By Alan Wooten | The Center Square file graphic | The Shelby Independent State / Affects Local – Twenty years since launch with four scratch-off instant games, the North Carolina Education Lottery and its policy objective have reached a new crossroads courtesy of online slot machine gaming offering an 87% payout rate. In a performance audit report from first-term Republican state Auditor Dave Boliek, he and his staff have recommended the Republican majority chambers of the Ge

By Chuck Thompson | The Sunday Column OPINION — At first I thought I was probably asleep, having one of those lucid dreams where everyone and everything seemed as real as it does during the day, then I thought maybe I was on some sort of hallucinate drug - its chemical composition must be racing through my veins, having entered the cerebral cortex of my brain and caused such a horrible, weird, perception of a distorted reality. However, I had not been drinking and I don’t do

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

Staff Reports | The Shelby Independent CLEVELAND COUNTY — Welcome to 'SI's Week in Review' where we sum up the week's headlines that were covered in The Shelby Independent’s website and on social media. Steve and Cindy Borders, along with volunteers from Elizabeth Baptist Church hosted their annual Law Enforcement Appreciation Hot Dog Lunch on Monday, kicking off September with free meals for law enforcement personnel from all across Cleveland County. Read the feature story

Staff Reports | Cleveland Community College Cleveland Community College N. Post Road entrance. BUSINESS / EDUCATION — Cleveland Community College, as part of the Cleveland County NCWorks team, has been supporting the workers affected by the layoffs at Electric Glass Fiber America/NEG as part of the state workforce system’s “Rapid Response” program. The company filed what is generally called a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) notice with the state on July

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent Shelby Police Chief Brad Fraser shakes hands with District Director for U.S. Congressman Tim Moore (NC-14) as Cleveland County Sheriff Alan Norman looks at the American Flag presented to him that flew over the Nation's Capitol. Sept 1. 2026. | Chuck Thompson Boiling Springs Police Chief Brian DiYorio and Sgt. Chris Williams at the appreciation lunch Sept. 1, 2026. | Chuck Thompson Feature Story / CLEVELAND COUNTY — It was a

Staff Reports | Cleveland County Schools Board of Education press release EDUCATION — The Cleveland County Board of Education is proud to share the outstanding academic progress achieved during the 2025–26 school year, following the official release of accountability data by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. District-wide Grade Level Proficiency rose by 7% compared to the previous 2024-25 school year, with Cleveland County Schools outperforming the North Ca

Staff Reports | Cleveland County Sheriff's Office Jackson CRIME — Investigators with the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office, assisted by patrol deputies, located and arrested a suspect wanted in connection with multiple felony fraud offenses. On Sept. 1, 2026, investigators received information that a vehicle associated with John Clay Jackson had returned to Cleveland County. Jackson was previously identified as a suspect in multiple incidents involving an individual represent

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent Bobby Floyd and Logan Clark were given the honors of washing down Tanker 24 from the old tanker it is replacing. | Chuck Thompson POLKVILLE — Polkville residents and the volunteer fire department had a lot to be thankful for this weekend, as they dedicated a new 3,000 gallon water tanker truck, Tanker 24. After 42 months, or about three and a half years of waiting on the arrival of the new tanker, Polkville Volunteer Fire Department

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 Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent Fun-goers walk around during the End of Summer Bash at Clay-Barnette, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026. Clay-Barnette staff gathered for a photo during their End of Summer Festival | Chuck Thompson SHELBY — Clay Barnette Funerals Cremations and Aquamations hosted an End of Summer Community Event Festival at their Shelby location over the weekend. A large crowd of families turned out for music, fun and food. The parking lot was filled with th

Unaffiliated bloc up 179,065, Democrats down 133,642 since Election Day 2024 By Alan Wooten | The Center Square File graphic | The Shelby Independent AFFECT LOCAL – One day shy of a full two weeks sooner than any other state in the nation, North Carolina county boards of elections on Friday will begin sending absentee ballots to any voter having made a request. The nation’s ninth largest state at 11.2 million is at 7,837,065 registrations, down 2,846 from the general election

Chuck Thompson | The Sunday Column OPINION — Have you ever worn the same color shirt into a store that the employees wear and everyone starts asking you where something is? I have a favorite forest green t-shirt that I (subconsciously) wear every chance I get. If it’s clean, it’s on. I just like it. It’s comfortable and unfortunately is very close to turning into a rag any day now since the holes showed up — but until then, it’s my favorite and I wear it almost every Saturda

Staff Report | The Shelby Independent CLEVELAND COUNTY — Welcome to 'SI's Week in Review' where we sum up a few of the week's headlines that were covered in The Shelby Independent (on the website and social media). On-time delivery of the mail by the U.S. Postal Service in North Carolina was among the worst in the nation in the second quarter, a report from the agency’s dashboard says. North Carolina was No. 44, with on-time service percentage of 78.2%. That’s well below the

Republican nominee for the North Carolina Court of Appeals By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent FEATURE — Judge Craig Collins, 54, was driving from the Carolina Coast to the North Carolina mountains when I spoke with him on the phone as he traversed from the eastbound and down area of Brunswick County to the Northwest region of the state, encompassed by the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of Alleghany County. (He was not driving at the moment) Collins was traveling from

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 Ashley Reep | Wise News Network Shelby Independent Editor's note: The video above was an informal podcast-style conversation about the importance of local journalism. I didn't feel great that day and kept my talking to a minimum, but I want to thank Brandon Bridges of Cleveland County News for stepping up and covering the time while I stayed comparatively quiet. Also, a BIG thank you to Rusty Wise, and his team, for inviting us to the WNN studios for a really great convers

By Alan Wooten | The Center Square A USPS mail truck parks along a residential street as the postal carrier makes deliveries. | Joel Moysuh / Unsplash AFFECTS LOCAL / STATE – On-time delivery of the mail by the U.S. Postal Service in North Carolina was among the worst in the nation in the second quarter, a report from the agency’s dashboard says. North Carolina was No. 44, with on-time service percentage of 78.2%. That’s well below the target of 87% and the national norm of 8

Staff Report | The Shelby Independent SI's Week in Review for Aug. 16-22, 2026. CLEVELAND COUNTY — Welcome to 'SI's Week in Review' where we sum up the week's headlines that were covered in The Shelby Independent and on social media. The ALWS wrapped up this week with a grande finale of Veteran parachutists landing on Veterans Field at Keeter Stadium, and a couple of HELOs landing in the outfield to hand off the official game ball. Congratulations to Lincoln, NE, POST 500 on

By Chuck Thompson | Shelby Independent BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. — You might want to pay attention to your speed and slow down traveling through Boiling Springs from now on. A reduction in the speed limit in one part of town has been enacted by the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT). On Friday afternoon, The Town of Boiling Springs released a statement noting that the area on N Main Street between Ingles and Ramsgate Drive has been reduced from 35 mph to 25 mph.