News

NORMAN — Town Council on Monday approved the final version of their budget for the fiscal year 2020-2021.

Gavin Stone | Daily Journal
County Manager Bryan Land speaks at the county’s budget meeting on Tuesday.

County receives proposed budget, addresses silence on ad valorem issue

CORRECTION: This article originally stated wrongly that the budget for 2020-2021 was approved Tuesday. It was only presented Tuesday, and the board will vote on it Thursday. The article has been updated to reflect this.

Brandon Tester | Daily Journal
The projected completion date for the new Robinette Building in downtown Rockingham has been pushed back to July 10. The Robinette Building will house Leon Levine School of Business and Information Technology.

Robinette Building construction delayed by COVID-19 case on site

ROCKINGHAM — Richmond Community College officials will have to wait a little while longer before they get the green light to move into the new Kenneth and Claudia Robinette Building in downtown Rockingham.

Rockingham man charged in weekend murder

ROCKINGHAM — The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday charged Kenneth Franklin Battley, 57, of Rockingham with the murder of Donald Wayne Coats this weekend.

Virus hurts NC counties’ hurricane readiness

As hurricane season starts Monday, most of North Carolina’s coastal counties are grappling with shortfalls or concerns about equipment and resources as they balance the dual threat of tropical weather and the COVID-19 pandemic.

NC cities impose curfews in protests’ aftermath

RALEIGH — North Carolina’s capital city enacted a curfew Monday after two nights of protests over the latest killing of a black man by police led to street fires, store break-ins, and fireworks thrown at officers.

George McNeill, right, and other protesters called for an end to racial profiling and for more police accountability on Sunday.

Local protesters show support for national movement

ROCKINGHAM — A group of about two dozen protesters took to the streets Sunday to protest police brutality in the wake of the death of George Floyd while in police custody on May 25.

Brandon Tester | Daily Journal file photo
In a teleconference on Tuesday, Richmond Community College Trustees will hear an update on the construction of the Robinette Building in downtown Rockingham.

RCC Trustees, school board to hold meetings

HAMLET — The Richmond Community College Board of Trustees and Richmond County Board of Education will hold their respective regular meetings on Tuesday.

Courtesy photo
Children participate in the Rockingham Parks and Recreation swimming camp last year. This year’s swimming camp has been canceled because of concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictions stemming from it.

Rockingham cancels summer Parks and Recreation programs

ROCKINGHAM — The city’s Parks and Recreation Department announced in a Monday Facebook post that all of its summer offerings have been canceled because of restrictions stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic.

A third Richmond County patient has died from COVID-19

May 30, 2020 Daily Journal 0

ROCKINGHAM — A third person in Richmond County died from COVID-19 Saturday, according to the Richmond County Health Department.

Gavin Stone | Daily Journal
A Rockingham police vehicle sits outside Evolution Health Club Friday while an officer speaks to Blake Altman, the owner.

Health club owner cited for reopening

May 29, 2020 Daily Journal 0

ROCKINGHAM — Blake Altman, owner of Evolution Health Club in Rockingham, has been charged with a misdemeanor for violating Governor Roy Cooper’s executive order after prematurely reopening his business this week.

Contributed photo
Church signage during the COVID-19 pandemic. To register for a church reopening training session, visit the Small Business Center’s website, www.richmondcc.edu/small-business-center, and click on “Seminars & Workshops.” For more information, contact Butch Farrah at (910) 410-1687 or wofarrah@richmondcc.edu.

RCC offering free training to help churches re-open safely

May 29, 2020 Daily Journal 0

HAMLET – North Carolina is now in Phase II of the re-opening process, and many are anxious to return to their normal places of worship. Richmond Community College and the Small Business Center will be assisting local churches and places of worship in reopening in a safe manner.

As Trump deadline approaches, NC asks for details on RNC safety

May 29, 2020

RALEIGH — North Carolina’s top health official asked Friday for more details on how GOP leaders will protect attendees of a Republican National Convention this summer during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Graduating seniors to take ‘victory lap’ at Speedway

May 29, 2020

ROCKINGHAM — Richmond County’s senior class of 2020 will take a “victory lap” around the Rockingham Speedway on June 12 in place of their normal graduation ceremony, the school system announced Friday.

Norman to discuss budget, future

May 29, 2020

NORMAN — With the town’s fiscal outlook in serious turmoil, the Town Council here will discuss how their budget looks going forward during their regular meeting on Monday night.

County Crime Report

May 28, 2020

May 22

Local students receive scholarships

May 28, 2020

Pee Dee Electric Awareness Committee recently awarded $8,000 in college scholarships to eight students across its service area who are seeking to further their academic goals. The scholarships were awarded to students who demonstrate academic excellence and live in a home served by Pee Dee Electric.

Bill overturning bar closures by Cooper clears N.C. Senate

May 28, 2020

RALEIGH (AP) — North Carolina legislators are wading into Gov. Roy Cooper’s business reopening decisions, as the state Senate voted Thursday to let bars serve customers again despite his recent executive order keeping them closed due to COVID-19.

Crump: Rockingham in a ‘gun to the head’ situation, proposes $0.10 tax increase

May 27, 2020

ROCKINGHAM — The City of Rockingham’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2020-2021 includes spending cuts and and a tax increase to accommodate both the economic shutdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the anticipated losses in sales tax revenue resulting from the Richmond County Board of Commissioners’ decision to change its sales tax distribution method from per capita to ad valorem.

Dragway holding events without spectators

May 27, 2020

ROCKINGHAM — The Rockingham Dragway is holding events again, but the only way you would be able to see them is if you’re a competitor or a crew member.

Restaurant workers learn about COVID-19 compliance

May 27, 2020

ROCKINGHAM — Several groups of Richmond County restaurant workers got an in-depth look Wednesday at what they need to do to comply with coronavirus-related guidelines and restrictions.

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Officer and suspect injured in shootout Tuesday night

May 27, 2020

WADESBORO — An officer from the Wadesboro Police Department and a suspect were injured in a shooting that took place in the Wadesboro Housing Authority’s Myrtlewood Apartment Complex off Myrtlewood Drive on Tuesday, May 26.

John Coltrane mural saved from cuts, work to begin next week

May 26, 2020

HAMLET — The planned John Coltrane mural will be coming to Hamlet after all.