By Chuck Thompson | The Sunday Column | Opinion OPINION – There are some topics that should never be a Sunday Column. Common sense, for instance, that should just be a given. And also, pedestrian accidents at the Cleveland County Agricultural Fair. This is the 102nd year. It’s one of those things that says fall has officially arrived in Cleveland County. I like the Fair. The rides, the food, livestock, people you haven’t seen since last year’s fair and, of course, the

By Lauren Becatti | Opinion Gardner-Webb stidnets gather for a photo with the President of Finland(center). From left, Dr. Rennie, General Rudd, Maverick, President of Finland Alexander Stubb, Marisol, Molly, Bethany, Allie, Hilda. | photo by Dr. Richard Routh. From left, Marisol, Molly, Bethany, Allie, Hilda and Lauren. | photo by Dr. Richard Routh. Seven Gardner-Webb University students, including myself, had the honor of meeting the 13th President of Finland, Alexander Stu

By Chuck Thompson | The Sunday Column Everyone needs a hobby. Some people golf. Some fish. Some people restore old cars, collect baseball cards, grow tomatoes or spend their Saturdays standing in a garage staring at a lawn mower they have no idea how to fix. I decided to start a magazine. Why? Oh, I don't know... Because for starters, if I was good at golf you wouldn't be reading this right now and apparently I don’t have enough to do as the founder, editor, reporter, adverti

By Ron Humphries | Contributing columnist to The Shelby Independent | Opinion Editor's note: This is a two part opinion series due to its length. This is the second part. Access Part one here https://www.shelbyindependent.com/post/zoning-for-ai-data-centers-part-1-squaring-the-circle-2026-tech-meets-1926-zoning OPINION – As noted in the first part of this two part series, government exists to safeguard the public's health, safety, and welfare, and zoning ordinances are essent

By Ron Humphries | Contributing columnist to The Shelby Independent | Opinion Editor's note: This is a two part opinion series due to its length. The second part will be published on Thursday. OPINION – Let me start by saying I appreciate your patience with the length, technical jargon, and prosaic nature of this column. The complexity of zoning for AI Data Centers makes it hard to present the information in a simpler format. Still, I hope the detailed approach helps to clari

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent OPINION / HUMOR — I think we have forgotten how to be bored. Not “I’m bored because there is nothing good to watch on 10 different streaming services” bored. I’m talking about the old-fashioned kind of bored. The kind where you sit there staring at a wall and actually contemplate why the wall is that specific weird color. The kind of bored where you look around the room hoping something—anything—will happen. The kind of bored where

By Wayne King | The Sunday Column OPINION – As families across Cleveland County enjoy this Labor Day weekend, I hope we take a moment to remember what this holiday is really about: The American worker. Labor Day is more than the unofficial end of summer, a long weekend, or one last barbecue before school and fall activities take over. It is a day to recognize the men and women whose hard work, dedication, and determination have built our communities and continue to move our c

By Ron Humphries | Contributing columnist to The Shelby Independent OPINION - Being a boomer and a member of the original TV generation, I watched my share of television as a child. We only had four channels, and TV time was mostly limited to evening news, family shows, and Saturday-morning cartoons. If the sun was shining, playing outside was the preferred form of entertainment. While lifestyles, particularly in rural areas, limited the negative effects of TV time, warnin

By Rod Powell | Guest Opinion OPINION — A young couple trying to buy their first home in Cleveland County already has plenty working against them. Home prices are high. Interest rates are high. Insurance isn't cheap, and saving enough for a down payment can take years. Then they finally find a modest house they can afford and discover they're competing against a large investment company with cash ready to go. That's happening in North Carolina. Around Charlotte, corporate inv

By Chuck Thompson | The Sunday Column OPINION — A few days ago, someone sent me a meme or poster / drawing – whatever you want to call it, and it was a complete fabrication that “newspaper” stood for some crap like “north, east, west, south past and present event report” and it doesn’t. That’s completely false, fake, made up and spread around the internet and we wonder why with all this information at our fingertips that people are somehow less informed than ever… it’s becaus

