T H U R S D A Y 162nd YEAR • No. 83 AUGUST 4, 2016 CLEVELAND, TN 18 PAGES • 50¢ Election day arrives! Polls close at 8 tonight; large turnout expected due to contested local races By ALLEN MINCEY have been checked, and election workers trained, for Banner Staff Writer today. The last training session was held on Tuesday of this week at the Bradley County Courthouse. Polls will be open until 8 o’clock tonight for what offi- Early voting results had 5,531 cast ballots, which cials say could be a close election in several races. Green said was more than in 2008, which was the most Voting began early today at 8 a.m. at 17 precincts comparable election to this year. She added she hopes across the city of Cleveland and Bradley County. Those today’s results will put the total number of voters over precincts are: McDonald, Prospect, Hopewell, E.L. Ross, 10,000. Walker Valley, Lee University, Senior Center, Oak Grove, Several local races led to those early voting numbers Michigan Avenue, Blythe-Bower, the Museum Center at and could attract an equally large number of voters Five Points, Valley View, Blue Springs, Waterville, Black today. Banner photo, DONNA KAYLOR Fox, Stuart, and Cleveland High School. The polling site Stanley Thompson is the only candidate who qualified POLLING LOCATIONS opened today at 8 a.m. and will close at 8 this evening. at the museum is for those who have normally voted at for the Assessor of Property race in the Bradley County Blythe Avenue Elementary School. Susan Oliver, a local elections official, checks the paperwork on Violet Robinson Administrator of Elections Fran Green said polling sites See ELECTION, Page 5 before she votes at George R. Stuart School this morning. Inside Today SETHRA numbers in usage continue to grow MPO transit plan calls for shelters By ALLEN MINCEY Braves rally for Banner Staff Writer win over Pirates The number of people who are using SETHRA transportation After digging themselves a 4-0 within the city continues to deficit to start the game, the Atlanta grow, and that means more peo- Braves pounded out 15 hits on their ple waiting for buses are way to a win over Pittsburgh. Nike Banner photo, CHRISTY ARMSTRONG exposed to Cleveland’s weather. has announced it will cease produc- SHOWING OFF their matching pink fingernail polish, Miss Beautiful Pageant for Special Needs participant Rose Morrison, right, Greg Thomas, Cleveland plan- tion of golf equipment and concen- enjoys some time with her “buddy” for the day, Meredith Jones. ning director and Metropolitan trate on apparel. The Lady Planning Organization planner, Volunteers will be without two back- said after the court starters on the basketball MPO’s meeting court this season. The Atlanta on Wednesday that there are Falcons expect big things from vet- Cheers for Miss Beautiful plans for sev- eran pass rush specialist and new eral shelters in signee Dwight Freeney. See Sports, the city for bus Pages 11-13. Special needs riders. One such proposed structure dis- Multiple reasons cussed at the why people vote pageant brings meeting as a Thomas part of the Just like anybody else, Cleveland MPO’s transit plan would be and Bradley County residents vote out the shine located at the intersection of for any number of reasons. Why do 25th Street and Keith Street. you vote? And if you don’t, why not? By CHRISTY ARMSTRONG “We don’t have any in place at Because today is Election Day, it Banner Staff Writer this time, but our transit plan might be a good time to ask those calls for moving our fixed route The girls were full of anticipation as they pre- transit system from what is questions. See the editorial on Page pared to take the stage later that evening. Nails called a ‘flagged-stop system,’ 14 of today’s edition. were painted. Makeup was applied. Hair was which is where you see the little curled, braided and sprayed with glitter. signs and the driver will pull Forecast The behind-the-scenes atmosphere was not over where it is safe for those unlike what one would see at a typical beauty Today’s outlook is for partly pageant. Still, those participating in the Miss See SETHRA, Page 5 sunny skies and a 40 percent Beautiful Pageant for Special Needs recently were especially excited for the chance to be seen as chance of showers or thunder- “beautiful.” storms, with a high near 91. For four straight years, Cleveland’s Miss Public’s help Tonight’s forecast calls for mostly Beautiful Pageant has given girls