First, some facts:
- CC Commissioner Kevin Gordon, before his apparent forced“separation” from Gaston County Government as the Director of EMS Services and Fire Services, for unexplained reasons, CONSOLIDATED all Gaston County Fire Departments into one big “conglomeration” supported by a countywide FIRE TAX of 15 cents per $100 of property valuations. Which is the same as the entire CC School Tax rate. Since Kevin Gordon’s ”boot” from Gaston County, the City of Stanley’s entire Fire Department “weaponized themselves” over a pay issue and resigned immediately. All 43 of them. Leaving the City of Stanley entirely without Fire Protection. And, at the mercy of fire risks and other nearby fire stations refusing to help fight a fire.
It has to be expected that Kevin Gordon intends to do the same thing (Weaponize EMS and Fire Services) here in Cleveland County as he did in Gaston County. Only Kevin Gordon, when the Fire Departments in Cleveland County are consolidated, typically would want to save for himself a high-paying job over all the CC Fire Departments. (Kind of like Tommy McNeilly did with the CC EMS in the 2020 Commissioner’s elections that gave rise to Kevin Gordon in the first place.
- On January 2, 2024, WBTV reported that one person, an elderly man, died in upper Cleveland County on Cap Wright Road in a house fire. Cap Wright Road is Off Sugar Hill Road near Fallston. As of this writing, the identity of this person has not been released. RobertA probably knew this person. The cause of this fire has yet to be determined.
- Also, On January 2, 2024, the Shelby Star reported that the Kings Mountain Truck Stop across from the Kings Mountain Catawba Casino was destroyed by fire. Eight Fire units from Cleveland County and two from South Carolina joined in to fight that fire. One firefighter was slightly injured. The cause of this fire has yet to be determined.
- Just days ago, reports came in that there were two house fires at the same time in Shelby. One Elderly person died in those fires. The causes of those two Shelby fires have not yet been reported.
- In both those fatal fires, it was reported that fire detectors were on premises at both locations and HAD ALARMED!!
Now, folks, before we analyze the facts provided above with a cold sense of reasoning and a big dose of CRITICAL THINKING, let’s go back a few years.
Do you remember when three elderly Shelby ladies who lived alone died in rapid succession from unknown causes?
- In one or more of those deaths, phone lines into the residences were found cut.
- In one or more of those deaths, suspicious bruises were found on their bodies that indicated a struggle. Yet, the authorities at that time somehow decided that those bruises had occurred after the women were already dead.
- Nobody seemed to be able to determine that there was mischief involved with those three deaths that seemed to baffle authorities.
But then Robert A comes forward with his own critical thinking and questioning attitude and publishes his findings.
- Cut phone lines on multiple death scenes are not facts that can just be ignored because there is no handy feasible explanation.
- Dead bodies don’t become bruised after a person is dead. Bruising is caused by blood flow into traumatized flesh. There is NO SUCH blood flow when a person’s heart stops beating upon death.
- The correct findings indicated that murder had been committed and the MO indicated that ONE person was probably the perpetrator in all three cases.
When Robert A published these facts and conclusions, the public became certain that multiple crimes had been committed and that further investigation HAD to be conducted. Law enforcement was shamed because of their poor initial findings and attempt to close the cases.
In the end, more investigation was conducted. A single perpetrator was identified, located, arrested, tried, convicted, and appropriately punished. All because of two simple things.
- One person comes forward with the warning that there is a problem.
- One or more persons pay attention and take the appropriate and necessary actions.
Many believe that Robert A’s critical thinking and questioning attitude in this situation saved the lives of who knows how many other elderly women living alone in the City of Shelby. Robert A makes no such claim for himself. Or asks for any payment. He was only too glad to help in his always helpful ways.
So, back to Cleveland County Fire Services issues. See Part II of this article
