By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent Josh Queen, standing, shows a video explaining Community Connect, while Chairman Kevin Gordon and Commissioner Deb Hardin watch. Chuck Thompson | Shelby Independent Imagine EMS or the fire department arriving to your home for an emergency, they know your security gate code, alarm system code to your house, how many people reside in the home, dogs, cats and even where hazardous materials such as gasoline or spray paint canisters ar

By David Beasley | The Center Square The North Carolina state flag is shown flying against a blue sky. Photo: Mark Stebnicki (The Center Square) – With 2025 drawing to a close, the North Carolina Legislature still hasn’t approved a state budget, making it only the state in the nation without a full budget for fiscal 2026, according to the National Association of State Budget officers. This year may seem unusual, but in recent years, operating without an approved budget has b

Staff reports | Cleveland County Government File photo courtesy Cleveland County Gov. SHELBY – Cleveland County Animal Services will host a free Rabies Vaccination Clinic on Saturday, Nov. 22, from 9 a.m. to 12 Noon at the Cleveland County Health Department, located at 200 S. Post Road in Shelby. This community event is designed to help residents protect their pets and comply with North Carolina’s rabies vaccination requirements. The clinic is free for Cleveland County reside

By Alan Wooten | From our partners at The Center Square The North Carolina Legislative Building, home to the General Assembly, stands on Jones Street in Raleigh, N.C.  Alan Wooten | The Center Square (The Center Square) – Legislators in North Carolina have been called back into session by Gov. Josh Stein to address Medicaid funding. The first-term Democratic leader exercised the gubernatorial authority not used in seven years with the two-year state budget still unfinished

Press release | North Carolina State Government via Cleveland County On Nov. 5, the federal government directed the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) and other states to issue November 2025 Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) benefits at 35% below the maximum allotment levels. This change affects all households receiving FNS (formerly known as SNAP) benefits in North Carolina. What This Means for FNS Recipients" Because of the federal directive, mo

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent courtesy file photo Next year’s school calendar could potentially be decided at the next Cleveland County Schools Board of Education public meeting, Monday, Nov. 10. On the decision block are three different calendars, which vary in start dates, teacher workdays and end of semester before the holiday / winter / Christmas break. Option A, which is the popular choice among parents, violates state law and is considered illegal. A viola

By Annie Dance | From our partners at WCABnews.com Lake Lure Town Commissioners meeting. Courtesy photo | WCABnews.com The long-anticipated restoration of Lake Lure is almost complete, with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers expected to finish dredging and repair work by November 20. Town officials say the milestone marks a turning point after years of storm recovery and construction that have reshaped the lakefront. Mayor Carol Pritchett announced during the November coun

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent Tuesday's elections across municipalities in Cleveland County brought about new changes, familiar faces retained their seats, and also some questions, such as who won the Lattimore mayoral race? The town of Lawndale held a mixed beverage election, which resulted in a tie, with exactly 31 votes for, and 31 votes against. But the startling, yet somewhat expected, story about Tuesday was the low turnout of for local elections. Only 7% o

Staff Reports | Press Release, Cleveland County Government Cleveland County Finance and Purchasing Team. courtesy photo The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) has awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting to Cleveland County for its Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024. This award recognizes governments that go beyond the minimum requirements of generally

By Alan Wooten | The Center Square North Carolina state flag file photo (The Center Square) – Savings of North Carolina taxpayer money over the next eight years is $10.75 million through the sale of limited obligation refunding bonds through an underwriting group led by San Francisco-headquartered Wells Fargo. First-term Republican Treasurer Brad Briner said the average of $1.34 million per year is another in the step of “always looking for ways to make the most of taxpa

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 From left, Boiling Springs Police Chief Brian DiYorio, City of Shelby Police Chief Brad Fraser and Capt. Scott Brown at Tuesday night's meet and greet in Boiling Springs. Chuck Thompson | Shelby Independent BOILING SPRINGS – You may not know the name Brian DiYorio yet, but give it time. On Tuesday, Oct. 28, The Town of Boiling Springs held a drop-in meet and greet for their new Chief of Police, Brian DiYorio. The Town Hall lobby was

Press release | Cleveland County Gov. SHELBY — The United States Department of Agriculture has ordered a pause on all November SNAP benefits until further notice due to the federal government shutdown. Unless the USDA lifts their suspension in the coming days, November SNAP benefits will not be issued. The NC Department of Health and Human Services is ready to act quickly should the USDA allow North Carolina to resume November SNAP benefits. You can still use your EBT card an

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent Moore praised the Boy Scouts from Matthews who were traveling through Cleveland County on their way to Camp Grimes when they saw flames coming from the side of Cavalry's Cross Church. Courtesy photo In his weekly newsletter, U.S. Rep. Tim Moore, 14th Congressional District, which includes Cleveland County, lauded the quick reaction of boy scouts traveling through Upper Cleveland on their way to Camp Grimes. The teenagers saw flames

By Alan Wooten | The Center Square The North Carolina Legislative Building, home to the General Assembly, stands on Jones Street in Raleigh, N.C. Photo: Alan Wooten / The Center Square (The Center Square) – State budget negotiations have stalled between North Carolina Republican leaders in the General Assembly and the calendar year appears headed to an end without a new two-year spending plan. The budget by state law was due July 1 and Wednesday represented Day 114. Lawmakers

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent Rep. Kelly Hastings, N.C. House 110 -R, recently had the honor of being recognized as a 2025 Defender of Public Safety by the North Carolina Sheriffs’ Association. "I am extremely thankful to be recognized as a Defender of Public Safety by the North Carolina Sheriffs' Association," Hasting said. "It is an honor to have leading law enforcement officers in North Carolina trust me in my role as a member of the North Carolina General Ass

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent CCS Board members pictured, from left, Walter Spurling, Danny Blanton, Ron Humphries, Joel Shores, Aaron Bridges and Ronnie Grigg. Not pictured, David Fisher, Gloria Sherman and Kenneth Ledford. Editor’s note: Read carefully. This is only a report of what transpired during the meeting and not to sway anyone to agree or disagree, but to present you with the facts and let you decide for yourself. Ultimately, it was stated that the mone

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent The Shelby City Council meeting Oct. 20, 2025 A special presentation was held for the Shelby City Council Monday night during their regularly scheduled public meeting. The nonprofit organization known as Our Stories Project, has been working on identifying an African American graveyard and the Shiloh School, that once educated black children sometime after the Civil War.  Their goal is to place educational markers at the site, to rec

The Cleveland County Board of Commissioners will hold their regularly scheduled meeting, Tuesday, Oct. 21., at 6 p.m., in the county commissioners’ chamber. Items on the agenda range from recognition of Minority Enterprise Development Week to budget amendments. The commissioners will recognize Minority Enterprise Development Week, with Richard Hooker, MED Week President who is slated to be present for the special recognition. Other items on the agenda include the public comme

U.S. Rep. Tim Moore, District 14 Cleveland County’s U.S. Representative, District 14, Time Moore said he won’t accept his paycheck while...