Uber Accident Injury Attorneys in Shelby, NC

Kevin Howell, a longtime higher education leader at NC State University, has been elected the 15^th chancellor by the University of North Carolina Board of Governors.

Howell, an NC State alumnus and Shelby native, will become the first chancellor to have also served as student body president at the university. He’ll begin the role on May 5.

He was recommended by University of North Carolina System President Peter Hans following a national search that attracted more than 75 candidates, resulting in four finalists endorsed by the NC State Board of Trustees. Howell succeeds Chancellor Randy Woodson, who will retire in June after 15 years leading the university.

“Kevin Howell is a born leader with a long record of service to North Carolina, the UNC System and NC State University,” Hans said. “His deep relationships across the state have helped drive investment and growth. I am confident that he will strengthen NC State’s role as a frontier research university, keeping North Carolina competitive in the most important fields of our future.”

“This university shaped my life in profound and generous ways, and I am honored for the chance to lead my alma mater,” Howell said. “NC State is a brilliant and inspiring place, just like the state we serve. There are exciting days ahead for the Pack, and I’m ready to make a difference.”

Howell has had an extensive career in higher education in North Carolina. He is currently the chief external affairs officer at UNC Health. Previously he served as vice chancellor for external affairs, partnerships and economic development at NC State from 2018 to 2023, among the many leadership positions he has held there, including: assistant to the chancellor for external affairs (2006-2016); interim vice chancellor for university advancement (2013-14); and interim executive director of the alumni association and associate vice chancellor for alumni affairs (2009-10).

He served as senior vice president for external affairs at the UNC System Office from 2016 to 2018. He held roles in state government as legislative liaison to two former governors. He was director of governmental affairs at the NC Bar Association and previously was a management associate in corporate affairs for Jefferson-Pilot Financial Insurance Company. He began his career as a legal clerk at the North Carolina Court of Appeals.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in political science at NC State, where as student body president he represented students on the university’s Board of Trustees. He earned his law degree at the University of North Carolina School of Law. He was born and raised in Cleveland County.

“We're excited to welcome Kevin Howell back home to NC State,” said Ed Stack, chair of the chancellor search advisory committee and vice chair of the NC State Board of Trustees. “Among an impressive group of candidates, he stood out as the strongest choice. Kevin truly exemplifies the university's ‘think and do’ spirit – especially in driving economic development and improving the lives of North Carolinians.”

Uptown Shelby has welcomed a new wine and dessert shop to its directory.

Stem Wine & Desserts held its soft opening last week and is serving up treats and mocktails in the former Double E Brewery at 222 W. Warren St.

The building has gone through extensive renovations and has been transformed into a space to hang out, sip drinks and enjoy luxurious desserts.

Crystal Rudisill, who opened Stem with her fiancé, Reggie Feaster, said it almost has a Charleston vibe.

With its exposed brick, wooden beams, quiet jazz music and low lighting, it is an enticing space to work or socialize.

In addition to the main area with six tables, a couch and chairs where people can currently order mocktails (and soon wine once they obtain their ABC license), Stem offers a tasting room and event space.

"Here we're offering a vibrant relaxed atmosphere," Rudisill said. "It's different."

On the menu currently are dessert options that include a white chocolate raspberry cheesecake, hot fudge brownie sundae, key lime pie, apple dumpling a la mode and pecan pie with vanilla or butter pecan ice cream.

The menu may change depending on seasons, holidays and demand.

They also offer mocktails, such as The Business, The Gardener and Velvet Kisses, and charcuterie boards with artisan cheeses, cured meats, seasonal fruits and crackers.

She said they curated two of their own mocktails, including a customized lady lavender.

She said she wants the menu to be fun and ever changing, with selections that will rotate throughout time and expand.

Once they receive their ABC license, Rudisill said she hopes to focus on a variety of North Carolina wines and support local small businesses.

The shop is located in the Uptown Shelby Social District, which means people can enjoy alcoholic beverages in designated cups while walking uptown.

Rudisill, who has a background in the customer service and hospitality industry, said the vision for a wine and dessert business came to her suddenly one night. Feaster, who has helped run Phyllis' Sweet Shop for 12 years, was on board and together they created Stem.

"I went to bed in 2018, and I woke up and thought 'a wine and dessert shop.' But I didn't know what to do with it," she said.

Rudisill created a note in her phone and let the idea ferment until one day she posed it to Feaster.

He told her it was a good idea and when the former brewery building became available, he suggested they look at it and Feaster immediately felt it was the right place. The two tore down walls, painted and added seating and lighting and Feaster installed a fold-down counter by the window where people can sit and watch the world outside.

Rudisill said the two met during the pandemic when she had Feaster make cupcakes for her daughter's tailgate birthday party.

She said she calls him Mr. Cupcake.

"I met Reggie, and he believed in the vision I saw here, and we teamed up and made it all come to life," she said.

The tasting room area is off of the main space and in the back is the event room with space for parties and other events. Rudisill said she wants to eventually host a wine and art crawl in the space.

She said the private tasting room can host up to 10 people, and they'll have an opportunity to taste up to 10 wines.

It can be rented for private events, meetings and parties.

The entire building is also wheelchair accessible.

Eventually they hope to add a pet-friendly front patio with outdoor seating, which Rudisill hopes will be ready by summer, and in the future, a back patio.

They also want to have music, spoken word and poetry slams, host food trucks and eventually add a Sunday brunch.

Stem Wine & Desserts is open Wednesday and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

They are closed Sunday through Tuesday.

For more information, find Stem Wine & Desserts on Facebook and Instagram.

Reach reporter Rebecca Sitzes at [email protected].

The N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles plans to open some locations earlier to increase service capacity at its driver license offices.

Beginning Aug. 28, five additional offices will join 40 locations already providing an extra hour of service to customers by opening at 7 a.m. instead of 8 a.m.

Gaston and Cleveland County offices are included.

Offices that will open earlier are:

“This expansion is another step in a series of pro-customer changes over the past 18 months. Those changes have included adding more online services, hiring additional staff, increasing office hours and implementing new technology," said DMV Commissioner Wayne Goodwin.

As in years past, NCDMV has offered Saturday morning hours this summer at 16 offices during its peak season. Gastonia and Shelby are not among them.

NCDMV offers the following tips for an improved customer experience: