Danny Lawson Says Goodbye Already Being Filed
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MONDAY 161st year • no. 242 FeBruary 8, 2016 CleVeland, tn 16 PaGeS • 50¢ Cathy Goodman named interim director Cleveland Board of Education hopes to fill post by July 1 By LARRY C. BOWERS This will not be a completely new sit- Goodman emphasized she has no desire school system’s energy supervisor, is Banner Staff Writer uation for Goodman. She served the to become Cleveland’s new director. expected to be appointed to the arena school system as interim director for In addition to being appointed to the position (at Goodman’s discretion). The Cleveland Board of Education about two months some five years ago, interim post, Goodman was given the School board member Charlie Cogdill took a big step to normalize operation at the end of the tenure of former authority to appoint an assistant to made the motion for Goodman’s selec- of the Cleveland City Schools system Director Dr. Rick Denning. help her see to the school system’s com- tion, with a second from Peggy early today, following a week of revela- The appointment to interim director pletion of the construction of Cleveland Pesterfield. The vote was unanimous, tions concerning former Director of virtually assures Goodman will not be a High School’s new Raider Arena. although former chairman Tom Cloud Schools Dr. Martin Ringstaff. candidate for the job permanently. BOE The $11 million project is expected to was unable to attend due to a previous Ringstaff was fired Friday. policy states that an interim director be finished at the first of March, with commitment Assistant Director of Schools Cathy cannot apply for the director’s position, an official grand opening planned for School Board Chair Dawn Robinson, Goodman was appointed interim direc- although the board could change that Tuesday, April 12. and Dr. Murl Dirksen, emphasized the tor at a special called meeting this policy. Paul Ramsey, who is currently morning at the central office. Following her selection this morning, employed 2 1/2 days a week as the See INTERIM, Page 4 Cathy Goodman Inside Today Primary early Banner photo, BrIan GraVeS Bradley voting County eMS Director Danny Lawson prepares to take a last ride this ready month as head of the agency he has served for more than three decades. to start 3 satellite sites Last rodeo for the Bronco? set Wednesday By ALLEN MINCEY If Peyton Manning decides Banner Staff Writer Super Bowl 50 was indeed his last rodeo, the former Tennessee With the focus on the presiden- Volunteers quarterback will go out tial races, area residents have not on top, after leading the Broncos been as involved with the local to a win over the Carolina election; however, many races will Panthers. The Lee Flames com- be up for grabs in August, and pleted a three-game sweep of petitions for those races are Albany State in baseball and the Danny Lawson says goodbye already being filed. Lady Flames saw success on the Plus, early voting kicks off softball field in Gulf Shores, Ala. Wednesday for the presidential See Sports, Pages 9-11. preference primary which will be Tragedy brought Bradley County EMS director held March 1. Early voting for the coming primary continues Messages sent through Feb. 23. into field of emergency service 37 years ago The March 1 election will to GOP by Iowa include the presidential prefer- ing to know of their whereabouts, and I ence primary and one local race, Last week’s Iowa Caucuses By BRIAN GRAVES that of the Assessor of Property’s Banner Staff Writer knew where they were going,” he said. “We helped to identify the leaders and PERSONALITY didn’t really know what had happened.” seat which is held by Stanley the followers in the Republican It was tragedy that brought Danny Lawson said during the process of Thompson. Thompson has quali- Primary. For one person’s perspec- Lawson to the career and the service that he ROFILE searching the river, he was impressed by fied for the ballot, but faces no tive on what the results indicate, will bring to an end later this month. P the members of the Rescue Squad and the opposition. and what can be expected in New Lawson has committed his time of service “compassion they had and the diligence Three early voting sites will Hampshire, see the guest to the Bradley County EMS for 37 years they expended in finding the bodies, accommodate the presidential preference primary balloting — “Viewpoint” by Michael Reagan on with the last decade and a half as its direc- because that was terribly important.” Page 12 of today’s edition. tor. He said his intention was to be a wildlife A humble man and quiet in voice, Lawson biologist and work for the Forest Service like See VOTING, Page 4 is having to suffer the accolades of col- his