162nd YEAR • No. 267 20 PAGES • 50¢ CLEVELAND, TN 37311 THE CITY WITH SPIRIT FRIDAY, MARCH 10, 2017 A ‘United’ night to shine Jobless rate Mazzolini, Spire, for January Cooke, Grant are takes a hike: honored in annual 5.3 percent banquet for UW By SARALYN NORKUS Seasonal increase [email protected] Thursday night was one that served to honor a history- making year for the United Way of the Ocoee Region and due to retail drop those who made it possible. Those in attendance for the United Way’s Annual Banquet By RICK NORTON were pleased to learn that the organization had seen its most [email protected] impressive year yet, having raised over $6.4 million in rev- enue for 2016. Layoffs in the retail trade industry marking the end of the As is tradition, three of the United Way’s most honored Christmas season brought Bradley County’s string of unem- service awards were handed out at its annual report. Banner photo, Daniel Guy ployment drops to an abrupt halt in January as the month’s “These are probably some of the greatest servants in this TANYA MAZZOLINI, left, and Cindy Spires, who was married to the late rate jumped to 5.3 percent. community, and not just for the United Way, but for many Tim Spires, accept the 2017 William F. Johnson award as co-recipients at The original December mark was 4.2, and was later revised organizations and churches in town,” said Matt Ryerson, the United Way Annual Meeting on Thursday. This year was only the third to 4.3. United Way president and CEO. one in which the United Way has selected two recipients for the William F. In spite of the hike, a labor market analyst cautioned Janey Cooke, of Cooke’s Johnson award. against assumptions that local job fortunes are taking a turn Food, was the recipient of for the worse. That’s “Even with our best efforts, the Charlotte Thorogood because 1) jobless rate “Bradley County saw a big there is still much more to be Women of Impact Award increases are expected in jump, but so did every other done, and there are still peo- and Teresa Grant, executive January because of the county. The primary culprit, as ple in our community who director of The HOPE turnover in retail; 2) was expected, was retail need help.” Center, received the Colonel December is traditionally trade.” — Matt Jenne James Tucker Servant the lowest rate of the cal- — Larry Green Leadership Award. endar year; and 3) the The most prestigious award of the night made a bit of his- colder, wetter months of winter normally dry up hiring in con- tory itself, as it was the third time in the United Way’s 79- struction. year history that two recipients were named for the William Although Bradley County’s job numbers tumbled, the local F. Johnson United Way Service Award. jurisdiction found itself in good company. Tanya Mazzolini, vice president of accounting for Life Care “Every single county in Tennessee (all 95) saw their unem- Centers of America, was shocked to hear her name called for ployment rates increase in January,” said Larry Green, labor the award that serves as the highest honor a volunteer can market analyst for the Tennessee Department of Labor and receive. She was even more shocked to hear longtime friend Workforce Development who monitors the employment picture Tim Spire’s name called, as he was posthumously named a in several counties along the state’s southeast corner. William F. Johnson award winner. “Bradley County saw a big jump, but so did every other “I’m so honored to co-win with Tim. I don’t even feel like county,” Green told the Cleveland Daily Banner on Thursday. I’m in the same class as him — if they had just given it to “The primary culprit, as was expected, was retail trade.” Tim it would’ve been OK,” Mazzolini declared. The Bradley rate placed the local community in a two-way “I’m very honored and very surprised. It’s such a good tie for the state’s 17th lowest jobless mark. Bradley shared group of people who have won this award before, and many the ranking with Hickman County. of them were here, and I’ve always looked up to them as Although seasonally created jobs in retail fizzled, employ- examples.” ment saw declines across the board, Green explained. One of those examples Mazzolini has looked up to is her “The largest decline came in retail trade, but Bradley boss, Terry Henry. County also had small declines in construction and in health “He’s always been a good example, mentor and inspiration. services,” the longtime state official explained. He has such a servant’s heart, so I had a great person to Banner photo, Daniel Guy Banner photo, Daniel Guy Declines were also recorded in temporary services, and in learn from,” she commented. JANEY COOKE RECEIVES the TERESA GRANT accepts the private education and health services. 