Bob Sutton – Moore County Edition

Jun

03

2024

$450M Ross Stores warehouse coming to Randleman

NewsNC Department of Commerce

Ross Stores, a Fortune 500 retail chain, is planning to build a regional distribution center in Randleman, state officials announced Tuesday. The warehouse will bring as many as 852 jobs to Randolph County by late in 2026, an investment listed at roughly $450 million. The Randleman site — covering about 330 acres near N.C. 74 in the northwest corner of the city — will be the company's ninth distribution center. The 1.7 million square-foot facility will handle warehousing, fulfillment and packing operations. Ross Stores is a $20 billion company that operates two off-price chains including Ross Dress for Less, the…

Aug

09

2023

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By Bob Sutton

Asheboro-based Klaussner Furniture Industries, Inc. to close all facilities

Businessclosing, klaussner furniture

ASHEBORO — Klaussner Furniture Industries, which once had been the largest employer in Randolph County, is shutting down operations at all its facilities, the company announced Monday. The company was tightly tied to Asheboro, which housed its corporate headquarters. According to a news release: “Klaussner’s lending source has unexpectedly refused to continue to fund the Company’s operations. This outcome was not reasonably foreseeable, but due to these unexpected circumstances, Klaussner can no longer sustain its operations. There will be more than 3,800 job losses, with a majority of those connected to Asheboro and Randolph County, based on some reports. The…

Aug

31

2022

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By Bob Sutton

Whispering Pines man runs baseball league

SportsAlec Allred, baseball league, Whispering Pines

WHISPERING PINES — Alec Allred of Whispering Pines is making a career out of baseball, and it’s not on the field. He’s the president of the Old North State League, a summer college circuit that wrapped up what he called a successful season earlier this summer. “This is my full-time job now, trying to coordinate everything,” Allred said. “It’s a lot that goes into it, but it’s a ton of fun.” The Sandhills Bogeys, who are based in Pinehurst, won the 2022 championship, beating the Hendersonville Honeycrisps in the final. Allred, 27, grew up in Ramseur, and his family has…

Jun

08

2022

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By Bob Sutton

Pinecrest takes pride in powerful postseason

Sportsbaseball, high school baseball, Pinecrest, prep sports, state finals

BURLINGTON — Pinecrest couldn’t dent Charlotte Providence’s perfect season, but the Patriots left the Class 3-A baseball state finals with an experience worth savoring. They’d like to be playing in the final weekend of the season again. “We’re looking to come back,” junior third baseman/pitcher Colby Wallace said. “We know how this loss felt.” It was a stinging conclusion to the season for Pinecrest, which pushed Charlotte Providence to 10 innings in Game 2 of the championship series before falling 3-1 on Saturday at Burlington Athletic Stadium. The Patriots advanced to the finals by winning a regional championship for just…

Jan

07

2022

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By Bob Sutton

Asheboro blacksmith wins competition on reality show

Business, Entertainment, NewsChris Mos

ASHEBORO – Chris Moss kept his secret since last spring. When the answer was revealed, it was rewarding for the Asheboro man. Moss was the winner of an episode of “Forged in Fire,” which aired Wednesday night on the History Channel. “I’ve been sitting on it for nine months,” Moss said. “I kind of wish I could have told people. It was a great thing.” In the final challenge for the show, Moss made a two-handed battle sword that was a replica from Southeast Asia. “I had four days to make it,” Moss said of the sword, which was 4…

Jan

05

2022

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By Bob Sutton

Asheboro man cuts through on reality show

EntertainmentAsheboro, Chris Moss, Forged in Fire, TV

ASHEBORO – This is the week for Chris Moss of Asheboro to be on the air as part of a television reality show. Moss had an appearance slated as part of “Forged in Fire” on the History Channel. The episode was to air Wednesday night. “It was just an absolute blast,” Moss said. In each episode, four bladesmiths compete in a three-round elimination contest to forge bladed weapons, with the overall winner receiving $10,000 and the show's championship title “Forged in Fire Champion.” The episode with Moss, 34, was filmed in the spring in Connecticut. “It’s going to be a…

Jan

05

2022

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By Bob Sutton

Recreation center hopping with activities

NewsAHS, Asheboro High School, basketball, high school sports, recreation center, wrestling

High school’s use of gym works well for all parties ASHEBORO — Use of the Asheboro Recreation Center is almost nonstop and that’s expected to continue through the winter. The boost in activity comes for various reasons, largely with Asheboro High School using the venue for basketball and wrestling as the gym on campus is part of a renovation project. “The relationship we have with Parks and Rec and what they’ve really done for us has been great,” Asheboro High School athletics director Steve Luck said. “They’ve just reached out tremendously. The behind-the-scenes things they’ve done have been great.” The…

Dec

29

2021

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By Bob Sutton

Holiday tourneys take new twists for area teams

SportsAsheboro, basketball, Eastern Randolph, high school athletics, prep sports, Providence Grove, Randleman, Southwestern Randolph

Area basketball teams will be in holiday tournament action next week, but the format will look different from past years. Teams will be headed to two sites, with a Davidson County vs. Randolph County flavor. “They agreed to do that this year,” Asheboro athletics director Steve Luck said. “It kind of worked out. We thought this would be neat.” The changes stem from sponsorship changes and the renovations at Asheboro’s gym, which had been used for what were basically Randolph County tournaments on back-to-back weeks. That venue is unavailable this year. This is called the Davidson-Randolph Christmas Classic. Now, the…

Dec

16

2021

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By Bob Sutton

Calling it an honor

Sportsnchsaa, prep football, state champion

RALEIGH — Derrick Isley had a grand experience at the North Carolina High School Athletic Association’s football championships and it didn’t even matter who won. Isley, a Ramseur man, held an officiating assignment for the Class 2-A final between Shelby and Wallace-Rose Hill in Raleigh. “There’s only a few who get this shot,” Isley said. “I’m very honored with this because I never saw it coming.” Isley completed his 21st year of officiating. This was the first time it concluded in the state championships. “That’s 21 years being on the field doing what I love,” he said. He’s an umpire,…