Scott Pelkey, | Randolph News Now

May142021 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments

NC Zoo Set To Start On Asia This Fall, Hopefully!?

NC Zoo

Photo by Scott Pelkey / Acme News Archive ASHEBORO NC - The NC Zoo is set to begin work on the new Asia expansion with plans already approved and companies lined up to start construction as early as this fall. That is, provided the N.C. General Assembly passes a budget that includes the funds needed to complete the budget for the project. The originally expected budget for Asia was $65 million, but that estimate had to be increased. “When we did a lot of these estimates, it was several years ago. We’re starting to see inflation in construction costs,” said Diane Villa Director of Communications and Marketing for the NC Zoo. “Right now we’re looking at $75 million for Asia, and our hope is to complete Asia all in one fell swoop rather than phase things.” Gov. Roy Cooper's bu...

May82021 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments

Asheboro Summer Concert Series Returns

Events

ASHEBORO NC - The Summer Concert Series will be returning in 2021 bring live music back to downtown Asheboro. The free concerts that take place every summer at Bicentennial park were canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions and while they are scheduled to return in 2021, so far their off to a rocky start. The first concert scheduled for May 16th, 2021 had to be postponed. Jonathan Sermon the Recreation Services Director for the City of Asheboro Cultural & Recreation Services Division explained that the Governor’s order made it too difficult to hold the first concert. "The Governor’s current executive order only allows for 12 quests for every 1000 square feet for concerts held at outdoor venues. The lawn at Bicentennial Park is approximately 38,300 square feet which ...

Apr192021 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments

Asheboro Airport Gets Grant From DOT For Upgrades

Government

Asheboro Regional Airport (Acme News Archive) ASHEBORO NC - The N.C. Board of Transportation has approved state and federal funding for safety and airfield improvement projects at 10 North Carolina airports. Totaling $12.75 million, the funds have been awarded for various projects to help airports increase capacity, attract new jobs and businesses to their communities, and improve safety for pilots and passengers. The board approved the funds during its March 4 meeting. Of that $12.75 million $1.08 million is allocated for airfield lighting rehabilitation at Asheboro Regional Airport. “The switch to full-LED lighting will also reduce our operational costs compared to traditional lights, since LEDs don’t burn out, and allow us to invest even more in the future growth of this airpor...

Apr182021 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments

Fish Falls From Sky, Hits Truck Windshield In Randleman (Video)

Local

Screenshot of video posted by Ward Transport on Twitter RANDLEMAN NC- Ward Transport, a trucking company with an office in Charlotte probably had a very strange conversation with their insurance company last week after a fish fell from the sky and smashed into the windshield of one of their trucks. On the afternoon of April 14th, Barry Poff, who has 34 years and more than 3 million miles under his belt had just finished a delivery in Randleman and was heading South on I-73/74 to his next delivery. As he crossed the Randleman Lake bridge a bird flew in front of the truck and dropped a rather large fish which smacked right into the truck's windshield. "I saw the bird carrying the fish and thought wow that's neat, and just then the fish hit the windshield. Said Poff. "It just happene...

Apr82021 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments

Hasty To Join 2022 Sheriffs Race

Government

ASHEBORO NC - With eight months left before the filing opens for the 2022 Randolph County Sheriffs Office primary, another candidate has announced they will be joining the race. Photo provided by Timmy Hasty Timmy Hasty a 34 year veteran of the Randolph County Sherriff's office, announced on Facebook back in late March that he will running for the office. "I feel that the office of Sheriff requires a higher level of dedication and desire to SERVE the deputies and the citizens, said Hasty. Hasty says if elected he plans to take a "hard and aggressive approach" towards Randolph County's drug problem, to maintain the fiscal responsibility of the office and work to reduce unnecessary spending, and to "create an environment that would eliminate political terminations of deputies and al...

Mar212021 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments

NC Zoo Hiring For Seasonal Positions

NC Zoo

https://youtu.be/PEUXE16OWzE ASHEBORO NC- The NC Zoo welcomes approximately 800,000 guests each year with the majority of those guests visiting during peak season (between March and October). As they do each year the NC Zoo is ramping up its staff as they start hiring seasonal staff. Seasonal jobs at the NC Zoo pay between $8.50 - $9.50 / hr with positions offering between 15 and 40 hours per week. Candidates must be able to work a flexible schedule including weekends, evenings, and holidays. Some positions have age, physical, and other requirements. See a full listing of seasonal positions and their requirements on the NC Zoo's seasonal position webpage. Seasonal Positions: Admissions – Cashiers, Gate Attendants and GeneralGuest Services Entertainment - Cashiers, Attrac...

Mar192021 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments

Two Tornadoes Confirmed In Triad by NWS

Weather

ASHEBORO NC - It seems Randolph County was spared the worst of yesterday's storms, but just barely. The National Weather Service in Raleigh confirmed that 2 tornadoes touched down in the Triad yesterday. The closest an EF-0 which struck High Point, just a few miles over the county line. Following yesterday's storms, the National Weather Service in Raleigh sent survey teams to look over the damage to determine if radar indicated rotation and reports of funnel clouds was actually a tornado that touched down. HIGH POINT The National Weather Service confirmed an EF-0 tornado touched down in High Point for around 5 minutes with winds of 85 MPH for a distance of approximately 1 mile. Van Denton was on air at 5 PM as the tornado passed over the station forcing the anchors to evacuate...

Mar132021 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments

Get Ready To Spring Forward As DST Approaches

News

ASHEBORO NC - Sunday night you will be losing an hour of sleep, again (unless you work the third shift in which case you'll be losing an hour of pay, probably). Daylight saving time 2021 in North Carolina will begin at 2:00 AM on Sunday, March 14. To "spring forward" clocks change at 2:00 AM local time forward from 1:59 AM to 3:00 AM. The practice, which gives an extra hour of sunlight at the end of the day, was originally instituted in the U.S. in 1918 as a wartime measure to help conserve energy. The Uniform Time Act of 1966 established the system of uniform daylight saving time throughout the US. In the U.S., daylight saving time starts on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November, with the time changes taking place at 2:00 a.m. local time. WHY DO WE ...

Feb32021 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments

Second Dose Vaccine Clinic Scheduled For This Weekend

Health

ASHEBORO NC - It's almost time for a second shot for thousands of people in Randolph County who were vaccinated at the mass vaccination clinic last month. A second clinic is scheduled for Saturday, February 6th, 2021, from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Africa Entrance of the North Carolina Zoo according to a press release by Randolph Health. The clinic will be administering second doses only for those individuals who received their first dose during the mass vaccination clinics on January 16 & 17, 2021 at the previous clinic held the North Carolina Zoo. Eligible recipients should attend based on their original appointment time. This is a scheduled clinic and all patients must have already received an appointment to receive their second dose of vaccination. No first doses of the vaccin...

Jan202021 by Scott Pelkey1 Comment

Thousands Vaccinated In Randolph Over Weekend

Health

ASHEBORO NC - Despite a start troubled by phone systems crashing, full appointments, and changes to the state vaccine plan mid-operation, the COVID-19 vaccine rollout is picking up steam in Randolph County. "I think the vaccine rollout in Randolph County has gone fairly well, given the obstacles", said Hope Haywood who is Randolph County's Commissioner for Health, "at least our citizens were in line at RCPH at midnight the night before, waiting in their cars". Randolph County Public Health had been in the slow lane due to a limited number of vaccines and no information about when more would arrive. "Neither Randolph County Public Health (RCPH) nor Randolph Health know how much vaccine will be received, nor when it will arrive. Thus appointments cannot be made in advance except for the v...