Staff reports Shelby Independent created logo image file photo Cleveland County Register of Deeds Betsy Harnage announced that beginning Jan. 1, 2026, Registers of Deeds across North Carolina will be authorized to issue certified copies of adoptive birth certificates under provisions of Senate Bill 248, Birth Certificates for Persons Adopted. Senate Bill 248 (SB 248) was enacted by the North Carolina General Assembly in June and signed into law by Governor Josh Stein on Ju

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

Staff Reports Congressman Time Moore, 14th Congressional District. Official photo WASHINGTON, D.C. — Already this week, the House Committee on Financial Services advanced the bipartisan Housing for the 21st Century Act (H.R.6644). Congressman Tim Moore (NC-14) voted to pass this legislation out of the committee, recognizing the importance of this legislation to streamline housing development and affordability by updating outdated programs, removing regulatory roadblock

By David Beasley | The Center Square contributor Shelby Independent graphic file photo RALEIGH – North Carolina legislators called for solutions to rising property taxes, describing them as a threat to both homeowners and renters in the state during a legislative hearing Wednesday. The elderly in particular often struggle to pay their property taxes, State Rep. Carla Cunningham, a Democrat from Mecklenburg County, told fellow members of the House Select Committee of Property

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent A sign outside the CC Board of Elections, pointing the way to the main entrance. Chuck Thompson | Shelby Independent As the Friday Dec. 19 deadline looms for candidates to file for the 2026 primaries, the Cleveland County Commissioner race is crowded with seven hopefuls running for two seats, and a board of education race that so far has five republicans one democrat, and an unaffiliated candidate all running for four chairs. On t

By David Beasley | The Center Square contributor Shelby Independent file graphic As 2025 draws to a close, North Carolina appears on track to finish the year with an unemployment rate that is better than the national average. (Continued below local sponsors) Statistics released by the state on Thursday showed North Carolina with an unemployment of 3.7% for September. That's unchanged from the month before and once again lower than the national average of 4.4%. North Carolina’

By Alan Wooten | The Center Square U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Ralph J. Rizzo Jr. speaks with North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein during a visit to Camp Lejeune, N.C., Aug. 29, 2025. Photo: Cpl. Loriann Dauscher / U.S. Marine Corps via DVIDS / Public Domain (The Center Square) – Losses in peace of mind for 3 million North Carolinians reliant on Medicaid, in the courtroom by the governor’s administration, and in reimbursements to health care providers took a pause Wednesday. Fir

By Alan Wooten | The Center Square (The Center Square) – Gaining five times more in the last week, Republicans have moved to the cusp of eclipsing Democrats in voter registrations in North Carolina for the first time. Consolation prize as it may be, the change is historic and coincides with another unprecedented benchmark in 15 years of Republican majorities in the General Assembly. Context for the matter, however, is that voters choosing to register are consistently – about

Staff Reports | Cleveland County Gov. SHELBY – The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) has received federal funding for the 2026 Low Income Home and Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). While the funding was delayed following the federal government shutdown, NCDHHS and county staff have been preparing so they would be ready to open for new Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) applications once federal funds were received. LIEAP and the Crisi

The Sunday Column, by Chuck Thompson OPINION / HUMOR – Recently, I learned that in North Carolina it is illegal to play bingo for more than 5 hours in a row… My question is, why would anyone play bingo more than 5 hours in a row and what happened at the 5 hour mark to come up with that rule? So at 4 hours and 55 minutes, everything is fine, but at five hours Gertrude had a fit of rage and flipped the tables over? What’s with the 5 hours… Personally, I think it should be ill

Staff Reports | Cleveland County Sheriff's Office A major multi-agency investigation involving Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office, Gaston County Sheriff’s Office, and Gastonia Police Department has resulted in the disruption of a large-scale drug trafficking organization operating from Dallas, Texas to Gastonia, North Carolina. The combined efforts of these agencies led to the seizure of 44 kilos of crystal methamphetamine, valued at approximately $2.6 million on the street. T

By David Beasley | The Center Square contributor Tier 1 counties are the most economically distressed. The tier system is used to direct state grant programs and incentives to counties that are the most in need of economic development. For example, companies creating jobs in Tier 1 counties can receive a higher percentage of incentives. Graphic by The Shelby Independent (The Center Square) – Eighteen counties either have changed tiers in the annual release of economic he

By Alan Wooten | The Center Square (The Center Square) – Ahead of Giving Tuesday, the annual global philanthropic Tuesday after Thanksgiving, Secretary of State Elaine Marshall said overall giving in North Carolina is up $21 million to more than $48.1 million for licensed fundraisers for charities. Charities netted more than $35.8 million of the overall giving for their programs, Marshall said in a release about the annual Charitable Solicitation Licensing Division Annual Re

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent In an exclusive local interview, Congressman Tim Moore, of the 14 District, spoke with the Shelby Independent, discussing issues that affect both the district (especially Cleveland County) and the entire nation. From the the topic of the government shutdown, to the murder of Iryna Zarutska, holding judges and magistrates accountable for allowing violent repeat offenders back on the streets – an issue that can affect any of us here in

By Alan Wooten | The Center Square U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins speaks at the Department of Agriculture in Washington on June 12, 2025. Photo: Tom Witham / U.S. Department of Agriculture via Flickr (The Center Square) – North Carolinians receiving food assistance benefits from the federal government are yet to learn when and how their reapplication process will work. Or, according to a published report Thursday, if they even will have to reapply. In the interim

By Ron Humphries | Guest Opinion Humphries North Carolina's school calendar law, established in 2004, required public schools to start the academic year no earlier than the Monday closest to August 26. The original aim was to support tourism in the coastal counties. However, as time has passed, it has generated much debate about its adverse effects on education and community needs across the state, particularly in economically challenged rural counties with greater workforce

By Alan Wooten | The Center Square A vehicle is refueled at a gas pump as evening light reflects off its surface. Alan Wooten / The Center Square (The Center Square) – Transportation energy costs for the overwhelming majority of North Carolinians are rising as much as 10 cents in the past month with Thanksgiving travel about to begin. Nearly 82 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home between Tuesday and Dec. 1, the time defined by the American

By Alan Wooten | From our partners at The Center Square Courtesy file photo (The Center Square) – Supply has increased and prices, in some cases, will be less this year for live cut Christmas trees from North Carolina. The nation’s No. 2 producer – 1 in 5 of all grown in America by more than 900 farmers overseeing 53 million trees on more than 33,000 acres come from the state – won’t be plagued by a hurricane disrupting the industry. The pitch from farmers is the offer of a f

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent The Cleveland County Board of Education during their meeting Monday night, Nov. 10, 2025 as they weighed their decisions on the school calendar for the 2026-27 school year. Chuck Thompson | Shelby Independent The Cleveland County Schools Board of Education voted in a contested 5-4 ballot Monday evening to approve the Calendar Option A which is a parent and staff favorite, and violates state law. Cleveland County Schools is jus

Staff Reports | PCA Pinnacle Classical Academy's elementary school and middle school are among the best in the state, according to the newly released U.S. News Best K-8 Schools Rankings for 2026. Pinnacle Classical Academy's middle school ranks in the top 3% of middle schools in North Carolina (#31 out of 1,362 middle schools). Pinnacle Classical Academy's elementary school ranks in the top 9% (#192 out of 2,142 elementary schools). Earlier this year, U.S. News & World Rep