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W E D N E S D A Y 162nd yEAR • No. 212 JANuARy 4, 2017 ClEVElANd, tN 22 PAGES • 50¢ New tax enrollment starts for partial payment plan By RICK NORTON County trustee. taking the draft is if they contact us to it’s closer to the start of a new tax to grow and the amount of participants Associate Editor Area residents who are already regis- remove them from the program.” cycle; plus, taxpayers by then often continues to get larger and larger.” tered for the partial payment plan do He added, “We have had a few over have a better grasp on limitations with- At the outset of partial payment A second enrollment period started not have to re-enroll unless they had the years that will jump back and forth in their household budget and personal enrollment in late November, the pro- today for Bradley County taxpayers previously authorized the Trustee’s from a bank draft to a walk-in or mail- spending. gram had 1,190 participants. wanting to dump the lump-sum pay- Office to remove their names, Smith in-status.” The 12-month plan for 2017 property Combining the first enrollment period ment in favor of a more convenient par- explained. The first enrollment period for 2017 taxes will have the first payment due with the one that concludes in tial payment program that can spread “Twelve-month partial pay cus- tax payments was held in late on March 15. February, Smith believes a significant property tax increments over a 12- tomers continue to be on the program November and early December. The “Our first sign-up is always much number of new enrollees will be record- month span. each year after they sign up initially,” year-ending signup is traditionally the slower than our January and early ed. The newest registration opportunity Smith told the Cleveland Daily Banner. slower of the two. The second one, February enrollment,” Smith said. “The 12-month payment plan keeps will continue through Friday, Feb. 10, “If they are on the bank draft [method which lasts about five weeks, generally “This is reflected in the numbers, but according to Mike Smith, Bradley of payment], the only way we will cease brings in more public interest because still the program’s popularity continues See PAYMENT, Page 6 Inside Today Business COATSCOATS FORFOR THETHE COLDCOLD interest Annual drive grows as is underway; SB nears will continue until Jan. 16 its finish Industrial park In your face By BRIAN GRAVES The top-ranked Bradley Central Banner Staff Writer includes 9 lots wrestling team opened the new Bradley County Sheriff By BRIAN GRAVES season with runaway victories over Eric Watson’s annual Coats Banner Staff Writer Rhea County and East Hamilton in for the Cold drive got off to a The new year holds much tri-meet action Tuesday. Polk fast start Tuesday morning promise for the county’s local County’s hoopsters notched as residents came through economy as most eyes are on impressive victories over North Cleveland’s Chick-fil-A to the completion of the new Carolina squads. The Tennessee drop off their sightly used or Spring Branch Industrial Park Vols football team is losing a pair new coats and jackets to and the subsidiary businesses of players to the NFL Draft, and its help area kids and adults that are already showing inter- offensive coordinator to Indiana. warm on the eve of 2017’s est in putting down Bradley See Sports, Pages 17-19. first major cold winter snap. County roots. During the first hour of Cleveland/Bradley Chamber Three more days the drive, around two dozens of Commerce articles of clothing had Vice President of ‘Chipping’ left already been left for the of Economic Area residents still clinging to the cause. Development Those making donations Doug Berry Christmas spirit who haven’t taken were rewarded with gift bags down their live evergreens are said the inter- containing goodies from Banner photo, BRIAN GRAVES est is already reminded they still have three days Chick-fil-A and operated by PhyllIS RuCh, right, brings a coat to Bradley County Sheriff Eric Watson during Tuesday’s kickoff at a high level. to have their trees recycled into aro- the Bradley County Sheriff’s of the annual Coats for the Cold drive. The winter campaign was launched at the Chick-fil-A restaurant “ N o r m a l l y matic mulch by way of the 22nd Office. on North Keith Street. More than 10,200 coats and jackets have been distributed by the initiative since right before an annual Chipping of the Green pro- More than 10,200 coats election, many and jackets have been dis- its 1999 founding by Watson. gram. For details, and some prefer to wait Berry encouraging words on why partici- tributed since Watson found- and see what pation is good for the community ed the event in 1999. the outcome The sheriff