September

Governor proclaims September Smart Start Month: NC Partnership for Children celebrates special month (Sept. 3)

By Karen Kistler

Gov. Roy Cooper has proclaimed September as Smart Start Month, and this proclamation acknowledges the Smart Start Network’s commitment for more than 30 years of ensuring all North Carolina’s young children enter school healthy and prepared for success.

Upon learning about the proclamation, Denise Heinke, director of outreach and development with Smart Start Rowan, said, “We really feel very humbled by the fact that our agency statewide is being recognized for this. I’m just very humbled to be a part of the agency.”  

 

Faith Academy staff member charged with sex crimes involving student (Sept. 4)

By Chandler Inions

A Faith Academy staff member and former Rowan-Salisbury Schools Board candidate has been charged with sex crimes involving a student at the school where he was reportedly teaching. Michael Carl Chapman, 68, of Salisbury, was arrested on Friday by the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office on one count of felony indecent liberties with a child for an offense dated May 20. According to the warrant obtained from the Rowan County Clerk of Court’s office, Chapman is alleged to have “unlawfully, willfully and feloniously (taken) indecent liberties with (the victim). At the time of the offense, the defendant was a teacher at Faith Academy Charter School and the victim was a student at this same school.”  

 

‘Display of heroism’ — Salisbury recognizes three firefighters who potentially saved police officer’s life (Sept. 5) 

By Robert Sullivan

Salisbury Police Chief Patrick Smith honored three firefighters for their actions during an incident in June, where they helped gain control of a man who had jumped into a police officer’s vehicle and was attempting to grab the officer’s firearm and Taser.

The three firefighters, Allan Overcash, Luis Vazquez and Evan Martinez, each received a certificate of appreciation from Smith and the police officer they helped, Hunter Shue, as well as an award for commendable actions.

 

Juvenile charged as adult with 1st degree murder in Airport Road shooting (Sept. 7)

By Elisabeth Strillacci

The juvenile that was being held in the shooting death of Mainank “Mike” Patel, 36, owner of the Tobacco House store the morning of Aug. 13 has now been charged, as an adult, with first-degree murder.

Jhack Aaron Pless, 16, appeared in juvenile court where presiding Judge Ashley Andrews issued a true bill of indictment and the case was then transferred to Rowan County Superior Court. Pless was charged with robbery with a dangerous weapon and first-degree murder. 

 

High school football: Record-setting night for Webb (Sept. 10)

By Mike London

Salisbury quarterback Hank Webb broke school records for passing yardage and touchdown passes, as the Hornets crushed East Rowan 57-0 on Friday.

Webb, a former receiver who was making his third start at quarterback, completed 17 of his 23 passes. He threw for 294 yards to shatter the single-game record (260) for the program that Griffin Myers set in 2017 against Central Davidson. Webb’s five TD passes set a new standard for Hornet QBs and were only one short of the county record held by West Rowan’s Noah Loeblein.  

 

Granite Quarry receives $500,000 to improve Civic Park; approves smoke-free, nicotine-free parks (Sept. 11)

By Robert Sullivan

Granite Quarry received a $500,000 grant from the N.C. Parks and Recreation Authority Trust Fund, money that town officials said will help make the town’s Civic Park renovations a reality. 

The town allocated $500,000 in matching funds for the project, so the grant brings the total funding up to $1 million. That money will be used to fund some of the renovations called for in the Civic Park Master Plan approved in April, which included projects such as updating shelter and restroom facilities, new playground equipment, updated tennis and pickleball courts, a new splash pad and an updated basketball court.

 

Ronnie Marsh celebrates 50 years in uniform for Rowan (Sept. 15)

By Elisabeth Strillacci

Fifty years in one career is nearly unheard of these days, but for Ronnie Marsh, it’s just another day in a job he loves.

Marsh spent years working as a store manager for the original Food Town, but that’s not the career he’s dedicated most of his life to. Instead, it’s donning the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office uniform that has held his heart for 50 years as of Sept. 10.

 

Julian H. Robertson Jr. makes final investments in beloved hometown (Sept. 17)

Staff reports

Although Julian Robertson Jr. died just over two years ago, he continues to bless the community that he was always proud to claim as his hometown.

