THURSDAY 161st YEAR • NO. 36 JUNE 11, 2015 CLEVELAND, TN 16 PAGES • 50¢ City manager rejects Tyson, Griggs appeals Casteel says her conclusion Appeals rejection explains is based on multiple factors city’s disciplinary process By BRIAN GRAVES several department policies, and as a By BRIAN GRAVES Chief Steve Haun reported Keller had a Banner Staff Writer result was demoted from crime scene tech- Banner Staff Writer “conviction of a criminal offense” and nician (Level 26) to the patrol division as a was guilty of “disgraceful personal con- Cleveland City Manager Janice Casteel Level 25 patrol officer. The letters delivered this morning duct.” has denied the appeals of Cleveland police In his disciplinary action, Tyson was which informed Cleveland Police Officers Bryant found the process used for officers Steve Tyson and Jeff Griggs. given a verbal reprimand for violating Jeff Griggs and Steve Tyson their disci- Keller’s appeal denied him due process The decision released today comes after Policy 04-A/LL, Failure to Report plinary appeals had been denied might by having the supervisor who decided both officers appealed the disciplinary Violations. As part of his discipline, Tyson also be considered a detailed defense of his termination preside over his appeals actions handed down in May. has been reassigned to the patrol division. the process used to come to those deci- hearing. Those actions came after an Internal Both officers had appeal hearings on sions. In the seven-page letters going to both Affairs investigation concerning the events May 21. That process took a direct hit last officers, Cleveland City Manager Janice surrounding Griggs, his wife and former In the documents with her decision, week when Chancellor Jeri S. Bryant, Casteel cites the city charter, the person- Chief Dennis Maddux. Casteel cites the following items she used ruling in the matter of former Cleveland nel rules and regulations, the city code, Maddux was going to be dismissed, but to reach her conclusion: Fire Department employee Joshua the police officers’ oath of office and the retired from his position before that action n The Internal Affairs report; Keller, found the procedure to be agreement for accreditation from the could be taken. “unlawful.” Griggs was found to be in violation of See CASTEEL, Page 13 Janice Casteel Keller had been fired in 2012 after Fire See APPEALS, Page 13 Inside Today Owner arrested after dog attack Pit bull injures elderly woman By TONY EUBANK Banner Staff Writer Burnt Orange? A Bradley County woman was The University of Texas says it arrested after her pit bull terrier has contacted the NCAA and is attacked a 73-year-old woman. investigating charges of academ- The dog assaulted the victim, ic misconduct in its men’s bas- Patty Debusk as she walked on ketball program during the tenure M a r y l a n d of former coach Rick Barnes, Circle. Debusk who is now at Tennessee. The Contributed aerial photo was treated on Atlanta Braves stayed on the CLEVELAND SCHOOL administrators and staff are attempting to resolve traffic tie-ups at Yates and Ross elementary schools in the the scene by winning track with a second mornings and afternoons. School Resource Officers Mike Harris and Bobby Ruth have been working with Hal Taylor, maintenance Bradley County straight victory over the Padres. supervisor, on a tentative plan. The plan would have Ross drop-off and pickup traffic enter the campus on Mouse Creek Road and drive EMS before See Sports, Pages 9-11. being trans- through the campus (red line). It would require about 50 yards of paving through a grassy area near Ross School (red checked). Yates ported to drop-off and pickup traffic would continue by entering the campus near the central offices (yellow line) and proceeding to where Ross S k y R i d g e 100 BMBC starts traffic enters the campus. Medical Center with multiple its scholarships bites on both Morales The application process is legs. underway for scholarships pro- The dog’s owner, Tammy School traffic tie-ups Lynette Morales, 38, is being vided by 100 Black Men of Bradley County Inc., a civic-mind- charged with felony dog-at-large. ed nonprofit organization whose “We have been having a rash of membership is making a differ- dog attacks on citizens and a high ence in this community. Read Board eyes options at Ross, Yates volume of dog-at-large calls,” more about the scholarships in according to Bradley County By LARRY C. BOWERS would drop off the Yates students first, Sheriff Eric Watson. “Today it was the editorial on Page 12 of then utilize the oval turnaround to cross today’s edition. Banner Staff Writer a 73-year-old lady walking that Parents with students at both over into the Ross lane and back by the was attacked by pit bulldogs that The Cleveland Board of Education, schools would drop off the Yates school. the