recalled the might be and and the environment, see the edito- moment he decided this was rial on Page 16 of today’s edition. might mean,” a need that called for action. Berry said. “I was patrolling around “That has not Forecast the Ocoee Village Apartments been true with one day. It was very cold,” us this time.” Watson said. “I saw two kids The park, on the playground who did which has a not have a jacket on.” total area Watson said he went to the 331.6 acres, Farlow childrens’ parents only to will be subdi- find they had been drinking vided into nine lots that can and consuming “other then be sold to what Berry said things” as well as having no he hopes are new manufactur- Today’s forecast is for cloudy skies winter protection for their to gradually become mostly sunny, ing plants that could bring new children. industries to the area. with a high near 48. North winds “That inspired me to start The lots drawn on the 90- could gust as high as 25 mph. this,” he said, adding during percent complete design draw- Tonight calls for increasing clouds, his years in the state ings are various sizes to accom- with a low around 26 degrees. Legislature it encompassed modate buyers who want to Thursday should be mostly cloudy, Meigs, Polk and Bradley construct buildings of varying with a high near 46. For Thursday counties. size. night, the National Weather Service The sheriff said once the Berry said the lots should is predicting clouds and a slight clothing is collected, they are fetch “competitive” prices that fixed and cleaned by trustees would add to local revenues. chance of a rain-and-snow mix, with at the Bradley County a low around 28. The per-acre cost could be Justice Center. Banner photo, BRIAN GRAVES between $40,000 and $50,000, ClEVElANd ChICk-fIl-A owner Steve Colley, right, gives a treat bag to a local youngster visiting he speculated. Index See COATS, Page 6 the Coats for the Cold kickoff Tuesday morning as Bradley County Sheriff Eric Watson, left, looks on. Classified......................................21 See BUSINESS, Page 6 Comics..........................................14 Editorials.......................................16 Horoscope....................................14 Lifestyles..................................11-13 Property assessor’s office gets very little spotlight Obituaries.......................................2 By BRIAN GRAVES Stocks.............................................4 Banner Staff Writer Sports......................................17-19 TV Schedule.................................15 “Being a property assessor is not HIDDEN Weather..........................................9 something most people plan on,” says Bradley County Assessor of Property Stanley Thompson. CLEVELAND Around Town Thompson has been in that office for nearly a quarter of a century and is one Bill Tarver organizing daughter of the longest serving assessors in the He said reappraisals are done on a Tynslee’s toys ... Cindy Sarapata state of Tennessee. four-year cycle. helping Ruby Watson make He was recently given the Lifetime “People think that’s the only time we clothes-pin cookies ... Sashual Achievement Award by the Tennessee do it, but we’re constantly doing reap- Thomas waiting on the promised Association of Assessing Officers. praisals,” Thompson said. “We try to shopping spree from her hus- “It is quite an honor,” Thompson look at least one-third of the county band, Gabe, and a vacation alone said. “I wasn’t expecting it. I just had each year in review. We are now in the to relax ... Nancy Casson making on a flannel shirt and jeans. It was the middle of reviewing all of the sales and spring break plans with her son ... last day of the meeting. I thought that see the ratio we are now at.” Logan Melton and Cooper Melton was something they give to more senior Thompson said what he has discov- having a “serious” table tennis assessors who have been doing it a long ered in his years as assessor is many match ... Jerry Swenson and Guy time. Then I realized, I guess I have people call his office just for informa- Pearl both having knee surgery been doing this awhile.” tion. on the same day. What he and his staff do is some- “There are calls constantly from peo- times not well publicized. ple who want specific details about cer- “Basically my job is to appraise and tain properties,” he said. “It doesn’t assess all properties for tax purposes, have anything to do with assessments. Banner photo, BRIAN GRAVES but that’s a lot of stuff when you get CouNty ASSESSoR of Property Stanley Thompson is shown at his desk in the 6489076 75112 into it,” Thompson said. See ASSESSOR, Page 6 County Annex building. Thompson has held the office for 24 years.

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