RALEIGH — Wildlife officials in North Carolina are advising residents to expect to hear some howling this week, not because Halloween is approaching but instead because young coyotes are leaving their parents to strike out on their own.
The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission said in a news release Monday that people could see and hear more coyotes in the coming weeks. The commission said the pups may travel up to 300 miles before they settle down in a place not already occupied.
Commission biologists say as the young coyotes roam, they expect an increase in reported sightings.
According to the commission, littermates often travel together before splitting off in search of a mate. Young coyotes will yip, howl and bark to keep track of each other, as well as other coyotes whose territories they are passing through. The hollow tone of their howl and a tendency to vocalize rapidly in a constant stream of sounds can make two coyotes sound like twenty, the commission said.
Falyn Owens, the agency’s extension biologist, suggests that eliminating easy food sources and creating an active deterrence can help coyotes maintain a healthy fear of humans. Owens also said actively scaring off coyotes helps show them where they’re not welcome.
ASHEBORO — The Randolph County Public School System will pay every employee a $5,000 bonus, according to a resolution adopted by the school board on Monday. The resolution says the bonuses will be paid from funds received by the system from the Elementary and Secondary Schools Emergency Relief Funds from the federal government.
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.
According to the school board, substitutes who work the equivalent of 20 full-time days between October 1, 2021, and January 31, 2022, will be paid a one-time COVID-19 incentive bonus of $1,000 on February 25, 2022.New hires between October 2, 2021, and January 10, 2022, will received a $2,500 recruitment bonus.
ESSER awards are made by the federal government to State education departments who then administer the funds for their respective states and pass funding on to local education units.
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.
ASHEBORO – A total of 115 voters cast ballots during one-stop early voting last week for municipal elections in Randolph County.
Early voting began Oct. 14 at the Randolph County Board of Elections office on North Fayetteville Street in Asheboro. The first-week total involved the total for the first two days.
Early voting continues through 3 p.m. Oct. 30. Election Day is Nov. 2, when voters must cast ballots at their designated polling places.
ASHEBORO — Positive cases and quarantines in schools are on the decline in Randolph County and around the country. In the Asheboro City Schools, 13 positive cases were reported last week resulting in 43 people quarantined. In Randolph County Schools, there were 73 positive cases and 361 people quarantined. Just 10 of the 361 people quarantined were from a school exposure.
Asheboro City Schools reported a 33% reduction in positive cases in the first three weeks of October compared to the first three weeks of September. Randolph County reported a 46% reduction in positive cases during the same period.
Last week Union County, which does not require masks, reported a 65% drop in weekly positive cases from the prior month. Masks are were made optional by Gov. Roy Cooper ahead of the school year. Local school boards are required to revisit mask rules each month. The Cabarrus County Board of Education voted Monday to make masks optional starting next week. Stanly County has scheduled an emergency meeting for Thursday that will include a discussion of masks.
Andrew Vial of Liberty brought the largest watermelon in North Carolina State Fair history (The North State Journal)
Liberty man sets mark with large watermelons
ASHEBORO — Andrew Vial calls growing big watermelons a hobby. Yet for the Liberty man, it’s truly a passion.
He took another watermelon to a big stage and collected another special distinction. His 341-pound watermelon was the largest ever at the North Carolina State Fair in Raleigh.
“You just don’t get melons like that every day,” Vial said.
Vial, who calls his remodeling carpentry work his full-time job, said he logs 50 to 60 hours per week tending to watermelons.
“It’s a hobby,” Vial said. “I’ve been growing giant watermelons for about seven years. It doesn’t pay much when you look at the number of hours, but it’s bragging rights.”
Vial’s latest big watermelon came within nine pounds of the world record. He has grown four of the top 10 largest watermelons in the world, according to his record-keeping.
He’s also proud of the actual size of the 237-inch watermelon from this year. That includes the total of the circumference, side-to-side and end-to-end measurements.
Vial, who turned 38 at the beginning of this year’s State Fair, farms just outside of Liberty on N.C. 49 toward Burlington.
He begins the process in March, along the way keeping the ones growing largest. He tended to 15 total plants this year, up from the normal 10.
“It gives you better odds, but it’s more work,” he said.
Vial said watermelons can be eaten after about 60 days, while the normal growth period lasts around 90 days.
