Ben Stansell, Author at Salisbury Post

Ben Stansell covers business, county government and more for the Salisbury Post. He joined the staff in August 2020 after graduating from the University of Alabama. Email him at ben.stansell@salisburypost.com.

Opinion

Ben Stansell: Thank you, Salisbury

My favorite part of the writing process is crafting the lede. Those critical first few sentences are meant to draw the reader in and set ... Read more

by Ben Stansell, Tuesday, July 5, 2022 12:00 am

Business

How Rowan County helped bring a Luke Combs music video to life

SPENCER — Holding each other with smiles on their faces, a graying couple is blissfully unaware of the flames quickly consuming the curtains behind them. ... Read more

by Ben Stansell, Friday, July 1, 2022 12:05 am

Business

‘New dynamism to downtown’: Salisbury social district debuts Friday

SALISBURY — After months of discussion and preparation, Downtown Salisbury’s new social district will start on Friday. The district will allow consumers to purchase alcoholic ... Read more

by Ben Stansell, Thursday, June 30, 2022 12:06 am

Local

Efforts underway to establish veterans treatment court in Rowan County

SALISBURY — Justan Mounts was awestruck by what he was seeing. Mounts, director of Veterans Services for Rowan County, was sitting inside the Harnett County Courthouse. ... Read more

by Ben Stansell, Tuesday, June 28, 2022 12:10 am

Local

‘We’re on the right track’: Salisbury officials pleased with progress on Fibrant debt payment

SALISBURY — A little over four years after the city entered a partnership with Hotwire Communications for the company to take over its fiber optic ... Read more

by Ben Stansell, Sunday, June 26, 2022 12:01 am

Business

‘A man who squarely loves his hometown’: One of Salisbury’s greatest benefactors, Julian Robertson, turns 90

SALISBURY —  In a last-gasp effort to find enough funding to preserve a patch of wooded land in Spencer, Jason Walser in November 2010 dropped ... Read more

by Ben Stansell, Sunday, June 26, 2022 12:01 am

Business

Couple launches mobile kitchen renovation business

SALISBURY — Paul and Kim Satenstein know what it’s like to suffer through a lengthy kitchen renovation. A few years ago, the couple decided to ... Read more

by Ben Stansell, Sunday, June 26, 2022 12:01 am

Local

‘A second round of your talents’: Outgoing interim city manager Brian Hiatt given key to city

SALISBURY — When the City of Salisbury began searching for an interim city manager to fill the gap after Lane Bailey’s retirement at the end ... Read more

by Ben Stansell, Friday, June 24, 2022 12:01 am

Business

Warren ‘sees no reason’ to move forward with bill limiting Salisbury annexations

SALISBURY — Rep. Harry Warren “sees no reason” to move forward with a bill that would limit Salisbury’s annexation abilities following a compromise between city ... Read more

by Ben Stansell, Thursday, June 23, 2022 12:06 am

Local

City council passes budget with some increased fees to account for inflation

SALISBURY — City council on Tuesday night approved a 2022-23 fiscal year budget that maintains the current property tax rate but increases several other fees ... Read more

by Ben Stansell, Thursday, June 23, 2022 12:05 am

Local

Salisbury set to approve annexation agreement with East Spencer for Bringle Ferry Road property

SALISBURY — The City of Salisbury and Town of East Spencer have reached an annexation agreement on a 130-acre tract of land on Bringle Ferry ... Read more

by Ben Stansell, Thursday, June 23, 2022 12:05 am

Local

Commissioners approve budget that utilizes COVID-19 funding, maintains tax rate

SALISBURY — After allocating $432,992 in contingency funding, the Rowan County Board of Commissioners on Monday night approved a 2022-23 fiscal year budget that utilizes ... Read more

by Ben Stansell, Thursday, June 23, 2022 12:04 am

Business

Commissioners remove Dollar General request from agenda

SALISBURY — The Rowan County Board of Commissioners on Monday were set to hear a request for the development of a Dollar General at the ... Read more

by Ben Stansell, Wednesday, June 22, 2022 12:06 am

Business

City Council adopts annexation moratorium, aims to form growth agreements with municipalities

