City Dismissal Procedure Unlawful Inside Today by BRIAN GRAVES Banner Staff Writer Chancellor Jeri S
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FRIDAY 161st YEAR • NO. 31 juNE 5, 2015 CLEVELAND, TN 22 PAGES • 50¢ Chancellor: City dismissal procedure unlawful Inside Today By BRIAN GRAVES Banner Staff Writer Chancellor Jeri S. Bryant has issued a finding the city of Cleveland’s procedures in dis- missing an employee of the Cleveland Fire Department “failed to follow a lawful procedure.” City Manager Janice Casteel said she is following all of the processes and the city charter, “which have been in place for 22 years to the letter.” It is a finding that could affect the recent disciplinary actions of two Cleveland Police officers. The finding, filed May 29, con- cerns the appeal of Joshua Keller who was terminated Feb. 10, 2012, during a meeting with Fire Chief Steve Haun. According to the order filed, Keller received a disciplinary Tough road for action report containing the rea- sons for his dismissal on that Banner photo, BRIAN GRAVES Commodores COmmISSIONER mILAN BLAkE, left, points to the areas with different fire tax rates during Thursday’s Finance committee meeting. date. The report stated Keller was ter- The Vanderbilt Commodores Bradley County Mayor D. Gary Davis is at right. minated for “conviction of criminal must win the Super Regional on offense” and “disgraceful personal the road to repeat as College conduct.” World Series Champions. Lee The appeal hearing was con- University star baseball players Finance panel discusses pay increase ducted by Casteel, who asked for Dustin Lawson and Ben Holland and was provided documents prior have been named to the NCCAA would be divided between ranks, also receive a $5,500 bump up budget Monday night, it gave to the hearing and “reviewed those All-America team. The NCAA has Committee looks at and the idea of any tax increase from the $26,000 base pay. firefighters a $3,000 raise, engi- prior to the hearing outside the charged the University of North presence of the Plaintiff and his Carolina with five serious viola- Fire-Rescue numbers may have died. Lieutenants would increase by neers a $2,000 increase, and counsel.” tions. See Sports, Pages 13-15. The committee last week voted $3,000, and captains would captains and lieutenants a to recommend a proposal by increase by $2,000. $1,000 increase without a tax The order states Casteel did not By BRIAN GRAVES Commissioner Robert Rominger There would be no raises for increase. provide Keller or his counsel a list Coming Sunday Banner Staff Writer which would increase firefighter battalion commanders, the Davis said Thursday his fig- of everything she had reviewed as The River Counties salaries $5,500 — increasing administrative assistant or the ures were based on the 2 percent part of her original decision, “nor Association of Realtors will be The Commission Finance com- starting pay to $29,500. chief, outside of any increase growth the county has shown as as part of her ‘preparation’ for Mr. showcasing their organization mittee will meet again today to Keller’s appeal hearing.” Those firefighters who have given across the board to county of present-day numbers. Sunday in a special section. try finalizing a pay increase for Bryant found in that context, earned more than the $24,000 employees. “That’s the way we have always Bradley County Fire-Rescue per- Keller was denied due process. base pay because of experience Those increases would also done it. It has always worked out sonnel. would maintain that extra sum. cost an increase in the county’s “City Manager Casteel’s pre- Trousdale airways well, except for the few years appellate hearing activity was The Trousdale School will be However, the ball has been That would remain true for all fire tax of 13 cents. when the economy was down,” taking audiences on a flight- thrown back to the department ranks. When County Mayor D. Gary inspired musical adventure June to assess just how any increase Firefighter/engineers would Davis presented his proposed See FINANCE, Page 6 See RULING, Page 6 12 and 13 at the Bradley Central High School Fine Arts Theater. Tickets are now available. See CU water story, Page 12. Fernandez Marketing 101 bound over division In his column Stories of a World Gone Mad, Barry Currin gives update suggests you don’t irritate the in stabbings customer just for fun. See col- By TONY EUBANK By LARRY C. BOWERS umn, Page 16. Banner Staff Writer Banner Staff Writer Water Division Manager Craig Vicente Ramirez Fernandez was Mullinax brought Cleveland Forecast bound over to criminal court fol- Utilities’ board of directors up to lowing a preliminary hearing date last week on ongoing proj- Thursday. ects in the Water and Wastewater Fernandez stands accused in departments. the May 9 stabbing assault of the One of the big projects is the mother of his child, her