THE SHELBY INDEPENDENT

By Chuck Thompson | Shelby Independent and staff reports | Cleveland County Government A tragic accident on Highway 74 on Monday morning claimed the life of a Cleveland County EMS paramedic, who also served as a field training officer. According to reports, the accident happened sometime around 8 a.m. this morning, in Gaston County, near the Gaston-Cleveland County line. Paramedic / Field Training Officer Ashley Moore, 37, was killed in the accident. Cleveland County governme

Staff Reports | Kings Mountain Police Department Kings Mountain, NC – UPDATE: The City of Kings Mountain has released the name of the pedestrian struck by the train: McKenzie Gibson Coleman, 28. Early in the morning of Sunday, July 5, at 4:56 a.m., Kings Mountain Police Department officers, along with Kings Mountain Fire Department and Cleveland County EMS, responded to a report of a pedestrian struck by a Norfolk Southern train approximately one-half mile south of the W. Gol

By Jeff Yates | The Sunday Column | Special Guest Columnist Cleveland County Crime Stoppers Inc is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) corporation serving the residents of Cleveland County through our partnership with all four of our Law Enforcement Agencies: Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office, Shelby Police Department, Kings Mountain Police Department and Boiling Springs Police Department. Our partnership is based on technology that allows a person (tipster) to anonymously provide inform

Staff Reports | Cleveland County Sheriff's Office methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine were confiscated. photo provided by CCSO CRIME – Cleveland County streets are a little safer after three different types of illegal drugs and one controlled substance were seized and several were arrested on alleged trafficking charges. On June 16, 2026, investigators with the Cleveland County Sheriff's Office Narcotics Division concluded a multi-month conspiracy drug investigation that

By Alan Wooten | The Center Square Earlier passage of a proposal for a statewide amendment on the midterm ballot in November would give voters a chance to weigh in a levy limit. Affects local / Raleigh – Stopping property tax revaluation changes throughout North Carolina this year and allowing them to happen in 2027 is in a proposal that has reached first-term Democratic Gov. Josh Stein. Reappraisals are required at least once every eight years, and some do so more frequently

Staff reports | CCS Board of Education Education – Cleveland County Schools Board of Education released a statement Tuesday evening about the ongoing superintendent search. Dr. Stephen Fisher is scheduled to step down at the end of June and Dr. Brian Hunnell will assume the interim superintendent responsibilities until a permanent hire is found and settled into the position. In the statement, The Cleveland County Schools Board of Education stated it “is pleased to announce th

Staff reports | Cleveland Community College Cleveland Community College’s Small Business Center is proud to announce that local entrepreneur Stacie Norris-Humphries of Boiling Springs has been selected as a finalist in the inaugural SBCN Startup Showdown, a statewide competition hosted by the North Carolina Community College System. Norris-Humphries earned her place among the statewide finalists after working closely with CCC Small Business Center Director Stephen Lancaster,

By Chuck Thompson | the Shelby Independent Dr. Stephen Fisher is awarded the honor of The Order of the Long Leaf Pine by Jack Copeland, Executive Director of NC School Superintendents Association. | Chuck Thompson Education – Monday’s Cleveland County Schools (CCS) Board of Education meeting was Dr. Stephen Fisher's last official regular scheduled public meeting as superintendent. At the June 8 meeting Dr. Fisher gave his last superintendent update to the board. On Feb. 27, 2

By David Beasley | The Center Square Fiber optic cables connect in a network server rack. Photo: Brett Sayles / Pexels State / National / Affects local – North Carolina’s attorney general has asked the state utility commission to create a separate rate for large users of electricity such as data centers, an idea that was also endorsed Tuesday by the state’s governor. “We know that data centers are becoming a large part of the conversation," first-term Democratic Attorney Gene

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent The town of Boiling Springs Mural is composed of 2,000 tiles each printed from hand painted tiles by individuals to create the mural mosaic called "Reflection" BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Boiling Springs unveiled their mural mosaic "Reflection" on Wednesday, June 3, at 11 a.m. to a large crowd of town residents, Boiling Springs Town Council members and other local leaders and elected officials from across Cleveland County. People all t

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent City Manager Justin Merritt addresses the city council and those in attendance and watching online at Monday evening's council meeting. | City of Shelby video feed. SHELBY / Government – It was a packed house Monday evening as Mayor Stan Anthony welcomed everyone at the opening of the Shelby City Council meeting on Monday, June 1. “Glad to see a full house of our citizens,” said Anthony. “We’re always grateful for the opportunity of

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent | SBI staff reports Hyder (Photo from SBI Facebook page) SHELBY – The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) has charged former Shelby Police Officer Karson Hyder, 22, with one count of assault inflicting serious injury. In a statement released Monday morning around 11 a.m. on social media, The SBI announced the formal charge. According to the statement, Hyder turned himself in to the Cleveland County Detention Center at

By Alan Wooten | The Center Square State News / Affects local – Protection of families, small businesses and taxpayers from utility rate increases attached to data center development and energy policy mandates are within changes to North Carolina’s Ratepayer Protection Act. “North Carolinians are already feeling the pinch of higher electricity bills, and we cannot allow massive data centers and unrealistic green energy mandates to make it worse,” said Franklin County Republic

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent Chief of Police Brad Fraser speaks from the podium in the City of Shelby Council chambers Friday evening. | City of Shelby video still SHELBY – A video circulating social media which shows a police officer using excessive force against a female suspect has caused an uproar across Shelby, which caused the City of Shelby to release statement at 6 p.m., Friday, regarding the event. In the video, which starts with the altercation alre

By Alan Wooten | The Center Square A sign directs voters to a polling location. Alan Wooten / The Center Square Affects local – For the third time in five weeks, voter registrations increased more in the unaffiliated bloc than overall in North Carolina. Saturday’s seven-day update from the State Board of Elections, just 15 weeks away from absentee ballots going into the mail for the Nov. 3 midterms, rose by 3,513 overall and 3,891 among those choosing independence. Republican

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent Dr. Brian Hunnell, left, shakes hands with CCS Board of Education Chairman Joel Shores Tuesday night. Hunnell will serve as the interim superintendent during the board's search for a permanent replacement. | Chuck Thompson EDUCATION – In a 9-0 decision by the Cleveland County Schools Board of Education, Dr. Brian Hunnell was named Interim Superintendent of CCS Tuesday evening, during a closed session of a public special called meet

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent Martha Goodman Bridges stands in front of Warren F. Hoyle's memorial headstone. Hoyle was killed during The Great War, in 1918. His remains were buried in France. | Chuck Thompson MEMORIAL DAY, SUNSET CEMETERY – The sun stayed hidden behind the clouds as the rain stopped for The American Legion Squadron 82 family, made up of the Auxiliary Post 82 and Sons of The American Legion (SAL), which operates out of the Warren F. Hoyle Ameri

By Chuck Thompson | Shelby Independent The bell used for the Sounding of the Final Alarm was rung for each name honored on Friday. | Chuck Thompson, Shelby Independent. Shelby, Cleveland County – It was a time of somber remembrance at Shelby Fire and Rescue Friday at Noon, as The 2026 Cleveland County Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service honored local firefighters that gave their lives in Cleveland County while serving. As the rain pour down from above, Firefighters and th

By Ron Humphries | Special Guest Op-Ed Columnist for The Shelby Independent OPINION — Every morning, a familiar political ritual plays out. Lawmakers propose sweeping bans on classroom screens, restrictions on Artificial Intelligence, and demand a retreat to the "three R’s." This crusade frames digital technology as an unprecedented monster devouring young minds. Yet, declaring that technology has ruined education is merely the latest repetition of a script society has recite

Staff Reports | Cleveland Community College Graduates of Cleveland Community College's largest class at the 2026 Commencement Ceremony. | CCC Cleveland Community College – CCC celebrated its 2026 Commencement Ceremony on Thursday, May 14, in the Dr. James B. Petty Amphitheater, honoring the largest graduating class in the institution’s history for the fourth consecutive year. This year’s class included 994 graduates, who earned 1,314 credentials. These large numbers are a re