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Author: Scott Pelkey

Jan112024 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments
Chemical Spill and Fire at Energizer Plant 2 Triggers Evacuation / Fire Response

Chemical Spill and Fire at Energizer Plant 2 Triggers Evacuation / Fire Response

News
[Scott Pelkey | North State Journal] ASHEBORO N.C. – A fire and chemical spill at Energizer Plant 2 triggered an evacuation of the plant and a large response from the Asheboro and Randleman Fire Departments on Wednesday evening. On Wednesday, January 10th, 2024, at 4:47 p.m. Asheboro Fire and Rescue was dispatched to a commercial fire alarm at Energizer Plant 2, located at 419 Art Bryan Dr, in Asheboro. While Asheboro Fire units were enroute the fire alarm was upgraded to a commercial fire and fire crews from Randleman Fire Department were added to the response. AFRD personnel arrived on scene at 4:50 p.m. and found no smoke or fire from the exterior.  According to a press release from AFRD, Energizer personnel spoke with fire crews at the scene and notified them they...
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Jan102024 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments
Emergency Crews Rescue Driver Stranded in Flood Water

Emergency Crews Rescue Driver Stranded in Flood Water

Breaking News
Stock Image (ungvar / Adobe Stock) FARMER N.C. – In the early morning hours emergency crews were called to rescue a driver who had become stranded in three feet of water off Old NC Hwy 49. Just after 3 a.m. Randolph County 911 dispatched Farmer Fire Department and Ash-Rand Rescue to the intersection of Moore Rd and Old NC Hwy 49 for a report of a vehicle trapped in three feet of water. Dispatch advised a short time later that the call was plotting closer to the intersection of Moore Rd and Golden Meadow Rd. The first unit from Farmer Fire Department arrived on scene at around 3:16 a.m. and an Ash-Rand Rescue unit was departing its base with a boat at around the same time. At 3:20 a.m. first responders on scene advised that Ash-Rand Rescue could cancel as the driver was out ...
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Jan92024 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments
Sheriff’s Office Taking Applications for Spring Citizens Academy

Sheriff’s Office Taking Applications for Spring Citizens Academy

Government
(Photo provided by Randolph County Sheriff's Office) ASHEBORO N.C. –The Randolph County Sheriff’s Office is again offering the Sheriff’s Citizen Academy to Randolph County residents who are interested in learning more about the Sheriff’s Office and how they operate. The Randolph County Sheriff’s Office Citizen Academy is designed to help citizens understand how the Sheriff’s Office operates. Class for the upcoming academy include a tour of the Sheriff’s Office and Emergency Services Headquarters, driving, firearm, and K9 demonstrations, tours of the jail and courthouse, and the opportunity to learn more about everything from Community Based Programs, Patrol Operations, Fleet Maintenance, and more. A former student describes the program as an “excellent behind the scenes” program ...
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Jan82024 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments
NWS Issues Watches Ahead of Heavy Rain, Wind, Flooding Risk Tuesday

NWS Issues Watches Ahead of Heavy Rain, Wind, Flooding Risk Tuesday

Weather
ASHEBORO N.C. – Ahead of expected heavy rain, strong winds, and the threat of flash flooding on Tuesday the National Weather Service office in Raleigh has issued a Flash Flood Watch and Wind Advisory for much of central N.C. including Randolph County. According to forecasters, a strong storm system will bring widespread heavy rain, gusty to damaging winds, and the threat of a few tornadoes to central N.C. on Tuesday January 9th, 2024. Severe weather is expected to begin to arrive in Randolph County starting as soon as noon on Tuesday and is expected to continue until late into the night. WIND - South or southeasterly winds will increase to 15 to 25 mph, with gusts between 35 and 45 mph expected during the afternoon and evening Tuesday. Gusty winds could blow around unsecured...
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Jan52024 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments
Winter Weather Advisory – What to Expect in Randolph County

Winter Weather Advisory – What to Expect in Randolph County

Weather
ASHEBORO N.C.  – The National Weather Service in Raleigh has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for portions of central North Carolina, including Randolph County. Here is what you can expect. A period of light freezing rain is set to impact the northern Piedmont, mainly along and north of I-85, from 3 a.m. to 9 a.m. Saturday morning. Here in Randolph County, forecasters are predicting around 0.02” of ice accumulation. Temperatures will remain right near the freezing point through the morning hours on Saturday and any freezing rain is expected to transition to rain by 4 a.m. Total rainfall for Saturday is expected to be around half to three quarters of an inch. The risk of isolated flash flooding cannot be ruled out from Saturday morning through early afternoon. Combined with...
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Jan42024 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments
North Carolina Zoo Set to Temporarily Close for Staff Training and Safety Drills

North Carolina Zoo Set to Temporarily Close for Staff Training and Safety Drills

NC Zoo
Emergency Services Vehicles near Junction Plaza at the NC Zoo. (Scott Pelkey / Acme News Archive) ASHEBORO N.C.  – The North Carolina Zoo along will all its public walking trails will be closed to the public from Monday January 8th through January 12th for staff training, including required safety drills and maintenance. As an accredited Zoo through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the North Carolina Zoo is required to conduct various safety drills involving its staff. These drills cover a wide range of scenarios, from protocols for handling animal escapes to responding to diving incidents, to fires, animal bites, and more. “Employees need to drill and practice their responses so that they are prepared in the event of an actual situation,” said Diane Villa, the Zoo’s D...
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Dec292023 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments
North Carolina Zoo Sets Record Attendance After Passing One Million Guests in 2023

North Carolina Zoo Sets Record Attendance After Passing One Million Guests in 2023

NC Zoo
ASHEBORO N.C. – With just a few days before the end of the year, the North Carolina Zoo exceeded one million guests in a calendar year for the first time in its history. On December 27th, 2023, Ran Liu and his family became the one millionth visitor to the North Carolina Zoo for the 2023 calendar year. The previous record for highest attendance in a calendar year was 930,002, set in 2022. The Liu family (Photo provided by NC Zoo) “Being recognized as the millionth guest was a pleasant surprise and an honor,” says Liu, a Zoo member according to a press release from the Zoo. “I look forward to the day when [the Zoo] celebrates two or three million guests in a year,” he explains. “Everyone should experience it for themselves. I encourage others to come, volunteer, or find a way to g...
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Dec202023 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments
Asheboro Police Confirm Two Injured in Shooting, One Arrested [UPDATED]

Asheboro Police Confirm Two Injured in Shooting, One Arrested [UPDATED]

Breaking News
Saray Hernandez Torres via Facebook ARTICLE UPDATEDThis article covers a developing story. Click here to see the latest update. ASHEBORO N.C. - Police have confirmed two people were injured and one arrested after a shooting in Asheboro earlier today.  According to the Asheboro Police Department, at approximately 12:50 p.m. Officers responded to Lowe Body and Glass, located at 201 Saunders Drive in Asheboro, for a reported shooting. Arriving officers located two victims at the scene who had suffered gunshot wounds. The officers applied direct pressure and tourniquets on victims at the scene to control bleeding until EMS personnel arrived. According to Asst. Chief of Police Brown, both victims were transported by EMS to out of county medical facilities for advanc...
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Dec182023 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments
AFRD Responds to House Fires Sunday and Monday

AFRD Responds to House Fires Sunday and Monday

News
ASHEBORO N.C. - The Asheboro Fire Rescue Department responded to two house fires, one on Sunday and another Monday. On Sunday December 17th, 2023, at 3:30 p.m. Asheboro Fire and Rescue Department (AFRD) was dispatched to a structure fire at 430 Glovinia St. AFRD via Facebook AFRD via Facebook Units with C-shift arrived within two minutes to find heavy smoke coming from the residence. An initial and secondary search located no one in the home. Crews reported the scene under control at 3:52 p.m. After the fire the house was turned back over to the occupants. Damage to the structure was estimated to be around $15,000 and the cause of the incident was ruled as unintentional.  On Monday December 18th, 2023, at 4:53 a.m. crewed were dispatched to a residential fire at 811 S ...
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Dec142023 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments
Coastal Low to Bring Heavy Rain and Winds Sunday

Coastal Low to Bring Heavy Rain and Winds Sunday

Weather
(irontrybex / Adobe Stock) ASHEBORO N.C. - A strong coastal low system will sweep across central North Carolina Sunday bringing torrential rain and strong winds.  A coastal low-pressure system will begin to move up from the gulf through the southeast coast of the United States, across Florida and Georgia on Saturday and through South Carolina and North Carolina on Sunday.  Impacts According to the National Weather Service Office in Raleigh the storm will bring areas of heavy rainfall with the potential for localized flooding, especially in urban and poor drainage areas. Rainfall amounts of two to three inches are expected from Saturday night through Sunday night. Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around light unsecured objects such as holiday decorations...
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