randolph county

Randolph County Schools keep masks optional

Randolph County Schools keep masks optional

ASHEBORO — The Randolph County School Board voted again Monday night to keep masks optional in the county’s largest school system. The vote came two weeks after a special called meeting where the system voted to end mask requirements and to stop contact tracing. Gathered in their regular meeting room, the elected officials were not wearing masks. Superintendent Stephen Gainey, who has worn a mask during recent public meetings when seated with the board, was also not wearing a mask. Following a lengthy closed session where the board consulted with its attorneys, the board retuned to its action item agenda.…
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County football teams fall in playoff openers

County football teams fall in playoff openers

ASHEBORO — The first round of the Class 2-A state playoffs didn’t go well for Randolph County teams. All three of the entries had their seasons end with losses. That included home games for Providence Grove and Southwestern Randolph. At Climax, Providence Grove fell 27-26 in overtime to Forest Hills, when a failed two-point conversion play resulted in the season ending. Providence Grove, which was seeded eighth in the West Region, ended up with an 8-3 record. The Patriots are 0-10 all-time in state-playoff games. Forest Hills moves on with a 7-4 record. Polk County 29, Southwestern Randolph 14:  At…
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Athlete of the Week: Kaitlyn Gainey

Athlete of the Week: Kaitlyn Gainey

KAITLYN GAINEY Southwestern Randolph High School | Senior | Tennis Southwestern Randolph's Kaitlyn Gainey, a senior, completed Piedmont Athletic Conference play with a 10-0 singles record when the Cougars wrapped up the regular season by defeating Uwharrie Charter Academy 7-2. She was also part of a victory in a doubles match. Gainey plays No. 2 singles for the Cougars, who finished the regular season with an 11-4 overall record and 7-3 PAC mark. Gainey takes an overall singles record of 14-1 into postseason competition. In doubles, Gainey has combined with junior Andee Bullard at the No. 1 position and they’ve…
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Randleman racks up baseball recruits

Randleman racks up baseball recruits

RANDLEMAN — As if the past season wasn’t good enough for Randleman’s baseball players, the offseason has been productive in many ways as well. The Tigers, who are fresh off a Class 2-A state championship won in late June, have been racking up college offers and subsequent commitments. “It has been amazing,” catcher Brooks Brannon said. “I don’t think the state championship alone did it. All the guys are grinders. It’s awesome.” Brannon had committed to North Carolina prior to the latest season. Others in the now-senior class have been accepting offers in the weeks since the Tigers won the…
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Athlete of the Week: Jensen Auman

Athlete of the Week: Jensen Auman

Jensen Auman Providence Grove | Cross Country | Sophomore Auman, a sophomore, won the Millennium Charter Academy Invitational, helping the Patriots to the team title at Beeson Park in Kernersville. Auman finished the 5-kilometer race in 23 minutes, 55.61 seconds for about a 13-second victory on runner-up Annika Bell of East Wilkes. There was a field of 43 runners. On the boys’ side, Wheatmore was the team champion among a field of 12 scoring teams. Providence Grove, led by third-place individual Robert Burton, was the team runner-up. Burton finished in 20:00.03, with Wheatmore’s Zach Hazelwood fourth in a personal-best 20:06.90.…
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Making a connection in Randolph County: Internet access remains major concern

Making a connection in Randolph County: Internet access remains major concern

ASHEBORO — The need for a stronger internet presence has reached concerning levels in Randolph County, according to a report presented to county commissioners last week. Kenneth Sherin, director of the county’s cooperative extension, said there are too many pockets across the county that aren’t up to speed. “Availability, that’s what we are all concerned about,” Sherin said. “Just being aware and being able to ask the questions and knowing what to look for is a big step forward for Randolph County citizens.” Sherin, whose emphasis in his role is dealing with broadband access and education, said the shortcomings were…
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New football season begins with chance to upgrade point totals

New football season begins with chance to upgrade point totals

Getting the offenses going could be the main mission for Randolph County football teams as the season begins this week. The scheduled openers come Friday night. The 2020 season was wiped out in its traditional manner because of the pandemic. Teams played that season during the spring semester of 2021, so the offseason was shortened. Area teams will hope that was enough to figure out how to crank up the offenses. RANDLEMAN Randleman was an exception to the sluggish offenses for area teams. The Tigers had nine players score at least one touchdown a year ago. Randleman is 32-3 across…
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Randolph County schools end mask mandate

Randolph County schools end mask mandate

Deadline to sign up for virtual learning looms ASHEBORO — Cloth face coverings will be optional in the Randolph County School System when classes begin next month, a logical next step in returning closer to normal, district superintendent Steven Gainey said Tuesday. “This is giving people their option,” Gainey said. “The board just felt like it should be the individual decision. … The board and I have been listening to questions about cloth facing coverings for several weeks.” Last week, Gov. Roy Cooper announced the upcoming elimination of many mask mandates. However, he also recommended that students in grades K-8…
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Randolph County residents take advantage of property tax discount

Randolph County residents take advantage of property tax discount

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…
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Deadline nears for local election filings

Deadline nears for local election filings

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…
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