The Blanche and Julian Robertson Family Foundation announced that it has received $50 million from Robertson’s estate to continue its work to maintain and improve the quality of life in Salisbury.

 

Second annual Latin American Independence celebration rocks park (Sept. 26)

By Elisabeth Strillacci

Bright, celebratory colors, from flags to costumes to general attire, was the prevailing theme at the second annual Festival de Independencia Latinoamericana.

Held at Bell Tower Green park, the event had participants from numerous community organizations, so those in the Latin American community can be aware of services available, but there was dancing, singing, and not just on the stage. The day was part of the Summer Reels & Riffs Movies and Music Series.

The event marks the start of Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, and is a celebration of all Latino heritage.

 

Deputy chief retires with accolades after 24 years (Sept. 27)

By Elisabeth Strillacci

Deputy Chief of Police Daniel M. Wallace received his boss’ highest accolade at the city council meeting night after his retirement after 24 years was announced. Wallace was presented with the Chief’s Award, along with his service weapon and badge, by Chief Terry Spry.

The presentation came with emotional thanks from Spry, who said he and Wallace have grown up together, been classmates, workmates and friends. Wallace’s departure, Spry said, is “bittersweet.”

 

Wind and water: Storm Helene downs trees and power lines (Sept. 29)

Staff reports

Tropical storm Helene hit Rowan County and much of western North Carolina with a one-two punch, starting in the early hours before dawn with rain and wind and rounding with a second hit about 9 a.m.

Local streets were subject to flash flooding and as of noon, there were still about 13,000 without power in the county. But by just after noon, Rowan County emergency services said they were coming out of storm emergency mode and returning to routine communications.  

 

Wil-Cox Bridge celebrates 100 years as surrounding parks grow (Sept. 29)

By Elisabeth Strillacci

The historic Wil-Cox Bridge that spans the Yadkin River, connecting Rowan and Davidson counties, has become a pedestrian bridge surrounded by a park on both sides, but this year, the bridge is celebrating its 100th birthday, harking back to a time when it was a vehicular bridge on the main highway between Greensboro and Charlotte. 

The bridge is only one of eight of its design remaining in the country. It is a concrete open-spandrel structure with seven arches. During its lifetime, it has served as a toll bridge, a highway, and now a pedestrian bridge.

 

October

Project Light grand opening brings together officials, community in human trafficking fight (Oct. 3)

By Robert Sullivan

”Human trafficking is one of the most pressing human rights issues of our day, and we should be proud that Rowan County is on the map for shedding light on a dark situation,” said Dr. Anthony Davis, president of Livingstone College.

That was the prevailing message during the grand opening of Project Light’s new space in the Rowan Community Center, formerly known as the West End Plaza or Salisbury Mall. 

 

Another brick in the wall: Bricklaying competition grows (Oct. 4)

By Karen Kistler

Brick by brick, walls were going up at the 2024 North Carolina Spec Mix Bricklayer 500 Regional Event, held Oct. 3 at Ben Ketchie Park on Old Beatty Ford Road in Gold Hill. Teams worked hard to see who would win the prize and be named “North Carolina’s Best Bricklayer.” This regional masonry challenge, as noted in a release, was one of 22 regional series qualifiers held across North America to see who would advance to the 2025 World Championship taking place in January in Las Vegas during the World of Concrete trade show.

 

Spencer breaks ground for the (re)creation of a town park (Oct. 4)

By Elisabeth Strillacci

Many residents and travelers who pass down Salisbury Avenue in Spencer are familiar with the paved parking lot in front of what is now town hall and the Spencer Police Department, but in the 1920s, that pavement was a beautiful, green park.

Now, the park is coming back to Spencer, at least in part.

Initially created as a place to gather, relax and enjoy community time for those across the street at the Southern Railway, now the Transportation Museum, the original park was a community effort. 

 

#NCStrong: Local police deliver first supplies to Marshall, NC (Oct. 6)

By Elisabeth Strillacci

Dwight Cody and his wife, who live in Marshall, N.C., had not been able to reach their oldest daughter in a week. That was just one piece of information Cody, 58, a volunteer firefighter, shared when a cadre of police officers from Spencer, Cleveland and Granite Quarry arrived at Cody’s firehouse with the first delivery of supplies the community had received since Helene swept through.

