By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent Sara Tongel at Norris Merchandise, is a captain at Number 3 VFD and a sitting board member at Shanghai VFD. Chuck Thompson | Shelby Independent If you don’t know Sara Tongel, you’ve more than likely seen or spoken to her if you have ever been to Norris Merchandise on S. Lafayette, just south of Shelby. “I'm Secretary of State,” she laughed, when asked what her title is, when it comes to Norris Merchandise. “We’re a small family bus

Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent From left, Crest's Thompson hurdles over a Hunt player, a CCS School Board meeting, former Boiling Springs Mayor Daniel Thomas. It’s hard to believe that it’s the end of the year. The Shelby Independent might have only launched in June, publishing its first original piece on July 1, but with 250 articles published, it only makes sense to highlight the year in review with the TOP 10 LOCAL NEWS STORIES OF 2025, in Cleveland County. This w

Staff Reports | The Shelby Independent, North Pole Media Office Stocking hung, by the chimney with care. Santa's got a brand new sleigh! Recently, The Shelby Independent was able to obtain some inside information regarding Santa replacing his sleigh. While the reports remained unconfirmed from October, when we received the alleged information, The North Pole did send a press release confirming that Santa did indeed replace the sled that he has used since 1937. In the stateme

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent Law enforcement volunteers and 17 local kids participated in shop with a cop on Friday. Courtesy photo, BSPD (For photos from 'Shop with a Cop' event, scroll to the end of the news story) BOILING SPRINGS – The annual Shop with a Cop was held the past Friday in Cleveland County, with kids and law enforcement officers from across the county. The happy faces of kids and cops gathered at The Boiling Springs Town Hall before rolling out

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent Boiling Springs Police Officer Anthony Fields and Chief Brian DiYorio at Operation Secret Surprise, in the Boiling springs Town Hall. Chuck Thompson | Shelby Independent When a child wants to give their parents a Christmas gift, it holds a special meaning that a child takes the time to think of their parents during the holiday season. That’s why Officer Anthony Fields and the Boiling Springs Police Department held their fir

By Chuck Thompson | The Sunday Column The Sunday Column It might have looked like Crest’s #1 Namajay Thompson landed after leaping over Hunt’s #15 player, but after that win I’m sure he’s still soaring; and so is every player and coach on Crest's and Shelby's teams right now. Sure. That play might have been against regulation / illegal, but it was awesome to watch – whether you were at the game and saw Namajay Superman Thompson leap the Hunt player in a single bound, or wat

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent See the Boiling Springs parade photos below article Santa on the left and Town Manager Zach Parker and Mayor Tommy Greene, right, flank the sides of the Boiling Springs Christmas tree after the lighting ceremony Saturday night. Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent (parade photos below article) The Boiling Springs Christmas parade was fun for everyone, as residents, college students and some from across the county, gathered

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent From left, back row: Ofc Crowder, Chief DiYorio, Inv. Paz, Reanna, Lt. Gantt, Catlyn, Sgt. Williamson, Cpl. Lane. Front row: Lilly, Kylie, Javianna. Submitted photo 'Food and Order' was the unofficial motto Thursday evening (and not in that order) at the Bulldog Quik-Snak in Boiling Springs, as the Boiling Springs Police Department served patrons, acting as waiters and bussers for several hours while raising money to support our t

By Gabe Whisnant | Special to The Shelby Independent The Historic Mount Harmony Church, located at 131 Mount Harmony Church Rd in Polkville, will hold its annual Christmas Harp Concert on Sunday, November 30, at 3 p.m. Courtesy photo Mount Harmony Church The Historic Mount Harmony Church will hold its annual Christmas Harp Concert on Sunday, Nov. 30, at 3 p.m. Worshipers are invited to come early and fellowship.  Polkville native Lelia Lattimore will be playing the orchestr

Staff reports | Atrium Health submitted photo More than 30 Atrium Health Cleveland and Atrium Health Kings Mountain teammates volunteered at Washington Outreach Ministry’s drive-thru food pantry event in Shelby earlier this month. The health care professionals — including doctors, nurses and hospital leaders — worked side-by-side with food pantry staffers to combat hunger in Cleveland County. Atrium Health teammates unloaded food trucks, organized donated items and handed out

Veterans’ Day salute to my pawpaw

Staff reports | Press Release Healthy Together Cleveland logo Cleveland County has made a donation of $10,000 to support the Everyone Eats Emergency Food Fund Drive , spearheaded by Healthy Together Cleveland  (HTC) to combat food insecurity in the county. Donations to this effort will be used to support Washington Outreach Ministry  (WOM), a local nonprofit organization which serves as the primary food hub for Cleveland County. To date, HTC has raised $80,110 toward its goal

Crime Stoppers will host its BBQ fundraiser on Nov. 15 By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent Have you ever wanted to help fight crime by eating BBQ? Now you can – and sign me up, too. Cleveland County Crime Stoppers is hosting a BBQ fundraiser on Nov. 15. Since the reboot of Crime Stoppers in Cleveland County in early 2022, the organization has relied mostly on grants from local entities for their funding to pay anonymous tipsters reward money for information that leads

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent Boiling Springs Mayor Daniel Thomas file photo BOILING SPRINGS – Mayor Daniel Thomas presided over his last full public meeting as the Mayor of Boiling Springs Tuesday night. The November meeting for The Town of Boiling Springs was held Tuesday Oct. 28 due to municipal elections next Tuesday, Nov. 4. After the public town meeting business concluded, council members expressed their praise and admiration for Mayor Thomas but electe

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent Blue Crew LEMC Donnie Chapman, Sergeant Mike Lovelace, Deputy Jesse Hollifield, K-9 Deputy Mike Lawrence and his partner K9 Karma, Deputy Alex Granados, Deputy Ryan Jones and V. Pres. Chris Ledbetter at the fundraising event on Saturday. Courtesy photo | Blue Crew LEMC. Cameron Todd Bridal & Formalwear JB Drone Solutions Blue Crew Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club (L.E.M.C.) held their first Paws for Laws fundraiser ride through Cleve

Staff Reports The Casar Halloween Bash will be held in Casar Park this Saturday Looking for something to do that is fun for the whole family this Saturday evening? Casar will host its Halloween Bash this Saturday, from 5 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. at Casar Park. There will be a costume contest, trunk or treat, hay ride, games, bounce house and more. Also, it's important to note that officials said there will be no flashing lights for those who have sensory issues. Go have a spooky good

Staff reports The Albemarle Foundation recently awarded a $10,000 Impact grant to support the Everyone Eats Emergency Food Fund Drive,...

By Lauren Becatti | The Shelby Independent Dog park users can access the new park through the Harmony Trail entrance photos courtesy...

Shelby Mayor Pro Tem David White (Ward 2) speaks to city council and those in attendance Monday night. City Council Member Violet Arth...

Charlie Kirk, with wife Erika and their two children. Courtesy photo On Sept 10, Charlie Kirk, 31, was killed by an assassin’s bullet...