THE SHELBY INDEPENDENT

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recognizing the importance of this legislation to streamline housing development and affordability by updating outdated programs, removing regulatory roadblock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

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

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

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

Staff Reports | Cleveland County Sheriff's Office A major multi-agency investigation involving Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office, Gaston County Sheriff’s Office, and Gastonia Police Department has resulted in the disruption of a large-scale drug trafficking organization operating from Dallas, Texas to Gastonia, North Carolina. The combined efforts of these agencies led to the seizure of 44 kilos of crystal methamphetamine, valued at approximately $2.6 million on the street. T

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent Dr. Tim Sims, (center right) Senior Pastor of Bethel Baptist Church, Shelby, leads a group of Wayne King’s supporters in a moment of prayer. Chuck Thompson | Shelby Independent With candidate filing well underway, many Cleveland County residents, both current elected officials and new hopefuls have stepped forward to throw their hat into the ring for elected office. Wayne King, a Cleveland County native and lifelong Kings Mountai

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent Cleveland County Commissioners' meeting December 2025 before call to order. Chuck Thompson | Shelby Independent The County Commissioners’ meeting was short and thoughtful, wrapping up the year by tabling a zoning request until January and the commissioners praising county staff for their dedicated efforts in 2025.   County Commissioner Kevin Gordon was reappointed by the board to serve as Chairman and Commissioner Deb Hardin was

Staff Reports | The Shelby Independent Cleveland Community College plans to launch a new Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) program to help meet the growing need for skilled laboratory professionals in our region. Pending approval by the North Carolina Community College System and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), CCC plans to begin offering courses in fall 2026. The associate degree program will complement CCC’s existing heal

Staff reports | The Shelby Independent A Cleveland County man is behind bars in Gaston County after assaulting a Cherryville police officer; drugs and a concealed weapon were also in his possession, according to reports. Wednesday evening, at approximately 6:30 p.m., officers with the Cherryville Police Department responded to a reported civil disturbance at Ronald's Grill, located at 604 W. Church Street, Cherryville, NC. When officers arrived, they encountered three people

Staff reports | press release Cleveland Community College is expanding access to nursing education with the launch of a new nights and weekends LPN-to-ADN program. It is designed specifically for working Licensed Practical Nurses who want to advance their careers and earn their Associate Degree Nursing. The first cohort will begin classes in January and graduate in December, completing the program in just one year. The enhanced format responds to the needs of today’s healthca

By David Beasley | The Center Square contributor Tier 1 counties are the most economically distressed. The tier system is used to direct state grant programs and incentives to counties that are the most in need of economic development. For example, companies creating jobs in Tier 1 counties can receive a higher percentage of incentives.   Graphic by The Shelby Independent (The Center Square) – Eighteen counties either have changed tiers in the annual release of economic he

Staff Reports | The Shelby Independent   Monica Dellinger with Madison Gettys. Courtesy photo | PCA The National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced that Madison Gettys, a senior at Pinnacle Classical Academy, has been named a Commended Student in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program. Monica Dellinger, the school's Dean of Secondary Education, presented a letter of commendation from the school and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), which conducts t

Staff reports | The Shelby Independent Courtesy photo from the Cleveland County Sheriff's Office On Wednesday, the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Division executed a search warrant at 415 Claxton Drive, Shelby, in response to a drug complaint and outstanding warrants. During the Thanksgiving Eve operation, investigators located illegal narcotics and firearms inside the residence. Four individuals were taken into custody. Kimberly Gardner, 46, of the address, wa

Staff Reports | The Shelby Independent Shown in the photo from left, Vice President Dr. Bruce Mack, graduates Ben Ledbetter, Melissa Cummings, Corey Greene, Brian Bailey, and Joshua Hamrick, and Director of Apprenticeships and Work-Based Learning Sharon Nivens. Graduates Carson Fox, Drake Freeman, Jon Michael Hamrick, John Nordmark, and Dylan Swofford were unable to attend the ceremony. Courtesy photo Cleveland Community College’s Apprenticeship Cleveland held its annual gr

By Gabe Whisnant | Special to The Shelby Independent The Historic Mount Harmony Church, located at 131 Mount Harmony Church Rd in Polkville, will hold its annual Christmas Harp Concert on Sunday, November 30, at 3 p.m. Courtesy photo Mount Harmony Church The Historic Mount Harmony Church will hold its annual Christmas Harp Concert on Sunday, Nov. 30, at 3 p.m. Worshipers are invited to come early and fellowship.  Polkville native Lelia Lattimore will be playing the orchestr

By Alan Wooten | The Center Square U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins speaks at the Department of Agriculture in Washington on June 12, 2025. Photo: Tom Witham / U.S. Department of Agriculture via Flickr   (The Center Square) – North Carolinians receiving food assistance benefits from the federal government are yet to learn when and how their reapplication process will work. Or, according to a published report Thursday, if they even will have to reapply. In the interim