SALISBURY  — In an act of compromise, Salisbury is putting a pause on adding land in certain areas outside city limits by using a rule ... Read more

by Ben Stansell, Wednesday, June 22, 2022 12:04 am

Business

Commissioners approve rezoning for planned Long Ferry Road industrial park

SALISBURY — A major industrial park planned for Long Ferry Road received the rezoning approval it needed on Monday night. The Rowan County Board of ... Read more

by Ben Stansell, Tuesday, June 21, 2022 12:10 am

Business

City council will consider annexing land slated for industrial development

SALISBURY — City council on Tuesday night will consider annexation and rezoning requests that would pave the way for the construction of a 300,000-square-foot industrial ... Read more

by Ben Stansell, Tuesday, June 21, 2022 12:05 am

High School

Commissioners recognize South Rowan baseball team for winning state title

SALISBURY — The South Rowan High School baseball team stopped by the Rowan County Board of Commissioners meeting on Monday night. And they brought their ... Read more

by Ben Stansell, Tuesday, June 21, 2022 12:03 am

Business

Bill limiting Salisbury’s annexation ability passes N.C. house, moves to senate

SALISBURY — A bill introduced by Rep. Harry Warren that would place a moratorium on Salisbury’s ability to annex land outside of its extraterritorial jurisdiction ... Read more

by Ben Stansell, Sunday, June 19, 2022 12:10 am

Local

Treading water: SRU hopes FEMA grant will catalyze pump station relocation

SALISBURY — A vertical, silver metal strip shines bright against the well-weathered concrete wall of the water pump station. Dates are etched at varying intervals ... Read more

by Ben Stansell, Sunday, June 19, 2022 12:07 am

Local

Developer seeking approval for new Dollar General on Mooresville Road

SALISBURY — The Rowan County Board of Commissioners on Monday will consider a request that would pave the way for the construction of a Dollar ... Read more

by Ben Stansell, Sunday, June 19, 2022 12:06 am

Business

Salisbury awarded $875,000 grant to purchase downtown building

SALISBURY — The city is a significant step closer to establishing an event center downtown after receiving a $875,000 grant from the state. Salisbury is ... Read more

by Ben Stansell, Sunday, June 19, 2022 12:05 am

News

Commissioners will receive public input on proposed budget

SALISBURY — The Rowan County Board of Commissioners on Monday will receive public feedback on the proposed 2022-23 fiscal year budget, which maintains the current ... Read more

by Ben Stansell, Sunday, June 19, 2022 12:01 am

Business

Fish food: Burgeoning aquaponics business puts tilapia to work

SALISBURY —  Most farmers rely on soil to grow their crops. Allan Lanton uses fish. In a humid, high-tunnel greenhouse tucked between pastures north of ... Read more

by Ben Stansell, Sunday, June 19, 2022 12:01 am

Business

Iconic Salisbury ice cream shop featured in country music video

SALISBURY — For the past few weeks, Melissa Utley has been struggling to keep a secret. Now that several hundred thousand people know what she ... Read more

by Ben Stansell, Friday, June 17, 2022 6:36 pm

China Grove

China Grove’s adopted budget includes 2 cent tax increase

CHINA GROVE — The town council has passed a 2022-23 fiscal year budget that raises the property tax rate by 2 cents. Town Manager Ken ... Read more

by Ben Stansell, Thursday, June 16, 2022 12:06 am

Landis

Approved Landis budget maintains property tax rate, reduces vehicle tax

LANDIS — The town board on Monday night approved a 2022-23 fiscal year budget that keeps the property tax rate the same, reduces the municipal ... Read more

by Ben Stansell, Thursday, June 16, 2022 12:05 am

Local

‘About time that we demand better’: Community members rally for gun control measures

SALISBURY — Holding a megaphone that amplified her quiet but determined voice, a 16-year-old student stood boldly on the steps of the Rowan County Administration ... Read more

by Ben Stansell, Monday, June 13, 2022 11:13 am

Local

Revisiting the revolution: Rowan Museum recognizes county’s role in war of independence

SALISBURY — Shots rang out at the Old Stone House as troops under the command of Gen. Nathanael Greene furiously fended off an attack from ... Read more

by Ben Stansell, Sunday, June 12, 2022 12:10 am

< Older

SportsPlus