Randolph County Archives | Page 25 of 77

May242023 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments

NC Zoo – Baboon Habitat Reopens & New Event Premiers This Weekend

NC Zoo

[Scott Pelkey | North State Journal] ASHEBORO N.C. - The Baboons are back with a newly renovated habitat, and this weekend you can check it out yourself along with a brand-new event in 2023. Baboon Habitat Re-Opens In the 45 years the Baboons have been at the Zoo they have become one of the most popular attractions, and the Zoo's troop of twenty-two baboons ranging in age from senior adults to infants, is the largest in the United States (tied with San Diego Zoo). When the Baboons first came to the Zoo in the 19080's, their original habitat, what is now Lemar Island, lasted until 2005 when they were moved to the Africa Pavillion. Old African Pavilion / Acme News Archive In March of 2020, Zoo staff took a final walk through the Africa Pavillion before the iconic building ...

May192023 by Randolph News NowNo Comments

Bad at Crime – Suspect Arrested Several Times During Investigation

Crime

ASHEBORO N.C. - The victim of a theft in Asheboro back in November of 2022, located a suspect who had allegedly stolen property on Facebook Marketplace, but the suspect wasn't charged in Randolph County until last week because he kept getting arrested in other counties. On November 10th, 2022, the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office responded to US 220 Bus. S., in Asheboro, for a report of a larceny. The victim reported an unknown white male entered the property and drove to the rear of the business during the early morning hours and stole items. Surveillance footage was captured of the vehicle which included the license plate, according to a press release from the Sheriff's Office. On November 11th, 2022, the same victim reported finding photos of the ladders for sale on Facebook mar...

May182023 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments

SECU Foundation Donates $2 Million to Asia at NC Zoo

NC Zoo

Pat Simmions, Director of the NC Zoo, poses for photos with the leadership of the NC Zoo Society and the SECU Foundation. [Scott Pelkey | North State Journal] ASHEBORO N.C. - On May 17th, 2023, the SECU Foundation gifted $2 million to go towards the new Asia expansion currently under construction. Asia, the NC Zoo’s first new continent since North America in 1994, broke ground on August 17th, 2022, after $46 million in funding from the state budget was allocated to the project. Combined with the approximately $28 million raised through donations by the NC Zoo Society’s capital fundraising campaign brings the approximate total for Asia to around $75 million dollars. At a private event held at the newly renovated baboon habitat on May 17th, 2023, the SECU Foundation presented a che...

May182023 by Randolph News NowNo Comments

Two Search Warrants Lead to Arrest of Three

Crime

ASHEBORO N.C. - The Randolph County Sheriff's Office executed two search warrants in connection with drug trafficking in the county, leading to the arrest of three individuals. On April 25, 2023, the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office Vice and Narcotics Division searched a residence located on Shaw St. in Randleman. During the search, Detectives located and seized a trafficking amount of methamphetamine and items of drug paraphernalia. As a result, a warrant for arrest was sought on Jordan Lamar Coble for felony trafficking in methamphetamine, felony maintaining a vehicle/dwelling/place for controlled substance and misdemeanor possess drug paraphernalia. On May 8, 2023, Jordan Coble was apprehended by the Randleman Police Department and transported to the Randolph County Detention Ce...

May172023 by Randolph News NowNo Comments

Two Arrested in Connection with Vehicle Chase in Trinity last Month

Crime

ASHEBORO N.C. - Two people have been arrested and charged in connection with an April vehicle chase in Trinity. On April 22, 2023, the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office says their deputies were involved in a vehicle chase and manhunt in Trinty. According to a press release, deputies initiated a traffic stop on Finch Farm Rd., in Trinity. The vehicle failed to pull over and began swearing on and off the I-85 South ramp before heading onto the Interstate, At one point the deputy leading the chase says they observed the passenger, later identified as Kendall Taylor Rogers, and driver, later identified as Ethan Bradford Chambers, change seats. When the vehicle came to a brief stop on the side of the interstate, Chambers, now the passenger, exited the vehicle and fled on foot into the woo...

