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Author: Scott Pelkey

May312024 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments
Temporary Closure for U.S. 421 Intersection in Randolph County

Temporary Closure for U.S. 421 Intersection in Randolph County

Traffic & Roads
Map from DriveNC.gov LIBERTY — The N.C. Department of Transportation (NC DOT) has announced the Julian Airport Road exit on U.S. 421 northbound will be closed due to construction next week. According to a press release, beginning June 4th, crews from Ames Construction will close the northbound exit for Julian Airport Rd on US 421 so they can work on the new interchange. A signed, on-site detour for motorists is as follows: U.S. 421 northbound to N.C. 62 N.C. 62 to Old U.S. 421 Old U.S. 421 to Julian Airport Road NC DOT says additions to the new interchange are scheduled to be completed in the coming weeks and expectes to have an update soon. For a full list of road closures check out our Road Closures / Incidents page or for real-time travel information, visit D...
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May312024 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments
North Carolina Zoo welcomes 30 millionth all-time guest

North Carolina Zoo welcomes 30 millionth all-time guest

NC Zoo
The North Carolina Zoo recently welcomed Maria Ines Perez, who became the 30 millionth guest since the site opened to the public in August 1974. (Photo Courtesy of the North Carolina Zoo) ASHEBORO — The North Carolina Zoo celebrated a historic milestone this month, welcoming its 30 millionth all-time guest since the site park opened in 1974. Late last year, the Zoo welcomed their one millionth guest for the year, and those attendance numbers are not letting up. In April of this year, the Zoo recorded a record for single-month attendance with 192,000 guests. Now, the world's largest natural habitat Zoo is celebrating another attendance milestone by welcoming their 30 millionth all-time guest since the site park opened just shy of 50 years ago. Maria Ines Perez, the lucky 30 millio...
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May252024 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments
Special discount for Randolph County residents coming to North Carolina Zoo

Special discount for Randolph County residents coming to North Carolina Zoo

NC Zoo
[Scott Pelkey | North State Journal] ASHEBORO – Randolph County residents will be able to visit the North Carolina Zoo for just $5 for a limited time later this summer. The NC Zoo turns 50 in August, and as part of the celebration the Zoo will have “Randolph County Days at the Zoo.” From Aug. 5th through the 30th, Randolph County residents, along with up to three guests, can visit the Zoo for $5 each. “This is a program to give back to our community and express our gratitude for 50 Wild Years here in Randolph County,” said Diane Villa, deputy director and chief communications officer at the North Carolina Zoo. Randolph residents will need to make an online reservation to receive the discounted rate. Up to three accompanying guests, who do not need to be from Randolph County,...
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May102024 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments
What’s New at the Zoo | New animals, Asia, and more!

What’s New at the Zoo | New animals, Asia, and more!

NC Zoo
Anana, the North Carolina Zoo's female polar bear looks through the glass into the Polar Bear Cave. [Scott Pelkey | North State Journal] ASHEBORO — This year marks the North Carolina Zoo’s 50th anniversary, and while Asia isn’t opening until 2026, 2024 is still a big and busy year for one of the state’s best attractions. Late last year, the Zoo welcomed their 1millionth guest for the year, and those attendance numbers are not letting up. In April, the Zoo recorded a record for single-month attendance with 192,000 guests, and the Zoo says it is approaching 30 million all-time visitors. Whoever it happens to be is going to be in for a surprise. Summer comes to the Zoo Each April, as temperatures and the number of daily guests rise, the Zoo switches into summer mode. The entra...
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May92024 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments
Teachers and Officers faceoff in Kickball Showdown

Teachers and Officers faceoff in Kickball Showdown

Events
[Scott Pelkey | North State Journal] ASHEBORO — Earlier this week teachers at Asheboro High School went up against officers from the Asheboro Police Department, in a friendly game of kickball. Inspired by superintendent of Asheboro City Schools Dr. Woody’s emphasis on community engagement, Asheboro High School’s Assistant Principal Brittany Roberts proposed having the police department cook hamburgers and hotdogs for Teacher Appreciation Week.“They suggested the idea of a friendly competition against the police department to add excitement to the week,” said Roberts. Working with the school’s administration team and Officer Cornejo, the School Resource Officer, plans for the first ever ‘Techers vs Cops - Kickball Showdown’ were finalized. On Wednesday May 7th the two sides gat...
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May22024 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments
Wednesday’s internet outage linked to fiber lines damaged by construction crews

