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Feb172021 by Randolph News NowNo Comments

Updated Forecast – Severe Icing Targets Randolph County

Weather

ASHEBORO NC - The National Weather Service in Raleigh has issued a Winter Storm Warning for Randolph County, set to begin at midnight on Wednesday through 7 AM on Friday. At 3 AM on Wednesday morning meteorologist adjusted the forecast, originally areas north of US HWY-64 in Randolph county were the only forecast for a glaze to 0.10" of ice. The updated forecast is now calling for 0.25 to 0.50" of ice accumulation across Randolph county likely resulting in downed trees and power outages and making "travel nearly impossible." As this update was posted so early in the morning we are still waiting on updated forecast information and will continue to post updates as new information comes in today. Readers are asked to keep a close eye on the forecast today and prepare accordingly to st...

Feb132021 by Randolph News NowNo Comments

Freezing Rain Prompts Warnings For Travelers

Traffic & Roads, Weather

ASHEBORO NC - The threat of freezing rain, black ice, and power outages tonight has prompted the National Weather Service in Raleigh to issue a Winter Weather Advisory for Randolph County. According to meteorologists, a mix of rain and freezing drizzle will taper off tonight around 9 PM. Ice from this wintery mix will stick around as overnight temperatures hover around freezing. This will likely result inslick/icy spots and black ice, especially on bridges and elevated roads overnight through late Sunday morning. Combined with patchy fog this could create especially hazardous travel conditions. Through-out the day Saturday Emergency crews have responded to an estimated 20 vehicle accidents in Randolph County. Power outages are unlikely but still possible. As of 7 PM Sunday evening, D...

Feb112021 by Randolph News NowNo Comments

NC Zoo – Price Increases, Asia Update, And More

NC Zoo

ASHEBORO NC - The NC Zoo Council, a 15-member board appointed by the Governor to oversee the operation and development of the NC Zoo, held its annual meeting through Zoom Wednesday morning. On the agenda; impacts from COVID-19, updates on projects, repairs, new animals, and budgets, as well as an increase in admission prices. Admission Rebounding Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of people who visited the zoo plummeted in 2020. The initial phases of the state's stay at home order went into effect between March and June when attendance is typically at its highest. The Zoo reported a record low attendance for 2020 of only 350,039, the lowest yearly attendance since they started keeping track in 1980. What came as a surprise to many was despite still being limited to 3,000 visi...

Feb102021 by Randolph News NowNo Comments

Tractor Theft Leads To Arrest

Crime

ASHEBORO NC - A man is in jail in connection to the theft of a tractor. According to a press release by the Randolph County Sherriff's Office on October 12th, of 2020 deputies responded to a call about a stolen Kubota tractor on Tobacco Rd. in Trinity. The Randolph County Sherriff's Office released surveillance camera photos that showed a tall white male with a white truck and a trailer and asked for help from the public. In an update released on Fed 9th 2021, the Randolph County Sherriff's Office says with the assistance from Graham Police Department, Ray Allen Simmons was positively identified through that surveillance video.The press release states that "following the investigation, it was determined that on October 11, 2020, Ray Allen Simmons had rented a 2020 Chevrolet truck fr...

Feb82021 by Randolph News NowNo Comments

Two Arrested In Asheboro Homicide

News

Photo from Moore County GIS ASHEBORO NC - After a homicide over the weekend in Asheboro, two people are in jail and authorities are searching for a body in a quarry in Moore county. According to a press release by the Asheboro Police Department, on Sunday, February 7, 2021, at 2:13 AM, Asheboro Police Officers responded to 408 E. Salisbury Street for a subject who had been shot. Officers on scene learned that the crime scene was located at 612 Farr Street in Asheboro. Evidence located at the crime scene lead investigators to believe a violent crime had occurred at the location and began to treat the case as a homicide. The victim has been identified as Dillion Zayne Wirt, a 23 year old white male from Asheboro. Asheboro Police Chief Mark Lineberry says their investigation led t...

