Zach Hazelwood in the October 3, 2021, Athlete of the Week.
ZACH HAZELWOOD
Uwharrie Charter Academy | Sophomore | Cross Country
Zach Hazelwood of Wheatmore is the Athlete of the Week. He qualified for the state championships in Class 2-A based on his 11th-place finish in Saturday’s Midwest Regional.
Hazelwood, a sophomore, finished one spot ahead of Providence Grove’s Robert Burton in 18 minutes, 32.99 seconds at Fisher River Park in Dobson. Hazelwood’s time marked the third-fastest for 5,000 meters in school history.
Burton had a time of 18:42.39. Providence Grove advanced to states, which will be held Saturday in Kernersville, as the third-place team behind West Stanly and Wilkes Central.
The top girls’ finisher from a Randolph County school was Providence Grove’s Mia Bowder in 11th place in 22:13.98. She joined teammates Sarah Majors (15th, 23:07.24) and Caroline DuVall (21st, 23:20.90) to move on to states.
In Class 1-A, Uwharrie Charter Academy’s Jazmin Palma (15th 23:42.1) and Abbie Gudino (18th, 23:59.75) qualified for states based on their Midwest Regional finishes at Ivey Redmon Sports Complex in Kernersville.
ASHEBORO — A staff shortage is a concern for Randolph County’s emergency services, department director Donovan Davis said.
In a report to the county commissioners at the October meeting, Davis provided details on the challenges facing his department, particularly with call loads increasing.
EMS staffing has become a concern, with Davis telling the commissioners that staff members are often frustrated and / or exhausted.
There are 18 vacancies throughout the department. That includes eight paramedic positions.
Because of that, some vacation requests have been denied, adding to declining morale.
“The reason is because of our staffing,” he said.
At times, the emergency services department has shut down some ambulance shifts because of staff shortages. Davis said there’s a statewide paramedic shortage.
The county has five full-time openings among telecommunicators. Entering October, recent data provided by Davis showed that the call center receives about 1,500 calls a month.
At the current pace, the department will handle 4,500 more calls than last year.
To accommodate this increase, Davis said another ambulance crew should be added to the department. There hasn’t been additional ambulance staffing added since 2018.
Davis said a new ambulance in circulation would be best served in the Randleman or Archdale areas.
There also are various transportation components to the ambulance pick-ups.
Randolph County EMS will receive an ambulance truck as part of the state’s contract with FEMA, which was extended last week. Guilford County and Forsyth County were already receiving ambulance vehicles from the federal agency. Guilford has two, each staffed by two people, and Forsyth had three. The program is helping to cope with a shortage of drivers and record high number of emergency calls. The ambulance truck will be stationed in Asheboro but service the entire county.
Of calls related to COVID cases this year, there have been 350 more calls than in 2020 through September for a total of 984.
Of the most-recent calls that required transportation through September, 166 went to Randolph Hospital and 244 to other hospitals. These were patients with COVID symptoms or having tested positive for COVD.
An out-of-county transport takes an average of two hours, Davis said.
Randolph Hospital isn’t always capable of accepting more patients.
“It’s basically to share the load,” Davis said of what amounts to rotating the destinations. “Most of these patients are going to have to be admitted.”
Meanwhile, the emergency services department was honored by the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners with an award under the Local Government Federal Credit Union program. The Randolph County group received one of the Excellence in Innovation Awards based on its approach in opioid epidemic outreach. Davis said it was a collaborative effort.
Randolph County Schools employees will receive $5,000
RALEIGH — Some North Carolina school boards have announced they will use federal COVID-19 relief funds to give bonuses to educators.
The Randolph County Public School System will pay every employee a $5,000 bonus, according to a resolution adopted by the school board on Oct. 25. The resolution described the bonuses as “retention” and “premium pay.”
Alamance County schools are giving full and part-time employees a $3,000 bonus while Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools employees will get a $1,400 bonus.
According to the American Rescue Plan’s ESSER “FAQ,” a district can use federal Elementary and Secondary Education Relief funds to provide “premium pay” or other additional compensation for teachers, principals, and other school personnel, including school nutrition staff and custodians.
Federal ESSER funds are appropriated by the General Assembly to the districts, but then the funds are typically handled by county managers.
Randolph County Schools has received nearly $50 million in ESSER funding which was included in the Coronavirus Aid Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to provide premium pay to employees and substitutes to address COVID-related disruptions and staff shortages.
Jamey Falkenbury, the director of government and community affairs for the N.C. Department of Public Instruction, confirmed to North State Journal that these federal funds can be used for specifically for “recruitment and retention” bonuses.
“It is permissible, by the Department of Education, for locals to use their ESSER funds on recruitment and retention bonuses for teachers and/or school support staff,” Falkenbury said.
The bonuses have to be given to all employees and can’t just target a specific grade-level or type of teacher.
