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FRIDAY 161st YEAR • NO. 1 MAY 1, 2015 CLEVELAND, TN 22 PAGES • 50¢ Wheel tax increase set for Commission vote Ultimately, ballot will decide on a taxation choice By BRIAN GRAVES Rominger, but it now goes to the full approved. involves a three-step process. same number, or exceed 10 percent of the Banner Staff Writer Commission as a recommendation from That would produce revenue of $2.82 The County Commission would have to number of voters in the last gubernatorial the Finance Committee. million per year. pass the ordinance with no less than 10 election. The Bradley County Commission will By a vote of 3-1, the tax would be According to the resolution, the pro- votes on first reading Monday night. Rawls said Thursday he is already in consider the first reading of an ordinance imposed on every vehicle registered in ceeds would go into the county’s debt It would have to do the same thing at the process of preparing a petition. to establish a $30 wheel tax at its meeting Bradley County except for those exempt- service fund. its next voting session on May 18. “I know I’m going to vote against this, Monday night. ed, according to state law. Commissioners Blake, Rominger and Bradley County voters would have 30 but it’s a constitutional right to drive,” And it may be county residents who Commissioner Milan Blake said the Thomas Crye voted for the recommenda- days from that date to petition the Rawls said. “To be able to transport your- will have to make a choice between the number of vehicles currently registered in tion. Election Commission to hold a referen- self from one place to another is an wheel tax or a property tax increase. the county is 99,000. With the exemp- Commissioner Dan Rawls voted no, dum on the matter during the next inalienable, constitutional right. It’s not a The item was originally placed on the tions, it is estimated a total of 94,000 saying he would never vote for the tax. General Election in August 2016. agenda by Commissioner Robert vehicles would be taxed if the measure is The process to get the tax on the books That petition would have to contain the See WHEEL TAX, Page 6 Inside Today No injuries Parking is reported the newest after bus snag to hit catches fire workhouse By TONY EUBANK Banner Staff Writer Mayor: project Neither the children nor the driver were injured Thursday moving slowly afternoon when a Bradley County school bus carrying By BRIAN GRAVES special-needs children caught Banner Staff Writer fire. The bus was transporting the The new workhouse for the students home via Waterlevel Bradley County Justice Center is Highway when the undercar- “progressing,” but that progress is riage caught fire near the 5100 slow. Curtain closes on block, according to reports from Bradley County Mayor D. Gary the Bradley County Sheriff’s Davis told members of the Mustangs’ season Office. Workhouse Committee on The vehicle was rapidly Banner photo, HOWARD PIERCE Thursday there are still some The Walker Valley baseball sea- engulfed in flames, but all THESE ARE the remains of a Bradley County school bus that caught fire Wednesday afternoon on obstacles to overcome. son came to a close Thursday, with Highway 64 near the Bradley/Polk county line. Passengers and the driver evacuated safely and no The proposed $2.8 million, 128- a loss to Ooltewah in the District 5- injuries were reported. bed structure is currently in the AAA tournament in Athens. The See BUS, Page 6 design stage after the Commission Lady Mustangs will open the 5- contracted with Cope Architects AAA softball tournament as the No. for the project. 3 seed after a loss to Soddy-Daisy. Davis said he The brackets are set for the 5-AAA has met with soccer tournament. Loudon star WVHS shows aquaponics project the architect, golfer Kensington Wieland will play who said he for the Lee Lady Flames. See would be com- Sports, Pages 13-15. ing up with Open house is held options to over- Yard sales are come those obstacles. springing up “He is sup- The prospects of a beautiful with FFA’s banquet posed to be Saturday have people planning back next Davis yard sales. Today’s edition of the By CHRISTY ARMSTRONG week,” Davis Banner has more than 60 yard Banner Staff Writer said. “The bot- sale sites listed. See Classifieds, “It really blends well tom line is it’s Walker Valley High School’s Pages 20-21. with STEM (science, moving, but agricultural science teachers and technology, engineering we’re not close Bank account of students have been using new and math). It really hits to having some- equipment to grow plants using all the science and thing to take to the soul counts aquaponics. technology aspects.” t h e They hosted an open house of — Jason Kincaid Many people worry about how Commission.” the school’s greenhouses Davis said much, or how little, is in their