THE SHELBY INDEPENDENT

Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent From left, Crest's Thompson hurdles over a Hunt player, a CCS School Board meeting, former Boiling Springs Mayor Daniel Thomas. It’s hard to believe that it’s the end of the year. The Shelby Independent might have only launched in June, publishing its first original piece on July 1, but with 250 articles published, it only makes sense to highlight the year in review with the TOP 10 LOCAL NEWS STORIES OF 2025, in Cleveland County. This w

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 Shelby's City Council 12-01-2025. Swearing in for the three newly elected, and all returning city council members was held Monday night during the City of Shelby’s City council meeting. The city financials were also reviewed for the fiscal year budget and an updated on the paw patrol at the city park was given by the city manager. Violet Arth was sworn in first, joined by her children for her re-swearing in as council member for the

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

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent CCS Board members pictured, from left, Walter Spurling, Danny Blanton, Ron Humphries, Joel Shores, Aaron Bridges and Ronnie Grigg. Not pictured, David Fisher, Gloria Sherman and Kenneth Ledford. Editor’s note: Read carefully. This is only a report of what transpired during the meeting and not to sway anyone to agree or disagree, but to present you with the facts and let you decide for yourself. Ultimately, it was stated that the mone

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent The Shelby City Council meeting Oct. 20, 2025 A special presentation was held for the Shelby City Council Monday night during their regularly scheduled public meeting. The nonprofit organization known as Our Stories Project, has been working on identifying an African American graveyard and the Shiloh School, that once educated black children sometime after the Civil War.  Their goal is to place educational markers at the site, to rec

By Alan Wooten | The Center Square October municipal elections will hold canvasses Tuesday, early voting for those in November begins Thursday, and North Carolinians continue to trend toward independence of the major parties. Fifty-five weeks away from the 2026 midterms, the unaffiliated bloc gained 4,220 voters in the most recent seven-day period measured ending on Saturday. Republicans added 912 and Democrats lost seven. The more than 7.5 million registered to vote are spli

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent Don Brown, pictured at the Fair, with several candidates, some currently in office. From left,...

SHELBY — Since 1924, the Cleveland County Fair has brought families together to celebrate agriculture, community and fun. With livestock...

From left, Senate candidate Michael Whatley, N.C. House Rep. Paul Scott, N.C. Senator Ted Alexander and N.C. House Rep. Kelly Hastings at...

The Charles F. Harry III Cleveland County Admin. Building. Chuck Thompson | Shelby Independent A new public portal is expected to...

Shelby Mayor Pro Tem David White (Ward 2) speaks to city council and those in attendance Monday night. City Council Member Violet Arth...

By Jamie Bookwalter | Extension Specialist, Mountain Conifer IPM Forestry & Environmental Resources NC State Extension, NC State...