Scott Pelkey, | Randolph News Now

Mar62023 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments

Statewide Tornado Drill Scheduled for Wednesday March 8th

Weather

Tornado touching down in FL (Stock Photo / Adobe Stock) ASHEBORO N.C. - The National Weather Service along with North Carolina Department of Public Safety and local broadcasters will hold a statewide tornado drill this week as part of Severe Weather Preparedness Week. On Wednesday, March 8th at 9:30 AM, the National Weather Service will conduct a statewide tornado drill. Every school, business, and residence are encouraged to participate in this drill by taking a few moments to practice your severe weather safety plan and seek shelter for a few minutes as if a tornado were headed your way. The test will come in the form of a Required Monthly Test which will be activated by the State Emergency Alert System and be carried by local radio broadcasters. The statewide drill is part ...

Mar62023 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments

Randolph Health to Lift Visitor Restrictions Due to Flu

Health

ASHEBORO N.C. - Tomorrow Randolph Health along with most other hospitals in the area will be lifting visitor restrictions in place due to the flu. According to a press release from Randolph Health, effective 7 a.m. on Tuesday, March 7th, restrictions for visitors twelve and under will be lifted at Randolph Health. Randolph Health is joining Atrium Health, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, Novant Health, Cone Health, and CaroMont Health in lifting the restrictions at the same date and time to prevent confusion among the public and to avoid a patchwork of varying restrictions. The unified response is part of a coordinated plan to better control the spread of flu throughout the region. Visitors, patients, and staff will still be required to wear masks in medical facilities in acc...

Feb232023 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments

Driver In Single Vehicle Accident Overnight Facing Charges

News

Just after 4 AM on Feb 23rd, 2023, emergency crews were called to the scene of a single vehicle accident on E Dixie Dr in front of Hardee's entrance. [Scott Pelkey | RNN/ North State Journal] ASHEBORO N.C. - A driver who crashed into a ditch in front of Hardee's overnight is spending today in jail after being charged with driving while impaired. Just after 4 am, on February 23rd, 2023, Police requested emergency crews to respond to E Dixie Dr in front of the Hardee's in Asheboro for a single vehicle accident. According to an accident report by the Asheboro Police Department, 27-year-old Rachel Marie Stevens of Asheboro was driving a 1998 Honda Accord westbound on Hwy 64 when she left the roadway on the right side and crashed into a small ditch in front of Hardee's. Police not...

Feb202023 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments

No Injuries in Late Night Vehicle Chase in Asheboro

Breaking News

Police with the Asheboro PD and RCSO wait at the bridge on Farmer Rd that is under construction for a Trooper with the Highway Patrol to come out and complete an accident report after two vehicles collided during a chase causing no injuries and minimal damage. [Scott Pelkey | RNN/ North State Journal] ASHEBORO N.C. - No one was injured after a chaotic vehicle chase through the streets of Asheboro late last night. According to the Asheboro Police Department, on February 20th, 2023, just after 12:30 AM, officers from the department’s patrol division were in the area of North Fayetteville Street when they spotted, what they believed to be, a stolen moped. Police say they witnessed the driver crossing left of the center leading them to believe the driver was also intoxicated. Of...

Feb102023 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments

Three Area Hospitals Receive Patients from Hwy 42 Crash

Breaking News

Photo Credit - East Side Fire Dept (via Facebook) ASHEBORO N.C. - Three people were transported to local hospitals, two with serious life-threatening injuries, after a vehicle crash on NC 42 this morning. At 9:11 a.m. on Friday, February 10th, 2023, emergency crews from East Side Fire Dept, Franklinville Fire Dept, Ash-Rand Rescue, Randolph County EMS, and Sheriff's Office along with Troppers from the NC Highway Patrol responded to the report of a crash that occurred on NC 42 near Hayfield Drive. In a post on Facebook, the East Side Fire Department said that Rescue-24 arrived to find a three-vehicle accident on Highway 42 S. just south of Hayfield Dr. Drivers of two vehicles were pinned and in serious condition. According to a press release by the NC Highway Patrol, Karissa Da...