Led by Spencer Police Chief Michael File and Granite Quarry Police Chief Chief Todd Taylor, the group of eight men drove a load of five pickup trucks, a 13-foot trailer and a box truck packed tight with supplies of everything from canned goods to diapers to medication up into the western North Carolina mountains.

 

Mustangs are champs for 8th straight time (Oct. 6)

By Mike London

East Rowan’s girls golf team won its eighth straight Rowan County championship on Thursday at McCanless.

While East has gotten used to winning titles under coach Rhett Teems, and now Tinsley Merrell, this one may have been the most satisfying for the Mustangs because just two days prior to the county event, South Rowan had topped East in a nine-hole match at Irish Creek. South’s top four had come in sprinting together like a pack of cross country runners — 46, 46, 47, 48.

 

‘Tell them you love them’ — Into the Light Suicide and Mental Health Awareness Walk speaker shares powerful message (Oct. 8)

By Chandler Inions

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, someone in the United States takes their life every 11 minutes. With such a staggering frequency, it’s likely that most people have been impacted in some way by suicide.

Several of those people gathered before day break on Saturday at Catawba College’s Shuford Stadium for the Into the Light Suicide and Mental Health Awareness Walk. While everyone there probably has a story to tell, one individual, Katelin Rice, offered testimony about her life following her father’s suicide. 

 

Domestic violence victims and survivors of all walks honored during candlelight vigil (Oct. 13)

By Robert Sullivan

In front of dozens of pairs of purple shoes laid across the Rowan County Courthouse steps representing the victims of domestic violence, the Family Crisis Council of Rowan held a candlelight vigil raising awareness about the issue of domestic violence in the community.

“Domestic violence is often a silent epidemic, hidden behind closed doors and whispered about in secret. But, tonight for this vigil we bring it to the light. We refuse to let those who have suffered be forgotten,” said Executive Director Angela Chapman-McDavid. 

The event was previously held in October, Domestic Violence Awareness Month, annually, but was put on hold for the COVID pandemic and only restarted in 2024. Kimberly Fowler, the organization’s shelter director, said that while the turnout was not as large as it had been in the past, the organization hopes to build it back up.

 

‘She is still here’ – Late teacher’s coworkers remember her legacy at West Rowan Middle (Oct. 13)

By Chandler Inions

Sixth-grade science teacher Annick Dalton was killed in a car wreck on I-85 on Oct. 5, but her legacy is living on. Throughout the week, students and staff at West Rowan Middle School have remembered a smiling face who brought joy into every room she entered.

“She cared about people — everybody all the time,” Assistant Principal Melissa Powers said. “It did not matter if you were her co-teacher, her mentor, one of her students or even just a student she came across in the hallway. She was about living and caring for people.”

 

OctoberTour opens five newer historic houses to the public for the first time (Oct. 15)

By Robert Sullivan

The Historic Salisbury Foundation took the OctoberTour off the beaten path for the 49th annual edition, featuring “newer” historic houses in the area around Hurley Park instead of the familiar West Square neighborhood.

“Some of these houses might not be thought of as historic, but history is a continuum. It always continues forward, and this indicates that our history is continuing forward,” said HSF Founder Edward Clement, who has been involved with every version of OctoberTour. 

The houses that were open to the public were on Confederate Avenue, Club Drive and Annandale Avenue, with the vendors and live music being offered in the festival space in Hurley Park. Clement said that this was the first time any of the homes had been opened to the public.

 

Boyden High School classmates celebrate 70th reunion (Oct. 17)

By Karen Kistler

Fifteen members of the Boyden High School Class of 1954 gathered for their 70th reunion on Oct. 5 at the Salisbury home of Roy and Norma Campbell.

Meetta Lampert, one of the classmates, said no plans had been made as of the summer to have a reunion, except that Norma had mentioned inviting the class to have lunch at their home to celebrate the 70 years.

