T U E S D A Y 161st YEAR • NO. 82 AUGUST 4, 2015 CLEVELANd, TN 16 PAGES • 50¢ Logan addresses liquor Watson, Collins debate lawsuit ‘alter or amend’ future work by inmates By BRIAN GRAVES the county wanted to file an appeal. By BRIAN GRAVES $154,240 in funding — $55,000 to Banner Staff Writer “I thought it was very important to Banner Staff Writer replace the litter grant funding the immediately respond to the decision,” Commission voted to give to the An argument before Chancellor Logan said. Sheriff Eric Watson remains firm BCSO and $99,240 for three new Jerri S. Bryant on the motion to He explained this action was not a in his decision not to allow inmates employees with benefits. “alter or amend” the decision in favor motion to appeal. to work with the Bradley County It had been tabled, pending full of the city of Cleveland concerning “A motion to alter or amend merely Road Department. He said his attendance by the committee and liquor-by-the-drink revenues could be seeks to have the court reflect on the department was not aware of other the request for a communication heard within the next 10 days, decision based upon factors that we work those inmates were perform- from the sheriff on the matter of according to Cleveland attorney bring to their attention,” he said. ing other than picking up litter. inmate usage. James Logan. “One of those oftentimes is overlook- Watson reaffirmed his decision In her original request, Collins Logan addressed Bradley County ing perhaps a fact which has been after the subject was brought up at provided a list of work that has commissioners Monday night about presented without dispute or over- a meeting of the Bradley County been performed by inmates “over where the case now stands. looking significant authority that Commission’s Finance Committee 30 years.” He apologized, saying he went would support a position which Banner photo, BRIAN GRAVES Monday afternoon. “All items listed are things that ahead with the filing without asking, would be different from that which ATTORNEY JAMES LOGAN addresed the It was the second time Road are not reimbursable by the litter but felt the issue needed to be moved the court reached.” Bradley County Commission concerning the law- Superintendent Sandra Knight grant. We were fortunate to have on quickly. He added should Bryant suit between the county and the city of Cleveland Collins had presented her request stand by her ruling, he would ask if See LOGAN, Page 5 regarding liquor-by-the-drink revenues. to the committee for an additional See INMATES, Page 5 Inside Today Agencies Good morning, teachers! suspend Pritchard earns Fitzgerald award Keller for excellence search By CHRISTY ARMSTRONG Banner Staff Writer A Bradley County teacher is Local teenager this year’s recipient of the Lillie F. Fitzgerald Excellence is still missing in Teaching Award. Jeremiah Pritchard, a show By TONY EUBANK choir director and drama Banner Staff Writer coach at Lake Forest Middle School, received the award The search for missing during an in-service session Cleveland teenager Joe Keller has with the Bradley County, been suspended, according to the Linking it up Cleveland City and Polk Conejos County Sheriff’s office. County school systems The 19-year-old went missing The inaugural Bradley Central Monday. on July 23 while Invitational took place Monday at The annual award is given going for a jog Cleveland Country Club with by the Bradley Cleveland with a friend at Banner photo, LARRY C. BOWERS Cleveland High and Walker Valley JEREMIAH PRITCHARd, second from left, was presented the Lillie F. Fitzgerald Excellence in Public Education Foundation about 4:30 p.m. walking away with the winner’s each year to in the mountain trophies. Tennessee head coach Teaching Award at Monday’s teacher in-service program at North Cleveland Church of God. Bradley honor a local area just west of Butch Jones addressed the Cleveland Public Education Foundation President Matt Bentley gestures at right, while Dr. Rodney teacher who Antonito, Colo. media prior to the Volunteers’ Fitzgerald is standing to the left. Pritchard is a teacher at Lake Forest Middle School. goes above Keller is a start of training camp. See and beyond in cross-country Sports, Pages 9-11 his or her runner and a Ron Clark Jr. brings work with stu- swimmer who Schools reopening dents. helps coach local Keller Dr. Rodney youth as a part of in Volunteer State innovation, energy Fitzgerald, the the Cleveland Waterdogs. son of the Keller, who was on a cross- It’s back-to-school time in to local teachers award’s name- Fitzgerald country road trip with family and Tennessee, but in truth most edu- sake, present- friends, and was staying at the cators today are turning public By LARRY C. BOWERS ed the award and gave the Rainbow Trout Ranch in Antonito education into a year-round activi- Banner Staff Writer audience a look at why when he went missing nearly ty because of professional devel- Pritchard