T H U R S D A Y 162nd YEAR • No. 213 JANUARY 5, 2017 CLEVELAND, TN 30 PAGES • 50¢ From elections to new construction, county school system has busy year By CHRISTY ARMSTRONG induces or coerces a student to endanger that Banner Staff Writer student's mental or physical health or safety,” it YEAR-IN-REVIEW read in part. Bradley County Schools found 2016 to be a Another big event that January was the offi- very eventful year, seeing everything from the FIRST OF 2 PARTS cial kickoff of Bradley County Schools’ Read 20 election of new school board members to the initiative. opportunity to build a new middle school build- Bradley County Schools received high praise ing. out of town overnight for a tournament, result- from Tennessee Commissioner of Education Dr. “It has been a full year for us, but it has been ing in charges of aggravated assault and aggra- Candice McQueen, who was the special guest at a good one,” said Dr. Linda Cash, schools direc- vated rape. the “Readers Are Leaders Community tor. The board later voted to change Policy 6.304 Celebration.” January 2016 began with the Bradley County to include definitions about hazing, bullying, The ongoing Read 20 initiative promotes stu- Board of Education discussing its hazing and and other abuses, as well as information about dents reading or having someone read to them bullying policies, following a serious December the need to report such incidents if they occur. Banner photo, CHRISTY ARMSTRONG at least 20 minutes per day. The goal is to have BEFORE SCHOOL one morning, a fifth-grader and a second- 2016 incident in Gatlinburg involving basketball “Hazing is defined as an intentional or reck- at least 90 percent of students reading at grade players from Ooltewah High. less act on or off school property, by one student grader at Waterville Community Elementary School work on reading level before the third grade. together as part of the Reader Leaders program. This program was Cash suggested another look at the county’s acting alone or with others, directed against any “It’s very inspirational,” McQueen said of the policies, following the incident involving three other student that (1) endangers the mental or one of many Bradley County schools introduced to support the sys- players who allegedly injured a teammate while physical health or safety of that student or (2) See COUNTY, Page 10 temwide Read 20 initiative in 2016. Inside Today Temps set Character Ed featured today OLD MAN WINTER COMING to plunge, Today’s edition of the Cleveland WMUMC set Daily Banner includes the Character but snow Education section for December highlighting activities at several to provide schools. Note that Page 8 showcas- not seen es Charleston Elementary School, shelter due not Prospect Elementary, which is on Page 9. We apologize to the schools to temps as issue and students for the error, which was caught after the section went to By CHRISTY ARMSTRONG press. It has been corrected online. Banner Staff Writer Accumulation The Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church half an inch? Cold Weather Shelter has By ALLEN MINCEY reopened due to the recent Banner Staff Writer drop in temperatures. The shelter, which provides Area forecasters do not expect warm places for men, women any significant accumulations of and children to sleep when snow this weekend, but instead the weather dips below 30 are more concerned with the frigid degrees, is expected to be temperatures which could hit the open through at least Sunday region Friday and Saturday. night. Patrick Core, meteorologist with “We make the call 24 hours the Cleveland Daily Banner’s in advance, but it’s looking media partner WDEF News 12, like we’ll be open all through told the Banner Wednesday the weekend,” said Amy Mott, evening that there could be “some church administrative assis- patchy light snow possible.” tant and member of the shel- This morning began with tem- ter board. “We keep a close peratures at the freezing mark, eye on things so people do not and they are expected to drop have to sleep out in the cold.” tonight. Great performances Those in need of a place to “Highs will drop into the low-to- Today’s Sports section pro- stay on the coldest nights can mid 30s for Friday, with areas of vides a look back at the top take shelter beginning at 5:30 light snow ... possible for the first Bradley County sports stories of each evening the Cold half of Friday, (though) as of now, 2016. The Tennessee Lady Vols Weather Shelter is open. Beds this appears to be light and minor are surging after early struggles are assigned on a first-come, in nature with the heavier snows on the hardwood. Atlanta Falcons first-served basis, with a in the Carolinas,” Core said. He quarterback Matt Ryan is flying capacity of 14 individuals per added that today’s high tempera- high in the race for NFL MVP. night. Contributed photo tures should reach the mid to Changes could be coming for Though Mott noted 14 is a upper 40s, but only in the mid bowl games. See Sports, Pages relatively small number, she 30s over the weekend. 11-13. said the church is happy to Core added that lows this week- do what it can to help the end will be in the low teens, with local homeless population. PASTORAL STAFF of temperatures rising back into the Forecast She added the church shelter Wesley Memorial United 50s by Wednesday of next week. Today looks to be mostly cloudy, is the only other place in Methodist Church shiver one The local meteorologist said the with a high near 46 degrees. Cleveland beside the morning outside the entrance light snow on Friday into Tonight’s forecast calls for cloudy Cleveland Emergency Shelter to the church’s Cold Weather Saturday likely will not accumu- late to more than half an inch. skies and a slight chance of a win- which provides shelter on a Shelter, in the January 2016 walk-in basis. photo above. From left are Some forecasters said parts of try mix turning into light snow after Mott said the cold weather North Georgia and the Atlanta 4 a.m., with a low around 29. drives up demand for home- Chris Rouse, Kristi Alton, area may see more accumulation Friday calls for cloudy skies and a less shelter space, and some Amy Mott and Leah Walker. and potentially hazardous driving 30 percent chance of light snow, who have stayed at the At left, Mott prepares a bed conditions. with a high near 32. Friday night church shelter have reported for a homeless person to use The National Weather Service calls for cloudy skies and a 40 per- the church really is meeting a Wednesday evening. also warns that Tennessee resi- cent chance of snow, mainly before need. dents should be prepared for the 5 a.m., with a low around 19. The shelter got its start cold temperatures. Saturday should be partly sunny, three years ago, after 16-year- “Moisture will be much more old church member Melody limited south of the Interstate 40 with a high near 35. Saturday night Hoffman began wondering corridor, so a dusting to perhaps calls for clear skies and a low where the homeless went half inch of snow wil be common around 17. when it got really cold out- across most of the valley loca- side. She took her question to tions,” according to the NWS, with Index her youth pastor, and the idea “a few localized spots along the higher elevations (seeing) up to an Classified................................16-17 See WINTER, Page 10 Banner photo, CHRISTY ARMSTRONG Comics...........................................6 See SNOW, Page 10 Editorials......................................14 Horoscope......................................6 NASCAR......................................18 Obituaries.......................................2 Jenne gets prestigious recognition Stocks............................................4 Sports......................................11-13 From Staff Reports declared to be a member of this elite organ- ment to Jenne’s client of more than $2 mil- TV Schedule..................................7 ization only after his qualifications were lion. Weather..........................................9 Cleveland attorney Joshua H. Jenne has objectively verified.” Attempts by the insurance company to been certified as a member of the Million Jenne’s recognition and eventual mem- have the verdict overturned by the Around Town Dollar Advocates Forum, according to an bership stem from his service as plaintiff’s Tennessee Court of Appeals and Tennessee announcement by the organization. counsel in a case against a large property Supreme Court reportedly were unsuccess- Julie Merriman just “hovering Recognized as one of the most prestigious and casualty insurance company. Jenne’s ful. around” on a hoverboard ... groups of trial lawyers in the United States, client was a commercial property owner In an unrelated development, the Sendy Blessing getting some the Million Dollar Advocates Forum mem- seeking coverage for damages to several Cleveland attorney received another recog- nice cooking equipment for bership is limited to attorneys who have buildings. Despite the existence of damage, nition — the 2016 Top Ten Best in Christmas ... Dan Kesley finally obtained trial verdicts or results of $1 mil- the unnamed insurance company denied Tennessee Client Satisfaction Award, which joining the smartphone club ... lion or more. coverage. is presented by the American Institute of Keelie Puckett in panic mode Fewer than 1 percent of all lawyers in the During the litigation, Jenne’s client, the Personal Injury Attorneys. without her cellphone. U.S. are members, according to a media plaintiff, was offered approximately $20,000 The recognition is given to attorneys who statement confirming Jenne’s status. to avoid further “nuisance” to the insurance “exceed client expectations in performance “Membership of any lawyer is acknowl- company.