Nothing else was discussed, Lampert said, until she received an email from Wyndham Robertson, a fellow classmate, asking if a reunion was going to take place.

Robertson, she said, spurred the reunion onward and the Campbells and Meetta Lampert and her husband Mack met to select a date and organize the event, Meetta said.

 

After 60 years of closure, Empire Hotel revitalization officially underway (Oct. 20)

By Robert Sullivan

The revitalization of the Empire Hotel is officially underway, as the developers and city officials held a groundbreaking ceremony announcing the beginning of the Empire Row Homes portion of the project.

“Famous actors and travelers, well-known people have all come and seen this amazing space and have lived and worked out of the Empire. It has not happened for decades, and we’re taking a huge step today to seeing it happen again,” said Downtown Salisbury Inc. President Tonyan Schofield.

The hotel is located on Main Street directly opposite city hall and has stood unused since it closed in 1963, over 100 years after the building first opened in the 1850s as the Boyden House. In between the years 1850 and 2024, the Boyden House was renovated into the Empire Hotel and served as the center of high society in Salisbury, apartments and temporary housing and finally the subject of countless redevelopment discussions and hopes under the ownership of DSI, who purchased the building in 2007.

 

New mural captures history of Spencer (Oct. 27)

By Elisabeth Strillacci

That art is becoming part of Spencer’s history is cyclical, because it is in large part due to a concerted effort to hold on to the town’s history. 

A large mural on the side of the town hall that was just completed is intended to represent different times in Spencer’s history and it’s a prime example of the years-long project the town has undertaken.

 

High school volleyball: Big road win for Cougars, advance to 4th round (Oct. 29)

Staff reports

Carson’s 15th straight volleyball win took place in the mountains.

The fifth-seeded Cougars (27-5) broomed the fourth-seeded Ashe County Huskies from the 3A state playoffs with a 25-17, 25-22 and 25-21 sweep.

It wasn’t the standard sweep. It was a hard fight. Ashe County (19-3) had won 20 straight times on its home floor, including a  miraculous comeback in the second round to get past North Lincoln.

 

Rowan County outpacing record 2020 turnout during early voting period (Oct. 30)

By Robert Sullivan

Rowan County set a record for early voting and absentee turnout in 2020, and the voters are on pace to again break the record as the county enters the last week of early voting.

As of the end of Oct. 27, 2024, 37,881 voters, or 37.55 percent of the 100,893 eligible voters, had voted early. The majority of that number comes from either the Salisbury location with 10,423 and the South Rowan location with 10,873. North Rowan has reported 4,116, East Rowan has reported 9,409 and West Rowan has reported 3,060.

 

Marking the end of a life with joy, remembrance (Oct. 31)

By Elisabeth Strillacci

When a life in active motion is suddenly cut short, the stark empty space left behind hits hard. Such was the impact of the loss of Granite Quarry police officer David “Dav-I” Earnhardt.

Earnhardt died Oct. 25 after a brief, fierce battle with cancer, leaving a lifelong career in public safety in mid-stride behind, and the friends of a lifetime and cherished family stunned.  

His cancer battle was a private matter, but his career in public service was not. As a teenager, he was a junior firefighter with Rockwell Rural Volunteer Fire Department, but in 1990, he became a volunteer with both the Rockwell Police Department and the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office. Many of his friendships began long before.

 

November

Spencer brings back hometown Christmas parade (Nov. 3)

By Elisabeth Strillacci

The town is returning to its roots this year by bringing back the Spencer Christmas parade.

The Holiday Caravan Parade will kick off at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 27 from North Rowan High School, and there will be food trucks and local restaurants selling food for those in the parade, those watching, and anyone downtown for the evening.

 

‘We are all in’: annual NAACP Freedom Fund Banquet held; awards presented (Nov. 3)

By Karen Kistler

“All In” was the theme of the 30th annual Freedom Fund Banquet, held in the Peeler Crystal Lounge at Catawba College.

The room was filled for this milestone event, which is a long-standing tradition that helps fund programs such as the Financial Literacy Series, the Color of Change Youth Initiative, and Voter Education Outreach.

Featured as the keynote speaker at the banquet was Karen Boykin-Towns, vice chairman of the NAACP National Board of Directors.