was chosen. three weeks ago. opment activities and other self- Ron Clark Jr. is recognized as one of the most innovational teachers in the country, if not the “Reading over the 18 nomi- In the statement released at 5 improvement techniques. See nations this teacher received p.m. Monday by the Conejos what the executive director of world. He was the guest speaker Monday morn- ing at the joint convocation of the Cleveland, from administrators, col- County Sheriff’s Office, Public Professional Educators of leagues, current and former information officer Linda Smith Tennessee has to say about it in Polk and Bradley County school systems. Clark provided emotion, energy, humor and parents and current and for- explained, “Keller was reported a guest “Viewpoint” published on mer students, our committee missing at approximately 11:30 Page 12 of today’s edition. focus for several hundred teachers as they face a new school year, beginning today. members realized quickly just p.m. on July 23. The sheriff and He described his philosophy of teaching, how important connecting two deputies responded and con- Forecast which he has developed from his early days in with students is not only in ducted an initial search. Early the South Carolina, to innovative programs he used the area of learning but also following morning, a larger Mostly sunny and hot today in Harlem, N.Y., to unusual methods at his Ron in the area of human life,” search effort was organized that with a high near 93; plus, the Banner photo, LARRY C. BOWERS Clark Academy in Atlanta. Fitzgerald said. continued through Aug. 1.” heat index values are beginning MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER ANd TEACHER, The young teacher and motivational speaker “Teachers can truly be “The search expanded to cover to climb again with today’s said a lot of things the region’s teachers appar- transformative agents in stu- an area with an approximate 30- expected to hit 97. Partly cloudy Ron Clark Jr. was very animated in his presenta- tion Monday to teachers from Cleveland, Bradley ently wanted to hear. He said children have been dents’ lives. Based on reading mile radius from where Keller was tonight with a low around 71. these nominations, this last seen, and has included air- On Wednesday, skies will be County and Polk County. The education convoca- craft, 15 search dogs and approx- mostly sunny with a high again tion was held at North Cleveland Church of God. See CLARK, Page 13 See PRITCHARD, Page 13 near 93; however, there is a See KELLER, Page 5 slight 20 percent chance of thun- derstorms. Index Two county Brewer indicted in deadly Classified................................14-15 employees Comics...........................................6 I-75 crash that killed six Editorials......................................12 are injured By TONY EUBANK including six counts of vehicular homi- Horoscope......................................6 Banner Staff Writer cide, DUI by impairment of narcotics, Obituaries.......................................2 speeding, false reports of duty status and By TONY EUBANK Sports........................................9-11 A Hamilton County grand jury has four counts of reckless aggravated Banner Staff Writer indicted Benjamin Brewer, the driver of Stocks............................................4 assault. Two Bradley County employees the tractor-trailer involved in a massive The indictment and subsequent warrant TV Schedule..................................7 pileup on Interstate 75 June 25 that were struck by an unmanned, Contributed Photo comes on the heels of a National Weather..........................................8 one-ton truck at the Bradley THIS IS THE TRUCK driven by Benjamin killed six people, including an Ocoee Transportation Safety Board report that County Highway Department dis- Brewer showing the damage sustained in a dead- Middle School teacher, and two young sis- shows Brewer had exceeded the Federal Around Town patch office and vehicle mainte- ters. ly crash on Interstate 75 in June. Brewer is facing 13 different charges, See BREWER, Page 5 Andrea Byerly sending out nance shop Monday on Pleasant some helpful information and an Grove Road. important reminder ... Melanie According to Lt. John Harmon Connatser looking forward to the of the Tennessee Highway Patrol, the two victims were walking Board gets arena, school updates start of a new school season, but through the parking lot when the issuing an appeal for additional Bradley County and Polk County teachers, as Templeton brought a revamped design for parked and driverless truck came By LARRY C. BOWERS volunteers for an important civic well as administrators and board members of the playing floor of the new Raider Arena being out of gear and hit them. Banner Staff Writer initiative ... Cheryl Dunson check- the three school systems. constructed. As requested, the design has The THP Critical Incident ing on some registrations ..