May172023 by Randolph News NowNo Comments

One Dies in Single Vehicle Accident in Franklinville

News

FRANKLINVILLE N.C. - A local woman died from injuries sustained in a single vehicle accident in Franklinville last week. According to the North Carolina Highway Patrol, at 7:48 p.m. on Friday, May 12th, 2023, Troopers responded to the report of a crash that occurred on Clark Avenue near Allred Street in Randolph County. Kaslyn Marie Switzer, of Asheboro, N.C., was traveling east on Clark Avenue operating a 2014 Toyota. Troopers who investigated the scene reported that Switzer traveled off the roadway to the right and struck a tree. Switzer suffered serious life-threatening injuries and was transported to Moses H. Cone Hospitalin Greensboro. Later that evening, investigators were notified that Kaslyn Marie Switzer had succumbed to the injuries she received during the crash. Inv...

May162023 by Randolph News NowNo Comments

Suspect in Sex Crime Case Arrested in N.Y.

Crime

ASHEBORO N.C. - A man wanted as a suspect in a sex crime case in Randolph County was arrested in N.Y. state last month. On February 6th, 2023, the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office received a report of sexual acts upon minors. An investigation led to Detectives obtaining charges against Sherwin McDonald Edwards for six counts of felony indecent liberties with a child and two counts statutory sex offense with a child under 15 years of age. Efforts to locate Edwards were unsuccessful and on April 17th, 2023, the apprehension case was assigned to the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Apprehension Team (CAT) who obtained intel that Edwards had fled from NC. On May 3rd, 2023, CAT Detectives obtained a location on Edwards in New York. CAT Detectives contacted NYC Warrant Divis...

May162023 by Randolph News NowNo Comments

New “Tales for Tails” Program Combines Reading and Animals to Help Reading Skills

Government

Photo provided by Juvenile Day Reporting Center ASHEBORO N.C. - More than half of Randolph County students are reading below their grade level and the Juvenile Day Reporting Center’s new "Tales for Tails" program aims to combat this problem by combining reading and animals. According to the Randolph County School’s annual report card: 54% of students in North Carolina are not proficient in reading. 60% of Randolph County students are not proficient and are below the grade level. 49% of students in Randolph County perform below average in English. “Reading proficiency is highly correlated with future success and high school graduation,” says Pamela Resch, Director of the Juvenile Day Reporting Center. “Reading helps children learn to make sense of the ...

May162023 by Randolph News NowNo Comments

NWS Wars of Threat of Severe Storms Tuesday Afternoon

Weather

ASHEBORO N.C. - The National Weather Service Office in Raleigh has issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook with severe storms expected Tuesday afternoon and into the evening. According to forecasters, strong to severe thunderstorms are possible across much of the Piedmont of North Carolina this afternoon and evening, with the highest risk over the Triad region, including all of Randolph County. Some storms may produce damaging winds over 60 mph, large hail, and isolated tornadoes. The greatestthreat will occur between 3 PM and 10 PM. In addition, isolated flooding is possible where multiple storms pass repeatedly over the same areas. The Storm Prediction Center has placed this area at a Level 2 (out of 5) risk of severe storms. People in this area are urged to check frequently...

May152023 by Randolph News NowNo Comments

Fleeing Suspect Strikes Patrol Car During Chase says Sheriff’s Office

Crime

ASHEBORO N.C. - A suspect is in the Randolph County Jail today awaiting court on several warrants, drug, and traffic charges related to a vehicle pursuit last week. According to a press release from the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, on May 11th, 2023, deputies attempted to pull over a vehicle on Pisgah Covered Bridge Rd., in Asheboro. The driver refused to stop and instead accelerated away, beginning a vehicle pursuit with police. During that pursuit, a deputy was successful in getting the vehicle to stop using a "forced vehicle maneuver" designed to break the vehicle's traction, on their second attempt. According to the Sheriff's Office, "as the deputy was exiting the vehicle, the motorist accelerated towards him striking the patrol car, and again fleeing apprehension." On ...