SUNDAY 161st YEAR • No. 2 MAY 3, 2015 CLEVELAND, TN 62 PAGES • $1.00 Inside Today Maney: ‘I can verify my certifications’ Nashville, the three claim Maney pleting any practical training for allowed to be abused.” Fire chief denies allegations on training did not take a test in LaVergne on any of the certifications he has Hawkins’ letter said documen- By BRIAN GRAVES the authenticity of all of his certifi- April 7. They said it was “not phys- tested for and obtained.” tation of Maney’s certification Banner Staff Writer cations. ically possible” since he was par- The letter, dated April 18, is attendance cannot be obtained Maney’s comments and the ticipating in an in-service exercise signed by BCFR Battalion “because of political pressure.” Bradley County Fire-Rescue details of the letter were first Chief Troy Maney is denying alle- with the Bradley County Sheriff's Commander Myron Hawkins and The letter also alleges a belief reported Friday afternoon on the Office. names BCFR Battalion that BCSO Officer Ronnie Goss “is gations by three staff members Daily Banner’s web site — cleve- that he allegedly was “involved The letter also claims none of Commander Donald Tankersley an accessory to this situation.” landbanner.com. the members of the current train- and BCFR Training Capt. Jeff It alleges Goss is a close friend with and had knowledge of falsify- In a letter sent to Randy Fox of ing the certification process.” ing staff at BCFR “have signed off Stewart as “willing to help in any the Firefighting Standards and on or witnessed Chief Maney com- way to assure the system is not See MANEY, Page 8 Maney also said he can verify Education Commission in Juvenile Court reports 985 Bears ousted cases in 2014 The Bradley Central Bears were eliminated from the District By TONY EUBANK 5-AAA baseball tournament after Banner Staff Writer a loss to McMinn County. Favorite American Pharoah was The Bradley County Juvenile Center is report- put to the test but finished ahead ing violent crimes, crimes against property, which fo the field at the 141st Kentucky include various thefts and vandalism, and truan- Derby. The Walker Valley Lady cy, make up the largest segments of juvenile Mustangs took another step crime in Bradley County. toward a District 5-AAA softball In 2014, a total of 985 cases involving 1,544 championship with a win over charges went through the county’s Campus, Ooltewah. The Bearettes and Drug and Juvenile courts. Cleveland Lady Raiders were There were 167 violent crimes against persons, eliminated. See Sports, Pages 178 unruly behavior charges, 172 thefts, 143 17-21, 25. various crimes against property, 37 vandalism charges, 252 truancy charges, and 81 runaways. The year also saw 36 youth face drug-related charges. Special Moms These cases involved a total 669 young people, Check out our Mothers sec- 423 of which were male and 246 females. tion, featuring tributes from chil- The young people who appeared before the dren, Mother’s Day Letters con- courts ages range widely with 31 being 6 years test, gift ideas, recipes, and and under, 145 being between the ages of 7 and more. This special section begins 12, 482 land in the range of 13 to 17 years, and on Page 37. 11 aged 18 or older. Above: Seventy-six percent of the children who faced charges last year came from single-parent homes THE RELAY For Life Saturday began with the Filmmakers honored Caregivers and Survivors laps. The annual event Brothers and Cleveland or lived with relatives other than their biological parents, foster care, group homes and other non- was held in downtown Cleveland around the natives Scott and Ben Murphy’s Courthouse. Photo courtesy of Allan Mincey. film, “Ain’t It Nowhere,” landed in traditional living arrangements. So far in 2015, in the period ending on March Banner photo, HOWARD PIERCE the top five of the Southwest BUSTED! Dylan Evell, Lacey Posey and Mickey Airlines Audience Award winners 30, there have been a total 272 youth petitioned to court in 385 cases involving a total of 543 Casson find themselves arrested and thrown into jail for narrative film after having during this year’s Relay For Life. BCSO brought its their work screened at the 46th charges. Annual Nashville Film Festival. Of the 272 youth who have faced charges, 167 “patty wagon” to Relay For Life to help raise funds See Lifestyles, Page 29. have been male and the other 105 have been for the fight against cancer. If arrested at Relay For female. Out of the total of 543 charges this year, Life, you had to match the contributing donation of 92 have been for truancy, 77 have been charged the person who put you there to get out. More pho- Hiwassee-Ocoee with unruly behavior, along with 74 charges for tos, Page 12. The Tennessee State Parks See JUVENILE, Page 8 service, in cooperation with TVA, repurposed a section of the park that once featured a model of the 1996 Olympic