T H U R S D A Y 161st YEAR • NO. 311 APRIL 28, 2016 CLEVELAND, TN 28 PAGES • 50¢ Howell’s counselor bill gets Haslam signature By BRIAN GRAVES pists who refuse to counsel a client as to many have tried to make it,” Howell said, he had “been called every name in the Banner Staff Writer goals, outcomes or behaviors that conflict noting it simply restored the former word- book” for sponsoring the bill. with a sincerely held religious belief of the ing from the American Counselors In addressing the reasons for giving the A bill sponsored by a local state legisla- counselor or therapist. Association code of ethics. “There really is bill his signature, Haslam said his con- tor that allows therapists and counselors The bill, which has received national nothing controversial about this. It simply cerns clients might not receive care under with “sincerely held principles” to turn attention, was sponsored by state Rep. restores what was and in doing so protects the new bill were resolved with two provi- away certain clients is now the law. Dan Howell, R-Georgetown representing freedom of speech and religious liberty.” sions. Gov. Bill Haslam signed Senate Bill the 22nd Legislative District, who told the He added, “Not doing so would have “First, the bill clearly states that it ‘shall 1556 after what he called “considerable Cleveland Daily Banner moments after the placed Tennessee in jeopardy of being not apply to a counselor or therapist when thought and discussion with counselors bill signed, he was pleased the governor found in violation of Title VII of the Civil an individual seeking or undergoing coun- both for and against the bill.” saw the wisdom of the bill. Rights Act, as well as the American right seling is in imminent danger of harming Specifically, the bill provides immunity “This was always a First Amendment of freedom of speech.” Haslam Howell from liability for counselors and thera- issue and not one of discrimination as so Howell had previously told the Banner See BILL, Page 5 Inside Today Guidelines Road to Recovery: 5 Years Later to change for county disposal of assets Changes possible as soon as May 2 By BRIAN GRAVES Banner Staff Writer Bradley County government will have an enhanced process by which to dispose of assets, possi- bly as early as Tuesday. On May 2, the ad hoc commit- tee on asset management will present a formal recommendation Mustangs take to the full Bradley County Commission for a vote. care of business County Attorney Crystal Freiberg, during a committee ses- The Walker Valley Mustangs sion Wednesday did the job on the baseball dia- morning, present- mond against Polk County, pick- ed changes to the ing up their third win in a row. The Contributed photo current policy District 5-AAA baseball brackets IN THE BATES POINTE area, these brick steps and handrails seemingly lead to nowhere. Once, they served as the entry point onto along with a new have been set. Ten area baseball a front porch and a Bradley County home. It, along with 284 other local houses, were destroyed by the tornado outbreak that ravaged form designed to standouts were named to the All- Bradley County on April 27, 2011. provide more spe- District team. Bradley Central cific information Bears coach Travis Adams was on vehicles that chosen as Coach of the Year. are being recom- See Sports, Pages 9-11. Freiberg ‘Warning, responding, healing’ mended for dis- posal. Sanders should The new “change of vehicle sta- tus” form will be required to pro- listen to Clinton Cleveland news media role took whole new vide details such as method of After Tuesday night’s primary disposal in the case of wrecked or scrapped vehicles, as well as a wins by Hillary Clinton, one political direction during, and after, storm tragedies photo to document the condition analyst believes Bernie Sanders of the vehicle. needs to take some lessons from By BRIAN GRAVES paths. dark clouds rolled over Bradley County, Banner Staff Writer "Media's pivotal role in crisis and emer- bringing with them death and destruction It also requires any enhance- the former secretary of state on how gency is threefold: warning, responding and on a level never before experienced by either ments to the vehicle being dis- to suspend a presidential campaign In the shadow of a natural disaster comes healing. Critical information relayed quickly, its residents or its media members. posed of be documented on the with class and dignity. See the the emotions of uncertainty. That uncertain- warning of impending danger, can help to Mix 104's Steve Hartline and the Mix form. guest “Viewpoint” on Page 12 of ty can rise to the level of panic when the prevent harm," said Brian Conn, president Morning crew were on that first line as he Once that document is filed today’s edition. ravages of the winds and the storms disrupt of the Cleveland Media Association. "And in and his