Banner photo, CHRISTY ARMSTRONG Thursday evening to show what taking those bank accounts. But what about of water tanks topped with foam A FAMILY visiting the open house at the greenhouse at Walker they have been able to do so far. plans to the the bank account of the soul? covers. Seeds are planted among Valley High School Thursday eagerly meets a tilapia fish living in one Watson “We really wanted to show it C o m m i s s i o n One writer has a personal per- gravel in small pots with holes off,” teacher Jason Kincaid said. of the tanks students use to practice aquaponic farming. would be the next step in the spective on it. See it on Page 16 that allow the roots of to reach Following ab end-of-year ban- process. of today’s edition. the life-giving water. quet to honor the students of the “Once we get the ballpark fig- Nearby, a “tower” of pots school’s Future Farmers of ures, we will take it to the sheriff receives aquaponic nourishment America chapter, visitors got to to get their input,” Davis said. Forecast to grow vines to get vegetables enjoy an open house and demon- The mayor said parking avail- like cucumbers. stration of aquaponics. ability is one of the issues the Today’s outlook is for sunny “Our kids have really benefit- Aquaponics is a type of agricul- architect is trying to address. skies, with a high near 68. Tonight’s ted from this,” Kincaid said. ture involving creating a small, “On court day, we don’t have forecast calls for mostly clear skies, Because of the technicality self-sustaining system for grow- enough spaces now,” Davis said. with a low around 48. Saturday involved with keeping the ecosys- ing plants using tanks of fish to “The proposed building was com- should be mostly sunny, with a high tem in balance, Kincaid stressed “fertilize” the plants in water. ing out into the parking lot and the aquaponics equipment allows near 74. Saturday night calls for Instead of soil, there is only grav- taking up a lot of spaces. It was students to learn about more mostly clear conditions, with a low el and nutrient-rich water. doing a lot of things like that. You than just growing plants. around 50. At Walker Valley, students can’t just take parking spaces “It really blends well with Sunset today: 8:26 p.m. practice aquaponic farming by away and say it’s OK. You have to STEM (science, technology, engi- Sunrise Saturday: 6:49 a.m. maintaining two large tanks of have parking spaces.” neering and math),” Kincaid said. Banner photo, CHRISTY ARMSTRONG tilapia, testing the water and Davis also said it would have “It really hits all the science and JASON KINCAID, an agricultural science teacher at Walker Valley checking plants to make sure made driving areas into a one-way Index they grow. technology aspects.” High School, shows off some kale grown using aquaponics while Hoses carry the water from the explaining the process during a greenhouse open house at the Church........................................8-9 tanks to the “beds” that consist See WVHS, Page 6 school Thursday. See WORKHOUSE, Page 6 Classified................................20-21 Comics.........................................17 Editorials......................................16 Horoscope....................................17 Movies..........................................18 Kiwanians MRS roles Obituaries.......................................2 Stocks............................................4 Sports......................................13-15 told ‘time in region TV Schedule..........................18-19 Weather........................................11 for growth’ explained Around Town By LARRY C. BOWERS Banner Staff Writer By LARRY C. BOWERS Kambry Kennedy wondering Banner Staff Writer where her “ponies” went ... Kiwanis officials from Bernnie King putting her photog- throughout the region were in Marjorie Norville, Southeast raphy skills to good use ... Teddy Cleveland Thursday to attend a Tennessee regional coordinator for Bryson complimenting Terri Davis visit by Kentucky-Tennessee the Medical Reserve Corps, was on her professionalism and hard District Gov. P.R. Cook at the the guest speaker at a recent work, and calling her “the best” ... weekly luncheon of the meeting of the Bradley County Tripp Hathcock preparing for Cleveland Kiwanis Club. Health Council at Peerless Road graduation, and hardly believing Cleveland Kiwanis President Church. it’s finally here. Traci Hamilton welcomed the Banner photo, LARRY C. BOWERS Banner photo, LARRY C. BOWERS Norville provided Council mem- district governor to the lunch- KENTUCKY-TENNESSEE District Kiwanis MARJORIE NORVILLE, regional coordina- bers with information about the eon. Cook is a member of the Gov. P.R. Cook, above, visited Thursday’s tor of the Medical Reserve Corps, talks to a MRC, and its mission.

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