The ESSER funds can last up upwards of seven or eight years if the money is encumbered per the district’s ESSER plan.
The idea of stretching out the long-term spending of ESSER funds is highlighted by a four-year monitoring scheme posted under the N.C. Department of Public Instruction’s ESSER informational webpage.
The state’s largest district, Wake County, is also considering using federal relief dollars to augment teacher pay.
Wake County has recently been dealing with bus driver sick-outs, which have forced parents to provide transportation. The bus drivers say they want more pay and they are stressed out over routes they drive being lengthened due to too few drivers.
Falkenbury mentioned Wake County’s plan as a good one to look at since the district seems to have plotted out the use of its funds as far out at four to five years.
The conservative John Locke Foundation reported in July that nearly ninety percent of the roughly $6 billion in COVID relief funds remained still unspent by North Carolina school districts.
In North Carolina, the Charlotte-Mecklenberg and Wake County systems has have received $459 million and $310 million, respectively, of the over $4.6 billion in funds received through the two most recent ESSER funding rounds. Asheboro City Schools received over $14 million and Uwharrie Charter received $1.4 million.
Hailey Lee, left, and current Asheboro School board member Gidget Kidd react to Lee winning a seat on the Asheboro City School board Tuesday, November 2, 2021 (The North State Journal)
ASHEBORO — Municipal races in Randolph County are technically non-partisan races but the presence of partisan poll workers and field operations in this year’s Asheboro races proved that politics is rarely without partisan influence. In this year’s race for Asheboro City School board, the county Republican Party endorsed four candidates and sent mailers on behalf of their preferred candidates. Those four candidates — incumbents Baxter Hammer and Beth Knott and newcomers Hailey Trollinger Lee and Adam Hurley — won by wide margins. High turnout – possibly field by the GOP ground game – buoyed certain candidates and pushed victory margins.
Asheboro City Councilman Walker Moffitt, left, and Randolph County GOP chairman Rick Smith at the board of elections on Tuesday, November 2, 2021. (The North State Journal)
In the Asheboro City Council race, the lone Republican — incumbent Walker Moffitt — won the most votes of any candidate. Moffit and the four school board winners had their names on yellow cards that GOP field operatives were passing out at the polls.
“I am appreciative of Asheboro Republicans who turned out in support of our endorsed candidates,” said GOP chairman Rick Smith in an interview with North State Journal. “It’s clear they don’t want Asheboro students to be divided or labeled by the color of their skin. Hopefully this vote will challenge the Board and school administration to abandon any programs or policies which might lead to that outcome.”
Smith referenced the topics of critical race theory and so-called diversity panels that were heavily debated around Asheboro prior to the election.
Adam Hurley, who won his first attempt at public office, told North State Journal in October that issues surrounding “equity and inclusion” were one of the reasons he ran for the school board. “I credit the win to the people of Asheboro seeing what is at stake and taking a stand for our children,” said Hurley. “The people have spoken and they don’t want progressive ideology in the classroom.”
Hailey Trollinger Lee and her husband Justin Lee celebrate her win the 2021 school board race at the Randolph County Board of Election on Tuesday, November 2, 2021. (The North State Journal)
Hailey Trollinger Lee, who told NSJ she was against teaching critical race theory in schools, said she was humbled to be elected to the board. “I’m grateful for all of those who have supported me and helped encourage me throughout this process,” Lee said. “Thanks to everyone who came out to vote over the last several weeks. This really means a lot to me and I am looking forward to putting in the work for our district.”
ASHEBORO — In an off-year election where Republicans flexed their muscle in municipal elections, the only Republican candidate for Asheboro City Council received the most votes in a race for four seats.
Asheboro City Councilman Walker Moffitt, left, and Randolph County GOP chairman Rick Smith at the board of elections on Tuesday, November 2, 2021. (The North State Journal)
Incumbent Walker Moffitt, the lone GOP candidate on the Asheboro ballot, received more than 1,325 votes. His fellow incumbent Clark Bell received the second-most votes.
Newcomers Bill McCaskill and Kelly W. Heath will join the city council.
Incumbent Katie L. Snuggs finished fifth in a race where the top four vote-getters win seats. Delilah Perkins Warner was sixth.
Southwestern Randolph’s Carleigh Whitson digs the ball against East Surry during the Class 2-A West Regional final at East Surry in Pilot Mountain on November 2, 2021. Southwestern Randolph won 3-2. PJ WARD-BROWN/NORTH STATE JOURNAL
PILOT MOUNTAIN — The Southwestern Randolph Cougars will play for the Class 2-A state volleyball championship at Reynolds Coliseum on the North Carolina State campus in Raleigh after defeating host East Surry in five sets Tuesday night.
The Cougars (27-5) will face Camden County at 11 a.m. Saturday in the state final.
