THE SHELBY INDEPENDENT

By Chuck Thompson | The Sunday Column OPINION – Feelings over facts seems to be the preferred way of doing things in media nowadays, but that's not journalism, although, that is what you see and read in the mainstream media every day and that is called 'propaganda' and 'activism' disguised as journalism, as many of you have learned over the years. Some seem to think journalism should be regulated based on what people do and do not like, because it actually does happen ever

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent CCS Board of Education poses with shelby High School athletes, Zaryn Ussery, Keynia Trammell-Mason, Olivia Oliver, and Noni Oliver. Editor’s note: For more information about the sale of Marion School, and board comments, see the other Board of Education news story published after this one, Tuesday afternoon, 3/10/2026 .   On Monday night, during the school board public meeting, Dr. Jason Parker, Executive Director of Elementary Schoo

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

Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent Cleveland County Admin Building where the county commissioners meet. Chuck Thompson | Shelby Independent Is the school board political drama spilling over to the county commissioners race? The Shelby Independent could not verify that political drama is contagious because the CDC could not be reached for comment for this question, but in a google search, and it must be noted was not verified by any qualified experts, stated, "The C

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent Political Smackdown logo on C19TV, recorded in the John O. Harris Jr. studio Cleveland Community College C19TV’s Political Smackdown, hosted by Mike Philbeck -R, Betsy Wells -D, Wes Westmoreland -R, and Andy Dedmon -D, had their last regular episode of the year on the last Friday before Christmas. Former Shelby Mayor Mike Philbeck began the show by mentioning former North Carolina Governor James B. (Jim) Hunt, who recently passed aw