 

Marching forward: Saturday crowd champions personal freedoms (Nov. 5)

By Chandler Inions

Salisbury joined 200 cities nationwide as host sites for the March to Protect All Our Basic Freedoms, a women’s led rally to get out the vote and champion various electoral issues.

Dozens of people gathered on the steps of the Rowan County Administration Building on West Innes Street to hear various speakers, singers and poets address the crowd before those numbers set off on a multi-block march around the city. 

 

East Spencer continues on growth curve, improvements (Nov. 8)

By Elisabeth Strillacci

The walls are up on both buildings in the new industrial center on Andrews Street in East Spencer and Salisbury-Rowan Utilities has just given approval for the planned Sheetz to attach to their lines.

The industrial center, which sits on an 80-acre parcel just around the curve from exit 79 on I-85, is being developed by Halstatt Real Estate Partners and Tectonic. In the original proposal of the two buildings, building A had a footprint of 451,980, and building B spanned 162,240 square feet. Called the Rusher Farms Industrial Complex as a nod to the former owners, there is currently a tenant for building A, though it has not yet been named

 

Identified after 80 years listed missing, WWII soldier to be laid to rest Friday in Salisbury (Nov. 17)

By Robert Sullivan

Eighty years ago, almost to the day, Technical Sergeant Thomas Odell Moss was killed by German artillery after three years of fighting in Europe. After the battle, German military recaptured Moss’ position, leading to his remains first being unrecoverable and, after the war, being unidentifiable. 

This year, Army officials were able to identify Moss and his surviving family will bury him in the National Cemetery Annex. 

Moss’ closest living relative is his niece Ann Adcock, who was a year old when he died and now lives in Kannapolis. So, when the Department of Defense’s POW/MIA Accounting Agency firmly established the remains as T. Sgt. Moss, the agency’s Sgt. Josh Buckner reached out to Adcock to give her the news.

 

Christmas Happiness returns (Nov. 23)

By Chandler Inions

It’s that time of the season again for a giving tradition 70 years in the making.

The Salisbury Post’s Christmas Happiness Drive will once more begin taking donations.

From the $1,811.41 raised in the first year the Christmas Happiness fund was created nearly 70 years ago to last year’s $39,566.78, more joy has been spread to children who may not have been able to enjoy the holidays as happily in Rowan County.

 

Therapy pup enters national competition (Nov. 24)

By Elisabeth Strillacci

Murphy is a beautiful lab with a dark brown and black coat who is quite happy to let children hang on his neck, rub his ears and, sometimes, cry into his fur. 

He is the full-time therapy dog at the Terrie Hess Child Advocacy Center, which serves victims of child abuse in Rowan County. His warm greeting and comforting presence can reduce the fear or anxiety that a child may experience, and remind them that they are not alone.

 

December

Family and friends help local veteran celebrate 102nd birthday (Dec. 5)

By Karen Kistler

The room and tables were filled at Christiana Lutheran Church in Salisbury on Nov. 19, and while that wasn’t unusual on a Tuesday morning, one table in particular was attracting some extra special attention.

Tuesdays are when veterans gather at the church to enjoy a meal and fellowship, and World War II veteran Jim Deal, a regular attendee, was there, but on this particular date, it wasn’t just a regular day for him. It was his 102nd birthday, and his friends at the luncheon were dropping by his table to wish him a happy birthday. 

In addition to the veterans and spouses that attend the weekly event, members of Deal’s family, which included his daughters, Paula Hill and Melissa Waller, and granddaughter Jordan Dulaney, were there to help him celebrate this very special milestone event.

 

The Nutcracker returns to Salisbury High School (Dec. 6)

By Chandler Inions

The Salisbury Community Nutcracker ballet brings together young people from multiple age groups to create an entertaining night for attending family and lasting memories for the performers.

The classic Christmastime performance will be held in the auditorium at Salisbury High School on Dec. 6 and 7.

All week long, several of the student performers have been rehearsing for the big night.

 

“Cops Target Kids” a Kannapolis tradition for 13 years (Dec. 10)

By Elisabeth Strillacci

They started the morning with a breakfast to fuel the pending shopping spree, as Kannapolis police officers teamed up with local kids for the department’s annual “Cops Target Kids” Christmas shopping trip.

