By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent Boiling Springs Police Officer Anthony Fields and Chief Brian DiYorio at Operation Secret Surprise, in the Boiling springs Town Hall. Chuck Thompson | Shelby Independent When a child wants to give their parents a Christmas gift, it holds a special meaning that a child takes the time to think of their parents during the holiday season. That’s why Officer Anthony Fields and the Boiling Springs Police Department held their fir

OPINION – I’ll go ahead and tell you now, this will be this last new Sunday Column for the year; next week’s will be a rerun, because like everyone else, I need time off for the holidays, too. I don’t have a staff of employees to fall back on. For 98.5% of the work, it's only me. Even if it’s a wire news story, or not, or my amazingly talented freelancer Lauren Becatti, who has contributed a few news article to build her portfolio, has quite simply been a big help and I hope

Staff Reports | Shelby Independent Cleveland Community College Santa isn't the only one that has made a list and checking it twice. Cleveland Community College President Jason Hurst has announced the President’s and Dean’s Lists for the Fall 2025 semester. To be named to the President’s List, students must carry a minimum of 12 credit hours and receive a perfect 4.0 Grade Point Average. The following students were named to the President’s List. (listed alphabetically): (Names

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recognizing the importance of this legislation to streamline housing development and affordability by updating outdated programs, removing regulatory roadblock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

Staff reports | Press Release Photo courtesy of CCSO social media In what seemed like a bit of luck, deputies with the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office Community Interdiction Team conducted a proactive traffic stop on Dec. 16, that resulted in the seizure of approximately 𝟏𝟑𝟖 𝐩𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐫𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞, preventing an estimated $𝟑 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬 from reaching local communities.   De

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 Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent City Council Dec. 15. 2025. Courtesy video file screenshot City of Shelby video The Shelby City Council meeting marked the end of an era, as it was City Manager Rick Howell’s final meeting in his position. Howell led the council meeting in its convocation before the meeting began. The agenda was approved as-is, with the motion made by Council Member Violet Arth. Former Council Member David Causby was recognized for his dedication of

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 Chuck Thompson | The Sunday Column The Sunday Column It might have looked like Crest’s #1 Namajay Thompson landed after leaping over Hunt’s #15 player, but after that win I’m sure he’s still soaring; and so is every player and coach on Crest's and Shelby's teams right now. Sure. That play might have been against regulation / illegal, but it was awesome to watch – whether you were at the game and saw Namajay Superman Thompson leap the Hunt player in a single bound, or wat

Staff Reports | Cleveland County Government Hansen At the inaugural meeting of the newly established Consolidated Human Services Agency (CHSA) Board, Cleveland County Manager David B. Cotton announced the appointment of Ms. Tiffany Hansen as the Assistant County Manager for Consolidated Human Services.   The creation of the CHSA brings the Department of Social Services and the Health Department together under one coordinated agency. In her new role, Hansen will oversee the da

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

Staff reports | contributions by Town of Lattimore Lattimore Town council members from left, Brandon Ruppe, Vickie Jones, Mayor Pro Tem Jackson Martin and Mayor Alton Beal took their oaths of office Monday evening, officiated by Attorney Tom Martin. Courtesy photo Oaths of office, sewer lines and refreshments, were the highlight of the Lattimore town meeting, Monday night. The meeting began at 7 pm with the Board of Aldermen for the Town of Lattimore was sworn in

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

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent Marion isn’t going anywhere, one way or another, at least for now. On Monday night, the Cleveland County School Board was originally supposed to finalize the approval to sell the old Marion Elementary School to a nonprofit group, One More, One Less. In an unexpected move, Board Member and Vice-Chair Aaron Bridges made the motion to remove Marion from the agenda; Bridges stated he felt more discussion was needed before a decision coul

Staff Reports | Cleveland County Government Cleveland County Government has been recognized as the number five 'Healthiest Employer in North Carolina' among organizations with 500 to 1,499 employees and ranked 93rd nationwide in the 2025 Healthiest Employers® awards. This national program honors organizations that demonstrate exceptional commitment to employee well-being through innovative benefits, comprehensive health programs, and a culture that prioritizes wellness. App

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent See the Boiling Springs parade photos below article Santa on the left and Town Manager Zach Parker and Mayor Tommy Greene, right, flank the sides of the Boiling Springs Christmas tree after the lighting ceremony Saturday night. Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent (parade photos below article) The Boiling Springs Christmas parade was fun for everyone, as residents, college students and some from across the county, gathered

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent From left, back row: Ofc Crowder, Chief DiYorio, Inv. Paz, Reanna, Lt. Gantt, Catlyn, Sgt. Williamson, Cpl. Lane. Front row: Lilly, Kylie, Javianna. Submitted photo 'Food and Order' was the unofficial motto Thursday evening (and not in that order) at the Bulldog Quik-Snak in Boiling Springs, as the Boiling Springs Police Department served patrons, acting as waiters and bussers for several hours while raising money to support our t

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