T U E S D A Y 161st YEAR • NO. 202 DECEMBER 22, 2015 CLEVELAND, TN 18 PAGES • 50¢ TDOT projects take No. 6 in Top 10 Newsmakers By BRIAN GRAVES landscaping project. the renovated exit in honor of state diamond interchange bridge with Banner Staff Writer Roadwork itself was scheduled to be Rep. Kevin Brooks, who earned the ramps and auxiliary lanes between completed in September. The end of TOP 10 nickname of “Mr. Exit 20” around the Interstate 75 (Exit 20) and State The year started and ended with the year showed frustrations by city TDOT offices, said Cleveland Mayor Route-2 (U.S. 11),” said Jennifer Exit 25 when following the timeline of leaders and contractors over delays Tom Rowland. Flynn, TDOT community relations stories about the transportation sys- blamed on both weather and bureau- NEWSMAKERS Similarly, work is also progressing officer. tem in Bradley County, as covered by cratic red tape. on the APD 40 interchange which will On the south side of the road, the the Cleveland Daily Banner in 2015. The project now appears to be NO. 6 bear Rowland’s own name once com- interchange will connect to the Local It was that project, and all that headed toward a projected completion pleted late next year. Interstate Connector South providing happened in between, that notched date of spring 2016. “It will open new areas on APD 40 access to the Interstate for the future local roadwork into the No. 6 slot of Exit 20 was the jewel in TDOT’s the Pilot (gas station), you have to to development,” Rowland said. Spring Branch Industrial Park. the Top 10 Newsmakers for the year crown, as the project more than two stop at this red light. It spaces out “The interchange will make access “The new State Route-311 as chosen by the newspaper’s editors decades in the making was finally the cars to where there will be a lane easier for the new Spring Branch Interchange will provide access for and staff writers. completed and brought ino full service here where they can merge and it will Industrial Park. The new industrial commercial and industrial develop- In January, the Cleveland City in December. be a whole lot nicer,” said park will be an attractive location for ments located east of Interstate 75 Council heard a report about The project included a new six-lane Development and Engineering director industries,” the mayor said. and west of State Route-2 (U.S. 11). upgrades on Interstate 75 Exit 25. bridge and new traffic signals. Jonathan Jobe. The project relocates a portion of This interchange will serve a locally The city had received a $250,000 “If you are coming southbound and The Cleveland City County sent a Stone Lake Road and builds a bridge developed industrial park for potential grant from the Tennessee Department want to get on the bypass, it will be resolution to Nashville urging the across the bypass. of Transportation for a drainage and free flow. If you are going back toward Tennessee General Assembly to name “The project will construct a full See TDOT, Page 6 County County approves leaders contract approve "#%%#&%%(!*+ "*#+,&++$,-')*(.#+ for 911 ,"(+#''#',"(&&-'#,1 Internet /#," ((+,)%+ (*,""(%#1+ " -'/"#"#+ #+ .(%-',*+-))(*, (*, services (&(0+*0), proposal ,(!#.'(-,,"#+1* However, vote (',#('+&1&#%,(#*+, Vote endorses two ''++'$(0 %.%' (* makes changes legislators’ actions *())( ,#*+,''++ By BRIAN GRAVES '$, #,", Banner Staff Writer By BRIAN GRAVES Banner Staff Writer Inside Today Bradley County commissioners unanimously approved a contract County residents continue to for 911 services. Banner photo, LARRY C. BOWERS upload the message to Nashville But, it was not entirely the con- CLEVELAND MAYOR TOM ROWLAND is surrounded at one of his more anticipated holiday that they want legislation passed tract which was approved by the events, his annual narration of “The Polar Express” at Blythe-Bower Elementary School. With the that would allow EPB to bring its Cleveland City Council last week. mayor are, back row from left, kindergarten teachers Hannah Burger, Brittney Gobble, Lori Sentell, broadband service to Bradley The four-year contract remains Sondra Park, and Amanda Matson. Standing beside Rowland, from left, are Ofelia Espinosa-Perez, County. the same in its division of funds Kaiden Smith, Tatiana Narcia-Gay, Donovan Martin, Rico Worthan, and Hayley Colorado. Kneeling, Monday’s Bradley County Commission meeting brought a — 49.5 percent from city and from left, are Isiah Morrow, Samuel Frias, Kiyonna Swafford and Emely Espinal-Barahona. county and 1 percent from packed room Charleston — and the addition of which, according a total of two dispatchers by to the remarks Fiscal Year 2019-20. that brought Aboard Polar Express reaction, were The change is in how the con- tract would be funded. mostly there con- Originally, it would increase Cleveland mayor takes annual journey cerning the the city and county’s shares from Internet issue. $450,000 each to $550,000 