Feb102023 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments

NC Zoo Council Approves Price Increase

NC Zoo

A ticket line at the North American Entrance of the North Carolina Zoo (Scott Pelkey / North State Journal) ASHEBORO N.C. - The NC Zoo Council voted this week to approve an increase in the cost of admission to the North Carolina Zoo, which could start as soon as next month. The N.C. Zoo Council, a 15-member board appointed by the governor to oversee the operation and development of the Zoo held a planned virtual meeting on February 8th, 2023. In that meeting the group voted to approve an increase in ticket prices as well as other changes. Council members listened to N.C. Zoo Director Pat Simmions as she presented the Zoo’s 2023 Fee Proposal. “Zoo’s funding comes 50% from the State with the other 50% from gate ticket sales,” said Simmons. Going on to explain that the cost of ru...

Feb82023 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments

Work Crew in Asheboro Installing Sidewalk Hit Gas Line

Breaking News

ASHEBORO N.C. - A city crew installing new sidewalk on E Academy St in Asheboro struck a gas line this afternoon, prompting a response from emergency crews. At around 2:30 PM on Wednesday, February 8th, 2023, firefighters with the Asheboro Fire Department were dispatched to 205 E Academy St for a report of a gas leak. According to an official on the scene, as crews were working to install a new sidewalk, city employees were driving a wooden steak which caused a gas pipe to break. The Asheboro Fire Department closed off E Academy St between S Cox St and S Main St, for around fifteen minutes. Piedmont Natural Gas arrived on scene within only a few minutes and were able to shut off the leak. Emergency crews were able to re-open the road just before 3PM. No one was injured in the...

Feb72023 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments

Wife Accused of Murdering Firefighter Receives $1-million Bond

News

MJ Auman (Credit - Ramseur Fire Department via Facebook) ASHEBORO N.C. - The wife of a local firefighter, accused of his murder and currently in jail, has received a $1 million dollar bond. MJ Auman, a firefighter with the Seagrove Fire Dept, died of a fatal gunshot wound on June 25th, 2022. An investigation by the Randolph County Sheriff's Office led to charges against the wife Heather Auman who has been confined at the Randolph County Jail without bond, facing a charge of first-degree murder since June 29th, 2022. The state recently declined to purse a capital case, taking the death penalty off the table, and allowing the defense attorneys for Auman to submit a monition for bond, which was held on Monday, February 6th, 2023. Lawyers for Auman argued that due to her employme...

Feb22023 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments

Wheatmore Middle Evacuated Wednesday After Bomb Threat

News

ASHEBORO N.C. - Wheatmore Middle School was evacuated Wednesday afternoon after the school discovered a potential threat to the safety of the school written on the wall of a bathroom. On February 1st, 2023, at 2 PM, Wheatmore Middle School's principal, Dr. Bruce Carrol sent out a phone message to parents saying that the school had to be evacuated due to a threat to the safety of the school. That message said in full: "Good afternoon, Wheatmore Middle School parents, this is Principal Bruce Carroll. I am calling to inform you that a potential threat to the safety of the school was discovered today in relation to a statement written on a bathroom wall on the school’s campus. As a result of the discovery of the potential threat, all students and staff were evacuated from the building a...

Jan312023 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments

Wrong Way Driver Dies in Early Morning Accident

Breaking News

ASHEBORO N.C. - A crash this morning has left one dead after a driver crashed head-on into another vehicle while traveling the wrong way on I-73/74. At approximately 10:10 AM, on January 31, 2023, officers with the Asheboro Police Department responded to reports of traffic crash on I-73 North of McDowell Road. Callers reported seeing a white Nissan Frontier traveling North in the Southbound Lane of I-73 immediately before the crash. When emergency personnel arrived on scene, they discovered that the Nissan Frontier had struck a Toyota Tacoma that was traveling Southbound. The driver of the Nissan Frontier, a 94-year-old male, was pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver and occupant of the Toyota Tacoma were transported to a local medical facility for evaluation but did not ...