2017 Woman of Impact award, at 2017 Col. Jim Tucker award at See SHINE, Page 4 the United Way Annual Meeting. Thursday night. See JOBLESS, Page 12 CHS football field set City schools budget for new turf: $775,000 includes 3% pay hike By SARALYN NORKUS nearly $775,000 from their non- By SARALYN NORKUS Schools Director Dr. Russell [email protected] recurring budget toward the turf [email protected] Dyer. project on Thursday. “We want to make sure we’re When the 2017 Cleveland The decision also makes The Cleveland Board of taking care of our staff, because Blue Raiders take to the football Cleveland High School the first Education voted Thursday to the staff of Cleveland City field this coming season, they school in the area to have an approve the 2017-18 General Schools works harder than any won’t be setting foot on artificial turf football field. Fund Budget, which is a bal- other group I know, and they Bermuda grass. They will “What we’ve done for the over- anced ledger of $46,791,781. deserve everything that we can instead be running out onto all community is add a ‘wow’ The approved budget includes give to them. I’m very supportive newly installed GreenFields factor,” Director of City Schools a 3 percent salary increase for of that and appreciate every- Sports Turf Systems premium Dr. Russell Dyer said. Banner photo, SARALYN NORKUS all employees, and a half step- thing they do.” turf. “I want the school to stand THE CLEVELAND CITY SCHOOLS Board of Education unani- increase for all employees who The CCS budget now moves Following a presentation from out academically, but also (our mously voted to bring turf to Cleveland High School’s football field. qualify. on to the Cleveland City Council Cleveland High School head facilities) to be something the The turf field will be supplied and installed by Greenfields USA and “The budget is balanced, for approval. football coach Scott Cummings, community can be proud of — be ready to use for this coming football season. From left are, everything is in there and our First-year CCS teachers will CHS Athletic Director David this will be a showcase and ral- employees are getting a 3 per- now start at $40,689 a year, Tucker and Greenfields’ Greg Greenfields USA representative Greg Phillips, BOE chairperson cent cost-of-living increase, and lying spot for our community.” Dawn Robinson, BOE member Charlie Cogdill, BOE member which keeps them competitive Phillips, plus over an hour of Dyer recommended that the that’s something that we’re very with other school districts and discussion and questioning, the BOE vote to approve the turf Peggy Pesterfield, CHS Athletic Director David Tucker, BOE mem- proud of, as well as our step was something the director and Cleveland Board of Education ber Carolyn Ingram, Director of Schools Dr. Russell Dyer and head increases for any eligible unanimously voted to invest See TURF, Page 12 football coach Scott Cummings. employee,” said Cleveland City See BUDGET, Page 12 AROUND TOWN WEATHER INDEX James Droke ready for Today should be mostly sunny, with a high near 60. Church..............................6-7 Opinion...............................16 some fishing and nicer weather Tonight calls for partly cloudy skies, with a low around 31. ... Kenny Lawson stopping by Saturday calls for partly cloudy skies and a 30 percent Classified.....................18-19 Stocks...................................4 the Banner office to see an old chance of rain, with a high near 49. Saturday night calls for Comics...............................10 Sports......................... 13-15 6489076 75112 friend ... Lee Cornelison and clouds and an 80 percent chance of precipitation, with rain Gina Casias making summer- Horoscope..........................10 TV Schedule.....................8-9 time plans. before 4 a.m., then snow, and a low around 31. Snow accumulation of less than 1 inch is likely. Obituaries.............................2 Weather..............................11 2—Cleveland Daily Banner—Friday, March 10, 2017 www.clevelandbanner.com Construction to reduce OBITUARIES (USPS 117-700) Periodical Postage Paid at Cleveland, TN 37320-3600 Post Office APD 40 POSTMASTER: Send Address Changes to: Banner, P.O. Box 3600, Cleveland, TN 37320-3600 Published at 1505 25th Street, NW (P.O. Box 3600) To submit an obituary, have the funeral home or cremation in Cleveland, TN 37320-3600, daily except Saturday to one lane society in charge of arrangements e-mail the information to obitu- and Christmas day by Cleveland Newspapers, Inc. Phone (423) 472-5041. From Staff Reports [email protected] and fax to 423-614-6529, attention Obits. Ralph Baldwin Joyce Taylor The Tennessee Department Editor & Publisher General Manager of Transportation has released The graveside service will fol- Monday, March 13, 2017, at 7 information concerning proba- low the funeral at Union p.m.