“I’m feeding it every day,” he said, also pointing out he examines the watermelons for potential disease. “The longer you can keep that plant healthy (is the key).”
For this year’s biggest entry, it grew for 127 days, Vial said.
After a competition, the watermelons are cut open and the seeds are taken out. Vial said some seeds are sent around the world and auctioned off for various causes.
Vial takes his watermelons on the road. He has attended competition shows in Kentucky, and he makes annual visits to the Tennessee Valley Fair in Knoxville. He won in Tennessee in 2019 with his largest-ever entry at 341½ pounds.
Andrew Vial’s second watermelon took home the state fair blue ribbon in the in-state category at 329 pounds (The North State Journal)
He has two watermelons on display at the North Carolina State Fair, which wraps up this weekend. They are the two largest on record in the state this year.
It’s part of a competition that also includes giant pumpkins.
“These growers face many obstacles when growing giant fruit,” North Carolina State Fair manager Kent Yelverton said. “Excessive heat, drought, too much rain, impacts from local wildlife can all impact these giants. Just getting to the fair with a giant pumpkin or watermelon can be an adventure and achievement.”
The North Carolina State Fair competition is endorsed by The Great Pumpkin Commonwealth, an international organization that promotes growing giant vegetables. It’s sponsored by AgriSupply.
ASHEBORO — Early voting for this fall’s municipal elections in Randolph County begins this week and runs for more than two weeks.
Early voting will take place at the Randolph County Board of Elections office at 1457 North Fayetteville St., Asheboro.
Times and dates for early voting are from 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Oct. 14, 19, 21, 26 and 28; from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 18, 20, 22, 25, 27 and 29; and from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 30.
Election Day is Nov. 2. Voters must vote at their polling places on Election Day.
Asheboro City School Board candidates respond to candidate survey
ASHEBORO – Municipal elections in Randolph County begin this week with early voting with election day on Nov. 2. The contest for Asheboro City School Board has seven candidates vying for four seats. Voters are allowed to select their top four candidates on the ballot.
North State Journal circulated a survey to all of the candidates with the same questions. Each candidate was given the same amount of space to respond to each question. Their responses are below.
Adam Hurley
What office are you seeking? Asheboro City School Board
Are you an incumbent? No
Please list your educational background (including degree and institution) High School Diploma
What is your occupation? Heating and Air
What area of public policy are you most passionate about and why? Equity & Inclusion
What is your position on Critical Race Theory (CRT)? I am vehemently opposed to the adoption or move toward critical race theory
What makes you uniquely qualified for the office you seek?
I have held various leadership roles and am ready to stand up for parents.
What is your position on K-12 students being required by the government to receive the COVID-19 vaccine if it is approved by the FDA? I’m opposed to any government body requiring the Covid vaccine.
What is the primary change that you will seek if you are elected to public office? We need to focus on improving learning for our students.
Why are you running for office? Because we need bold leaders who will stand for what’s right.
Kathryn Thill
What office are you seeking? Asheboro City Schools Board of Education
Are you an incumbent? No
Please list your educational background (including degree and institution) BA Psychology, Lenoir Rhyne University
What is your occupation? Licensed Real Estate Agent
What area of public policy are you most passionate about and why? Educator Retention & Recruitment, & its long-term impact on student success.
What is your position on Critical Race Theory (CRT)? CRT is not meant for K-12 classrooms, ACS has no plan to adopt this.
What makes you uniquely qualified for the office you seek?
I’m committed to transparency, honesty & advocacy for students & families.
What is your position on K-12 students being required by the government to receive the COVID-19 vaccine if it is approved by the FDA? Vaccines should be a conversation between families and their pediatrician, not the school board.
What is the primary change that you will seek if you are elected to public office? My goal is to think creatively to engage our great community in supporting our district! Asheboro has so many wonderful businesses and individuals, I’d like to see how we can work together to support (& recruit) educators, and provide dynamic learning opportunities for our students. These opportunities will be more important than ever, as our teachers work diligently to cover lost ground due to Covid. Students across the country are further behind than ever before, and our teachers will need as much support as we can give them as they work tirelessly to engage and enhance the learning of our children.
Why are you running for office? I want to be a voice for our families, students, and educators.
