By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent The Town of Lattimore held a special meeting Thursday at 2 p.m. to discuss the matter of hiring a new town clerk. For anyone that has ever called town hall, you probably spoke to current town clerk LaSandra Pearson, who will be stepping down in December. In her shoes, the position will be filled by Randi Powell. who was not there for comment. “Jackson (Martin) and I met with Powell the other day and we’re pretty impressed,” said Latt

Staff reports | Atrium Health submitted photo More than 30 Atrium Health Cleveland and Atrium Health Kings Mountain teammates volunteered at Washington Outreach Ministry’s drive-thru food pantry event in Shelby earlier this month. The health care professionals — including doctors, nurses and hospital leaders — worked side-by-side with food pantry staffers to combat hunger in Cleveland County. Atrium Health teammates unloaded food trucks, organized donated items and handed out

Staff reports The Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office announced today a sweeping action, which resulted in the arrest of almost a dozen people for theft and destruction of copper wire and fiber optic cable across multiple jurisdictions. This action was taken in collaboration with the Gaston County Police Department after several months of investigation. Between August 2025 and November 2025, law enforcement personnel responded to a series of thefts spanning multiple counties, i

By David Beasley | The Center Square (The Center Square) – Charlotte has landed its second new corporate headquarters in less than a week, thanks in part to taxpayer incentives. Couple with incentives from North Carolina's Queen City and Mecklenburg County, Danish global logistics company Maersk is in line for up to $9.8 million in taxpayer subsidies. A state board on Tuesday approved $7.9 million in state grants. Maersk plans to invest $16 million to make Charlotte its North

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

Staff Reports McClain The Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office responded to a reported assault involving a firearm and possible kidnapping call on Friday, November 14, 2025, at approximately 5 p.m. at 130 Mariner Drive in Kings Mountain. Deputies were dispatched after receiving a 911 call involving a firearm at the residence. Upon arrival, deputies heard a gunshot fired from inside the home. Deputies made entry and discovered that the suspect, Theodore Angelo McClain, had barric

By Lauren Becatti | The Shelby Independent From left, Bailey, Stella, Jada, Charlette, Sara, Addi, Morgan, Sandy and Kaitlyn of Center City, formerly Hats Off Salon. Submitted courtesy photo To celebrate Charlette Terry's purchase and rebranding of Center City Salon (formerly Hats Off Salon), there will be a ribbon cutting ceremony Nov. 19, at 5:30 p.m. The staff will be present for a meet-and-greet, and there will also be vendors present, along with refreshments and a

Staff reports | Cleveland Community College Cleveland Community College has joined other community colleges across the state in partnering with North Carolina State University on the Wolfpack Connect Guaranteed Admission Agreement. The agreement creates a seamless and supportive pathway for CCC students enrolled in eligible academic programs to transfer to NC State and complete their bachelor’s degrees. These students will be able to transition to NC State with guaranteed adm

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent Crime Stoppers Board Member Cheryl Yates assists Michael and Katina with their BBQ order Saturday afternoon. Chuck Thompson | Shelby Independent For anyone that says crime solving and BBQ doesn’t go hand-in-hand must have missed out on Crime Stoppers BBQ fundraiser. On Saturday, Cleveland County Crime Stoppers, in association with Black Hat BBQ, at First Presbyterian Church in Uptown Shelby, held their first ever sold-out BBQ pl

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

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent file photo A knife assault on Seattle Street has left one woman dead and a suspect behind bars. In a statement released by the Shelby Police Department, it states, that Saturday morning, Nov. 15, at approximately 6:00 a.m., the Shelby Police Department responded to a report of an assault in the 400 block of Seattle Street. Upon arrival, officers located a female lying in the roadway in front of 401 Seattle Street, suffering from appa

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

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 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

Staff Reports | Cleveland Community College SHELBY — Cleveland Community College congratulates its long-standing partner, Greenheck Group, on receiving the Outstanding Employer Award from the North Carolina Work-Based Learning Association (NCWBLA). The award was presented during the Association’s annual conference held in Asheville on November 6. The Outstanding Employer Award recognizes organizations that demonstrate exceptional commitment to workbased learning and make a la

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

Staff reports A domestic violence incident has left one person dead, involving a deputy with The Cleveland County Sheriff's Office that was off-duty at the time. While the facts in this death remain unclear, The Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office did release a statement regarding the tragic event, stating the sheriff's office is "deeply saddened to confirm that an off-duty deputy with our agency, Mitchel Jermaine Hilton, 37, was involved in a tragic domestic violence incident,

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