Bigger crowds at Caraway as season passes midpoint

Bigger crowds at Caraway as season passes midpoint

ASHEBORO — The racing season has sped past the midway mark at Caraway Speedway, and there are encouraging signs, general manager Darren Hackett said. The ninth card of the season produced one of the bigger crowds of the year for Saturday night’s Rusty Harpe Memorial. “It hit pretty much what I had in mind,” Hackett said of a turnout of about 3,000 spectators. “So far, I’m satisfied.” What might not have been anticipated was the winner of the SMART Star race. That was Concord’s Gary Putnam, who claimed the 100-lap feature in the No. 77 car. Putnam passed Caleb Heady…
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BUDD: We must get North Carolina back to work

BUDD: We must get North Carolina back to work

Last month, the National Federation of Independent Businesses reported that 46% of small businesses currently have unfilled job openings. Our country is still down 7.1 million jobs from our pre-lockdown boom, and 9.5 million jobs remain unfilled nationwide. While well-intentioned, the federal government’s enhanced unemployment benefit of $300 extra dollars each week has incentivized workers to stay at home and not get back into the workforce. Essentially, these additional payments constitute a “stay-at-home bonus.” Based on these facts, Republican governors across the U.S. have stopped accepting the extra bonus funding from the federal government. However, North Carolina’s Democratic Gov. Roy…
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New Trinity Middle School to open in the fall

New Trinity Middle School to open in the fall

TRINITY — The opening of the new Trinity Middle School means the end of an era for one local school and a name change for another. When Wheatmore High School opened for the 2009-10, to alleviate overcrowding at Trinity High School, Braxton Craven School and Archdale-Trinity Middle School became the middle school feeders to both high schools. This August, Archdale-Trinity Middle School will become Wheatmore Middle School and Braxton Craven School will not reopen. The name change to Wheatmore Middle will also mean the school colors will shift to the red and white of Wheatmore.
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Tropical Storm Elsa expected to hit NC

Tropical Storm Elsa expected to hit NC

RALEIGH – Tropical Storm Elsa could bring rain, wind, and tornadoes to North Carolina on Wednesday night and into Thursday, according to the National Hurricane Center. State emergency management officials are advising residents in eastern and central North Carolina to be prepared for significant rains and possible flooding. “Residents and visitors to North Carolina should keep a close watch on the forecast for this storm,” said Gov. Roy Cooper. The State Emergency Operations Center in Raleigh activated Tuesday to monitor the storm. The State Emergency Response Team is preparing to support local governments with any storm-related needs.
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Zoo ends reservation requirement

Zoo ends reservation requirement

The N.C. Zoo ended the requirement for visitors to make reservations ahead of the 4th of July holiday weekend. Reservations will no longer be required after July 1. The zoo will still require visitors who are not fully vaccinated to wear face coverings and to practice social distancing. When the zoo reopened in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, reservations were required to limit the number of visitors to the zoo, which is outside of Asheboro. In recent months, the zoo has welcomed an elephant, a polar bear and 12 red-wolf pups.
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Baker becomes first female officer on sheriff’s Emergency Response Team

Baker becomes first female officer on sheriff’s Emergency Response Team

ASHEBORO — The Randolph County Sheriff’s Office has a female on its Emergency Response Team for the first time in the unit’s history. Deputy Traci Baker completed a rigorous training-and-testing battery to join the team. The tests determined her ability serve high-risk search warrants, handle barricades and take part in other tactical exercises. Members of the team are expected to attend advanced law enforcement training courses and become proficient with specialized equipment to deal with dangerous criminals and situations. Baker began her career with the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office after she completed basic law enforcement training in 2009 in the…
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NEW BUSINESS: Nutrition Xtreme

NEW BUSINESS: Nutrition Xtreme

ASHEBORO — Nutrition Xtreme celebrated the opening of their new location at 1017 South Fayetteville St. (Hillside Shopping Center) in Asheboro on June 29. They have been in business since 2013 and offer healthy smoothies, energy teas, and health and wellness coaching. Attending the event were (left to right) Susan Robbins, Asheboro/Randolph Chamber Chair Kelly Heath, Asheboro City Councilmen Charlie Swiers and Walker Moffitt, owners Barb and Gary Nance, Audrey Macintosh, Stevie Robbins, Kimber Folden, Chamber ambassador Rhonda Ratcliffe, and Kristen Toscano. (PHOTO: Asheboro/Randolph Chamber)
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Over 30% of Randolph County is vaccinated

Over 30% of Randolph County is vaccinated

ASHEBORO — The Centers for Disease Control reported that 43,649 Randolph County residents are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Over 64% of the county’s citizens over 65 years of age are vaccinated. The CDC estimates that 47% of the total U.S. population is now vaccinated. In the past week, just 927 people were tested for COVID-19 in Randolph County, which includes those needing testing for travel. There were 20 positive cases and no hospitalizations reported in the last week in Randolph County.
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NEW BUSINESS: Crush Nutrition and Energy

NEW BUSINESS: Crush Nutrition and Energy

ASHEBORO — Crush Nutrition and Energy celebrated the opening of their new business at 1438 East Dixie Dr. in Asheboro on July 1. The store offers healthy shakes, energy teas, and health and wellness coaching. Attending the event were (left to right) Asheboro Mayor Pro Tem Walker Moffitt, Jacob Koontz, Aiden Koontz, Easton Johnson, owners Amy and Jamie Johnson, Logan Jones, Jillian Stern, Grace Runyon and Asheboro/Randolph Chamber Chair Kelly Heath. (PHOTO: Asheboro/Randolph Chamber)    
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White’s no-hitter propels Randleman to 2A state title

White’s no-hitter propels Randleman to 2A state title

Ryan White had only one thing in mind when he took the mound for the final inning of Saturday’s NCHSAA 2A championship series finale at Burlington Athletic Stadium. Win the state title for his Randleman High School baseball team. Finishing off the no-hitter was just a bonus. The junior right-hander struck out 11 and walked only two while pitching the Tigers to a 4-0 victory against Rutherfordton-Spindale Central that clinched the second state championship in school history. White’s masterful performance provided an exclamation point to a long day that saw Randleman bounce back from a loss earlier in the day…
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