mother continued rehabilitation in the and a neighbor. Wastewater sector. Mullinax said The defendant sat looking dazed there are six to seven contractors and aloof, as each of the three vic- working every day at separate tims took the stand to offer testi- locations. He said they have lined mony. 55 manholes. Today’s forecast calls for mostly Crissy Bean, his former girl- The overall work includes the friend and one of the victims, took Banner photo, LARRY C. BOWERS sunny skies with a high near 85, monitoring of the system’s long- the stand first, and sported visible DAVID CLOWERS, right, and Corey Smith, had to stop their mowing machines for a moment but a 30 percent chance of showers term flow for capacity assurance. scars from the attack. Thursday, because of the clutter of grass and weeds as they were mowing through the ninth fair- or thunderstorms is also predicted. CSl Service is about 58 percent Under questioning from prose- Tonight should be partly cloudy, way at the Waterville Golf Course. The grass and weeds had to be swept away to guard against finished with the work, budgeted cuting attorney Mac McCoin, Bean with a low around 64. Saturday overheating mowing equipment. at $84,000. explained at the time of the inci- Littlejohn Engineering should be mostly sunny with a dent she was living with her moth- Associates is 88 percent complet- slight chance of rain, and a high er. Fernandez lived nearby. ed with engineering and rehabili- near 88. Saturday night calls for She told the court that she and Waterville Golf Course gets manicure tation on Wildwood and Inman. partly cloudy skies, with a low Fernandez shared a son and he By LARRY C. BOWERS This is a $348,015 project. around 65. would often walk down to visit with Banner Staff Writer Littlejohn is also 61 percent fin- the child. Sunset: 8:52 p.m. ished with basin rehabilitation Bean said Fernandez had visited Sunrise: 6:27 a.m. Waterville Golf Course is (31-45 and 10-36), a $377,400 his son on the day of the attack, not yet available for a quality project. and nothing seemed unusual. round of golf, but it is much Additional basin rehabilitation Index “When he came he was normal. closer than it was a week ago. is being done by AITC, a He was giving my kids hugs and Church .......................................8,9 Henry Luken, who signed a $4,817,000 project, which is 29 kisses,” she said. five-year contract with the percent completed. Classified................................20-22 Bean said she and Fernandez city to maintain and manage Sewer maintenance and clear- went upstairs to watch a movie. It Comics.........................................17 the golf course, was at the ing is being done in-house at a is at this point Bean alleges things Editorial........................................16 facility Thursday riding a cost of $100,000. It has just got- took a turn for the worse. fairway mower for the first ten underway. Horoscope....................................17 “That’s when he started attack- time in his life. He brought Littlejohn Engineering is ready ing me in my room. I didn’t know Lifestyles .......................................4 along a duo of maintenance to start on the CCTV interceptor he had a knife. He punched me in Obituaries.......................................2 people from Battlefield Golf inspection, a $103,595 project. my rib. When I fell on my bed, Club to get the project start- Morgan Construction has the Sports......................................13-15 that’s when he got on top of me, on ed. contract for rehabilitation on my back, and started attacking my Stocks ...........................................4 David Clowers, the golf Wildwood and Inman, a back,” Bean said. Banner photo, LARRY C. BOWERS TV Schedule...........................18,19 course manager at $1,372,808 project. “He was scraping my back and NEW WATERVILLE Golf Course manager Henry Luken, left, Battlefield, located in North In projects at the Wastewater Weather........................................11 then he stabbed me in my butt. He talks with David Clowers at the golf course Thursday. Clowers Georgia, has been placed in Treatment Plant, Cleveland stabbed me a couple times, but he is the golf course manager at Battlefield Golf and Country Club charge of the Waterville proj- Utilities is working with King Around Town was like, scraping me,” she contin- in North Georgia, one of Luken’s courses, and has been placed in charge of the Waterville reconditioning project. Industries on rehabilitation of the Reta Dawson seen checking See WATERVILLE, Page 6 her tomato plants ... Jim Mayfield See FERNANDEZ, Page 6 See CU, Page 6 playing peek-a-boo with baby raccoons ... Matt Haase sharing some interesting facts from nature ... Ronnie and Vicki Hunt, Ingram attend workshop on relevance of libraries Carroll picking out some good fresh tomatoes for a friend ... By LARRY C.