Cleveland County

The Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office runs an eight-week summer camp called STAR Camp for students entering sixth grade, focusing on drug and alcohol education, peer pressure resistance, and community service. The program, attended by 280 students annually, is sponsored by local businesses and aims to build trust between youth and law enforcement.

A flood watch was issued for multiple counties in the Charlotte region starting July 22, with heavy rains expected through Thursday evening. Counties under the watch include Anson, Ashe, Avery, Burke, Cabarrus, Caldwell, Cleveland, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Richmond, Rowan, and Stanly. The watch will expire Thursday evening for most areas but remain through Friday morning for Anson, Richmond, and Stanly counties.

Governor Josh Stein visited Cleveland Community College to meet with high school students participating in a summer academy focused on electrical workforce development. The program is part of 12 academies launching this summer.

The Carolinas experienced severe storms and flooding over the weekend, causing power outages and damage in the Charlotte region, including a confirmed tornado in Cleveland County. WBTV and Duke Energy provided weather alerts and safety guidance for residents.

Showers and thunderstorms affected the Charlotte region on July 13, 2026, with a flood watch in effect due to excessive rainfall. Interactive radar tracked the storms, and severe weather risks were expected to subside by Tuesday. An EF-1 tornado was confirmed in North Carolina’s Cleveland County earlier in the week.

Severe thunderstorms with damaging winds, hail, and flash flooding were possible across the Carolinas, including the Charlotte region, on July 12-13, 2026. An EF-1 tornado had previously touched down in Cleveland County, and Duke Energy reported limited power outages during earlier storms.

Severe thunderstorms and potential tornadoes affected the Charlotte region on July 12, 2026, with active and expired weather alerts for multiple counties in North Carolina and South Carolina. Storms brought damaging winds, hail, flash flooding, and localized power outages, though widespread outages were not reported.

An EF-1 tornado caused a mobile home to overturn in Casar, Cleveland County, resulting in a person with minor injuries. The tornado, reaching 90 mph winds, uprooted trees and caused minor damage to homes east of specific roads.

An EF-1 tornado touched down near Dirty Ankle Road in Cleveland County on July 10, causing significant tree damage and minor home damage. The tornado traveled seven miles at 90 mph, with no injuries or deaths reported. Neighbors are cleaning up, and residents expressed gratitude for the relatively minor impact.

The National Weather Service confirmed an EF-1 tornado with 90 mph winds caused damage in Cleveland County, including uprooted trees, home and car damage, and a detached porch. The tornado traveled seven miles in 11 minutes, starting near Casar, affecting parts of Lincoln County, and ending near Cooksville in Catawba County.

An EF-1 tornado struck Cleveland County, as reported by the National Weather Service. The storm had wind speeds reaching approximately 90 mph.

A North Carolina man, Jared Logan, was arrested for allegedly driving impaired and crashing into an ambulance, killing paramedic Ashley Moore and injuring others. Logan was charged with second-degree murder, reckless driving, and other offenses after the collision on Highway 74 near Interstate 85.

A Cleveland County paramedic was killed in a high-speed crash while treating a patient in an ambulance. A retired Mecklenburg County paramedic, who lost both legs in a past ambulance collision, is advocating for improved safety measures in ambulances to protect emergency workers.

A driver was traveling over 100 mph and allegedly impaired when he crashed into an ambulance, killing Cleveland County paramedic Ashley Moore. The driver, Jared Logan, has a history of DWI convictions and traffic violations, and prosecutors are seeking a second-degree murder charge. Logan’s father expressed regret, calling the crash a 'bad decision.'

A fiberglass plant in Cleveland County, operated by Nippon Electric Glass in Shelby, will close by August 2023, affecting nearly 500 workers. The plant, established in 1957 and acquired by Nippon in 2017, will cease fiberglass production entirely in North America.

Heat returns with high temperatures reaching 95°F and high humidity, alongside isolated afternoon showers and potential storms in the High Country and areas from Cleveland County to Lake Norman. Storms are expected to weaken by 8 p.m. as clouds move east, with similar weather patterns continuing through the weekend before returning to normal summer temperatures next week.

A Gastonia man faces a second-degree murder charge after allegedly rear-ending an ambulance that was treating a patient, causing it to flip and killing paramedic Ashley Moore. The defendant, Jared Logan, also faces charges of driving while impaired, reckless driving, and failure to wear a seatbelt.

A Cleveland County paramedic, Ashley Moore, was killed when an ambulance she was in was struck from behind by a car and flipped in Gaston County. The driver of the car faces pending charges, with alcohol and speeding likely contributing factors. Moore, a nine-year EMS veteran, was tending to a patient at the time of the crash, while the patient and ambulance driver sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

A Cleveland County paramedic died and another was injured after an ambulance flipped on Highway 74 near the Gaston-Cleveland County line on July 6. A damaged car was also involved in the crash, and Highway 74 was closed in the eastbound direction during the investigation.

An ambulance flipped during a crash near the Gaston-Cleveland County line on Highway 74 on July 6. A damaged car was also involved, and the ambulance was righted by a wrecker. No injuries or fatalities have been confirmed, and the highway was temporarily closed during the investigation.

Heat advisories were issued for nearly all Charlotte-region counties, effective at noon on Thursday, July 2, until 8 p.m. Weather officials warn of heat index values reaching 105-108°F, risking heat-related illnesses.

A $6,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest of Jonathan Petty, a 43-year-old man accused of killing Timothy Ruff in Shelby, Cleveland County, on March 29, 2024. Petty is wanted for murder and possession of a firearm by a felon, with authorities believing he may be residing in family or friend homes across multiple counties in the Carolinas and surrounding states.

Gaston County authorities are increasing patrols and urging vigilance on Mountain Island Lake during the Fourth of July weekend following recent drownings, including a 12-year-old boy in Catawba County and a near-drowning of a father and two sons in Cleveland County. Swimmer Destiny Nazworth and Officer Joshua Self emphasize the importance of life jackets and close supervision to prevent water-related accidents.

A reward has been increased for a man accused of a 2024 murder in Cleveland County. Officials indicate he has ties to North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Virginia.

Five individuals were arrested in Cleveland County following a months-long drug trafficking investigation, resulting in the seizure of nearly two pounds of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine. The suspects, including alleged trafficking leader Santana Elliott, faced multiple charges related to drug distribution and conspiracy.

A black bear was spotted in a Gastonia, N.C. neighborhood on June 16, stealing food from a birdfeeder. The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission attributed the sighting to juvenile bears seeking territory and urban expansion, advising residents to follow BearWise guidelines to avoid conflicts.

CaroMont Health plans to build a $115.7 million hospital in Cleveland County, North Carolina, between Kings Mountain and Shelby to address the state's need for 86 additional acute care beds. The facility will include 18 acute-care beds, six observation beds, a full-service emergency department, and other medical services, with a site near the U.S. 74 and Shelby Road interchange.