Baxter Hammer
What office are you seeking? Asheboro City Schools Board of Education
Are you an incumbent? Yes
Please list your educational background (including degree and institution) BS Business and Accounting Elon University
What is your occupation? Plant Controller with The Timken Company
What area of public policy are you most passionate about and why? No answer.
What is your position on Critical Race Theory (CRT)? No answer.
What makes you uniquely qualified for the office you seek?
No answer.
What is your position on K-12 students being required by the government to receive the COVID-19 vaccine if it is approved by the FDA? No answer.
What is the primary change that you will seek if you are elected to public office? No answer.
Why are you running for office? No answer.
Hailey Trollinger Lee
What office are you seeking? Asheboro City School Board of Education
Are you an incumbent? No
Please list your educational background (including degree and institution) Asheboro High School.
Kneaded Energy School of Massage (LBMT)
What is your occupation? I am a stay-at-home mom and work as a substitute teacher.
What area of public policy are you most passionate about and why? Staff dev./retention. Teachers are the key asset to our students’ education.
What is your position on Critical Race Theory (CRT)? I do not support the teaching of Critical Race Theory in K-12.
What makes you uniquely qualified for the office you seek?
My passion and concern for our teachers, students and the next generation.
What is your position on K-12 students being required by the government to receive the COVID-19 vaccine if it is approved by the FDA? I do not support any government mandate that takes away parent choice.
What is the primary change that you will seek if you are elected to public office? I am not seeking office with a focus to necessarily change. My focus will be to work alongside the other board members to make sure ACS continues to focus on our teachers, students and families. Working together to ensure the highest quality of education for our students.
Why are you running for office? To serve our community. To advocate for all teachers, parents and students.
Beth Knott
What office are you seeking? Asheboro City Board of Education
Are you an incumbent? Yes
Please list your educational background (including degree and institution) “North Carolina State University- BS- Zoology
University of North Carolina -Greensboro- MA, Audiology
University of Florida-Doctor of Audiology
Randolph Community College- Integrative Health Coaching Certification
What is your occupation? Integrative Health Coach
What area of public policy are you most passionate about and why? School calendar flexibility. Calendar needs be set by the local district.
What is your position on Critical Race Theory (CRT)? I support our statement released by Asheboro City Schools. See website.
What makes you uniquely qualified for the office you seek?
Asheboro native, current ACS parent, incumbent experience
What is your position on K-12 students being required by the government to receive the COVID-19 vaccine if it is approved by the FDA? My decisions are based data presented. This data is not available yet.
What is the primary change that you will seek if you are elected to public office? My role as a school board member is to be an advocate for students, educators and staff. Every decision I make I must first ask “Is this what’s best for our students? ” That is a value I will never wavier from regardless of the decision at hand.
Why are you running for office? To continue the work we set forth to accomplish in Asheboro City Schools.
Todd Dulaney
What office are you seeking? Asheboro City Schools Board of Education
Are you an incumbent? No
Please list your educational background (including degree and institution) Sinclair Community College, Associate Degree
Wright State University, Bachelor’s Degree
What is your occupation? Executive editor, Our State magazine
What area of public policy are you most passionate about and why? Education. The success of our community depends on our schools.
What is your position on Critical Race Theory (CRT)? I want a seat at the table when the board of education discusses it.
What makes you uniquely qualified for the office you seek?
My day job is to celebrate NC; I will do the same for our great schools.
What is your position on K-12 students being required by the government to receive the COVID-19 vaccine if it is approved by the FDA? I follow laws, even the ones I disagree with, and so do my children.
What is the primary change that you will seek if you are elected to public office? Increased transparency, communication, and community involvement.
Why are you running for office? To ensure my child, and all ACS students, have the best education possible.
Bob Williams
What office are you seeking? Asheboro City Board of Education
Are you an incumbent? No
Please list your educational background (including degree and institution) AHS, High Point University, UNC-CH LAW School
What is your occupation? Retired lawyer
What area of public policy are you most passionate about and why? Educating children for our future
What is your position on Critical Race Theory (CRT)? All history should be taught without any shame placed any child’s ancestors
What makes you uniquely qualified for the office you seek?
My education, experience, and connections with Asheboro as a native here.