and women cloudy skies and a 30 percent with special needs the chance to showcase their asked in hunt chance of rain, with a low around talent and boost 73. Friday calls for partly cloudy their confidence. skies and a 50 percent chance of “It was started for Joshua Arp with a pretty simple rain, with a high near 92. Friday By ALLEN MINCEY night calls for mostly cloudy skies premise — to show Banner Staff Writer and a slight chance of rain, with a how they truly are beautiful,” said Local law enforcement officials low around 73. director Caitlyn are asking anyone who may have Gobble. “When I contact with a man wanted for Index look at these girls, I the robbery of Central Drugstore don’t see a disabili- on Peerless Road to help them in Classified................................16-17 ty. I see someone locating him. Comics...........................................6 who is unique.” Joshua Arp, 32, of Cleveland, Editorials......................................14 Gobble got the idea for the local pageant after was identified as a suspect in the Horoscope......................................6 seeing a similar one elsewhere while traveling June 30 rob- NASCAR......................................18 with her church youth group. She said she bery of the Obituaries.......................................2 thought area girls with special needs could also pharmacy, and use “the chance to shine.” an active war- Stocks............................................4 Each year, girls and women 5 years and older rant for rob- Sports......................................11-13 are given the chance to be part of the pageant. bery was TV Schedule..................................7 While many of the past participants have been issued. Weather..........................................9 from Cleveland, Gobble said it has attracted par- At that same ticipants from cities like Chattanooga and time, Arp’s Around Town Athens. family reported Recently, 18 participants between the ages of 9 him missing, Arp Marley Flowers getting ready and 45 took to the stage for a special Hollywood- and his where- themed event at Central Church of Christ. for her first day in first grade ... Banner photo, DONNA KAYLOR abouts remain a mystery, Bobby Willson reveling over a “It’s been a lot of fun,” Gobble said. “They all WAVING to the crowd in the Miss Beautiful Pageant was Heather Collins, with according to Sgt. Evie West of the score of 79 on the golf course. really put their hearts into it and love the atten- escort Colton Morrow. Cleveland Police Department. tion they receive.” West said Arp’s wife revealed to On the day of the pageant, each of the partici- police that her husband suffers pants arrives for an afternoon and evening of from PTSD, and is a paranoid HIDDEN CLEVELAND schizophrenic in dire need of See BEAUTIFUL, Page 10 6489076 75112 See ARP, Page 5 2—Cleveland Daily Banner—thursday, august 4, 2016 www.clevelandbanner.com REGIONAL OBITUARIES (USPS 117-700) BRIEFS Periodical Postage Paid at Cleveland, TN 37320-3600 Post Office POSTMASTER: Send Address Changes to: Banner, P.O. Box 3600, Cleveland, TN 37320-3600 Christopher Owens, Dale Sliger, Published at 1505 25th Street, NW (P.O. Box 3600) Allen Sliger and Robert Teague in Cleveland, TN 37320-3600, daily except Saturday Jackson man killed in boating To submit an obituary, and Christmas day by Cleveland Newspapers, Inc. accident at Kentucky Lake have the funeral home or will serve as pallbearers. Phone (423) 472-5041. cremation society in His family will receive friends PERRYVILLE (AP) — from 1 to 3 p.m. on Friday at the Authorities say a 21-year-old charge of arrangements Stephen L. Crass Jim Bryant funeral home prior to the service. Editor & Publisher General Manager Jackson man has died after the e-mail the information to We invite you to send a mes- pontoon boat he was on crashed obituaries@cleveland- sage of condolence and view the Member of The Associated Press banner.com and fax to Sliger family guestbook at into a barge. The Associated Press is exclusively entitled to the use for publication of all news dispatches News outlets report that 423-614-6529, attention www.fikefh.com. credited to it or not otherwise credited in this newspaper, and also the local news of spontaneous or igin Tennessee Wildlife Resources Obits. herein. All rights of all other material herein are as reserved. ©2016 Cleveland Newspapers, Inc. 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