Bob Sutton – Moore County Edition

Sep

08

2021

0 Comments

By Bob Sutton

Catch him if you can: Southwestern Randolph’s Cole off to blazing start

SportsAdam Cole, Cougars, football, high school, Southwestern Randolph, SWR

ASHEBORO – Adam Cole doesn’t need an encore, though after a six-touchdown performance in Southwestern Randolph’s most recent game that would be difficult. But the versatile junior has more to accomplish. With the Cougars off to a 2-0 start going into Friday night’s home game against West Davidson, Cole figures to be at the forefront of the game plan. “There’s a decent number (of plays called) for me,” Cole said. Just determining how he might be used could be the tricky part. He’s considered a running back, but his hybrid role often calls for him to be lined up in…

Sep

01

2021

0 Comments

By Bob Sutton

Beloved Asheboro eatery orders final meals

Business, NewsAsheboro, Dixie III, food

After serving for decades, Dixie III to close doors ASHEBORO – On a recent afternoon at Dixie III, Mark Davidson was so busy he had to put off accepting a phone call until he could catch up on a few tasks. That included making cornbread. As owner of the long-time Asheboro diner, there have been countless items on Davidson’s to-do lists. That will suddenly cease this month when the family-owned eatery closes its doors after 39 years at the same location. “It’s definitely bittersweet,” Davidson said. “We’ve been doing this all our lives. We’re just ready to retire.” Davidson, 65,…

Sep

01

2021

0 Comments

By Bob Sutton

Daniel cites conservative values in entering county race

Government, News, PoliticsCounty Commissioners, GOP, Todd Daniel

ASHEBORO – Todd Daniel said he’s concerned about the reduction of certain liberties because of pandemic-related restrictions and that has caused him to enter the 2022 race for a seat among the Randolph County commissioners. “This past spring I’ve had some people ask me to run, representing the values of the county,” Daniel said. Daniel, 51, ran unsuccessfully for a county seat in 2014, part of a three-way race. He’s aiming to take the seat of incumbent David Allen in District 3. “It is time for conservative Americans to rise up and defend the values of our nation and heritage,”…

Sep

01

2021

0 Comments

By Bob Sutton

Wildcats showcase variety of weapons

SportsAsheboro, Blue Comets, Eastern Randolph, Wildcats

Quarterback’s precision adds to firepower for Eastern Randolph's offense ASHEBORO – Eastern Randolph has so many ways to be productive on the football field. With highly recruited playmakers dotting recent rosters for the Wildcats, now it’s clear that it’d be wise not to overlook Stratton Barwick. The junior quarterback is slinging the ball in the right directions these days. “It’s a joy to see the ball going through the air and the crowd cheers,” Barwick said. That happened numerous times last week when visiting Eastern Randolph thumped Asheboro 49-7 on Friday night. “We just came out and played football,” Barwick…

Sep

01

2021

0 Comments

By Bob Sutton

Wheatmore aims to sustain athletics excellence

SportsArchdale, Trinity, Wheatmore

TRINITY – Wheatmore has set a standard in recent years for overall excellence in its athletics department. Now with a slightly different mix of conference membership, the Warriors want to keep it going. “We’ve been fortunate enough,” athletics director Rick Halo said. “You know this goes in peaks and valleys. When one program is down a little bit, there’s another that comes along and moves up.” Wheatmore was the past school year’s Wells Fargo Conference Cup winner for the PAC-7. It marked the fifth year in a row that the school was atop the Conference Cup standings for its league.…

Aug

25

2021

0 Comments

By Bob Sutton

Callicutt enjoys grand opportunity

Entertainment, NewsAsheboro, Grand Ole Opry, music, Southwestern Randolph, Trent Callicutt

Asheboro native fulfills dream of playing at Grand Ole Opry ASHEBORO — It was a round-about way, but the destination was what mattered for Trent Callicutt. He performed at the Grand Ole Opry. For a musician, Saturday night’s opportunity became a lifetime achievement in Nashville, Tenn. “It was everything I hoped for and more,” Callicutt said. “The Grand Ole Opry is the pinnacle. I was looking around and trying to take it all in.” The Asheboro native and Southwestern Randolph High School graduate played the banjo for Dailey & Vincent, an American bluegrass music group. Timing was on Callicutt’s side.…

Aug

24

2021

0 Comments

By Bob Sutton

County teams send strong opening messages

SportsAsheboro, Eastern Randolph, football, Providence Grove, Randleman, SWR, Trinity, Wheatmore

ASHEBORO — What an opening week for Randolph County football teams. The seven football-playing schools went a combined 6-1, with the lone loss coming in the only intra-county matchup (Asheboro defeating Randleman). In the other five games, the county teams outscored their opponents by a combined score of 177-31. The most notable might have been Eastern Randolph’s whipping of Eastern Alamance, which has been a Class 3-A power for most of the past decade. And don’t discount what Trinity did, with its decision against Chatham Central marking its first triumph against an opponent other than Jordan-Matthews in its last 24…

Aug

24

2021

0 Comments

By Bob Sutton

Baker sets sights on comeback in Caraway standings

SportsCaraway, racing, Richard Petty

Area driver aims to move up in points race SOPHIA — Johnny Baker needs a fast finish in a true sense at Caraway Speedway. With the season winding down the Asheboro driver is contending for his third track championship in Mini Stocks. But it’s going to be a challenge. “We’re slowly getting there,” Baker said. “But it’s going to take some good luck.” Baker holds second place in the division, but he has been gaining ground. He has won four of the last five races in a division with diminishing entries. Brandon Collins leads with 1,141 points, while Baker has…

Aug

24

2021

0 Comments

By Bob Sutton

Concerns calmed about Asheboro water

NewsAsheboro, water

Annual changeover brings unusual volume of questions for city ASHEBORO — There has been plenty of curiosity about the status of City of Asheboro water during the past few weeks, but the good news is that there’s really no new news. “Nothing out of the ordinary,” said Bryan Lanier, manager for the city’s water treatment plant. The city’s annual month-long use of a pure chlorine treatment to help ensure a high level of disinfection in water mains concludes this week – with a return to the standard practices set for Aug. 30. For the other 11 months, a chloramines treatment…

Aug

22

2021

0 Comments

By Bob Sutton

Blue Comets collect early prize

SportsAsheboro, Education, football, Randleman, schools, sports

Asheboro pulls opening surprise at Randleman RANDLEMAN — Asheboro’s football team won for the first time in more than 600 days to open the season. Now the Blue Comets will have their sights set on more conquests. After a winless record in seven games when the 2020 season was shifted to this past spring, Asheboro might have been largely dismissed as a factor entering the new campaign. That was far from the case in Friday night’s season-opening 20-7 conquering of Randleman. “We proved that we got the talent,” linebacker / running back Qamelo Butler said. Asheboro plays its home opener…