Like Robert A stated in Part 3 of this series of articles:
“The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) was the first to break the story at the NATIONAL level that there was a “foul smell” emanating from the Kings Mountain Casino. AKA, the Catawba Casino, AKA the Cleveland Count Casino and now AKA the Two Kings Casino. But the WSJ only mentioned two potential criminal offenders, the brother of South Carolina US Congressman Jim Clyburn and the Husband of Former SC Governor Nikki Haley. During all this time Robert A has written over 40 articles since 2015 about the corruption at the Kings Mountain Casino. For your convenience, go to www.citizensforgoodgovernment.org and scroll to the right to the “Search” engine. Type in “Holbrook” and “Casino” and hit “enter.” Those forty+ articles will pull right up for your reading enjoyment. If you add “ALWS” to that search, no telling how many more articles you will pull up. It will certainly take YOU a long time to read them all. And ALL Robert A can say is “I told YOU so!!”
Robert A’s Part 3. Article mentioned an article that provided information that Former Cleveland County Commissioner Eddie Holbrook, Holbrook’s Wife Millie Keeter Holbrook and Former County Manager David Dear also own stock in the Kings Mountain Equipment Supply Company (KMES). A company that receives 20% of the Revenue from the Cleveland County Casino. Robert A has just discovered additional information on the Holbrook’s company named Moose Putter Butter, LLC, and (Former Cleveland County Manager David Dear’s and the Holbrook’s financial rewards in their Kings Mountain Equipment Supply stock ownership. Be prepared to be pissed-off.
The Holbrook’s company, named Moose Putter Butter, LLC, owns 1.34% (625 shares) of KMES 46,643 total shares. The expected revenue from the Casino is $308,000,000 per year and KMES gets 20% of that revenue. So, how much does Moose Putter Butter get out of this when the Casino is in full time operation. let’s do the math:
$308,000,000 X 0.20 X 0.0134 = $825,440 per year. Or about $400 per hour for life, if you like to think that way. Not a bad haul for the Holbrook’s gang.
What Moose Putter Butter LLC. Actually does for the Casino is 100% unknown. Except one has to conclude that “influence peddling” by Former Commissioner Eddie Holbrook has to be the only plausible explanation.
Now, let’s look at the Moose Putter Butter, LLC registration papers documented in the North Carolina Secretary of State’s Office:
According to those documents, the Moose Putter Butter, LLC has the following documentation:
Registration Number: 1460472
Date Formed: July 28, 2015
Citizenship: Domestic
Registered Agent Millie Keeter Holbrook
Now for the tale tail signs: The Addresses for Moose Putter Butter, LLC:
Mailing:
201 Troon Place
Shelby, NC 28150
Principal Office:
201 Troon Place
Shelby, NC 28150
Registering Office:
201 Troon Place
Shelby, NC 28150
Registering Mailing:
201 Troon Place
Shelby, NC 28150
Note: All these mailing addresses are exactly the same.
What is Former Commissioner Eddie Holbrook and wife Millie Keeter Holbrook’s home address?
201 Troon Place
Shelby, NC 28150
Again, the fact is that Eddie Holbrook and Millie Keeter Holbrook live at the same address and one has to conclude that Eddie Holbrook is a silent partner in Moose Putter Butter, LLC. Or at least Eddie Holbrook had knowledge that his wife was operating Moose Putter Butter, LLC and would soon be taking in large sums of cash coming from the Casino that Commissioner Holbrook was instrumental in recruiting for Cleveland County as an Economic Development Project called Project “Schoolhouse”. Surely a criminal violation of ethics under North Carolina Law as Eddie Holbrook AND OTHERS (perhaps including Kristin Reese, EDP Director) were 100% involved with pushing Project Schoolhouse
As an aside, “Putter Butter” is a proprietary formula developed specifically to protect and restore golf club iron, wedge and putter heads from rust, corrosion and fertilizer. And Millie Keeter Holbrook is reported to be an avid golfer who was once a Golf Instructor at Cleveland Community College. Perhaps this “Moose Putter Butter” company name was a cover scheme for the Holbrook’s part in the Casino payoff scheme. The Holbrooks could claim that their large additional source of income was due to selling or distributing Putter Butter to area and regional golfers and golf courses. Who knows what crooks might do to deceive others of their illegal schemes? Or hide ill- gotten gains from the IRS.
Now, let’s examine this “Casino situation” and Former County Manager David Dear.
David Dear was the County Manager during various stages of the Casino “approval” processes with Cleveland County. David Dear allegedly owns 1.88% (875 shares) of KMES.
Let’s do the math to see what Mr. David Dear will collect from HIS small so-called investment in KMES.
$308,000,000 X 0.20 X 0.0188 = $1,158,080 per year. Or about $557 per hour for life for former County Manager David Dear. Also, not a bad haul for doing what??? Selling influence or covering-up for others who are selling their influence???
Now, let’s put our “thinking caps” on.
Project Schoolhouse was a Cleveland County Economic Development Partnership project. Who are the EDP partners and high-level administration officials? These are the ones I know of:
Kristin Reese-Director. Kristin seems to have her own brand of conflict of interest issues. Kristin started out as Kristin Fletcher. Married and with a family, working on the Clearwater Paper Project. During the Cleveland County EDP “courtship” of Clearwater Paper, Kristin seemed to have landed the head person at Clearwater, Vince Reese, as well as the relocation of Clearwater Paper to Cleveland County. Becoming Mrs. Vince Reese in the process
Or maybe the “Courtship was the other way around. Cleveland County “put out” not only Kristin Fletcher as an incentive to Clearwater Paper, but also put out many, many $Millions in incentives and other gratuities to land and keep Clearwater Paper. Totally ignoring Kristin’s conflict of interest issues all along the way. Even though those conflicts of interests were public knowledge all over Cleveland County.
