The Catawba Casino corruption, clearly illegal as determined by Federal officials, has recently hit major news media from the Wall Street Journal, the Charlotte Observer and to many other widely circulated news media. But Robert A had “scooped” them all!! By years even.
Such attention has brought in the Federal Bureau of Investigation into Cleveland County and shut the mouths of ALL the Cleveland County Commissioners, the past, present and future Cleveland County Managers and others. Those that “crowed” so loudly from the rooftops about how the Casino would bring in tons upon tons of jobs and money into Cleveland County are now totally silent. After a couple of visits by the FBI, County Manager Brian Epley has decided to head for the hills. Epley has resigned effective January 31, 2023. They say, he is to Burke County to be closer to his mama.
Former County Manager David Dear and Former County Commissioner Eddie Holbrook have actually gotten caught with their hands in the Casino “Cookie Jar.” The Wall Street Journal, with circulation around the WORLD, has confirmed Casino “payoffs” through the Kings Mountain Equipment Supply Company to former county officials David Dear and the Holbrooks, Millie and Eddie, that would rake in around a million dollar$ a year each, forever-once the Casino goes into FULL operation. Not counting all the land speculation “wheeling and dealing” that has been going on for years. Involving Eddie Holbrook, Stuart LeGrand, Doug Brown and others. Even “Yellow-Dog Democrat” and an original “Mud Hen” Betsy Wells has “complained” publicly about her family land near the Casino property tax going up significantly.
But, to Robert A, this is old news. His writings go back many years before this scandal was ever recognized by others. And Cleveland County leadership made to look like the crooked fools that they are. The so-called leadership that would, when asked about Robert A’s reports, would just say “Oh that Robert A is just telling lies again. Don’t believe a word that he says.” And laugh and go on. Never answering anybody’s questions. Now, they are all shut-mouthed and hoping this will all just blow over. Sooner than later.
But, Robert A is a step ahead of those that have already gotten themselves caught taking payoffs. And, THAT is what THIS article is all about.
THIS article is about:
- Cleveland County Attorney Tim Moorewho represented the Catawba Indians when they first brought the idea of an Indian Casino to the Cleveland County Commissioners.
- Former Commissioner Jason Fallswho heled hire his first cousin-once removed Tim Moore as the County Attorney replacing long time Attorney Bob Yelton. Falls later resigned as Commissioner, became an Interim County Manager, then Director of the LeGrand Center and later the Director of Cleveland County Business Development and then added Liaison with the Catawba Casino.
- Commissioner Johnny Hutchinsis presently the longest serving Commissioner on the Cleveland County Board of Commissioners and up for re-election in 2024. Besides Eddie Holbrook, Commissioner Johnny Hutchins has announced his support for the Casino from the very start. Totally ignoring ALL citizens that spoke and provided statistics about the bad things that often “swirl about” Casinos. Like Drugs, Crime, Bribery, prostitution, misery for those who lose all that they have to gambling and such.
- Commissioner Ronnie Whetstinewas first appointed Commissioner by the Rogue Republican Executive Committee when Commissioner Ronnie Hawkins passed away in 2016, 8 days into a new four-year term. Commissioner Whetstine ran unopposed for a two-year term in 2018 to finish out the Hawkins term of office. Commissioner Whetstine is up for reelection in 2024. Commissioner Whetstine has also provided unconditional support to the Catawba Casino. Without ever questioning the Casino history or paying any attention to those citizens that were against the Casino or delving into the Casino approval process.
- Commissioner Doug Bridgeswas first appointed Commissioner by the Rogue Republican Executive Committee upon the resignation of Commissioner Jason Falls. Commissioner Bridges finished out Commissioner Falls’ term in office in 2018 and just won reelection in 2022. Commissioner Doug Bridges has not questioned the status-quo of the Casino Project and has refused to answer questions from the mainstream media now that the scandal has broken bad on the judgement of ALL the Cleveland County Commissioners.
- Commissioner Deb Hardinwas first elected Commissioner in 2018 and just reelected in 2022. Commissioner Hardin has not questioned the status-quo of the Casino Project and has refused to answer questions from the mainstream media now that the scandal has broken bad on the judgement of ALL the Cleveland County Commissioners.
