W E D N E S D A Y 162nd YEAR • No. 100 AUGUSt 24, 2016 CLEVELANd, tN 26 PAGES • 50¢ Wacker complex entering its ‘ramp up’ phase; plant longevity 50 to 100 years By BRIAN GRAVES another 100 years." kind of quiet, but of all of the new installations of Banner Staff Writer "Wacker is a very long-term thinking compa- power in the U.S., about 60 percent of them this ny," Hudson said, adding the Charleston plant year have been based on solar," Hudson said. The new operations manager at Wacker told will have 650 employees once it goes into full "Solar has been higher than all of the other base members of the Economic Development Council operations mode. energy combined, and it is projected to grow at a the plant is now in its “ramp up” phase and Hudson said the Bradley County site is the 10 to 20 percent rate." called the process “a challenge.” only polysilicon operation of the company within She said there is some pressure during the Mary Beth Hudson greeted the council mem- bers as they came to Wacker for a briefing and the United States. current ramp up phase since there is a need to tour of the county's newest industry Tuesday "Adding this 20,000 tons to the existing 60,000 still produce high quality product for the market afternoon. tons that we already have really positions us to because of a demand for the material. “There are always challenges and opportunities be the No. 2 supplier globally — just behind GCL "That's good news for us, because the market Banner photo, BRIAN GRAVES as we continue to produce and grow,” Hudson which is one of our competitors from China," she continues to grow and the demand is there. That MARY BEth hUdSoN, site manager at Wacker said. said. means next year if we are at our capacity global- Polysilicon North America near Charleston, She said Wacker has been in business for more Hudson said the market for polysilicon in the ly, we have to start thinking about the next addressed the Cleveland/Bradley Economic than 100 years, and "I fully expect this site to be U.S. "is surging." expansion," Hudson said. "For obvious reasons, Development Council on Tuesday. in operation at least for another 50 years, if not "You don't hear a lot about it in the news. It's we want that to be here in Tennessee." Inside Today Charges CPD looking for the best await man Showcase eyes after his candidates for 4 patrol posts return to By ALLEN MINCEY Banner Staff Writer Bradley Four positions are open at the Cleveland Police Extradition waived Department, with a fifth pos- sible in October, and many by Michael Wilson interested in these jobs were Lady Raiders nip present at the CPD’s Career By ALLEN MINCEY Showcase Tuesday night. Banner Staff Writer Bearettes in soccer According to Chief Mark Michael Wilson, the father who Cleveland slipped past the Gibson, the department has was on the run from authorities Bradley Central Bearettes on the 91 sworn positions, with with his daughter, Skyla, has soccer field. The Lady Mustangs those police officers ranging reportedly waived extradition were also in action on the pitch from patrol to detective to from Colorado, and will soon be with an easy victory over McMinn adminstration. The four open- returning to Bradley County to Central. The Lady Raiders rolled ings are in the patrol division. face aggravated kidnapping to a district volleyball win over “We have a great depart- Banner photo, ALLEN MINCEY charges. McMinn County. MTSU hopes ment, and are looking for ChIEF MARK GIBSoN explains to those in attendance the need for four more officers for the Wilson was quarterback Brent Stockstill can those who will fit in to keep department, with a fifth possible in October. Many who might be interested in becoming police offi- supposed to help the Blue Raiders continue to us great,” Gibson said. cers were present at the Career Showcase Tuesday night. return his build. See Sports, Pages 11-13. Representatives from differ- daughter after ent divisions of the Cleveland she spent the Police Department spoke at at the department. He and West said. “And we are seek- Ruth is the SRO at E.L. Ross weekend with A Cleveland leader the showcase, beginning with Sgt. Evie West said there is a ing excellence, so we want the Elementary School. him earlier this who helps a school Officer Raul Cruz who spoke section of the application that best, and of course, most hon- Master Officer Victor month, but he of physical agility for officers. deals with the applicant’s per- est people working in our Cleveland talked about being did not bring Whether it’s firefighters traveling Officer Sean Bulow talked sonal history, and applicants department.” a bomb technician, and when her to her cus- to southern Louisiana to aid flood about the ride-along potential should take care to be Lt. Scott Bronze spoke the bomb squad unit’s equip- todial grand- Wilson victims or area residents who