Inside
Luke Johnson scores a ‘big’ touchdown in regional competition.
Archdale Elementary dedicates track on ‘walk to school’ day.
• Job shadowing program expands — page 7 • Drivers flee from stolen $80,000 Mack truck — page 11 Church news......5 Obituaries.............8 Classifieds........13 Police report........11 Fire report..........3 Sheriff’s report.....11
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Thursday, October 21, 2010
Archdale-Trinity News w w w. a r c h d a l e t r i n i t y n e w s . n e t
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Schools need to help all students, say candidates
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andidates for Randolph County Board of Education had various ideas, but all agreed that the school system needed to do a better job addressing the diverse needs of its students in order to reduce the dropout rate and better prepare them for the future. BY ROBYN HANKINS The candidates spoke Oct. 14 at Archdale United Methodist Church in a forum arranged by the ArchdaleTrinity Chamber of Commerce. Three of the six candidates attended — Brian Biggs of Trinity, Emily Thomas Coltrane of Sea-
Vote now Early voting is under way at the Archdale Public Library on S. Main Street, the Randolph County Office Building, 725 McDowell Road in Asheboro and at the Board of Elections office, 158 Worth St. in Asheboro. Election Day is Nov. 2. For more information, call 819-3900 or visit www.co.randolph. nc.us/elections.
grove and Gary Mason of Asheboro. The remaining candidates — Robert Cromer of Liberty, former Board member Tommy McDonald of Randleman and incumbent Laverne Williams of Asheboro — sent their regrets. The Board of Education race is nonpartisan. The candidates were asked questions about reducing the dropout rate and how to better prepare students for jobs. Their answers were different, but all noted that the school system needs to support its different students in different ways. Mason, a 30-year law enforcement veteran and former Asheboro Chief of Police, believes that the schools should stop teaching to a test and start teaching subjects in ways that connect with kids. “We’ve lost the ability to make learning fun,” Mason explained. “If (school) is not enjoyable, we’ve enhanced the likelihood they’ll quit.” He also believes that the school system needs a renewed emphasis on preparing students for the job they want because not all jobs
Photo by Michael Hill
Fun & Food
SEE FORUM ON PAGE 3
Forum attracts other candidates The candidates’ forum sponsored Oct. 14 by the Archdale-Trinity Chamber of Commerce also drew candidates for municipal, state and federal offices. Running unopposed are Archdale Mayor Bert Lance-Stone and Councilmen Lewis Dorsett (Ward 4) and Larry Warlick (Ward 1). Councilman Eddie Causey (atlarge) sent his regrets. Also running unopposed are Randolph County Commissioners Harold Holmes (District 3) and Stan Haywood (District 4), Randolph County Sheriff Maynard Reid Jr. and Randolph County Clerk of
Court Pam Hill. Commissioner Darrell Frye (District 2) is being challenged by qualified write-in candidate Iris Goins, who did not attend. State Sen. Jerry Tillman (R-District 29) and Rep. Pat Hurley (RDistrict 70) attended. Both are unchallenged. Those not challenged were allowed to make a statement. That story will be in a future edition of the NEWS. Congressman Howard Coble (R-6th District) attended, as did his challenger Sam Turner, an independent Democrat.
Photo by Lisa Deluca McCarville
Between the ‘He Paid Your Fees’ Christian Rodeo and Trinity’s ‘Feel the Thunder and Taste the Heat’ car show and chili cookoff, the weekend was full of events. In the top photo, Zachary Isaacs takes a tumble in the mutton bustin event. David and Stephani Barber of Wallburg, pictured left, garnered the best chili award. For more photos of the cook-off, turn to page 12. For more photos of the rodeo, turn to page 9.
Graphic courtesy of Friends of Trinity Chili devoured by Kathy Stuart
Collapsing stormwater pipe causes intersection to flood T he intersection of N.C. 62 and Sealy Drive floods because tractor-trailers are crushing a stormwater pipe when they make their turns, said Bonnie Renfro, president of the Randolph County Economic Development Corporation. BY ROBYN HANKINS
Damage to the stormwater pipe underneath the intersection occurs as truckers turn onto N.C. 62 Photo by Debbie Hightower from Sealy Drive.
The truck drivers are not at fault, she continued. The width radius of the road is not wide enough for tractor-trailers turning onto N.C. 62 from Sealy Drive. “We asked DOT to look at it, and they confirmed that the road is not wide enough,” said Renfro, who is spearheading an effort to have the N.C. Department of Transportation make improvements to the intersec-
tion. The intersection of Sealy Drive and N.C. 62 is on the border of Archdale and Trinity. It’s not a constant problem, she hastens to add. The situation only becomes a problem during severe weather events or when the area receives continuous rain for several days. “During times of inclement weather, the intersection has an overflow of stormwater,” Renfro explained. “The road is completely underwater.” The situation is made more complex by the presence of the railroad tracks and Trindale Mini Mart. “It’s a safety issue,” she added. “Right now Sealy is asking drivers to use Surrett Drive when possible, because Sealy Drive itself also has deteriorated and needs resurfacing. We (EDC) would love to see a solution
that addresses both of these issues.” The first Renfro heard about the problem was at a meeting of Archdale City Council. Archdale City Manager Jerry Yarborough confirmed this. “A while back, I don’t recall exactly when, one or more City Council members brought it up,” Yarborough said. “Bonnie happened to be at that meeting, and she was the one to call DOT and get them involved. She has been a driving force behind this.” He added that while he has forwarded Archdale City Council a memo on what has been suggested, they have yet to schedule a discussion. Trinity City Council, however, passed a resolution SEE PIPE ON PAGE 3
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