- Commissioner Kevin Gordondid NOT file to run for election to the Cleveland County Board of Commissioners in 2020. Commissioner Gordon was appointed to fill the position of Commissioner Candidate by the Rogue Republican Executive Committee after Candidate Tommy McNeilly resigned after winning in the Republican Commissioners Primary election in 2020 and before the 2020 General Elections. The Rogue Republican Executive Committee refused to appoint either former State Senator Dennis Davis or former Cleveland County Coroner Robbie Morgan, both having previously won contested elections, but had lost in the crowded 2020 Republican Primary election for Commissioner. The Rogues also refused to appoint Susan Allen, who had also not filed for reelection to the Commissioners Board, but changed her mind later. The 2020 General Elections for County Commissioners included Republicans Johnny Hutchins, Ronnie Whetstine and appointed Kevin Gordon. The lone Democrat candidate for that three-seat race, Shaun Murphy, never had a chance. Basically the 2020 Commissioner Elections were won in the Republican Primary election. Kevin Gordon’s controversial appointment over Dennis Davis and Robbie Morgan by the Rogue Republican Executive Committee was just a gift to Kevin Gordon. Only the Republicans on the General Elections ballot had any chance to win. And they did. Commissioner Kevin Gordon is up for reelection in 2024. As is Ronnie Whetstine and Johnny Hutchins.
Although the Catawba Indian Casino idea had been beating and banging around for several years, the most recent Lindsey Graham for US Senate race over in South Carolina was the corruption turning point for the “grand finale” of the Casino Scandal. Large campaign donation to Graham from Eddie Holbrook, Millie Holbrook, Stuart LeGrand, Doug Brown and others helped entice Senator Graham to introduce legislation in the US Congress to finalize the laws to allow the Catawba Casino to be approved for construction and operation in Cleveland County, NC.
However, the defeat of Eddie Holbrook for Cleveland County Commissioner in the 2018 Elections after spending $68,000 on his reelection campaign presented a problem. Susan Allen, Johnny Hutchins, Ronnie Whetstine, Doug Bridges and Deb Hardin were now the commissioners and Brian Epley was the County Manager. But Eddie Holbrook was still pulling the strings. And intended to keep it that way.
In 2019 Johnny Hutchins was selected to lead the effort to represent the Cleveland County Commissioners in developing and formalizing a detailed agreement (Called the IGA (Inter Governmental Agreement) between the Cleveland County and the Catawba Indian Nation. Around October 2019 through January 2020 Commissioner Hutchins was engaged in secret negotiations with the Catawba Indian Nation to develop and sign off on this IGA and associated County Resolutions to make the IGA active. At the January 21, 2020 Commissioners meeting the Commissioners sneaked the Resolutions and IGA into the Consent Agenda with many other items and approved them all without discussion with a single vote. On January 23, 2020 Robert A published at article titled Sneaky Commissioners vote to support PROSTITUTION at Catawba Casino that described that dirty trick on the citizens of Cleveland County.
To save time here, Robert A has attached this January 23, 2020 article, as well as the IGA and Resolutions, at the end of this article. As you will see, if YOU are brave enough to read all this material, the Commissioner’s IGA is reason enough for the Federal Government Agency over Indian Affairs to rule the Casino and the Catawba Indians have violated Federal Laws sufficient to deny the Kings Mountain Catawba Indian Casino from ever opening its doors as a full-fledged Casino. The greedy Commissioners have cooked the goose that THEY thought would be laying the Golden Eggs by now.
Perhaps this delay, likely helped by Robert A, to finally see the light of day may have allowed Eddie Holbrook, Kevin Gordon, Brian Epley, Johnny Hutchins, Ronnie Whetstine and others from going to prison. That was NOT my intentions.
However, the resolution to all this corruption going on in Cleveland County may require Robert A to actually file and run for Commissioner in 2024. To run for Commissioner and bring along that new broom and sweep Cleveland County Government clean from all this mess that they have created for themselves. And us taxpayers.
Stay tuned folks, YOU ain’t heard nothing yet.
Sneaky Commissioners Vote to Support Prostitution-F
Catawba_Casino -Commissioners Resolution_and_Agreement