Josh Bergeron, Charlotte, NC (2024)

01/16/2024

New article from me: Tom Kincaid’s surprise reappointment in Kannapolis last week drew criticism from three of his colleagues, who are raising concerns about ethics, an “attempt for power” and how the city can move forward.

Read more at:

Some of his colleagues were worried about a conflict of interest — and still are.

09/08/2023

Haven't posted on this page since 2021, but returning to share a story I wrote this week for The Charlotte Observer (I work there now!).

This building was a professional home for Charlotte trailblazers like Julius Chambers and Harvey Gantt. Read about why the first-of-its-kind uptown building is being torn down.

Its construction alone was “an act of defiance in a racially polarized time,” said Mel Watt, who was a key figure in the building’s construction.

11/09/2021

BREAKING: Former Rowan Sheriff's Office supervisor charged with obstructing justice, possessing stolen gun

SALISBURY — The former supervisor of the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division was charged Monday with possessing a stolen firearm and obstructing justice. Rodney Scott Mahaley, a 51-year-old man, faces the charges in connection with a pawn shop transaction in January 201...

11/09/2021

BREAKING: Recently retired lieutenant for Rowan County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigation Division charged Tuesday with possessing stolen goods and two counts of felony obstruction of justice. Working on getting more details.

10/12/2021

Fence up at Rowan County Courthouse as workers start on improving entrance to building. People directed to Main Street entrance while work is underway.

10/11/2021

Looks like renovations to City Park Lake brought some new critters with them

Editor’s note: Ask Us is a weekly feature published online Mondays and in print on Tuesdays. We’ll seek to answer your questions about items or trends in Rowan County. Have a question? Email it to [email protected]. SALISBURY — Crawfish have surfaced along the banks of the lake at City P...

10/01/2021

Fences are coming down and people are exploring downtown's Bell Tower Green Park. Nonprofit that built park and city staff will officially announce grand opening at 5 p.m.

09/05/2021

Update: Following publication of this article, Matangira was able to schedule a plaque presentation with Trooper C.T. Walker for Wednesday. Law enforcement officers don’t usually receive plaques after making traffic stops, but businessman Daniel Matangira is hoping to do exactly that for Trooper C...

08/31/2021

Rowan Medical Center has brought in a trailer to use as a temporary morgue, but it's not because facility's morgue is full, Novant Health says.

Hospital is in process of cleaning upper morgue and the lower morgue is currently out of service for repairs, spokesperson said.

08/27/2021

I was sad to learn this week World War II veteran Walter Leather passed away at 95.

He was a nice man and a frequent letter-writer in the Post. I'll miss his occasional visits and friendly conversation.

Sometimes, you wish there was just a little more time to get to know people.

legacy.com/us/obituaries/salisburypost/name/walter-leather-obituary?pid=199921208

View Walter Matthew Leather's obituary, send flowers and sign the guestbook.

08/23/2021

This is a two-hour video of Rowan County Commissioner Craig Pierce’s arrest for driving while impaired. The video shows incidents from when Pierce was pulled over to his entry into the magistrate’s office. Pierce, 66, was stopped in June by officer H.M. Lindquist around 7:23 p.m. on Sunday, June...

08/19/2021

SALISBURY — A judge on Thursday morning ordered the immediate release of law enforcement video footage captured during the arrest of Rowan County Commissioner Craig Pierce for driving while impaired and failing to maintain lane control. Pierce, 66, was stopped by Salisbury Police officer H.M. Lind...

08/18/2021

Gov. Roy Cooper is having a news conference at 3 p.m. about COVID. This meeting is one hour later ...

Masks are currently optional.

NOTICE:

Rowan-Salisbury Schools is announcing an Emergency Called Meeting of the Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education today, August 18, 2021, at the Wallace Educational Forum (500 N. Main Street, Salisbury, NC) with the following agenda item: COVID-19 Safety Protocols.

The Meeting Agenda is now published and can be accessed at https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/SB_MeetingListing.aspx?S=800 or you may visit the school system website at http://www.rssed.org. The meeting will begin at 4:00 p.m.

