,” said County Engineer Paxton Arthurs. “Since that time, Smith Sinett has worked to finalize the design and put together the bid documents.” The current Health Department space is 16,000 square feet, with 35 offices, two…
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Cigna and Randolph Health contract impasse causes coverage interruption

Cigna and Randolph Health contract impasse causes coverage interruption

RALEIGH — Cigna insurance plan members received notification that they would no longer be covered at Randolph Health after February 10. A letter from Cigna on “Continuity of Care” obtained by North State Journal indicates the insurer and Randolph Health have been unable to agree on a contract.  Cigna’s letter informed members that if hospital stays were approved by February 10, their continued stay would still be covered. For medical care beyond that date, members would have to seek treatment at a different in-network provider.  A list of in-network providers offered by Cigna includes Chatham Hospital, Cone Health Wesley Long…
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2023 should bring changes, progress on projects

2023 should bring changes, progress on projects

ASHEBORO — There’s plenty to look forward to around Randolph County in 2023. The past year has set some of the foundation for the future. Here’s a sampling: Ongoing megasite impact Certainly, the fallout associated with the Greensboro-Randolph megasite has largely been in its infancy during the past year. With Toyota’s announcement in late 2021 that it’s building a massive battery manufacturing plant at the location, the impact is only going to grow once the facility is up and running. To be known as Toyota Battery Manufacturing-North Carolina, this is plugged as a multi-billion dollar operation. Production is supposed to…
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2022 marked by issues involving jobs, politics, education in Randolph County

2022 marked by issues involving jobs, politics, education in Randolph County

ASHEBORO — Looking for big news in Randolph County this year and it was bound to be mega-sized. As in revolving around the Greensboro-Randolph megasite. While the announcement that Toyota came late in 2021, the real work involving the megasite and all that will be involved with the battery manufacturing plant seemed to pick up real momentum in 2022. This will be Toyota’s newest facility in North America. Toyota has vowed to pour huge investment dollars into the megasite, a move that had the Randolph County Board of Commissioners on board with pushing for the project. For the months that…
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New members of Randolph Board of Education sworn in

New members of Randolph Board of Education sworn in

ASHEBORO — The Randolph County Board of Education met on Monday, December 12, to swear in new members and finalize voting for the naming of Trinity High School’s Gymnasium. The meeting opened up with the swearing-in of three members. Current board member Fred Burgess was sworn into a new term, whereas Phillip Lanier and Shannon Whitaker joined the board as new members. The board then unanimously voted to reelect Gary Cook as Board Chair. “Sometimes, especially during COVID, you thought, ‘I don’t know if I want to go back or I could give this up,’” Cook said. “Whether it was…
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Santa for a cause: 36th annual CBA Toy Run

Santa for a cause: 36th annual CBA Toy Run

Top to bottom: Santa Claus rides on the back of a motorcycle down N.C. 65 as he leads Randolph County’s 36th annual CBA Toy Run; Riders with Randolph County’s 36th annual CBA Toy Run fill N.C. 64 as they make their way toward Lexington; Marian Clark (front), Kisha Shelton (middle), and Judy Wamsley (back) watch and wave as riders pass by.
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Wolfspeed should have impact in Randolph County

Wolfspeed should have impact in Randolph County

SILER CITY — Randolph County officials had roles in helping secure a major industrial project for nearby Siler City. Certainly, the impact will be felt in neighboring counties when Wolfspeed, Inc. cranks up operations in 2023 in Chatham County. The 1,800 new jobs should be created by 2030. Wolfspeed will construct a manufacturing campus for the production of Silicon Carbide materials. The governor’s office reported that an investment of approximately $5 billion across the next eight years will be made in the Town of Siler City. Founded and headquartered in Durham, Wolfspeed is described as a global leader in the…
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Fiber internet expansion coming to Randolph County

Fiber internet expansion coming to Randolph County

HIGH POINT – The communities of Asheboro, Franklinville and Ramseur should have about 100% fiber coverage for high-speed internet service through an expansion set in place by NorthState. NorthState announced last week that it will fully fund the project and engineering work is imminent with construction slated to begin later this year. The expansion project for the multi-state high-speed fiber internet service provider also includes parts of Forsyth County, with the company announcing that 683 miles of fiber-optic technology will blanket the region. The company lists the price tag at about $51 million. NorthState says the underserved areas are targeted,…
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