owner had been warned to Forecast administrators, and staff are attempting students first, then utilize the The main change in the configuration keep restrained.” to find a solution to traffic problems at oval turnaround to cross over is that the two separate lanes would both In a media statement, Watson Today’s forecast calls for partly Yates and Arnold elementary schools. into the Ross lane and back by be through lanes (going in opposite direc- continued, “Due to the high vol- sunny skies, with a 30 percent A tentative plan was brought to the the school. tions), without interaction with the other. ume of dogs running at large, chance of showers or thunder- board earlier this week by School Traffic for Yates drop-offs and pickups deputies will make every effort to storms and a high near 89. Tonight Resource Officers Mike Harris and Bobby will be off Mouse Creek (the current loca- locate the owner of the dog and Ruth, working with Hal Taylor, the school The proposed traffic pattern would tion), through the campus, and back should be mostly cloudy, with a 40 have Ross drop-offs and pickups enter issue a warning. If they fail to system’s maintenance supervisor. The onto Mouse Creek at the southeast cor- restrain their dogs as the law percent chance of rain and a low the campus off Mouse Creek at the ner. plan would create a minor change for southeast corner of the campus, just east requires and we respond a second around 71. Friday should be partly drop-offs and pickups at E.L. Ross Traffic for Ross drops-offs and pickups time, the owner of the animal will cloudy, with a 40 percent chance of of the Yates building. They would then would be onto the campus at the south- Elementary, keeping everything else the drive through the campus and by Ross. receive a written citation and be rain and high near 85. Friday night same as it’s been. east corner, around Yates and up by charged with a Class C (Dog-At- calls for mostly cloudy skies and a The proposal will require a 50-foot Ross School, exiting onto Mouse Creek Taylor told the board the biggest prob- grassy strip to the southeast corner of Large) misdemeanor.” 40 percent chance of rain, with a lem creating traffic tie-ups, in the morn- just south of the Paul Huff Parkway The sheriff’s statement contin- the Ross building be paved, connecting intersection. low around 69. ings and afternoons, is “stacked traffic.” ued, “If a dog bites or attacks separate sections of roadway. School bus traffic would also remain Sunset: 8:55 p.m. Currently, all traffic is entering the Yates traffic would continue as it has someone and causes bodily injury, the same as it has been. the owner will be arrested and Sunrise: 6:26 a.m. education campus off Mouse Creek Road, been, coming off Mouse Creek near the Taylor, Harris and Ruth anticipate the near the central offices on the West side Central offices and winding down by the charged with a Class E (Dog-At- proposal could lessen the current bottle- Large) felony. Currently, the Index of the complex. This entrance channels school building. Yates traffic would exit neck off Mouse Creek, just past Valley traffic down and around Yates Schools, the campus at the southeast corner, Bradley County Sheriff’s Office is Head Road. answering between 7 to 11 calls of Classified................................14-15 while Ross traffic goes down and to the where Ross traffic would now enter. Comics...........................................6 left. School buses also use this entrance. Parents with students at both schools See TIE-UPS, Page 13 Editorials......................................12 See ATTACK, Page 13 Horoscope......................................6 NASCAR......................................16 Obituaries.......................................2 Stocks............................................4 Cleveland man dies Dedication Sports........................................9-11 TV Schedule...................................7 for marker Weather..........................................8 in accident on I-75 is Saturday Around Town By TONY EUBANK an attempt to cross the road. Banner Staff Writer According to the report, Cope By LARRY C. BOWERS was walking at a 45-degree Banner Staff Writer Maddie Smith getting excited Authorities continue to inves- angle with his back toward traf- over something her sister Riley tigate an accident late Tuesday fic, just as a dump truck was Tennessee’s newest roadside did ... Dianne Passavant getting night that killed a Cleveland travelling south in the same historic marker, marking Civil “the breakfast club” started for man who was trying to walk lane, going downhill and around War events in the area, will be the summer ... Janice Barnes across Interstate 75, near mile a curve. dedicated in Bradley County trying to get her feet to move like marker 14 in Hamilton County.