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 ...
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.
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. ...
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 ...
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. ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...