Wednesday’s internet outage linked to fiber lines damaged by construction crews

Local
Underground fiber line - Stock Photo (Christian Schwier / Adobe Stock) ASHEBORO — An internet outage on Wednesday, affecting a large portion of Randolph County, has been linked to fiber lines damaged by construction crews. At about 3 p.m. Wednesday, an internet outage began to affect large parts of Randolph County. By 6 p.m., Randolph County Emergency Services had posted to Facebook that it was experiencing a “degradation in the phone and internet services affecting Brightspeed and AT&T customers.” The same outage also affected internet and telephone services at the Randolph County Sheriff's Office, which also notified the public through social media. Randolph News Now learned Thursday the outage was related to damage to two fiber lines, owned and operated by Brightspeed, that...
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May22024 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments
Randleman man airlifted after single vehicle crash in Level Cross

Randleman man airlifted after single vehicle crash in Level Cross

News
Photo provided by Level Cross Vol Fire Department (via Facebook) LEVEL CROSS  — A Randleman man was airlifted yesterday morning after sustaining serious injuries in a single vehicle crash in Level Cross. At around 6:17 a.m. emergency crews responded to a single vehicle accident on Providence Church Road near Oxendine Road. First responders with the Level Cross Volunteer Fire Department reported one person was pinned in the vehicle and preformed a quick extraction before transferring care to Randolph County EMS. Troopers from the North Carolina State Highway Patrol responded to investigate the crash. According to a press release, 72-year-old Billy Ray Golden of Randleman was traveling east in a Dodge Ram truck when he crossed the center line, traveled off the roadway to the...
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May12024 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments
They’re Here: Cicadas re-emerge across North Carolina

They’re Here: Cicadas re-emerge across North Carolina

Local
Cicada Brood XIX, with their 13-year cycle, have begun to emerge across North Carolina [Scott Pelkey | North State Journal] ASHEBORO — It’s officially May and on top of flowers from April showers, this month will bring forth two broods of cicadas in the U.S. in a phenomenon not seen since the early 1800’s. If you have scrolled news articles or social media in the last few weeks you’ve probably come across headlines telling of a super rare event with “billions” of cicadas emerging this year. So, what’s happening? Periodical cicadas are insects that spend most of their lives living underground feeding off the sap of tree roots. In summer, as the ground warms, cicadas make their way to the surface to transform into adults and mate. Once above ground and transformed into adults, peri...
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Apr292024 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments
Smoke from controlled burn blankets Randolph County

Smoke from controlled burn blankets Randolph County

News
Haze from smoke seen at the entrance to the US 64 Bypass in Asheboro. (Scott Pelkey / North State Journal) ASHEBORO — Smoke from a controlled burn near the Randolph and Montgomery County lines is blanketing a swath of Randolph County from Seagrove to Liberty. According to the U.S. Forestry Service's Uwharrie National Forest office, the U.S. Forest Service and the Three Rivers Land Trust conducted a controlled burn of 583 acers today. Smoke from the fire raised questions across social media as it spread across the county. Satellite images from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Associations GOES satellite shows a clear smoke trail from the source of the fire cutting northeast across the county. GOES-East - Sector view: Southeast 19:16 UTC Officials say there are no air q...
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Apr272024 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments
Highway Patrol searching for suspect in fatal hit & run

Highway Patrol searching for suspect in fatal hit & run

News
ASHEBORO — The North Carolina Highway Patrol is searching for a suspect involved in a fatal hit and run last week. Around 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday April 17th, 2024, the State Highway Patrol responded to the report of a crash that occurred on I-73 south, near West Steeple Chase Road in Guilford County. According to a press release from the NC Highway Patrol, 55-year-old Clyde Strickland, of Raeford, N.C. was walking south on I-73 when he was struck by a vehicle. Strickland received serious life-threatening injuries and was transported to Moses H. Cone Hospital in Greensboro. On Monday, April 22nd, the Highway Patrol was notified by medical staff that Strickland had succumbed to injuries. The suspect vehicle was identified as a white Audi A3 with a missing driver’s side mirror,...
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