older brother and sister. leagues which began in December when the “We were raised that way. We were always Forecast County’s 911 board gave him an extended in the outdoors,” he said. “I went to ovation after he made his retirement Cleveland State for a biology major.” Dumpster This afternoon should see announcement. Lawson said the bodies were eventually increasingly cloudy conditions, with But, in Lawson’s eyes, it is the thought found, and he remains impressed to this fire closes a high near 44 degrees. that maybe he helped to save just one per- day with the responders’ display of “com- Tonight’s forecast calls for a 50 son’s life that is the greatest accolade of all. passion.” percent chance of rain, with a pos- “I pretty well made this my life,” Lawson “I wrestled with God about why he would mall store said. “For the first 20 years I took care of Submitted photo have taken them. They both had made a sible transition to snow showers, patients and I enjoyed that more than being Bradley County eMS Director By ALLEN MINCEY and a low around 25. Tuesday calls commitment to serve God and their lives Banner Staff Writer the director.” Danny Lawson, right, receives an award had changed and they used to pray for me,” for a 60 percent chance of light That takes the story of his career begin- from Robert Sherwood, Southeastern he said. One of the anchor stores at snow, with accumulations of less nings back to a lake and some fishing nets. Emergency Services Director’s “Ultimately, I made the decision at the Bradley Square Mall was closed than half an inch, and a high near He recalled that when he was a young Association president, recognizing age of 18 to serve God,” he said. “I argued Sunday after a fire occurred in a 30. Tuesday night should be mostly high schooler, he had two friends who Lawson’s decades of service in emer- with God that it should have been me and if dumpster/trash compactor just enjoyed fishing and hunting with him. cloudy, with a low around 20. gency services. I had been with them I would have known outside the business. “One cold March day, they were going to what to do because my dad was a commer- At approximately 1:15 p.m., check some nets we had put out and I cial fisherman and I’ve been on rivers and the Cleveland Fire Department Index didn’t get home in time, so they went on He said someone had seen the boat going owned my own boat since I was 12. I don’t responded to a fire reported at before it got dark,” he said. “They ended up around and around in the river with its know that I could have prevented it, but I the Belk department store. drowning in the river over here by motor tilted to one side. According to CFD reports, fire- Classified................................14-15 Grasshopper.” “Some of my friends had called me want- Comics...........................................6 See LAWSON, Page 4 Editorials......................................12 See FIRE, Page 4 Horoscope......................................6 MINI Page......................................5 Obituaries.......................................2 Sports........................................9-11 Area mosque working to promote TV Schedule..................................7 Weather..........................................8 peace through understanding: Issa By CHRISTY ARMSTRONG Arabic language which means ‘God.’” Around Town Banner Staff Writer He explained the prophet “Allah wanted us to be Muhammad, the person who estab- Karen Armstrong absolutely Bassam Issa, an area real estate different. Allah wanted us to lished the Muslim faith, did so at a loving her new home, except for broker and president of the Islamic be on Earth together. ... That time when Christians were already the maze of unpacked boxes ... Society of Greater Chattanooga, has denies [what] those terrorists sharing their belief in God. “Allah” Baylee Kimsey deciding to start said he and the members of his say — ‘Only Islam.’” was simply the word being used to taking horse riding lessons again mosque are actively trying to promote — Bassam Issa describe God in the Middle East at ... Jace Taylor excited to be get- peace. the time, he added. ting his driver’s license ... Scott He spoke to the Bradley Sunrise who people in the community believe. Issa, who is originally from and Angie Taylor discussing their Rotary Club recently about the He argued that “God” and “Allah” are Jerusalem, Israel, said the word “blizzard of a time” in New York Muslim religion and how they believe City ... Gene and Martha Jeffries words for the same deity, and people “Allah” has even shown up in the it condemns acts of violence. names of cities founded by Christians excited about upcoming family “What I wanted to stress is ... of different faiths simply worship the events.