THE SHELBY INDEPENDENT

Staff Reports Read the statement below in it's original form: The Shelby Independent

Cleveland County Emergency Management and County leadership are closely monitoring the weather forecast and preparing for significant winter weather impacts. County officials are coordinating preparedness efforts to ensure the safety of residents. Community safety remains our top priority, and residents are encouraged to stay informed and take appropriate precautions ahead of the storm.   If any county closures, service impacts, or operational changes occur, official updates

Staff Reports | Press Release Courtesy photo CCSO On Tuesday, Jan. 20, deputies with the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office Community Interdiction Team conducted a traffic stop on South Post Road, near East Dixon Boulevard, for a vehicle registration violation. During the stop, a Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office K-9 was deployed and gave a positive indication for the presence of narcotics. Based on this indication, deputies conducted a probable cause search of the vehicle. As

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent The school board forum will involve eight of the candidates, all republican, on Jan. 29, at The LeGrand Center. UPDATE: Jay Carpenter will not be attending as previously reported. Stephen Carroll Self will be attending now. Anyone interested in listening to the school board candidates’ personal stances on local education issues, and wanting to ask them questions, will have their chance next week.   The Cleveland County GOP and Moms

By Alan Wooten | The Center Square State law permits unaffiliated voters to choose either a Democrat or Republican primary ballot, though not both. (The Center Square) – Switching parties by a deadline was the easy part. Fooling voters with a letter attached to a name on the ballot rather than actions? A half-dozen former Democrats will need more than luck after failing one of the first tests for any stripe of politician: trust. Six people now registered Republicans running

Press Release | Cleveland County Health Department CASAR / SHELBY  – On Jan. 15, the Cleveland County Health Department was notified of two skunks that tested positive for rabies. The animals were found on Haywood Road in Casar and on Marion Street in Shelby. Any person exposed to potentially infectious saliva from an animal should contact their healthcare provider or CCHD for a rabies risk assessment. You may contact us at 980-484-5169 or 980-484-5100. Rabies occurs througho

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent The Political Smackdown logo on C19TV, at Cleveland Community College. This week’s episode of Political Smackdown began with Betsy Wells (D) speaking first, honoring the life and legacy of Dot Roark, who passed away in late December. Roark helped bring C19 to life at Cleveland Community College. The panel discussed the school board, regarding the events following the meeting, “If anyone needs an intervention, it’s the school board,”

By Alan Wooten | The Center Square North Carolina’s agriculture and agri-business economic impact is an estimated $111.1 billion annually. | The Shelby Independent file graphic (The Center Square) – Plausible reductions in agricultural exports because of retaliatory trade policies stemming from aggressive U.S. tariffs could cost North Carolina farmers $695 million, a new report says. Dr. Jeffrey Dorfman of N.C. State University, for the conservative-leaning John

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent City Council listens as new City manager Justin Merritt gives his first public report as city manager, Jan. 12, 2026. courtesy photo. Shelby City Council kicked off 2026 with their first meeting of the new year. It was Justin Merritt’s first public meeting as the new City of Shelby Manager. The first order of business was to adopt the agenda as presented, which passed unanimously. Next was the public comments. A Shelby resident s

Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent CCS School Board in public session, Jan. 12, 2026. Editor’s note: The Shelby Independent encourages anyone, any elected official to write and oped to be published in The Shelby Independent, or any news publication. That is your right and it shouldn’t be infringed upon by fear of retaliation of your peers. However, there are certain guidelines to follow, and we don’t want you or anyone else to get in trouble for speaking to the media. Pe

By Alan Wooten | The Center Square File photo, courtesy of The Center Square (The Center Square) – Review of North Carolina’s non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses shows 54% were illegally issued. ( Non-domiciled is a person living in a country, such as the U.S.A., but their permanent home (domicile) is another country, mostly for tax purposes ). The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration analysis sets up withholding of $50 million in federal funding by the U.S. De

By Alan Wooten | The Center Square file image (The Center Square) – Taxpayers in North Carolina have new levels in three areas impacting everyday life. Arguably the most times transacted against least noticed will be at the gas pumps. Starting on New Year’s Day and running to Dec. 31, the motor fuels and alternative fuels excise tax rate is 41 cents per gallon or gallon equivalent, the state Department of Revenue says. Individual and corporate income tax rates are also droppi

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent Cleveland County Schools logo Crest Middle School – A firearm was discovered in a vehicle at Crest Middle School on Wednesday. According to school and law enforcement officials, a firearm was visible in a vehicle belonging to an employee of Crest Middle School. After concerns were lifted that someone who did not belong on school grounds might be on the property, it was determined the firearm did in fact belong to an employee, accordi

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent Boiling Springs Town Hall, late summer 2025. File photo Chuck Thompson Boiling Springs, N.C . – Councilmember Justin Davis was sworn in Tuesday night at the beginning of the meeting. He was sworn in with his family by his side.  Mayor Tommy Greene recognized the Crest High School Football team, reading a proclamation for their outstanding achievement winning the 5A State Championship. President of Gardner-Webb University, Nate

Staff Reports Kings Mountain, NC - Monday evening, Jan. 5, officers with the Kings Mountain Police Department responded to a reported armed robbery in the parking lot of Kentucky Fried Chicken, located at 409 E. Kings Street. During the incident, two dirt bikes were taken by the suspects. Responding officers quickly located the stolen dirt bikes and attempted to intercept them. During the encounter, one of the suspects intentionally laid down the dirt bike, causing it to col

Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent property taxes Today (Monday, Jan. 5, 2026) was / is the last day for Cleveland County property owners to pay their property taxes before fees and penalties. The Shelby Independent took a trip to the county tax office on the last day of 2025 to interview residents paying their property taxes in person before the deadline; as one person noted, who wished to remain anonymous, he feels better paying it in person and getting a receipt right

Staff Reports | Cleveland County Government Courtesy photo Construction at the Midpines Convenience Center, located at 615 Margrace Rd., Kings Mountain, has been successfully completed following ongoing renovations that began on October 6, 2025. The project was finished on schedule, and the facility will reopen to the public on Monday, Jan. 5, at 7 a.m. “Thank you to our residents for their patience during this renovation. Working with our contractors and county staff, the re

By Alan Wooten | The Center Square The North Carolina state flag. file photo (The Center Square) – Of the state’s more than 7.6 million voter registrations, 38.8% are not choosing any of the lawful parties with which to register – Green and Libertarian are the others, each with less than 1%. Democrats gained 290 voters, have a 30.3% share and are a mere 604 ahead of Republicans. The Grand Old Party picked up 339 voters and has a 30.2% share. The unaffiliated bloc – gaining

Staff Reports | The Shelby Independent, press release The Spy and the lady of the Night by J. Charles Thompson (kindle edition book cover) click or tap on the photo to go directly to the link SHELBY / WILMINGTON, N.C .  – A murder, a mysterious woman, a young private detective back from the Pacific Front, a newspaper reporter with a strong southern drawl – What do all these characters have in common? They’re part of a new novel written by J. Charles Thompson, set in 1944 W

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