THE SHELBY INDEPENDENT

By Adrian Hamrick | AWLS | Dir. of Operations The Jim Horn family gathered for a photograph at home plate. | ALWS courtesy photo SHELBY, N.C. — The American Legion World Series (ALWS) Executive Committee once again delivered a memorable evening of baseball at Keeter Stadium as Wake Forest University defeated Appalachian State University 3–2 in the annual Jim Horn Tribute Game on Tuesday night. After a brief morning shower cleared, fans were treated to a beautiful evening f

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

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent All CCS Board members unexpectedly raise their hands to vote 9-0 to the Marion Resolution presented Monday night. | CCS YouTube photo still Cleveland County Schools – It was a quiet uneventful vote Monday night, as the Cleveland County Schools voted on the resolution to move forward with the bid process to accept Jerry Allen’s bid on Marion School property. Unlike meetings in the past regarding Marion, it was a calm process, with

Staff Reports | Pinnacle Classical Academy The $28 million in loans made the building's construction and expansion possible. | Submitted photo: PCA Pinnacle Classical Academy – Federal, state, and local officials joined Sen. Debbie Clary, co-founder and board chair of Pinnacle Classical Academy, at the official dedication of Pinnacle Classical Academy's grade 4-12 school building at its Joes Lake Road campus on April 10. Sen. Clary thanked the USDA for the $28 million in

By Wes Westmoreland | The Sunday Column | Special to The Shelby Independent Westmoreland April 12 marks the 250th anniversary of a largely forgotten, but significant date in American history. On this date in 1776, the Fourth Provincial Congress of North Carolina met in Halifax and unanimously passed a measure instructing its delegates to the Continental Congress to vote to declare independence from Great Britain. With the Halifax Resolves, North Carolina became the first co

Staff Reports | Cleveland County sheriff's Office | Press Release Trenity Glenn Campbell and Angel Lee McManus, both of Bessemer City were arrested for the bomb threats. Two suspects are behind bars after making threats to the clerks office in the Cleveland County Courthouse on Wednesday afternoon. On April 1, 2026, the Cleveland County Clerk’s Office received two bomb threats within approximately one hour of each other. In response, the building was immediately secured

Staff Reports | Cleveland County Sheriff's Office A still-frame from a surveillance camera of the suspects CCSO needs the public's help in identifying or their whereabouts. courtesy photo One of the alleged suspects in question walking into a store. Courtesy photo, CCSO. Another bomb threat plagued Cleveland County Wednesday. On Wednesday afternoon, at approximately 3:04 p.m., the Cleveland County Clerk’s Office received a call stating a bomb was in the courthouse.

By Paula Vess | Cleveland Community College Ai generated file photo CLEVELAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE – Three Cleveland Community College cosmetology students are proving that service goes far beyond the salon chair; it reaches into the heart of the community. Kenyatta Eskridge, Kallie McCoid, and Grace Pribble are representing CCC in the SkillsUSA Community Service Project competition, using their platform to support Washington Outreach Ministry, a local organization dedicated t

By Allen Wooten | The Center Square file photo CHARLOTTE – Warnings for increased delays and possible cancellations reverberating through the airline industry because of the partial government shutdown include Charlotte, the world’s No. 6 airport in aircraft operations and North America’s No. 7 in passenger volume. Charlotte Douglas International Airport needs about 100 air traffic controllers in roles of actively working, managing coordinators, or administrative. The exact

Staff Reports | Cleveland County Sheriff's Office | The Shelby Independent Cleveland County Sheriff's Office executed a search warrant at 2247-B Flint Hill Church Road. Courtesy photo CCSO. (NEAR) BOILING SPRINGS – Several arrests were made and an alleged drug house was shut down after the Cleveland County Sheriff's Office executed a search warrant following an extensive narcotics investigation on Tuesday. On March 10, the Cleveland County Sheriff's Office executed a sea

By Chuck Thompson | Shelby Independent The CCS Board of Education during their public meeting, March 9, 2026. The discussion over Marion took the main focus last night , as school board members made their thoughts known, keeping in line with where they had been before, months ago, with a few exceptions. Board of Education members Aaron Bridges and Gloria Sherman seemed to have shifted slightly, not in their sincerity to sell the building, but in shifting to supporting an open

By Chuck Thompson | Shelby Independent file photo A shooting ended with one arrested and one hospitalized yesterday afternoon. On Monday, March 9, The Shelby Police Department responded to a reported shooting at the 800 block of Logan Street at 3:55 p.m. In a statement released by Shelby Police Chief Brad Fraser, it stated, “Upon arrival, officers discovered an individual had been shot and already transported to the local hospital for treatment for non-life-threatening injur

By Chuck Thompson The Shelby Independent Board of Education candidate Shelia Canipe has confirmed that she plans to move forward with a recount request. Speaking with The Shelby Independent this afternoon, Canipe said she will ask for a recount on the Monday after Canvas, which is March 13. “I've had several of my supporters who have requested that I asked for a recount, and I feel like I owe that to the ones who supported me,” said Canipe. This is a developing story. Check..

Staff Reports | Cleveland Community College Cleveland Community College (CCC) has received a $10,000 community investment from AT&T to expand its Digital Navigator Program, further strengthening digital access and literacy efforts for adult learners and community members throughout Cleveland County. CCC is one of only eight colleges selected to receive this funding. On Tuesday, February 24, Kathleen Evans, Regional Director of External Affairs for AT&T, accompanied by Chrisy

Commentary | The Shelby Independent OPINION — It’s March 3, the day most candidates have been waiting for (those that have a primary) and it couldn’t be sweeter or finer than to be in Carolina during this election of attrition, as many candidates have continued to nuke each other into oblivion right up to today. In the local races, Tim Moore is facing off across the wolf in sheep’s clothing: Kate Barr, pretending to be a Republican. This race has only been vicious from her si

Shelby, N.C. – Beverly Ann Byrd Borders, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, cherished friend and former teacher to so many, went to be with her Lord and Savior, Feb. 26, 2026. Beverly was born in 1952, in Granite Falls, N.C., to Willie and Mack Ray Byrd. After she graduated from UNC Greensboro, she landed a teaching position in Shelby, where she met her husband Robert “Bob” Wilson Borders Jr. They were married on June 26, 1976. Beverly was a National Board-Certified te

Staff Reports | Cleveland County Schools Board of Education Dr. Stephen Fisher's will retire as Superintendent effective July 1, 2026. Courtesy photo SHELBY, NC — In a press release late Friday afternoon, the Cleveland County Board of Education announced the upcoming retirement of Superintendent Dr. Stephen R. Fisher, effective July 1, 2026. The statement said: Dr. Fisher is a beloved leader whose unwavering commitment to students, educators, and families has cultivated e

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