MONDAY 161st YEAR • NO. 165 NOvEMBER 9, 2015 CLEvELAND, TN 16 PAGES • 50¢ Response strong to county tax programs By RICK NORTON of whom are elderly or low-income, and per stories in so we will know exactly that assists Bradley County property and will continue until April 5, 2016. Associate Editor oftentimes both — since registration what programs they are interested in.” owners in the payment of their proper- For 2015 property taxes, the tax relief began for a new year of partial pay- Smith launched registration for the ty taxes,” Smith said. “The number of program had 1,480 parcels; and, the If impact is judged by numbers and ment, tax relief and tax freeze initia- partial payment plan (also known as parcels included in this plan has tax freeze program had 1,207, accord- community appreciation is measured tives. the 12-month payment program) in exceeded expectations, and we are con- ing to the Trustee’s Office records. in traffic flow, it’s a sure bet Bradley “As usual, since the Cleveland Daily mid-October. Deadline for signing up in fident the numbers will increase.” “I signed up a lady [on a recent County’s people-friendly property tax Banner’s stories on the partial pay- the current enrollment period is At last report, for 2015, some 964 morning] who had an annual income of initiatives are making a difference. ment and the tax relief/freeze pro- Friday, Dec. 11. A second enrollment parcels were enrolled in the partial only $7,250,” Smith told the Cleveland At least, that’s the assessment of grams, we have had a tremendous opportunity will be offered from Jan. 4 payment plan. The current registration Daily Banner. “She was crying when Mike Smith, the innovative trustee response of new enrollees for both pro- through Feb. 5 in 2016. is for 2016 property taxes. she left the office because she will be whose Courthouse office has been grams,” Smith said. “The new enrollees “The 12-month payment plan has Sign-up for the tax relief and tax besieged by local homeowners — many continue to bring copies of the newspa- become an extremely popular program freeze programs began later in October See PROGRAMS, Page 13 Vets set Utility’s for Elks initiative Lodge’s remains "#%%#&%%(!*+ "*#+,&++$,-')*(.#+ program, customer ,"(+#''#',"(&&-'#,1 /#," ((+,)%+ (*,""(%#1+ " -'/"#"#+ #+ .(%-',*+-))(*, (*, cookout approved (&(0+*0), ,(!#.'(-,,"#+1* (',#('+&1&#%,(#*+, Events Wednesday Project Round-Up ''++'$(0 %.%' (* and on Saturday aids local families *())( ,#*+,''++ By LARRY C. BOWERS By RICK NORTON '$, #,", Banner Staff Writer Associate Editor Cleveland’s Benevolent and A 3-year-old emergency aid Inside Today Protective Order of the Elks, program supported, and Lodge 1944, will be expanding its endorsed, by Cleveland Utilities recognition of local and regional customers is making a significant veterans this year. impact within Bradley County, Members of the Cleveland the Cleveland Board of Public organization will once again visit Utilities learned in a recent gath- area nursing homes and care ering. facilities on Veterans Day, which Since its December 2012 incep- is Wednesday. This year the tion, CU’s Project Round-Up has Lodge is adding a special provided utility-payment assis- Saturday event for all former tance to 1,498 local families, and members of the military. aided 363 families with rent pay- A special, free cookout and vet- ments. erans celebration is scheduled for “[Project Round-Up] continues noon Saturday, to do well,” CU Nov. 14. President and Any veteran CEO Ken Webb from Cleveland, told board mem- Bradley County bers during a and throughout Banner photo, CHRISTY ARMSTRONG rescheduled ses- the region is STUDENTS at Waterville Community Elementary School visit the Little Free Library on campus to sion at the Tom invited to attend pick out books on everything from the solar system to a doggie named Biscuit. From left are sec- Wheeler Training this mid-day ond-graders Logan Thacker, Azaria Gutierrez and Lesley Woodward. Center. “As a Titans stop skid event. There will matter of fact, we be a meal, fol- will probably be The Tennessee Titans stopped Koob Webb their losing streak with an impres- lowing a short presenting a pro- sive overtime win against New program, at the posal to you at Elks Lodge on 2nd Street in Little Free Libraries the next board meeting about Orleans in the Super Dome. The Atlanta Falcons fell to the San downtown Cleveland. adding to the list of agencies that Francisco 49ers on the West The appreciation cookout will can participate in the program.” Coast. The Lee Lady Flames lost be held rain or shine, since it will Waterville Community Elementary Initially, CU launched the ini- to North Alabama in a penalty be inside the Elks Lodge. tiative working in partnership kick shootout. Jimmie Johnson’s Saturday’s program will begin the first to embrace reading plan with United Way of Bradley late pass gave him the win in promptly at noon