From Kings Casino to Chick-fil-A, here are the top 10 stories that caught readers’ eyes in 2021 – Shelby Star

As 2021 comes to a close, The Starlooksback at stories that most interested readers.

By reviewing the number of pageviews at ShelbyStar.com, heres a look back of the good and the bad that happened in Cleveland County this year:

More: Get a glimpse of the Catawba Two Kings Casino

The Two Kings Casino in Kings Mountain has been the talk of the regionfor years. As the opening of the temporary gambling spacesneared, readers couldnt wait to know more.

Ahead of the July 1 opening, The Star shared all there was to know to prepare people for their visit to the prelaunch site at538 Kings Mountain Blvd.

A second story with photos from inside the casino also tempted readers as they readied to try out the slots.The articles placed twice in our top 10 read of the year.

More: Chick-fil-A to be closed for about two months

The constant lineof carswrapped around the Chick-fil-A on East Dixon Boulevard in Shelby makes it clear that residents want their nuggets and waffle fries.And so does the number of readers who wanted all the details about the location closing for renovations.

The popular restaurant closed in January to make upgrades and reopened tohungry customers a couple of months later.

Shelbys other Chick-fil-A location in Cleveland Mall also closed for renovations in 2020.

More: Kings Mountain plant closing, 379 workers to lose jobs

In the spring,ABB-Baldor in Kings Mountainannounced it would be closing its doors.

ABB-Baldorattributed the closure to negative market conditions in oil, gas and mining industries, as well as overlap between the functions of the Kings Mountain plant and other company factories.

More than 350 employees were expected to lose their jobs.

Since 1983 ABB of Kings Mountain has manufactured large industrial electric motors. The plant was one of two ABB-Baldor locations in Cleveland County. The company closed its Shelby location in 2020.

More: "The most well-fed homeless cat" in Shelby: Uptown says goodbye to the coolest cat in town

When prominent members of the community pass away,friends and family find ways to remember them.

When a familiar feline died last summer in Shelby,AA United Cab Co. crematedhim and put a placard on a bench in uptown.

Blackie the cat made Shelby streets his home and the cab company his home base for 13 years.

He was pretty much the community cat, AA United Cab Co. dispatcher Tony Hamrick said in July.

More: Two bodies found inside car at Atrium Health Cleveland in Shelby

On May 10, Shelby Police and Atrium Health Security responded to the parking lot of Atrium Health-Clevelandwhen two men were found dead inside a car.

David Wade Cash of Shelby and Steven Curtis Campbell of North Myrtle Beach were discovered by someone passing by the vehicle.

Early on, investigators said they did not suspect foul play.It was later determined the two men died of an overdose.

More: Man charged with murder after his ex-girlfriend was found with a gunshot wound to the head

Investigators were called to the 500 block of Borders Road off of Oak Grove Road outside of Shelby around 2 a.m. on Aug. 31.

When they arrived, deputies found Jennie Kay Deal dead from a gunshot wound to the head.

Twenty-two-year-old Nicholas Eric Curtis was soon charged with felony murder, possession of a firearm by a felon and probation violation. He remains in Cleveland County jail on a $500,000 bond.

More: Sheriff: Inmate fails to lead investigators to Asha Degree

Cleveland County residents and beyond continue to question what happened to Asha Degree22 years ago.

Then 9 years old, Degree went missing on Feb. 14, 2000. Despite efforts by the Cleveland County Sheriffs Office and the FBI, her disappearance remains amystery.

In 2020, an inmate in custody of the N.C. Department of Corrections wrote The Star saying he had information about what happened to her.

Because of the COVID crisis and lockdown in correctional facilities, local investigators did not immediately go to interview Marcus Mellon, who wasconvictedof sex crimes against children in 2014.

Ultimately, Cleveland County Sheriff Alan Norman said interviews with Mellon were not fruitful and did not produce any new leads.

More: Shelby teen killed in spray of gunfire on Lenoir Drive

Investigators were called to Frederick Street in Shelby around 10 p.m. on April 6. Someone had fired into a party gathered outside and struck three people who were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Four hours later while they were still at that residence, investigators heard shots fired on Lenoir Drive about 100 feet away.

They ran over to find 18-year-oldDaquarriusRaquan Sanders suffering a single gunshot wound. He was taken to Atrium Health-Cleveland where he succumbed to his injuries. No arrest has been made in the case.

More: Mother of slain Shelby teen: 'I want to make sure they pay'

Gun violence erupted again on Nov. 9, when 16-year-oldSkyteriaEva Poston was shot in the back.

Fleeing the gunman outside of her house that afternoon, the Shelby High School student died on her front porch.

Arrest warrants have been issued for 20-year-old Santana Almont Eaves Jr. of Shelby, but so far, he has eluded capture.The U.S. Marshals Service has since offered a $5,000 reward leading to his arrest. He is considered armed and dangerous.

Diane Turbyfill can be reached at 704-669-3334 and dturbyfill@shelbystar.com.

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From Kings Casino to Chick-fil-A, here are the top 10 stories that caught readers' eyes in 2021 - Shelby Star