By Alan Wooten | The Center Square Alan Wooten | The Center Square (The Center Square) – Property tax reform options will be examined and recommendations made by a 10-member committee of the Senate in North Carolina. Sen. Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, the president pro tempore, chose Appropriations Committee Cochairmen Brent Jackson, R-Sampson, and Michael Lee, R-New Hanover, to lead the group. Policy proposals “to rein in runaway property tax practices being implemented acro

Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent Cleveland County Admin Building where the county commissioners meet. Chuck Thompson | Shelby Independent Is the school board political drama spilling over to the county commissioners race? The Shelby Independent could not verify that political drama is contagious because the CDC could not be reached for comment for this question, but in a google search, and it must be noted was not verified by any qualified experts, stated, "The C

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent The Boiling Springs City Council, with Mayor Tommy Greene third from left. Feb 3, 2026. Chuck Thompson | Shelby Independent BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Several Town of Boiling Springs Police Officers were sworn in, and promotions were also awarded, Tuesday night at the Boiling Springs Town Council public meeting. A proclamation was also read, honoring former Mayor Bill Elliott, who recently passed away at the age of 95.   The meeti

By Alan Wooten | The Center Square A pocket copy of the U.S. Constitution rests on an American flag.  Alan Wooten / The Center Square (The Center Square) – Eighty-nine of 100 counties in North Carolina have America 250 NC committees, and more than $2 million in grants have already been distributed to 74 counties by the state Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. The first of multiple signature events begins in three weeks at the First in Freedom Festival. “In 20

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent Snow totals are still being defined but right now it is expected to be six to seven inches After last weekend’s ice storm , Cleveland County is prepping for wintry weather across the county this weekend, as municipalities, county government and schools prepare for snow. The City of Shelby posted cautionary social media posts, urging residents to be prepared, while other towns across the county did the same.  From Boiling Springs to B

Staff reports Kings Mountain City Hall, late summer 2025 The City of Kings Mountain announced that all city offices will be opening at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, January 27, 2026. Solid waste will begin picking up Monday's route tomorrow once operational hours of the landfill are verified and when road conditions are safe for equipment and employees. If your normally scheduled pick-up day is Monday, please place your container by the road as usual, at or near the spot you would

Staff Reports Due to expected extreme cold tonight and the potential for refreezing of any remaining precipitation, Cleveland County will operate on a three-hour delayed start on Tuesday, January 27. County offices and services will open at 11:00 a.m. Impact on County Services: • Convenience/Recycling Sites: All sites will open at 11:00 a.m., except the Polkville (4732 Peyton Place Rd., Polkville) and Lutz (230 Vic Randall Rd., Lawndale) Convenience Sites, which will remain c

Staff Reports Cleveland County Government offices will be closed on Monday, Jan. 26, due to inclement weather. This closure includes all convenience centers and landfills. Residents are encouraged to visit www.clevelandcounty.com for the most up-to-date information regarding County closures and service updates. Road conditions are treacherous and residents are urged to avoid travel. Those needing information on essential resources or shelter availability may contact the Citiz

Staff Reports Read the State of Emergency, signed by Chairman Kevin Gordon, in it's original form below: The Shelby Independent

Staff Reports Read the statement below in it's original form: The Shelby Independent

Cleveland County Emergency Management and County leadership are closely monitoring the weather forecast and preparing for significant winter weather impacts. County officials are coordinating preparedness efforts to ensure the safety of residents. Community safety remains our top priority, and residents are encouraged to stay informed and take appropriate precautions ahead of the storm.   If any county closures, service impacts, or operational changes occur, official updates

Staff reports | Shanghai VFD Shanghai Volunteer Fire Department sign. courtesy photo by Josh Biddix SHANGHAI COMMUNITY / SHELBY – The Shanghai Volunteer Fire Department Board of Directors convened on January 13th, 2026. The board moved forward with election of officers; Josh Biddix was elected Chairman Of The Board and Mike Carr elected Vice-Chairman of The Board. The board appointed Matt Childers as Interim-Chief along with appointing a Chief’s Search Committee. Interim

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent file photo | Chuck Thompson The Cleveland County Board of Commissioners will hold their first public meeting of the new year on Tuesday, Jan. 20 at 6 p.m.   Items on the agenda include recognition of high school state champions, Shelby and Crest. Also, a special recognition of Cervical Awareness month, with Lindsay Gullatte-Lee, ‘Get in Good with Your Health’, will be recognized. Next on the agenda, is the public comment portion of t

Press Release | Cleveland County Health Department CASAR / SHELBY  – On Jan. 15, the Cleveland County Health Department was notified of two skunks that tested positive for rabies. The animals were found on Haywood Road in Casar and on Marion Street in Shelby. Any person exposed to potentially infectious saliva from an animal should contact their healthcare provider or CCHD for a rabies risk assessment. You may contact us at 980-484-5169 or 980-484-5100. Rabies occurs througho

By Alan Wooten | The Center Square North Carolina’s agriculture and agri-business economic impact is an estimated $111.1 billion annually. | The Shelby Independent file graphic (The Center Square) – Plausible reductions in agricultural exports because of retaliatory trade policies stemming from aggressive U.S. tariffs could cost North Carolina farmers $695 million, a new report says. Dr. Jeffrey Dorfman of N.C. State University, for the conservative-leaning John

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent City Council listens as new City manager Justin Merritt gives his first public report as city manager, Jan. 12, 2026. courtesy photo. Shelby City Council kicked off 2026 with their first meeting of the new year. It was Justin Merritt’s first public meeting as the new City of Shelby Manager. The first order of business was to adopt the agenda as presented, which passed unanimously. Next was the public comments. A Shelby resident s

By Alan Wooten | The Center Square File photo, courtesy of The Center Square (The Center Square) – Review of North Carolina’s non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses shows 54% were illegally issued. ( Non-domiciled is a person living in a country, such as the U.S.A., but their permanent home (domicile) is another country, mostly for tax purposes ). The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration analysis sets up withholding of $50 million in federal funding by the U.S. De

Staff reports | The Shelby Independent In public documents obtained by the Shelby Independent, Kings Mountain City Council Member Scott Neisler, 71, of Kings Mountain, was charged in Cleveland County with one count of alleged common law forgery. While the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty, public documents show Neisler received a criminal summons on Dec. 10, 2025. The document alleges that on Oct. 10, 2025, Neisler, “On or about the date of offense shown and

By Alan Wooten | The Center Square file image (The Center Square) – Taxpayers in North Carolina have new levels in three areas impacting everyday life. Arguably the most times transacted against least noticed will be at the gas pumps. Starting on New Year’s Day and running to Dec. 31, the motor fuels and alternative fuels excise tax rate is 41 cents per gallon or gallon equivalent, the state Department of Revenue says. Individual and corporate income tax rates are also droppi

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent Boiling Springs Town Hall, late summer 2025. File photo Chuck Thompson Boiling Springs, N.C . – Councilmember Justin Davis was sworn in Tuesday night at the beginning of the meeting. He was sworn in with his family by his side.  Mayor Tommy Greene recognized the Crest High School Football team, reading a proclamation for their outstanding achievement winning the 5A State Championship. President of Gardner-Webb University, Nate