According to Sgt. Travis Kiser, who helped organize the event, 49 children were selected to participate over three days of shopping. On the final day of shopping, officers, family members and 18 children visited Target to shop for both essential clothing supplies and toys and games.  When the group left the police department, heading for Target, they traveled in a caravan of police and emergency vehicles, with blue lights going and sirens singing through the neighborhoods.

 

Novant Rowan Regional Medical Center celebrates 125 years of healthcare in community (Dec. 15)

By Karen Kistler

Remembering the past, giving thanks for the present and looking to the future were all part of Novant Health Rowan Regional Medical Center’s event held to celebrate 125 years of healthcare in the community.  Hospital staff, hospital and foundation board members, history committee members and additional guests gathered Dec. 11 at the Country Club of Salisbury for the special event, during which time, multiple speakers shared about the growth of the hospital over the years and recognized many who have supported and made the hospital what it is today.

 

Aceves named RoCo Parks and Rec director (Dec. 15)

By Robert Sullivan

Former Salisbury Parks and Recreation Director Nick Aceves has been named the director of the Rowan County Parks and Recreation Department following the retirement of previous Director Don Bringle. The county named Aceves to the role on Dec. 9.

Aceves is a veteran of the parks and recreation field overall and in Rowan County, having 20 years of overall experience in the field and eight years of experience as the director of Salisbury’s Parks and Recreation Department.

 

City begins discussions to solve local historic landmark designation moratorium (Dec. 18)

By Robert Sullivan

The Salisbury City Council implemented a six-month moratorium on historic landmark designations back in October due to questions about the program. Members of the city’s Historic Preservation Commission and the public held discussions on how to address or solve those questions. 

The discussion was officially a part of the meeting of the HPC’s Landmark Subcommittee, one of the two subcommittees tasked with looking at the commission’s regulations and procedures surrounding the designation of local historic landmarks.

 

Bringle retiring after 20 years steering county parks and rec (Dec. 19)

By Robert Sullivan

Don Bringle retired in early December after over 20 years at the head of Rowan County Parks and Recreation, a time which has seen the opening of Woodleaf Park and a multitude of renovations to other parks throughout the county.

During that time, Bringle also served the county as director of facilities and fleet management, which saw him oversee the purchase and reopening of the Salisbury Mall as the Rowan Community Center, formerly the West End Plaza.  Bringle joined the county government in 2003 as the manager of Dan Nicholas Park, and was then named only the second Parks and Recreation Director following the retirement of long-time director Jim Foltz in 2009.

 

High school wrestling: West boys win 7th team title in a row; West girls repeat (Dec. 24)

By David Shaw

Nobody asks how the West Rowan boys wrestling team does it, only how many.

The Falcons answered by making history at Carson High School, becoming the first program to capture seven consecutive Rowan County Tournament titles. West crowned five weight-class champions and MOW Kevin O’Brien, but prevailed in less-than-dominant fashion.

 

Blood donor reaches 25 gallon mark of giving (Dec. 25)

By Karen Kistler

Thanksgiving and Christmas are traditionally considered the months of giving, but for David VanSlyke of Salisbury, his giving has spanned more than months, but years.

VanSlyke began giving the gift of blood starting in 1984 and is in his 40th year of donating this precious gift of life to the American Red Cross, and he has reached the 25 gallon mark.

 

Hill, Campbell, Porter honored in Landis PD annual awards (Dec. 29)

By Chandler Inions

The Landis Police Department recognized three members for their service in 2024 as part of the annual awards.

Claiming the coveted Officer of the Year Award was Sergeant Shawn Hill. Chief Matthew Geelen said the award highlighted the respect and recognition that Hill earned from his peers.

Officer Damian Campbell earned the Chief’s Award. Geelen said that award is bestowed upon the department’s most proactive.

Last but certainly not least is the Top Gun Award, which Geelen said is given to the officer with the greatest combined score in the department’s annual qualification assessments, highlighting exceptional firearm skills. That honor went to Buddy Porter Jr.