The meeting will also be live-streamed through the following: https://vimeo.com/rssboe.

08/12/2021

U.S. Census data released today says 146,875 of y'all lived in Rowan County in 2020, up from 138,428 in 2010.

This is a 6.1% growth rate, or about 8,447 new people.

We'll explore more detailed data with stories in the Post!

08/11/2021

Just talked to a nursing home administrator in Rowan County. She says 93% of her residents are vaccinated, that she has to test residents twice per week for COVID because of county's CDC classification and that all but a couple of her 22 positive resident cases are symptomatic.

07/31/2021

Crews responding to fire at Rowan County Landfill. Environmental management director says fire occurred on the working face, which is where trash is actively being dumped. Fire occurred after landfill closed for day. We're working on getting more details.

07/31/2021

Big plume of smoke rising from the Rowan County Landfill and emergency vehicles filing on. Working on getting more details.

07/29/2021

Gov. Roy Cooper during a news conference today said the state is recommending everyone in a county with high rate of virus spread, which includes Rowan, wear mask in public places. He also recommended schools require masks for students and teachers.

This reiterates CDC guidance and, notably, is not a mask mandate.

In a measure that will also affect local folks, the state of North Carolina will now ask for vaccination verification for state employees or require them to wear a mask and be tested once per week.

07/20/2021

Novant Health says the average age of people being admitted into hospitals is now 47, down from a high of 61 during previous months in the pandemic. Almost universally, people admitted are unvaccinated.

07/16/2021

By Natalie Anderson [email protected] SALISBURY — With a large number of candidates running Salisbury City Council, Mayor Pro Tem Al Heggins and Mayor Karen Alexander will compete in November during the first mayoral race in Salisbury. Friday was the last day for candidates across...

07/15/2021

SALISBURY — One man was shot around noon Thursday and transported to an area hospital after driving to the Salisbury Police Department for help. Details about the incident were limited immediately after it occurred Thursday. Lt. Justin Crews said a man was shot in the 700 block of North Main Stree...

07/12/2021

Editor’s note: Ask Us is a weekly feature published online Mondays and in print on Tuesdays. We’ll seek to answer your questions about items or trends in Rowan County. Have a question? Email it to [email protected]. By Jonathan Isenhour [email protected] Salisbury Police Department ...

07/11/2021

30 candidates currently running, with just two filed for Salisbury City Council.

Possible reasons for slow filing in Salisbury include challengers getting materials together or waiting to see which council members file for re-election, incumbents not in rush to file before deadline next week and, perhaps, an incumbent is deciding whether to challenge in the mayor's race.

In any case, number will either grow this week or Salisbury will have a shortage of people running for council.

By Natalie Anderson [email protected] SALISBURY — After one full week of filing, a total of 30 candidates have thrown their names into this year’s municipal elections. Seats are set to expire in December in each of the county’s municipalities. Those vying for one have until Ju...

07/08/2021

SALISBURY — The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency on Wednesday announced the remains of a Marine killed in 1950 in Korea have been identified and will be interred in Salisbury’s National Cemetery. Pfc. Henry E. Ellis, a 22-year-old Marine from Roanoke, Virginia, was killed in action on Nov. 30, ...

07/05/2021

The Faith Fourth of July took a pandemic-induced year off in 2020, but it’s back and as big as ever in 2021. Crowds of people lined Main Street in Faith, with some setting up their positions hours before the parade started. Fire trucks and law enforcement officers were at the front. Participants i...

07/05/2021

A few photos from today's Faith Fourth of July parade.

06/13/2021

SALISBURY — One person was killed and two others were shot in an incident early Sunday in the 800 block of South Jackson Street. Salisbury Police responded to a shots fired call in the Chestnut Hill neighborhood around 12:33 a.m. and found three people with gunshot wounds. Two were transported to ...

06/11/2021

Lots of people curious about why incident in Thomasville area (man in home invasion on the run) prompted an emergency alert in Salisbury/Rowan. Short answer I'm told is "somebody messed up somewhere." Trying to figure out exactly what happened.