Contact Me To View My Current Listings or To List Your Home! MARVIN BIDDIX Realtor®/Broker
REMAX SELECT Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated
Cell: 704.466.1944 Office: 704.487.7653 marvinbiddix@remax.net
500 W. WARREN STREET • SHELBY, NC
Volume 138 • Issue 3
Wednesday, January 21, 2026
kmherald.com • 704-484-1047
75¢
Citizens share concerns with Kings Mountain City Council: Water, Transparency, and Ethics Cleveland County seeking applicants for Advisory Boards and Commissions Cleveland County is currently seeking residents to serve on the Planning Board, the Board of Adjustment, and the Historic Preservation Commission. These boards play a critical role in land-use decisions, community development, and the preservation of the county’s historic and cultural resources. Board and commission members review property and development information, attend public meetings, and participate in public hearings to help ensure decisions are fair, lawful, and thoughtfully made. Board Responsibilities • Board of Adjustment - Conducts public hearings and makes decisions related to zoning matters, variances, and other issues that affect property rights and land use within Cleveland County. • Historic Preservation Commission - Works to protect and preserve the historic properties, cultural heritage, and architectural character of Cleveland County and its municipalities.
• Planning Board - Serves in an advisory role to the Cleveland County Board of Commissioners by providing planning and policy recommendations related to land use, growth, and development. Applicant Qualifications Applicants must: • Be a resident of Cleveland County • Be able to review detailed information and make objective decisions • Be willing to attend meetings and participate in public hearings • Demonstrate fairness, integrity, and sound judgment Experience in planning, zoning, land use, law, real estate, construction, or public service is helpful but not required. Training will be provided. Interested residents may apply online by visiting the Cleveland County website at www.clevelandcounty.com and selecting ‘Boards and Committees’ under the Government section. Completed See APPLICANTS, Page 2A
Moore introduces the No Bounties on Badges Act Recently, Congressman Tim Moore (NC-14) introduced H.R. 7114, the No Bounties on Badges Act, TIM MOORE which would authorize federal rewards for information leading to the arrest, conviction, or prevention of individuals who offer bounties to harm or kill law enforcement officers. “As law enforcement officers across services are increasingly targeted by radicals, Congress has to do something to stand up for them,” said Congressman Moore.“I’m disgusted by the dangerous rhetoric likening police officers to Nazis — and now some are going even further, literally putting a price tag on their lives. That’s why I introduced the No Bounties on Badges Act
in the House to send a clear message that if you put a bounty on our officers, we’ll put a bounty on you.” Specifically, this legislation expands existing federal reward authority to explicitly cover attempts to intimidate or target police through paid incentives. Original cosponsors include Mike Ezell (MS-04), Troy Nehls (TX-22), Vern Buchanan (FL-16), Rick Crawford (AR-01), and John Rutherford (FL-05). This legislation is also endorsed by the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA) and the NYPD Sergeants’ Benevolent Association. This legislation was introduced in the Senate by Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) and cosponsored by Senators Tedd Budd (R-NC), Mike Lee (R-UT), Pete Ricketts (RNE), John Kennedy (R-LA), and Lindsey Graham (R-SC). Key Background: • Congressman Tim Moore has been a staunch See ACT, Page 2A
By Allyson Parker The Kings Mountain City Council held its first meeting of 2026 on January 13 at the City Council Chambers, 101 S. Piedmont Ave., Kings Mountain, NC. This meeting also marked the first official session for the newly elected council members. While the start of a new year brings fresh perspectives and leadership, the council continues to face unresolved rhetorical issues, lingering citizen complaints, and several important matters requiring attention. At the same time, new challenges will need to be identified and incorporated into the council’s agenda as the year progresses. After the customary opening procedures of the meeting, the Mayor formally acknowledged and welcomed the new council members, Heather Lemmond and Tyler Fletcher, along with Scott Neisler, former Mayor of Kings Mountain. Several Kings Mountain residents then addressed the council, voicing concerns they considered of utmost importance. Dale Greene of Kings Mountain addressed two major concerns: rising utility costs and water quality. He urged the council to prioritize these issues, along with road conditions, rather than what he referred to as “streetscape nonsense” and the proposed data center. Mr. Greene also asked council members to recall the oath they take upon assuming office and further requested that Scott Neisler resign due to criminal allegations that are a matter of public record. Christine Hildebran, who did not disclose her city of residence, spoke about the Dixon Ridge Project, raising concerns regarding its scale, location, and potential environmental impact. She emphasized that infrastructure should not be built primarily to serve private investors. Ms. Hildebran stated that ethics are not only about intent but also about public perception, noting that the prestige associated with holding public office should not be invoked improperly and that ethical responsibility is individual. She further stated that “scrutiny, clarity, and independent judgment are needed by the City Council on the Dixon Ridge Project.” As another point of contention, Ms. Hildebran raised concerns regarding the role of private influence in public decision-making and questioned whether sufficient safeguards
are in place to ensure transparency and accountability in the approval process for the Dixon Ridge Project. Tiffany Bird of Kings Mountain brought attention to rising utility costs, stating that the expenses are excessive and continue to increase without the availability of payment options such as an equalized billing plan based on prior years’ usage. She expressed concern that the lack of stabilized billing makes household budgeting difficult. Gina Colias of Kings Mountain stated that water quality issues have been a concern for some time. She expressed gratitude to William Nash, Dustin Bond, and Todd Carpenter, City Manager, for assisting her in beginning the process of addressing those concerns. During council remarks, Scott Neisler acknowledged an oversight related to the
issuance of a certificate of insurance for a policy that was not in force and stated the issue would be corrected. Mayor Pro Tem Annie Thoms thanked city employees and fellow council members for their continued diligence, offering special appreciation to the Water Department for overtime and hard work. Sherril Miller echoed her gratitude to city administration and employees, particularly those addressing water-related concerns. City Manager Todd Carpenter noted that several council members would be out of town during the week of January 13. Mayor Wegmans addressed concerns over electric bills being consistently higher in January and advised that the January 22 town meeting may need to be rescheduled due to prior commitments. Carmen Scism, representing the Moss Lake Com-
mission, provided the 2026 update. She emphasized the importance of maintaining a strong working relationship with the City Council and extended an invitation for council members to collaborate with the commission on budget discussions and to participate in upcoming workshops. Communications Manager Gabriel Thomas presented an overview of the city’s emergency and critical notification system, Everbridge®, as part of a broader agenda on public safety and community communications. Thomas explained how the platform is used to deliver timely alerts to residents about severe weather, public safety incidents, utility outages, road closures, and other urgent matters, highlighting its role in ensuring transparency, responsiveness, and reliable See MEETING, Page 2A
Albemarle to serve as venue host for Energy Saver North Carolina Albemarle is proud to support Energy Funds for All and NC League of Conservation Voters Foundation by serving as the venue host for Energy Saver North Carolina. The public is invited
to attend January 26 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Trackview Hall, 205 S. Battleground Ave., Kings Mountain, located around the corner from Albemarle’s Kings Mountain Project Center.
The event will provide information on rebates, weatherization assistance and other resources, with on-site help available to complete applications. Food will be provided.
Our Team Wishes You A Prosperous
New Year’s Special FREE SERVICE CALL WITH SAME DAY REPAIR* *
OVER $250
SHELBY License #M32386
Commercial • Residential • Sales • Service
704-487-7877 www.shelbyheating.com