What is your position on K-12 students being required by the government to receive the COVID-19 vaccine if it is approved by the FDA? For their health they should receive shots required by schools.
What is the primary change that you will seek if you are elected to public office? Higher level of funding and more resources for teachers.
Why are you running for office? To help teachers educate children to succeed in life and work.
ASHEBORO — North Carolina Community College System President Thomas Stith III toured Randolph Community College in Asheboro last week. Stith, in his first year at the NCCCS helm, has now visited 31 of the state’s 58 community colleges. Stith visited the new Allied Health Center, Continuing Education and Industrial Center, Photography Imaging Center and JB and Claire Davis Corporate Training Center.
Community Colleges President Thomas Stith and RCC President Shackleford talk to third-year Apprenticeship Randolph apprentice Abby Goss in the Gene Haas Computer-Integrated Machining Institute. (RCC)
“We have 58 great community colleges throughout the state of North Carolina,” said Stith in a release from RCC. “We just saw state-of-the-art healthcare facilities, and I’m just so impressed with the programs that are offered here and the leadership of Dr. Shackleford. They’re preparing the next generation of nurses and healthcare technicians.” Stith toured the Allied Health Center, which houses the College’s Associate Degree Nursing, Radiography, Medical Assisting, and Emergency Medical Services programs.
Stith also toured the JB and Claire Davis Corporate Training Center where members of the North Carolina Association of Community College Business Office Professionals were having a training session.
“The one thing I find as I go across the state that’s consistent is the passion and commitment of the people within the community college system,” Stith said. “They care about our students. They care about the future of our state. In many cases, they could be in the private sector or in industry, but to be a part of the community college family, that commitment shows as we grow as a state.”
ASHEBORO — Katie Husband of Franklinville Elementary is the Randolph County School System 2021-2022 Teacher of the Year. Finalists for Teacher of the Year were Paige Rollins of Eastern Randolph, Philip Schuyler of Randolph Early College, Emily Caudill of Trindale Elementary and Eliza Sanders of Northeastern Randolph Middle.
Jamie Armfield of Seagrove Elementary
Jamie Armfield of Seagrove Elementary is the RCSS Principal of the Year.
Proposed enhancements for water, sewer projects become focus of meeting
ASHEBORO — Finding the best way to distribute funds for infrastructure projects was the focus of a special meeting of the Randolph County commissioners this month.
Most of the presentations were centered on water and sewer topics.
The county will receive $28 million federal funds that will be designated for certain projects.
“Now we have more requests than we have monies,” commissioners chairman Darrell Frye said. “Our plan is to take advantage of every dime we can that will build and better secure the future of Randolph County.”
Randy Tedder, representing the Seagrove/Ulah Metropolitan Water District, said the need for quality water is growing in the southern part of the county.
That water district desires to increase the size of its water treatment system. Tedder said there’s an expectation of expanded needs because of schools and residential areas. A potential new building constructed for Uwharrie Charter School is among those.
“They’re relying on us,” Tedder said of the area in general.
Visitor centers in that part of the county contribute to the needs, particularly in spring and summer months.
Kevin Franklin, president of the Randolph County Economic Development Corporation, said the much-discussed megasite in the county with about 160 acres available for development will require significant infrastructure enhancements.
“We just have to get over that hump and make sure the facilities are there and readily available,” Franklin said.
Officials representing the towns of Franklinville and Ramseur also made their cases to be designated for some of the funding.
In Franklinville, much of the discussion has revolved around the quality of water. That town is seeking multiple sources of funding in order to make upgrades.
Ramseur’s aging infrastructure is drawing concerns because of what has been described as vital water and sewer needs. About 90 percent of the town’s water flow comes from the main pump system with some original parts that are 60 years old.
A proposed project for Ramseur includes sewer system rehabilitation. The information presented to county commissioners also included concerns related to contaminated wells.
The commissioners authorized county manager Hal Johnson to pursue seeking an engineering and planning consultant to assist in assessing the evaluation of the requests. A committee will be formed to review the various requests.
“What we’ve seen is various needs we have in Randolph County,” Johnson said.
Adam Hurley
Kathryn Thill
Baxter Hammer
Hailey Trollinger Lee
Beth Knott
Todd Dulaney
Bob Williams