effec- After a full dis- tive July 1. The shares would with kindergarteners at Blythe-Bower cussion by com- missioners and Yarber Tough day for increase to $650,000 the next By LARRY C. BOWERS seriously injured in a car year. members of the Banner Staff Writer crash, and wasn’t able to audience, the the Mustangs It would then go into a “formula “It’s a trip, a board the train. mystery and it sparks governing body mode” where the amount would Cleveland Mayor Tom Kindergarteners who trav- The Walker Valley Mustangs interest and approved a reso- basketball teams found the road a be determined by the “prior fiscal Rowland journeyed back to the eled to the North Pole in the year audited amount for dispatch North Pole aboard “The Polar imagination.” lution 12-1 in bit rough in Monday’s tournament — Mayor Tom program’s first few years are support of legis- games against Georgia’s salaries and benefits.” Express” this year, taking now college students, or out of Under the revised plan by the about 100 Blythe-Bower Rowland lation sponsored Northwest Whitfield High School. school altogether. by state Reps. Tennessee Titans quarterback Commission, the increase for the kindergarten students along Blythe-Bower’s Polar first year would remain as stated. for the ride. Kevin Brooks and Marcus Mariota will miss Sunday’s years it has been held at Express program is unique, Dan Howell to Crye game then be re-evaluated for the The next three years would be The mayor has taken this Blythe-Bower. The only year pilgrimage for 15 of the 16 remove the cur- season finale. The Atlanta Falcons he missed was when he was See POLAR, Page 6 rent limitation restricting can breathe a little easier after See 911, Page 7 municipal electric utilities’ abili- breaking a six-game losing streak. ty to provide fiber optic services See Sports, Pages 11-13. outside of their electrical foot- print to those areas who request Forecast the service. Cleveland woman dies in car crash Blake Kitterman, president of Today looks to be cloudy, with a the Bradley County Young 30 percent chance of rain and a By ALLEN MINCEY Reports noted that the driver became irate, intersection of Bates Pike and Randolph Banner Staff Writer and the deputy said the woman either had a Samples Road, where Sandoval was station- Democrats, addressed the high near 66. Tonight’s forecast calls medical condition or mental disturbance, and ary at a stop sign. Rogers’ car struck the 16- Commission with the support of for showers and possible thunder- A Cleveland woman is dead after a traffic drove away from the market at a high speed. year-old Sandoval’s vehicle head-on, reports his organization. storms, with a low around 59. accident Monday afternoon on Bates Pike. The deputy attempted to stop the vehicle, said. “When Bradley County citi- Wednesday should be cloudy, with a According to Tennessee Highway Patrol but was unsuccessful. THP reports said she Rogers’ vehicle — a 1999 Nissan — flipped zens succeed, we all succeed, and EPB broadband expansion 70 percent chance of rain and a reports, a Bradley County Sheriff’s deputy topped a hill on Bates Pike at a high speed, off the side of the road, coming to rest on its means an interconnected com- high near 71. South winds could had noticed a vehicle parked at the gas pump lost control and went into the westbound top. Rogers died on the scene of the accident. gust as high as 20 mph. Wednesday at the Pilot convenience store on U.S. lanes of traffic, where Rogers’ vehicle struck munity,” Kitterman said. “It The accident was investigated by THP means opportunities for busi- night calls for clouds with an 80 per- Highway 64, and attempted to make contact one driven by Antonio M. Sandoval of Trooper Phillip Reagan, who noted the deputy cent chance of rain, and a low with the driver, identified as 31-year-old Cleveland. around 65. Jessica R. Rogers of Cleveland. The 1:30 p.m. accident occurred at the See CRASH, Page 6 See INTERNET, Page 7 Index Classified................................16-17 County OKs Comics...........................................8 Editorials......................................14 ‘Angel’ group turns property site Horoscope......................................8 Obituaries.......................................2 for new store Sports......................................11-13 focus to the elderly By BRIAN GRAVES Stocks............................................4 Banner Staff Writer TV Schedule..................................9 By JOYANNA LOVE Weather........................................10 Banner Senior Staff Writer The Bradley County “We have some Commission voted 12-1 to allow Around Town A local group of caring peo- elderly that don’t have the rezoning of a property on ple changed their strategy for family and don’t even Harrison Pike from FAR Lexi Day enjoying a family spreading Christmas cheer just have people come and (Farming/Agricultural/Residentia Christmas party ..