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Moore County

REDGL 2023 - Ulah Fire Dept_0569

Randolph Electric Membership Corp. helps purchase new fire engines 

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Last week, Randolph Electric Membership Corporation (REMC) officials presented state and local fire representatives with checks to assist with purchasing new fire engines. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) awarded the REMC grants for each fire truck – $225,000 to Robbins Fire Rescue in Moore County and $360,000 to the Ulah Volunteer Fire Department in Randolph County – through the Rural Economic Development Loan & Grant program. “We are thankful to receive this funding from Randolph EMC,” said Charlotte King, fire chief of Ulah VFD. “This new fire engine will benefit the residents and businesses of southern Randolph County, including Seagrove, Asheboro, and neighboring fire districts. This will enhance our emergency response capabilities.” These grants are combined with a 20% match from the REMC and will be loaned to the recipients at a zero-point interest. As these funds are repaid, REMC will receive the payments into its Economic Development Revolving Loan Fund for lending toward future projects. “Randolph EMC cannot repay our firefighters for the sacrifice, courage, and strength they embody every day,” said Nicole Arnold, communications and public affairs manager for REMC. “But we can play a small part in improving the tools they work with to save the lives of those in danger.”

Mountaire Farms photo

Mountaire Farms will feed thousands for Easter

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ASHEBORO — Mountaire Farms is extending its goodwill program to include a new spring event that will provide Easter meals for people near its plant in Siler City. 

It’s called “Easter for Thousands” and the company will expect employees and community members will participate in the endeavor Saturday morning.

“We noticed a need in the community,” said Sasha Duncan, the community relations manager for Mountaire Farms of North Carolina. “It’s something that we’ve done in the past at Thanksgiving and now has expanded to Christmas and Easter.”

The participants will pack and have ready to distribute approximately 3,000 boxed meals that will go to areas in need in multiple counties, including Chatham, Lee, Moore and Randolph.

Each meal box contains a Mountaire Farms roaster chicken and the fixings that feeds a family of four during the holiday period. 

Duncan said elected officials from Siler City and Pittsboro along with state Sen. Dave Craven are among those anticipated to be on hand.

There are about 1,800 employees of Mountaire Farms in the region.

“We’re really trying to introduce the community to our employees,” Duncan said.

Mountaire Farms opened in Siler City in April 2019. But for more than two decades, the company’s processing plants in Delaware and Maryland have been involved with similar outreach programs.

Mountaire Farms is partnering with Piggly Wiggly in Siler City to fill the boxes.

“Not every day you purchase groceries for 3,000,” Duncan said.

Volunteers will gather at 7:30 a.m. and the event will begin at 8 a.m. with a brief ceremony. Then it’s an assembly-line set-up in the plant’s employee parking lot with packing and loading the meals to groups that will be arriving to distribute the meals. This might last up to 3½ hours.

Duncan said requests from at least 76 organizations were accepted, so there will be quite a line of vehicles involved in the pick-up. In Randolph County, those organizations include some based in Asheboro, Franklinville, Ramseur and Staley.

Each box will have a Mountaire Farms roaster chicken along with plenty of items for side dishes.

Mountaire Farms has impact throughout the region, Duncan said. The company has contract farms in 17 counties in North Carolina, including Chatham, Moore and Randolph counties.

Picerno submits name for vacant Moore commission seat

Picerno submits name for vacant Moore commission seat

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PINEHURST — Former Moore County Commissioner Nick Picerno said in an email to supporters he was submitting his name to the Moore County Republican Executive Committee to fill the vacant term of Louis Gregory, who recently announced his intent to resign in February.

In life, things change, that’s a given. In the past couple of weeks since announcing my intention to run for NC House District 78, several events have taken place that significantly effect that decision,” said Picerno.

He cited the ongoing litigation over the state’s new district lines, saying that the court battle has caused chaos and confusion for those seeking to serve.

Picerno also said that he did not wish to oppose Neal Jackson in the Republican primary for the seat.

“My long time friend Louis Gregory has decided to retire from the Moore County Board of Commissioners effective February 16th. 3 others on the board have announced they will not seek re-election. These events have prompted me to submit my name to the Moore County Republican Executive Committee as a candidate to replace Mr. Gregory on the board of Commissioners,” said Picerno.

Picerno previously served two terms on the Moore County Commission.