THE SHELBY INDEPENDENT

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

Staff Reports | The Shelby Independent, North Pole Media Office Stocking hung, by the chimney with care. Santa's got a brand new sleigh! Recently, The Shelby Independent was able to obtain some inside information regarding Santa replacing his sleigh. While the reports remained unconfirmed from October, when we received the alleged information, The North Pole did send a press release confirming that Santa did indeed replace the sled that he has used since 1937. In the stateme

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recognizing the importance of this legislation to streamline housing development and affordability by updating outdated programs, removing regulatory roadblock

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

Staff Reports | Cleveland County Government Hansen At the inaugural meeting of the newly established Consolidated Human Services Agency (CHSA) Board, Cleveland County Manager David B. Cotton announced the appointment of Ms. Tiffany Hansen as the Assistant County Manager for Consolidated Human Services.   The creation of the CHSA brings the Department of Social Services and the Health Department together under one coordinated agency. In her new role, Hansen will oversee the da

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

Staff Reports | Cleveland County Government Cleveland County Government has been recognized as the number five 'Healthiest Employer in North Carolina' among organizations with 500 to 1,499 employees and ranked 93rd nationwide in the 2025 Healthiest Employers® awards. This national program honors organizations that demonstrate exceptional commitment to employee well-being through innovative benefits, comprehensive health programs, and a culture that prioritizes wellness. App

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 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

Staff reports | Press Release Healthy Together Cleveland logo Cleveland County has made a donation of $10,000 to support the Everyone Eats Emergency Food Fund Drive , spearheaded by Healthy Together Cleveland  (HTC) to combat food insecurity in the county. Donations to this effort will be used to support Washington Outreach Ministry  (WOM), a local nonprofit organization which serves as the primary food hub for Cleveland County. To date, HTC has raised $80,110 toward its goal

Staff reports | Cleveland County Arts Council Handmade for the Holidays information The Cleveland County Arts Council welcomes back the Handmade for the Holidays arts and crafts show for 2025. The sale will be open from November 14 through December 23, in the Arts Council gallery located at 111 S. Washington St., Shelby, NC. The hours of operation are Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. - 4.p.m., December Fridays from 9 a.m. - 8 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. There

Staff Reports Kings Mountain, N.C. – In coordination with the North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement (NC ALE) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Kings Mountain Police Department (KMPD) executed a search warrant at a business known as “Lucky Teeters,” located at 402 E. King Street, in connection with an ongoing illegal gambling investigation. In the press release sent out late Thursday afternoon, it stated, "The Kings Mountain Police Department received multiple

Press release | Cleveland County Gov. SHELBY — The United States Department of Agriculture has ordered a pause on all November SNAP benefits until further notice due to the federal government shutdown. Unless the USDA lifts their suspension in the coming days, November SNAP benefits will not be issued. The NC Department of Health and Human Services is ready to act quickly should the USDA allow North Carolina to resume November SNAP benefits. You can still use your EBT card an

stock photo The Carolina Pottery Festival returns for its 25 th year on Saturday, Nov. 1, at the LeGrand Center, in Shelby. The festival attracts crowds of over 1,000 pottery lovers with close to 100 well-known regional potters showing and selling their work. It is one of the largest “pottery only” festivals in the southeast with a wide range of traditional and contemporary work that is functional, decorative and sculptural. Artists will be available to talk about their ins

The Cleveland County Arts Council has announced the upcoming exhibit Walker Fine Art , featuring the works of father-and-son artist duo,...

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

Boiling Springs Town Hall and Police Dept. Chuck Thompson | Shelby Independent Boiling Springs – In a press release Wednesday...

The SBO was requested t conduct an in investigation into the matter.

The City of Shelby, announced the selection of former Assistant City Manager and Finance Director Justin Merritt as the new City Manager for the City of Shelby.