BCSO ranked Hoogstra to whitewater course. As part of Gov. Haslams’ Healthier Tennessee initiative, 10 peices 9th in solving address Lee’s of exercise equipment were added to the park. See People, of burglaries graduates Page 45. By BRIAN GRAVES Dr. Shirley Hoogstra, president Banner Staff Writer of the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities, will Forecast The Bradley County Sheriff’s address graduates and guests at office was able to show its pride Lee University’s Today’s outlook is for mostly Friday when County commission- spring com- ers got a briefing on the latest find- mencement on sunny skies with a high near 80 ing from the Tennessee Bureau of with a low of 53. Winds are predict- Saturday, May Investigation. 9, at 9:30 a.m. ed to be light and variable. Monday Sheriff Eric Watson told mem- should have plentiful sunshine with on the lawn of bers of the Law Enforcement the Science and a high of 82 and a low of 54. Committee that TBI’s statistics Math Complex. Sunday’s sunset: 8:27 p.m. show the BCSO ranks ninth out of H o o g s t r a Monday’s sunrise: 6:46 a.m. the 95 counties for the most bur- Banner photo, LARRY C. BOWERS started her glaries solved in the state. WALLS ARE UP and construction is moving ahead on Cleveland High School’s new Raider Arena. term as the first “That makes our county the only The contractor (Tri-Con) has been running behind somewhat due to the weather, but enjoyed favorable female presi- Hoogstra Index southeastern law enforcement conditions this week. Brian Templeton of Upland Design Group will be at Monday’s school board meeting dent of the agency in the Top Ten,” Watson to provide an update on the work. CCCU in September 2014. Prior to Business news ............................27 said. that, she served as the vice presi- Church............................................4 TBI’s report also showed the dent for student life at Calvin Classified................................55-61 BCSO’s clearance rate for offenses Raider Arena progress update expected College in Grand Rapids, Comics.........................................49 including murder, assault, DUI, Michigan, from 1999-2014, after Editorials.................................22,23 rape and drug possession as well with anticipation of the start of Several key issues will be dis- serving four years on the school’s as the burglary charges was 55 By LARRY C. BOWERS Horoscope....................................49 Banner Staff Writer the system’s digital conversion cussed at Monday’s 5:30 p.m. board of trustees. percent. in the fall. There is also the board meeting at the school sys- During her time at Calvin, Lifestyles ................................29-33 Those numbers are significantly The Cleveland Board of ongoing construction of tem’s central offices. Hoogstra was involved with the Obituaries.......................................2 higher than the state average of 39 Education will be holding its Cleveland High Schools $11 mil- Some board members will be Stocks..........................................25 percent. final meeting of this school year lion Raider Arena project. at the office building more than See LEE, Page 8 Sports...............................17-21, 25 “Our officers have done an out- Monday, but there are many an hour ahead of the scheduled TV Schedule...........................50,51 standing jobs and the trust that things scheduled during the Favorable weather over the past week has enabled the con- meeting. Weather........................................15 has been built between the citizens month of May prior to the end of Cleveland High School’s tractor (Tri-Con) to forge ahead National Day and law enforcement has made a classes. Leadership students will be difference,” Watson said. Board members are faced in a catch-up mode on the new there at 4 p.m. to present their with a number of projects gymnasium. It is scheduled for of Prayer is Around Town See BCSO, Page 8 through the summer months, competition in January 2016. See RAIDER ARENA, Page 8 Robbie Rice sharing a picture he drew ... Debbie Montgomery Thursday sharing a smile...Mark Grissom By JOYANNA LOVE displaying his strange sense of Banner Senior Staff Writer humor...Martin Ringstaff having Tenants’ rights focus of Impact Cleveland session The National Day of Prayer is a some fun with Cleveland Middle Teresa Torbet explained that City of Cleveland, and Paul small but impassioned audi- Interact students ... Brian Smith By TONY EUBANK time for communities throughout Banner Staff Writer addressing fair housing and Dellinger with the Housing ence on defending their rights the United States to come together sharing a good laugh...Adam similar issues are one of the Authority, partnered last year as tenants in General Sessions Cotton giving a handshake and Impact Cleveland, in con- for prayer for this country, its lead- CDBG’s initiatives.