Kristin Fletcher Reese, as the CC EDP Director was in a position to know everything about Project Schoolhouse. Including any “influence peddling” payoffs from KMES in the interest of the Casino. One would be remiss not to consider Kristin Fletcher Reese as an additional PRIME suspect for receiving payoffs of some sort in regard to the Project Schoolhouse.
David Dear-present title unknown, was a former County Manager, Interim county Manager AND an official in the Cleveland County Economic Development Partnership, along with Kristin Reese. As it is now a known fact that David Dear, himself, personally owns 875 shares in KMES, one would be remiss to think that David Dear did NOT conspire with others to bring about the operation of the Cleveland County Casino to others closely associated with David Dear and his outside business dealings. Architect Roger Holland and former Cleveland County official Bill McCarter come to mind. Roger Holland and David Dear are partners in the NewGrass Brewery in Uptown Shelby. David Dear and Bill McCarter are allegedly involved in real estate investments of some sort in Cleveland County. Both possibly profiting from their previous “services” to Cleveland County.
What about the other “Partners” in the Cleveland County Economic Development Partnership? What about the Cleveland County Chamber of Commerce? Robert A once visited the Chambers Uptown Shelby Offices seeking information on just who were these so-called Partners from the Chamber that were hooked in with the CC EDP. All Robert A got was the run around. Oh well, says Robert A. I will just let the FBI take it from here.
Commissioners:
And last (in this article), but certainly NOT least, the Cleveland County Commissions and other County officials. Let’s name a few that were early and always supporters of the Cleveland County Casino. The Commissioners who unanimously supported the Casino despite a high level, persistent and vocal opposition by many Cleveland County residents. The Commissioners simply ignored any opposition by citizens. AND, the same Commissioner who NEVER-EVER would even consider taking the Casino issue to a vote of the citizens of Cleveland County. Who NEVER-EVER considered a referendum at any election time asking “the people” for their permission to support a Casino in Cleveland County. Many of those same Commissioners who have now put a sales tax increase referendum on the ballot for a third time. The Third Time AFTER being overwhelmingly thrown out and defeated by the voters the first two times.
Cleveland County Plantation Politics Master Eddie Holbrook has to be number one on this list. As previously noted in THIS article, the North Carolina Registered Company Moose Putter Butter, which owns 625 shares of KMES operates out of Mr. Eddie Holbrook’s home at 201 Troon Place in Shelby. Former Commissioner Eddie Holbrook is also under fire by many for his apparent corruption in his running of the American Legion World Series Baseball, Inc. Holbrook’s company has also taken $Million$ upon $Million$ in taxpayer dollars. Right up to $2.2 Million allegedly run through the CCS School Board and an additional $425,000 directly through the Commissioners this year (2022). Only Commissioner Deb Hardin voted against the $425,000 Commissioners “payoff” to Eddie Holbrook. Thus, putting Commissioners Kevin Gordon, Johnny Hutchins, Ronnie Whetstine and Doug Bridges directly upon the top of the Corrupted Commissioners FBI Investigation list. Along with Commissioners Susan Allen and Jason Falls. And Eddie Holbrook.
County Attorney Tim Moore also has to be put on this FBI Investigation list as Tim was the FIRST known attorney in Cleveland County representing the Catawba Indians in the very beginning of this Cleveland County Casino “monkey business.” If Robert A’s memory is correct, Tim Moore was also the Cleveland County Attorney when Tim represented the Catawba Casino.
Cleveland County District Attorney Mike Miller also has to be included in this FBI Investigation List. During DA Mike Miller’s terms as the District Attorney, Robert A is NOT aware of DA Miller EVER investigating ANY Public Official in Cleveland County for anything. Although there has been plenty of local corruption for DA Mike Miller to bring criminal charges for. The CCS P-Card fraud being one of the first items Robert A. has become aware of.
The Kings Mountain Town Council and Mayor have exactly the same MO as the Cleveland County Commissioners. It would be prudent for the FBI to also investigate this crowd too. Make a clean sweep while they are at it.
Finally, Robert A believes that the FBI hauling off to Federal Prison in handcuffs all those that have been corrupted by the Cleveland County Casino corruption will also be hauling off the majority of all the corruption in Cleveland County governmental agencies. Then, all the other problems in Cleveland County Government will most likely be easily resolved once all the crooks are gone.
Remember folks, KMES has 46,643 total shares of stock with much of that stock ownership still unknown. Lots of room for more investigation to turn up the identities of many more crooks and their part of the Casino Corruption. Also, remember that KMES only has a 20% take from the Casino. Plenty more opportunities for payoffs and corruption of all sorts. Robert A suspects we ain’t heard nothing yet.
Perhaps, if the FBI does make a clean sweep through the Cleveland County Corruption associated with the Casino, then Robert A could run for Commissioner in 2024 and immediately implement his Cleveland County Schools reorganization plan, which would immediately improve education and cut out waste at CCS. That will be the subject of a separate article that will be coming out soon.
Folks, be prepared to hear, “All the Way with Robert A.” in the 2024 Commissioner’s elections. That is, if Robert A decides to run for that office.
Stay tuned folks, for ALL the truthful information that YOU will get from nowhere else but Robert A. From the past, the present and to the future. A future with much less crime and corruption. A future that only a better educated population can produce.
Robert A is right now declaring an Educational Emergency in Cleveland County and Robert A has the plan to fix the many problems.