THE SHELBY INDEPENDENT

By David Beasley | The Center Square File graphic photo | The Shelby Independent (The Center Square) – A strong statistical case for home ownership over renting is made in a new analysis from the Office of State Budget and Management in North Carolina. From 2020 to 2024, the cost of rent in North Carolina rose 10% over the previous five years, according to the report's interpretation of newly released U.S. Census numbers. In contrast, the cost for homeowners with mortgage

Staff Reports | Kings Mountain Police Department KMPD officers discovered an indoor marijuana grow operation within the business. KINGS MOUNTAIN – On Feb. 19, 2026, Vice and Criminal Investigators with the Kings Mountain Police Department executed a search warrant at the commercial property known as “Ole Skool Hemp,” located at 243, 245, and 247 S. Battleground Avenue in the downtown area of Kings Mountain. The investigation began after officers received information regardin

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent Danny Blanton I don’t know if Hell hath frozen over (it was much colder on Monday) but Danny Blanton agreed to sit down with The Shelby Independent to talk about his campaign for the Cleveland County Board of Education. To say this wasn’t the most interesting interview would be to deny the truth, and there was also a bit of comical reprieve we had during the session. “Look at me, stop typing. Look at me so I know you’re listening; d

By Alan Wooten | The Center Square The North Carolina Legislative Building, home to the General Assembly, stands on Jones Street in Raleigh, N.C. Photo: Alan Wooten / The Center Square (The Center Square) – Stalled recovery in Hurricane Helene is blamed on “stifling bureaucracy utterly lacking in common sense and resourcefulness,” say seven Republican members of the North Carolina House of Representatives in a statement directed at first-term Democratic Gov. Josh Stein. This

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent Laura Boggs Tharrington Laura Boggs Tharrington has called Cleveland County home since 1980 when she took her first breath as a newborn. This is her home. A 1998 graduate of Burns High School, she graduated from Gardner-Webb University and currently teaches at Crest High School. She teaches business principles, which includes being trustworthy, preparedness, integrity and all the ethical principles. "That's something important to me

Staff Reports | Cleveland Community College CCC Cleveland Community College is proud to announce its participation in Careers Electric, a workforce initiative launched by the Siemens Foundation to expand access to high-quality electrical training and build the next generation of skilled electrical workers. According to a February 17 press release from the Siemens Foundation, Careers Electric aims to train 25,000 individuals over the next 10 years to address the growing demand

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent Denise Wright Denise Wright is a candidate for Cleveland County Commissioner . She’s just one of seven candidates vying for two seats up for election. She also ran for commissioner in 2024, jumping into the race a little late; she managed to finish in a strong fourth place out of three seats up for election in many of the precincts. Wright grew up on a small farm in Upper Cleveland County. Her husband works for the City of Shelby, an

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent Ronnie Grigg If you haven’t heard of Ronnie Grigg, at least recently, then you’re possibly hiding under a rock, or have just avoided all the political drama as long as possible. Grigg, an incumbent on the CCS Board of Education, is currently running for reelection.    Having four daughters of his own, who graduated from Cleveland County Schools, he wants every parent to see their children receive the best education possible. “I didn

By Annie Dance | WCAB News A deputy takes the suspect into custody. Courtesy photo ELLENBORO – A pig that wandered into a local home was safely taken into custody and later returned to its owner after what deputies called “one of the more unusual calls for service.” “ Not every call is the same… Bacon and Entering suspect taken into custody. On 02/16/2026, our communications center received one of the more unusual calls for service. A pig had made its way inside a home i

Staff Reports | Press Release Twelve seniors graduated from Pinnacle Classical Academy at the conclusion of the first semester. Ten of the 12 are currently enrolled at Cleveland Community College, and six have already earned an associate's degree or a certificate from CCC. These students will join their classmates in May at formal commencement exercises. "Our Pinnacle Board of Directors support an early graduation program for students that are fast-tracking to the workplace a

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent Rodney Fitch   R odney Fitch, who just recently turned 60 while on the campaign trail for school board, has been a resident of Cleveland County his entire life. He served on the school board once before and is now looking to rededicate his time, in retirement, to serve as a member of the board of education once again. A native of Upper Cleveland, and a graduate of Burns High School, Fitch recently retired from the Cleveland County S

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent Shelia Canipe Shelia Canipe wasted no time, immediately starting the interview by stating, “It bothers me that at one time we had nine underperforming schools, and now it is much better than that, but we still have kids graduating that can’t read, write, or count. She continued, “I know adults that, if it weren’t for technology they couldn’t count – they can’t make change at a cash register. I’ve been in a store where I have had to

By David Beasley | The Center Square contributor Courtesy photo The Center Square (The Center Square) – For North Carolina residents struggling to buy homes, it’s not their imagination that prices seem to be going through the roof, according to a newly released study. The state as a whole had an average listing price in North Carolina of about $520,000, which is 20% below the national average of $647,000, the John Locke Foundation study notes. Even so, it can be hard to find

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent Pres. Donald J. Trump and Wayne King courtesy photo Editor’s note: This interview was first published on Dec. 5, 2025. For the candidates willing to participate that have interviews released / being released before the March 3 primary, it was deemed only fair to re-release this feature with all other “Facing the voters” articles. Wayne King, a Cleveland County native and lifelong Kings Mountain resident , is no stranger to wheels o

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent Rep. Tim Moore Editor’s note: This is from an interview with Congressman Tim Moore in November 2025, but still holds relevant to this election. Keep in mind this was published 11/25/2025. It’s only fair to republish this interview with the Congressman since The Shelby Independent interviewed his opponent in a “Facing the voters” feature, for the 14 th  Congressional District race. In an exclusive local interview, Congressman Tim Moor

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent Josh Biddix There’s the saying, “Once a Marine, always a Marine” but Josh Biddix is also aiming at being a county commissioner for the people of Cleveland County. A husband, father of two, and a former police officer (on top of his military service), Biddix sat down with The Shelby Independent to discuss the issues currently facing Cleveland County, concerns of his own, and the hope he has for the future of the county. A Crest High

Staff Reports | Press Release by Robert Queen Editor's note: This press release has been published as-is and not altered in any way whatsoever. This is a press release only; this is not an endorsement by The Shelby Independent of any candidates running for elected offices. Read it in its entirety below : As early voting begins Thursday, February 12, voters in Cleveland County have a clear choice: continue moving our schools forward with steady, proven leadership— or allow di

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent Rep. Kelly Hastings EDITOR’S NOTE: The reporter for this article does not live in the 110 NC House District. Also, in a previous version of this article, a typo made it seem he had endorsed his opponent which he clearly stated he had not. This “was” has been changed to “wasn’t” - the correction has been made. Rep. Kelly Hastings grew up in Shelby; his wife, Anika, is from Cherryville , which is where they live today. Hastings is the

By Chuck Thompson | Shelby Independent Dr. Caroline Eason EDITOR’S NOTE: The reporter for this article does not live in the 110 NC House District. Caroline Eason is a graduate of UNC Chapel Hill Eshelman School of Pharmacy. She is not only a third-generation independent community pharmacist, but also is a Republican running for the 110 NC House seat. The district is one of 120 districts in the North Carolina House of Representatives. Eason, an Upper Cleveland native, with a

Staff Reports Cleveland Community College and East Carolina University have strengthened educational pathways for students in Cleveland County with a new transfer agreement signed January 28 in ECU’s Science and Technology Building. The signing cemented a partnership between the two colleges that guarantees admission to the university’s Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology (BSIT) program for qualified CCC graduates. That point appealed to Dr. Jason Hurst, president of