work candidates will take with sea- extremely accurate with their about the public information ment is used. The squad’s mother’s home. as individuals to help our schools, soned patrolmen and patrol- information. division, and Officer Cody Fox robot was on display in the At that point, law enforcement women, while Capt. Robert the Cleveland and Bradley County “We are the police, so we detailed the department’s lobby Tuesday evening. was contacted and an endangered Harbison said integrity will be can find out if there are false SWAT team. Officer Bobby Officer Mike Harris intro- child alert was issued on the 2- community is well known for its will- something that will be sought statements or a lack of infor- Ruth explained the School ingness to give to others. Read year-old Skyla. in the application for positions mation in the applications,” Resource Officer program. See CPD, Page 6 The alert went nationwide, with about one such Cleveland resident Wilson, 35, and his daughter in today’s editorial on Page 14. thought to be traveling along the East Coast at one time, and near Forecast the border of Mexico. The two Legislators eye future, were eventually apprehended near Grand Junction, Colo., late past in state’s actions See CHARGES, Page 6 By BRIAN GRAVES was the 911 fees." Banner Staff Writer He said there used to be a Fire suspect is Today’s forecast calls for partly $1.50 charge for landlines and $1 sunny skies and a slight chance of Two state legislators said for mobile phones. arrested; more rain, with a high near 89. Tonight Tuesday the Republican-con- "We made it where it was $1.16 looks to be partly cloudy, with a low trolled state government has for all and there were some tele- around 71. Thursday’s forecast changed Tennessee for the better, phone companies that were not charges pending calls for mostly sunny skies and a but there are still challenges even paying and we had no way ahead. By ALLEN MINCEY to find out," Gardenhire said. "We Banner Staff Writer high near 93, with heat index val- State Rep. Kevin Brooks and ues in the high 90s. Thursday night have now got it where the fees are state Sen. Todd Gardenhire A Cleveland resident has been should be partly cloudy, with a low collected by the Revenue depart- addressed the Bradley County ment and they can cross check it charged with setting fire to trash around 71. Republican Party's monthly on sales and determine if they in the southern portion of the meeting and spoke of legislation are really paying the amount." city, and is a suspect in other Index passed and hopes for the future. He said there was $117 million Banner photo, BRIAN GRAVES fires in that area. "We got some very substantial a year going through those fees, StAtE SEN. todd GARdENhIRE, left, and state Rep. Kevin Cleveland Fire Department Classified................................15-18 stuff passed last year," Brooks spoke to the Bradley County Republican Party at its monthly Fire Marshal Ben Atchley said Comics.........................................24 Gardenhire said. "One of those See LEGISLATORS, Page 6 session Tuesday evening. that Larry Evans has been Editorials......................................14 charged with one count of reck- Horoscope....................................24 less burning in the 1500 block of Aurora Avenue. Evans, whom Lifestyles.................................19-21 Atchley said Obituaries.......................................2 City receives has no history Stocks............................................4 of similar Sports......................................11-13 offenses, was TV Schedule................................25 GFOA award charged on Weather..........................................9 Tuesday and is reportedly to for 28th year be arraigned Around Town on that charge Jimmy Greene making By JOYANNA LOVE in General progress in recovering from back Banner Senior Staff Writer Sessions Court surgery ... Dustin Bunch working The city of Cleveland has today. Evans nights at a large regional plant ... received the Certificate of According to Ronald Moore loving his “new Achievement for Excellence in the fire marshal, “a couple of eyes” ... Seth Hicks, Riley Financial Reporting from the dozen” fires have been reported Harmon and Cody McDaniel Government Finance Officers in the Blythe/Oldfield area of the going creek fishing before foot- Association for the 28th consecu- city where Aurora Avenue is ball practice ... Tasha Hicks glad tive year. located. Atchley said that the to be through with chemo ... The honor was presented to the majority of those fires have been Bryant Blackmon returning home. finance staff during this week’s Banner photo, JoYANNA LoVE what he called “nuisance” fires meeting of the Cleveland City CERtIFIEd PUBLIC ACCoUNtANt Mark Lay, from left, and senior accountant Amy Newman where trash in ditches in the Council.