Sunset Memorial Complaints Continue DA Office — Lawrence Group Is in Contempt;
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T H U R S D A Y 161st YEAR • NO. 293 APRIL 7, 2016 CLEVELAND, TN 20 PAGES • 50¢ Inside Today Sunset Memorial complaints continue DA Office — Lawrence Group is in contempt; State — Cemetery owner is in compliance Contributed photo THIS By LARRY C. BOWERS filed against Sunset Memorial this “This discovery process is a PHOTO of Banner Staff Writer year, and they have been in com- slow walk, sometimes,” he recent- grave markers pliance with terms of the original ly told the Banner. discovered by The 10th District Attorney consent order filed last August.” Robinson said the state has members of General’s Office, and the Robinson said he has been try- apparently sent an inspector to the group Tennessee Department of ing to talk with the Department of the cemetery, and they’ve given “Restore Commerce and Insurance, are at Commerce and Insurance con- them a certificate of compliance. Sunset different ends of the spectrum cerning the 200-plus complaints Walters agreed this is true. when it comes to the most recent he has been reviewing for his Memorial Robinson, early today, said he Gardens” was complaints against Sunset case. is attempting to reach the state Memorial Gardens. Kevin Walters, communications office for two specific reasons: No. placed on Assistant District Attorney director for the state department, 1 — To get a copy of the inspec- social media. Drew Robinson is preparing a said he has been attempting to tor’s report on the cemetery, and The markers case of contempt for Chancery reach Robinson. No. 2 — To get the Cecil Lawrence were randomly Court on May 10, charging Apparently there has been a Group’s responses to more than lying around Bearettes get win Georgia’s Cecil Lawrence Group communication breakdown 200 complaints filed last fall with the cemetery’s over Lady Raiders with failure to respond to a con- between the two governing bod- Cleveland funeral home owner maintenance sent order filed early last year. ies. Ralph Buckner. shed. The Bradley Central Bearettes In this order, the cemetery own- The state’s original consent The state’s consent order says held off the Cleveland Lady ers were to respond to numerous order against the cemetery firm the CLG was to “provide a written Raiders for a softball win. The complaints filed by people whose remains in place, and the District response to all allegations in each Walker Valley Lady Mustangs bat- loved ones had their final resting Attorney’s case is headed to court of the citizens’ complaints, and a tled high winds and the East place at the cemetery. next month as Robinson contin- plan for remediation within 75 Hamilton Hurricanes before losing State authorities claim, “There ues to sift through numerous in eight innings. The baseball have been no formal complaints complaints. See SUNSET, Page 6 Mustangs pulled off a rain-short- ened victory over McCallie. See Sports, Pages 13-15. Kids’ credit Two bills Kids can be victims of identity theft, too, and it often goes unno- Photo courtesy of Impact Cleveland ticed by parents for years. It is NEIGHBORS work in the await important to check on your little community garden spon- one’s credit report. See story, Page 10. sored by the Blythe-Oldfield Community Association and Haslam’s Signature event its partners. In his column today, Cleveland signature Mayor Tom Rowland takes a look at Cleveland State Community College’s Community First Private act measures Awards. See Editorial, Page 16. would impact Bradley Health Fair County’s budget By BRIAN GRAVES Cleveland State Community Banner Staff Writer College’s Nursing Department held a Health Fair on Two bills which could have an Wednesday. See photos, Page 5. impact on Bradley County’s future budgeting have now passed the Tennessee General Tax haven Assembly, and are headed for The U.S. lambastes and Blythe-Oldfield group Gov. Bill Haslam’s desk. strong-arms countries that help The private act which will allow drug lords and millionaire the Bradley County Commission investors hide their money from focuses on community to raise the current hotel/motel tax collectors. Critics say it tax from 5 to 7 percent passed should look closer to home. See By JOYANNA LOVE Once thriving within walking dis- last week. story, Page 17. Banner Senior Staff Writer tance of bustling industry, the neigh- According to Jennifer Donnels, borhood is now surrounded by aging press secretary to the governor, Forecast Safety and restoration are the dual or empty manufacturing facilities. the governor has 10 days (not mission of the Blythe-Oldfield Safety was one of the top issues counting Sundays) to take action Community Association. bringing the neighbors together. on any legislation once it reaches The association began in 2013 as a “We wanted our neighborhood to be his desk. group of concerned neighbors wanting safer for our kids,” Porter said. The Legislature’s website to see