THE SHELBY INDEPENDENT

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

Staff Reports | State Bureau of Investigation SBI logo Shelby – The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) has initiated an investigation into an allegation of excessive use of force by an officer with the Shelby Police Department. The request for an independent investigation was made by the Shelby Police Chief and the Cleveland County District Attorney. SBI agents have already begun and will work to complete the investigation as efficiently as possible while ensu

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

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

By Chuck Thompson | OPINION | Shelby Independent OPINION – In something that came across like segment from the novel '1984' The City of Kings Mountain posted on its official Facebook account, Monday, warning the public to only trust official press releases and comments made by The City of Kings Mountain and to disregard untrusted and / or unverified sources. “The City of Kings Mountain would like to address and correct false information that has recently been circulated on so

By Gideon Simmons | Special to The Shelby Independent A bear is seen crossing Westlee Street in Lattimore on May 8, 2026. | Courtesy photo still frame from video. Town of Lattimore Facebook page. Photo credit: Rachael Metcalf. Lattimore — Who would have ever thought that the most viewed post on the Town of Lattimore’s Facebook page would have been about a bear wandering through the Town? Over a week ago, the mayor was sent a picture and a video by two residents that showed a

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent Boiling Springs Town Council during in session during the May 5, 2026 public meeting. | Chuck Thompson, The Shelby Independent. BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. — With Budget Season soon coming to an end, it looks as if Boiling Springs is ready to move forward with approval of their budget next month. The May Boiling Springs Town Council meeting picked up in full swing after the cancellation of the April meeting. Local Scout Pack 117 were on

Staff Reports | Cleveland Community College Because construction of the Beam Student Center is fully funded by the North Carolina General Assembly, these private donations will be used to support student scholarships. | Courtesy photo. Cleveland Community College – CCC marked a historic milestone on Friday, May 1, with a ceremonial groundbreaking for its long-awaited student center, a transformative project designed to centralize and enhance services for students across camp

Staff Reports | Cleveland Community College Now in its fifth year, CCC’s High School Welding Competition continues to play a vital role in preparing students for high-demand careers in skilled trades. | Courtesy photo. Cleveland Community College — CCC welcomed the county’s top young welding talent on Friday, May 1, 2026, for its fifth annual High School Welding Competition. The event kicked off at 9 a.m. and featured 16 student competitors — four each from Burns High Schoo

By Alan Wooten | The Center Square File graphic | The Shelby Independent (Affects Local) – More than 1 million active, inactive and retired North Carolina public employees in the state retirement system could get pension benefit improvements such as a cost-of-living increase or one-time supplement. The Board of Trustees for the North Carolina Retirement Systems voted for the change that takes effect in 2027 and runs through 2032. The board’s new policy will direct how to dete

By Philip Jackson, public information officer | N.C. Forest Service N.C. Forest Service N.C. Forest Service – The N.C. Forest Service has lifted a ban on all open burning for 81 counties effective 8 a.m. Sunday, May 3. The statewide ban on open burning went into effect March 28 due to hazardous forest fire conditions, and the ban remains in effect for Alamance, Anson, Cabarrus, Chatham, Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Gaston, Guilford, Iredell, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Moore, Ran

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent Boiling Springs Town Hall and Police Department sign out by College Ave. | Chuck Thompson BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Have you checked your wallet for funny money lately? Counterfeit bills have shown up in Boiling Springs, and the Boiling Springs Police Department want you to be on the lookout for anything funny, or fishy when it comes to currency, as it could spread across the county. In a statement released earlier today, Thursday, Apr

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent City Council in chambers during the April 20 meeting. public livestream photo still The City of Shelby continues to grow as new residential zoning requests bring forth new housing construction but not all rezoning applications have been approved, just yet. A couple of rezoning requests were presented to the city council during their most recent public meeting last week. These included Audrey Godfrey, senior planner for the City of S

Staff reports | The Shelby Independent | Press Release | Cleveland County government File photo graphic | The Shelby Independent Cleveland County — In the wake of several unsettling bomb threats against various Cleveland County government offices, the county sent out a press release on Friday April 24, in regards to the specific incident on March 10, stating their findings and noting enhancements made to safety protocols. However, no other information has yet been made availa

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent Denise Steffen walks away from the podium after addressing the Cleveland County Board of Commissioners Tuesday, April 21, 2026. | Screenshot of livestream public video Editor’s note: At the beginning of April 2026 The Shelby Independent published a news story on the firing of the county finance director by the county manager. Publishing the contents of a public record, such as a government employee's termination letter, is not sl