Feb72021 by Randolph News NowNo Comments

Sheriff’s Office Responds To Armed Robbery

Crime

Photo provided by Randolph County Sheriffs Office ASHEBORO NC -The Randolph County Sherriff's Office is asking for help identifying a suspect after an armed robbery on Saturday. According to a press release by the Randolph County Sherriff's Office, on February 6, 2021, at approximately 8:15 pm, deputies responded to an armed robbery at the GH Mart located at 4960 US Hwy. 220 South. They say a white male subject had entered the business, armed with a long gun and robbed the store at gunpoint. The suspect left on foot walking towards Zoo Parkway. Officials say the suspect was a white male, approximately 6’2”, approximately 160-180 lbs., wearing a black toboggan, dark sunglasses, a white facemask, a white or possibly pink long sleeve button up shirt, khaki colored pants and grey rubber...

Feb52021 by Randolph News NowNo Comments

Drugs And Gun Sized From Man On House Arrest

Crime

ASHEBORO NC (RCSO PRESS RELEASE)- On February 4, 2021, the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office Vice and Narcotics Division conducted an investigation resulting in a subsequent search of the residence of Matthew Chad Blake, located on Emmanuel Church Rd., Asheboro. Detectives located and seized Heroin, Methamphetamine, Alprazolam and items of drug paraphernalia. A firearm was also located and seized. The Randolph County Sheriff’s Office Electronic House Arrest Division also assisted in the search. Matthew Chad Blake Matthew Chad Blake was charged with Felony Possession of Firearm by Felon, Felony Possession With Intent to Manufacture/Sell/Deliver Heroin, Felony Possession With Intent to Manufacture/Sell/Deliver Schedule II Controlled Substance, Felony Maintain Vehicle/Dwelling/Place for ...

Feb52021 by Randolph News NowNo Comments

Grant Provides Free Rides To Vaccine In Randolph

Health

Photo provided by RCASTS ASHEBORO NC - A local transit agency in Randolph County has received funding from the state to help provide free rides to those who have no way to get to their vaccine appointment. Approximately $2.5 million in Coronavirus Relief Funding was being distributed to local transit agencies across the state to help pay for rides for individuals who need transportation assistance to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. “Fighting the COVID-19 pandemic is everybody’s business and every organization has something they can do to help,” said DOT Secretary J. Eric Boyette in a joint press release. “We are committed to doing everything we can to help get North Carolinians vaccinated as quickly and easily as possible.” Of the $25 million, Regional Coordinated Area Transportation...

Jan302021 by Randolph News NowNo Comments

Wintry Mix Forecast For Area Tonight & Tomorrow

Weather

ASHEBORO NC - Winter weather is forecast to move in tonight, and this time, forecasters are saying it's not just going to be flurries. The National Weather Service in Raleigh has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for the area from 7 PM Sunday until Noon on Monday. Meteorologists are calling for mixed precipitation with snow and freezing rain. WHENPrecipitation is expected to start at around 1 AM on Sunday end by Noon on Monday. WHAT IS EXPECTEDAreas along and north of Hwy 64 may see a brief period of freezing rain, before changing over to rain by the mid to late morning Sunday. Ice accumulation is expected to remain less than 1/10 of an inch. In the worst-case scenario, snowfall totals could reach 1 - 2 inches anywhere along and north of the Hwy 64 corridor, however forecasters ...

Jan292021 by Randolph News NowNo Comments

Sex Offender Arrested On Child Porn Charges

Crime

ASHEBORO NC - An Asheboro Man is in jail facing felony charges for possessing/producing child porn. According to a press release the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division, Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) received information that an individual by the name of Luis Armando Diaz-Otero was possessing/producing numerous child pornography files. Detectives initiated an investigation which found that Diaz-Otero is a registered sex offender as a result of an out-of-state conviction. Luis Armando Diaz-Otero On January 28, 2021, Warrants for Arrest were issued for Luis Armando Diaz-Otero for nine counts of Felony Second Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Minor and one count of Felony First Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Minor. The Randolph County Sheriff’s Offi...