change from what their neigh- There are more than 300 children shows the bill was “transmitted to Photo courtesy of Impact Cleveland borhood had become. living in the neighborhood. JULIA PORTER and Shirley Knight stand near governor for his action” on March “There were just so many things “We want a safe place for them to 29, which means the bill could be the Blythe-Oldfield Community Association recy- going on that needed to change,” said signed into law by the end of the cling program. BOCA President Julia Porter. See GROUP, Page 6 week. Today’s outlook is for increasing County Mayor D. Gary Davis said the county must wait on the clouds and a 40 percent chance of official notice from the governor’s showers, with a high near 65. West office before the County winds of 10 to 15 mph could gust Commission can take any official as high as 25 mph. Tonight’s fore- Cash: Community embracing Read 20 action on the matter. cast calls for mostly cloudy skies It will take a two-thirds majori- and a 30 percent chance of show- By CHRISTY ARMSTRONG — from preschool to the 12th on, Cash said. partners and individuals who ty vote by the Commission to ers, with a low around 42. Friday Banner Staff Writer grade — to read or have someone Cash has spoken at several would like to sponsor Little Free impose the new rate — an action calls for partly sunny skies and read to them for at least 20 min- local groups since the fall, heavi- Libraries. A Little Free Library is that is expected since the vote to cooler temperatures, with a high Bradley County Schools’ Read utes a day. ly emphasizing the importance of a cabinet stocked with books ask for the private act was 13-0, 20 initiative, which just started The goal is to get 90 percent of reading and sharing statistics of that is located in a readily acces- with one abstention. near 59. Friday night should be this school year, has begun to be partly cloudy and cool, with a low all Bradley County students how illiteracy affects people. sible location. Children are As has been previously report- embraced by the community. reading at or above grade level by “Almost every group I’ve spo- ed in a memorandum of under- around 35. encouraged to take and read Director of Schools Dr. Linda the third grade. ken to has asked, ‘How can we books, either returning it or standing developed by the coun- Cash explained that everyone Cash said kindergarten help?’” Cash said. “They’re very replacing it with a new one when ty, the Cleveland/Bradley Index from parents to business owners through second-grade students open and ready to get on board.” done. Five county schools either Chamber of Commerce and the have been working to promote were targeted because of how Schools have increasingly been have or are in the process of Tri-State Exhibition Center, the Classified................................17-19 reading and make sure children learning is typically structured in inviting people to read with and building them. Chamber will receive $520,000 Comics...........................................8 have books to read. schools. Once they hit the third help mentor students struggling “We would also like to see them per year, to be divided evenly for Editorial........................................16 “I am so appreciative and hon- grade, students focus less on with reading. Such efforts have at locations like the economic development and Horoscope......................................8 ored by how the community has learning the mechanics of read- included an after-school reading (Cleveland/Bradley County) tourism. Lifestyles........................................3 stepped up,” Cash said. ing and begin using their reading program at Charleston Greenway,” Cash said. “It is diffi- Tri-State will receive $240,000 for tourism development purpos- Obituaries.......................................2 Read 20 was rolled out in the skills to learn other subjects. Elementary School which invites cult to promote literacy if chil- es. Sports......................................13-15 fall in an effort to help students The key to making sure stu- local adults to volunteer. dren do not always have access Stocks........................................... 4 improve their reading skills. The dents succeed in school is mak- The school system has also See BILLS, Page 6 TV Schedule..................................9 initiative encourages all students ing sure they learn to read early been working to find business See CASH, Page 6 Weather........................................11 Around Town CSCC plans sexual assault awareness program Dee Burris detailing a new By CHRISTY ARMSTRONG followed by a panel discussion, university campuses. They share Cleveland Police Department; floor plan for a home ... Brenda Banner Staff Writer an art installation featuring work what it was like trying to report Joan Bates, Title IX representa- Snowman doing some planning by sexual assault victims and the crimes to college officials, and tive for Cleveland State Campus ..