Southwestern Randolph’s Molly Strider dives for the dig against East Surry during the Class 2-A West Regional final at East Surry in Pilot Mountain on November 2, 2021. Southwestern Randolph won 3-2. PJ WARD-BROWN/NORTH STATE JOURNAL
The Cougars dropped the first set before taking a 2-1 advantage. After a close fourth set, the Cougars closed out the match with a 15-12 winner-take-all final set.
Southwestern Randolph’s Payton Shiflet dives to save the ball against East Surry during the fifth set of the Class 2-A West Regional final at East Surry in Pilot Mountain on November 2, 2021. Southwestern Randolph won 3-2. PJ WARD-BROWN/NORTH STATE JOURNAL
Payton Shiflet had 34 kills and 21 digs, Josie Allred had 16 kills and two blocks, Madelyn Smith had 10 kills, Raegan LeRoy had 61 assists and 10 digs and Coley Shiflet had 25 digs.
ASHEBORO — In a special meeting focused on mask rules, the Randolph County School Board has voted to end mandatory mask wearing. The mandate had been in place since the start of the school year.
Prior to the school year starting, the county’s largest school system had made masks optional. However, after pressure from Governor Roy Cooper — who had removed a statewide mask mandate for schools — the board reversed course just before students returned.
ASHEBORO — In a technically non-partisan race, the Randolph County Republican Party showed the strength of its ground game as the four candidates backed by the GOP swept to victory Tuesday in the race for Asheboro City School Board.
Hailey Lee (L) and current Asheboro School Board member Gidget Kidd react to Lee winning a seat on the ACS board Tuesday, November 2, 2021 (The North State Journal)
In a race that featured seven candidates where voters could pick their top four, the Republican Party backed only four candidates and fielded poll workers who handed out yellow cards with the party’s recommendations.
With masks mandates, vaccines requirements and critical race theory as key issues, incumbents Baxter Hammer and Beth Knott cruised to victory with newcomers Hailey Trollinger Lee and Adam Hurley joining them.
Candidates and poll workers gather outside the polling place at Sunset Avenue Church of God on Election Day 2021 in Asheboro. (L-R) Justin Lee, Asheboro City School Board candidate Hailey Trollinger Lee, Asheboro city councilman Walker Moffitt, poll worker Laura King, school board member Baxter Hammer, school board member Beth Knott and poll worker Nicki McKenzie (The North State Journal)
ASHEBORO — Early voting turnout was higher this year than in recent municipal elections on odd-numbered years in Randolph County.
The 13 days of early voting drew a total of 1,288 voters to the Randolph County Board of Elections office in Asheboro.
Here are political signs along Sunset Avenue in Asheboro on Election Day 2021 (The North State Journal)
That was in advance of Tuesday’s Election Day, when voters were required to cast ballots at their designated precincts.
In Randolph County, races were contested in Asheboro, Franklinville, Liberty, Ramseur, Randleman, Seagrove, Staley, Trinity and, for some county residents, in Thomasville.
Yet areas outside of Asheboro were likely to have most of the voting done on Election Day. Most of the early voting done in Randolph County came from Asheboro residents.
For instance, among the first 855 voters to pass through the early voting site, 85 percent of those were from what Melissa Johnson, director of the Randolph County Board of Elections, described as the four main precincts in Asheboro.
Early voting ended Saturday. Unlike some other counties, there wasn’t a primary earlier this fall in Randolph County.
The uptick in early voting for the general election was significant in the county.
In 2019, Randolph County had 256 voters in 13 days of early voting. In total, there were 1,796 ballots cast in the county for that fall election.
In 2017, there was a much larger turnout, with 863 voters in 13 days of early voting, according to data from the North Carolina State Board of Elections. In total that year, there were 3,347 voters in Randolph County.
“The best comparisons would be between municipal elections only, since the turnout is much lower and we only have one early voting site,” Johnson said.
In 2020, with the election including the presidential race and a U.S. Senate race among other contests, Randolph County had 73,462 residents cast ballots. Of those, 50,509 used the one-stop early voting.
This year across the state, there were 463 municipalities involving 91 counties with autumn elections that included almost 900 contests to determine mayors, council members, alderman and other local seats. Of those, more than 2,500 people filed to run.
RALEIGH — The North Carolina General Assembly is starting to debate some redistricting maps drawn by lawmakers for the state’s legislative and congressional seats.
Senate and House committees were scheduled to meet Monday to consider boundaries redrawn based on 2020 census figures.
The Senate panel was likely to advance a Republican-penned map for the U.S. House delegation that redistricting experts estimate would give the GOP a good chance to win 10 of the state’s 14 seats. And the House committee was slated Monday to take up a state House map that likely would help Republicans retain their majority in that chamber.
GOP leaders hope to give final approval to congressional and legislative lines by the end of the week.
Advocacy groups and voters already have already asked a judge to block legislative districts from being drawn without first examining racial data to ensure districts comply with the federal Voting Rights Act. That lawsuit was filed Friday.