with guest County Inc. and the Neighbors in Sunday’s NASCAR race in Texas. speakers Col. Jimmy Williams of Need division of The Caring Place. By CHRISTY ARMSTRONG Bauer told how she and her As the project was rolled out, its See Sports, Pages 9-11. the U.S. Army, and Daniel Koob. husband had recently built a Koob is an officer at the Elks Banner Staff Writer intent was to provide utility and “We have been Little Free Library near their Lodge, Commander of the The Bradley County school rent assistance, and in some Forecast promoting the idea of home in Charleston. cases medical aid, to struggling Cleveland AmVets Post 13, and system is hoping to give more This year, the school system Vice Commander of the students reading 20 clients who were in counseling students the opportunity to minutes a day at also decided to work with Read Tennessee American Veterans, or read at home by encouraging with social workers at The Caring home. We then 20, a Chattanooga-based read- TN AMVETS. schools to install “Little Free Place. realized kids didn’t ing initiative that has drawn In March, the CU board voted Other members of the Elks Libraries” on their campuses. support from Tennessee first Lodge will also participate in Waterville Community have books at home.” to expand the scope of services to — Jennifer Huskins lady Chrissy Haslam. include food. Like utility, rent and Saturday’s program. Elementary School became the The initiative promotes read- A meal will follow the program, first to embrace the idea by medical assistance, clients’ need ing by asking students to read for food aid is also evaluated by provided by Elks Lodge member installing one this fall, and stu- 20 minutes a day — or have Rain should continue off and on and Chef Chip Caylor. TCP social workers. during the day, with a high near 54 dents have already been taking Once it is stocked with someone read to them for that Ron Parker, an Elks trustee advantage of it. books, anyone can take a book “This is a good program and it’s degrees. Tonight’s forecast calls for length of time. Read 20 also making an impact in the commu- and one of the organizers of this “We have been promoting the to read. Working on the honor encourages communities to cloudy skies and a 30 percent year’s first-ever cookout, said it is idea of students reading 20 system, people are then asked nity,” Webb said. make more books available to Currently, 84 percent of CU’s chance of showers, with a low hoped that the celebration can minutes a day at home,” to return the books when they children by building Little Free around 49. Tuesday should start out become an annual event during Principal Jennifer Huskins said. are through with them and/or customers continue to participate Libraries. in the voluntary program. cloudy, then gradually become most- the week of Veterans Day each “We then realized kids didn’t add new ones. They are often found in com- ly sunny, with a high near 65. year. have books at home.” Having moved to Waterville Customers who choose not to munities where residents may participate may contact Cleveland Tuesday night should be mostly clear Esteemed Leading Knight D.L. A Little Free Library is a per- from a Hamilton County school, not have easy access to a full- Carter will join Williams and manent cabinet — usually made Huskins recalled her first meet- Utilities and their names will be and cooler, with a low around 43. service library, and they are removed from the list of partici- Koob on the speakers’ stage for of wood with a glass front — ing with all the local school sys- usually placed in locations like this year’s appreciation program. filled with books and displayed tem’s principals this summer. pants. Index in a publicly accessible location. Chief Financial Officer Laura See LIBRARIES, Page 8 Customers who do willingly Classified................................14-15 See VETS, Page 13 See UTILITY, Page 13 Comics...........................................6 Editorials......................................12 Horoscope......................................6 MINI Page......................................5 Obituaries.......................................2 Kyle Page passionate about Goal Sports........................................9-11 By CHRISTY ARMSTRONG “I fell in love with helping them.” TV Schedule..................................7 Banner Staff Writer He ended up earning a bachelor’s degree Weather..........................................8 PERSONALITY in special education from Lee. Later, he Kyle Page is perhaps best known for his would also earn a master’s in instructional Around Town work as the principal of Goal Academy, PROFILE leadership from Tennessee Technological Bradley County Schools’ location for stu- University. Sandy and Mike Renner volun- dents who have struggled with behavioral planned to earn a degree in sports medicine Prior to becoming the principal of Goal teering for a special project ..