By Ron Humphries | Contributing Columnist for The Sunday Column OPINION — Growing up in an era defined by black-and-white TV news broadcasts, I vividly recall the authoritative voice of Walter Cronkite, whose signature sign-off, "And that's the way it is," epitomized his commitment to pure journalism. The role of the Press was pivotal in shaping democracy, and the Founding Fathers understood this, viewing a free press as essential for an informed citizenry and a healthy gover

By Rod Powell | Special Guest Opinion OPINION — A while back somebody asked me why I spend so much time at farmers markets, food pantries, community events, and little gatherings around Cleveland County. The answer was pretty simple. That’s where I find out what’s really going on. I taught history and civics for thirty years, and one thing I learned a long time ago is that you can learn a lot more by listening than by talking. Some of the best lessons I ever got didn’t c

By Ron Humphries | Special Contributor to The Shelby Independent OPINION — In today's political landscape, local leaders often present themselves as knights in shining armor, swooping in to save their communities from crises. Their altruistic acts, like community outreach programs or fundraising initiatives, may seem genuine. Still, we must ask: what truly distinguishes authentic altruism from strategic self-promotion? Understanding this helps us critically evaluate their mo

By Wayne King | Guest Opinion OPINION — The debate over funding for Cleveland County Schools should not end with the adoption of the county budget. In fact, North Carolina law provides the Cleveland County Board of Commissioners with the authority to revisit and amend the budget if they determine changes are necessary. North Carolina General Statute § 159-15 states that, "Except as otherwise restricted by law, the governing board may amend the budget ordinance at any time aft

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent OPINION — In the wake of a legal letter written by the county, earlier this week the county held a tour of the long-anticipated new Justice Center, the largest and most expensive project ever conceived and constructed by Cleveland County government. However, in its intent to rein in public scrutiny, after having the panel of a local political show first try to cover for an embarrassing reveal of information, the county then published

By Chuck Thompson | The Sunday Column OPINION – After the Civil War (a name that incorrectly identifies this pivotal historical event), many of the former Confederate Generals waged a war of ink and paper against each other, many in Northern newspapers, accusing one another of treason (of all things), incompetence, and several other personal traits that go beyond the full measure of battlefield decisions. If only these 19th Century Southern celebrities, who held the populace’

By Chuck Thompson | Shelby Independent Christine Hayes waves as others throw candy from the Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church wagon float during the Lattimore 4th of July parade OPINION – Lattimore is the small-town place to be. It really is. The 4th of July in Lattimore felt like one of those movie towns. It almost didn’t seem real – but it was, it is. Having just been less than two weeks out since I had a heart attack, I wanted to go to the parade but knew I had to take it easy

By Wayne King | Special Opinion Guest Columnist to The Shelby Independent Wayne King, special guest opinion columnist. Courtesy photo. OPINION – As we gather with family and friends this Independence Day, we celebrate more than fireworks, cookouts, and parades. We celebrate the birth of the greatest experiment in self-government the world has ever known. This year carries even greater significance as our nation begins commemorating America's 250th anniversary—a milestone that

By Wes Westmoreland | Special Guest Op-Ed Columnist for The Shelby Independent OPINION – Ink-stained hands methodically distributed lead soldiers into the wooden case. Robert Bell had known tough times in Scotland, and even tougher times in Dublin, but these times were different. It had been only five years since he arrived in Philadelphia and set up a press. In those few years, he had become a widely recognized printer and publisher, creating a market by offering low-cost

By Chuck Thompson | Shelby Independent Opinion – Wow! it's been quite a year! The plan was to look back at the most memorable news stories from the past year, but a little thing called a heart attack prevented me from completing that special news story this past week. Maybe it’s best. Maybe I’ll get to it later this month. We’ll see... To say The Shelby Independent almost didn’t make it to its first anniversary is putting it lightly. However, today isn’t about what almost hap