radio team watched the first of the with the purchasing department, the forms of communication which are the immediate aftermath of an emergency, tornadoes that day cut across the county it will be placed on a list to be always assumed until the flow either slows the media informs citizens as to the best from the station's windows. approved by the County Forecast or stops altogether. way to obtain needed resources, or the best "Randy Bienvenu, who is a neighbor to Commission. That is where the role of the local media way to support others who need resources." Once the sale is made, that is amplified in ways outside of its normal And so it was April 27, 2011, when the See MEDIA, Page 13 information will go to the Commission Finance committee, in order to recommend placement of the funds received into the Carolyn Earnest reflects proper budget line item. Should the method of disposal change from the original request, with her ‘tornado quilt’ it would face a reapproval from the Commission before that could Today should be partly sunny, By CHRISTY ARMSTRONG take place. with a high near 83 degrees. Banner Staff Writer The policy also stipulates any Tonight’s forecast calls for partly Sitting in her father’s farmhouse in Charleston, Carolyn Earnest county property being disposed of cloudy skies, with a low around 59. did not at first know the true extent of what had happened in her with an original purchase price of Friday should be sunny, with a high own neighborhood in Cleveland. $500 or more requires a “compet- near 85. Friday night should be The evening of April 27, 2011, carried with it news of tornado itive bidding process.” partly cloudy, with a low around 58. warnings in Bradley County and the surrounding region, but The committee is also recom- Earnest did not know for sure a tornado had actually touched mending a policy requiring any down until she called one of her neighbors on Archer Lane. “memory devices” (such as com- Index “You knew the possibility was there, but it didn’t register until puters and cellphones) designat- Classified................................14-15 then,” Earnest said. “His exact words were, ‘I can’t talk now; we’re ed as disposable assets to get a Banner photo, CHRISTY ARMSTRONG digging [a relative] out from under the house.’” sign-off from the county techno- Comics...........................................6 CAROLYN EARNEST, a retired local teacher, showcases the logical director, verifying all infor- Editorials......................................12 Though five years have passed, Earnest still remembers the day “tornado quilt” she made to work through the emotions of losing her vividly and says the day carried with it some lessons she still mation has been wiped from the Horoscope......................................6 home on Archer Lane in Cleveland on April 27, 2011, five years ago devices. NASCAR......................................16 Wednesday. See EARNEST, Page 13 Obituaries.......................................2 Stocks............................................4 See ASSETS, Page 13 Sports........................................9-11 TV Schedule..................................7 Former bank Weather..........................................8 Janice Casteel earns Around Town teller indicted Joshia and Hannah Marr ready- 911 board recognition by grand jury ing for a school production ... Sissy Figelstahler desperately By ALLEN MINCEY By BRIAN GRAVES looking for family pet Maggie ... Banner Staff Writer Banner Staff Writer Brooke Taylor chosen as a Troy Spence presided in his first meeting as 911 Board A former teller at First Student of the Month ... Lois chairman Wednesday, and one of his first acts was to bid an Tennessee Bank has been indict- Myers and Lynn Dunlap dis- official fond farewell to someone who has served on the board ed on seven counts of bank fraud cussing their fun time cruising the for many years, Janice Casteel. and seven counts of theft, embez- Delaware River ... Ashley Linn Casteel, the Cleveland city manager, will be leaving her posi- zlement or misapplication by a having a blast at a Brantley Gilbert tion there at the end of May, and will not be on the board at its bank employee involving amounts concert ... Hugh Hodges checking next meeting in June. Members were saddened by her depar- over $200,000. on a Cleveland 100 event. ture from the board, but still expressed well wishes to the Sarah Leamon, who was longtime member who was serving as board treasurer. Banner photo, ALLEN MINCEY employed at the bank’s 25th “We appreciate all that you have done while on the board, JANICE CASTEEL, center, was honored at Wednesday’s 911 board Street branch in Cleveland, sur- meeting for her service. Presenting a plaque of appreciation are 911 rendered herself to federal See CASTEEL, Page 5 board Chairman Troy Spence, left, and 911 Director Joe Wilson.