FRIDAY 161st YEAR • NO. 252 fEBRUARY 19, 2016 CLEVELAND, TN 22 PAGES • 50¢ Reminder City manager search committee meets Tax satellites open Saturday with consultant to consider timelines By JOYANNA LOVE size for a lot of city managers today,” Mercer used to reinforce these standards to a degree. at 4 locations Banner Senior Staff Writer said. Changes to the description that the com- Many in city manager roles want to work mittee wants will likely be submitted by From Staff Reports The search committee for the next somewhere they can really know what is email. Wallace will serve as the liaison Bradley County residents look- Cleveland city manager met with The Mercer going on, Mercer explained. between Mercer and the committee. Mercer Group Thursday. “What we usually try to do is to collect said he has worked with local search commit- ing for a little more convenience The company is shooting for April 15 as the in paying their taxes have an information about what is needed, and char- tees for several searches in the past. date to have the candidates available for the acteristics that we should search for,” Mercer opportunity Saturday at either of Mercer is also working to compile a City Council to make a selection. said. brochure about the city and the position that four satellite locations to be oper- James Mercer, president of the company, Mercer said a draft of the job description ated by the Bradley County will be used in recruiting. said none of the dates on the timeline are set would come to the committee for review The search firm president said the compa- Trustee’s Office staff. in stone, but rather are target dates to work before it is sent out to advertise the position. ny will conduct a nationwide search. Trustee Mike Smith issued toward. Committee member Roger Jenne said “high However, special focus will be given to the today’s reminder that satellites Mercer said he has found that six weeks is integrity” needs to be one of the things con- region and the state. will be set up at Oak Grove, Banner photo, JOYANNA LOVE the optimum amount of time to advertise and sidered. Extensive background checks will be JAMES MERCER explains “What I have found in 30 some odd years of Hopewell and Waterville recruit for such a position. done on potential candidates. doing this is the pool is getting smaller, so Elementary schools, as well as at The Mercer Group’s search “You have had a lot of stability here and Committee liaison Larry Wallace men- Bradley Square Mall near the process. you are a growing city. You’re about the right tioned that the city’s policy manual could be See MANAGER, Page 10 Kmart entrance. All four satellites will operate from 9 a.m. to noon. Home and property owners 5 juveniles, planning to take advantage of the satellites are reminded to bring with them their tax statements. one adult Also, payment only by check can be accepted at the satellites. No cash. identified “The satellite locations have been very popular with taxpay- as vandals ers,” Smith said. “They have elim- inated the need for citizens to come to the Courthouse; plus, in spree they have allowed property own- ers to pay their property taxes Binge hit more closer to home.” The satellite at the mall will than 40 vehicles also operate on Saturday, Feb. 27, from 9 a.m. to noon; however, By ALLEN MINCEY it will be located near the foun- Banner Staff Writer tain. And, on Feb. 27 the Five juveniles and one adult Trustee’s Office in the have been identified as the Courthouse will be open during group who vandalized over 40 the same hours to accept tax vehicles in Cleveland on Feb. 13. payments. At the office, all tradi- According to information pro- tional forms of payment will be vided by Cleveland Police accepted. Department Public Information Banner photo, HOWARD PIERCE Officer Sgt. Evie West, a collabo- Deadline for paying property JORDAN SMITH performs with the Lee Singers during Chapel service Thursday morning. Left of Smith is Carmen Fowlkes and to rative effort of the police depart- taxes is Monday, Feb. 29. his right is Rebekah Mura. ment and Bradley County Sheriff’s Office has led to the identities of the juveniles and Inside Today adult involved in the incidents. She said the two law enforce- State action underway Jordan Smith makes ment agencies worked on approximately 45 vandalism Walker Valley’s Mikel Gregory cases within the city and coun- was one of 28 local wrestlers ty. seeing action at the TSSAA State The CPD representative said Traditionals on Thursday. his successful return the cases included not only Cleveland High earned a region rocks and bricks thrown basketball berth. Lee hoops, soft- through the windows of vehicles, ball and tennis teams all claimed but also the vandalism of homes victories. Dale Earnhardt Jr. and to where it all started and mailboxes. Law enforcement Kyle Busch took Daytona twin estimated damages at more than qualifiers in NASCAR. See Sports By ALLEN MINCEY $30,000. pages 13-15, 20. Banner Staff Writer “They became my family when Investigators conducted inter- views with the juvenile suspects Forecast Several hundred people turned out I was here. It is great to be back where I made so many memories who all confessed to their Thursday to hear music performed by involvement in the crimes. By and friends.” Jordan Smith, the Lee University student Cleveland Daily Banner policy, who won this year’s “The Voice” competi- — Jordan Smith the names of the juveniles are tion on NBC. not released publicly, though It was Smith’s first visit back to the my choir friends and catch up with them.” West did say that the suspects school since winning the show, and he were both boys and girls. said that he was very happy to return to The music business major who still has a few hours to take to receive his diploma The adult involved in the inci- see friends and relive memories from Lee dents is also not being identified University. sang several songs at chapel, including the Queen classic “Somebody To Love” by police for now, but is expect- “It is really special to come back and ed to turn himself in to local Today looks to be sunny, with a see some of my friends,” Smith said in a with the Lee Singers. Smith was a mem- high near 63. South winds of 10 to ber of the Lee Singers, and as it was Banner photo, HOWARD PIERCE authorities on Monday. press conference held prior to singing at DR. PAUL CONN, president of Lee “All victims who reported 15 mph could gust as high as 25. morning chapel services. “They became shouted when he mentioned the group in Tonight’s forecast calls for increas- the Conn Center, which was packed with University, welcomes Jordan Smith back to damage are asked to submit my family when I was here. It is great to repair receipts to the Criminal ing clouds, with a low around 48. be back where I made so many memories students and faculty, “Once a Lee Singer, the campus during Chapel service Thursday morning. Investigations Division of the Saturday calls for clouds and a 30 and friends. I got to hang out with some of See SMITH, Page 10 percent chance of showers, with a high near 60. Saturday night calls See VANDALS, Page 10 for clouds, and a low around 51. Sunday calls for cloudy skies and a 60 percent chance of rain, with a high near 65. Sunday night looks to CDB staff writer Brian Graves be cloudy, with a 70 percent chance of rain and a low around 48. Index honored by state Legislature By JOYANNA LOVE portive of his career. Church........................................6-7 Graves entered the House Classified................................20-21 Banner Senior Staff Writer “The thing I admire chambers to applause, escorted Comics.........................................17 The Tennessee House of by the Sergeant-at-Arms. He Representatives took time before about Brian is he is Editorials......................................16 careful to give both said it was something he had its regular business Thursday to not expected. Horoscope....................................17 sides of the issue. Obituaries.......................................2 recognize the career and hard “It was a moment. I will never work of Cleveland Daily Banner When I see his byline, I Stocks............................................4 forget it,” Graves said. staff writer Brian Graves as he know it’s going to be As a reporter, Graves covers Sports...............................13-15, 20 marks his 35th year in journal- fair and balanced.” government and politics for the TV Schedule...........................18-19 ism. — State Rep. Banner, a position he sought so Weather........................................11 A proclamation was read on Dan Howell he could be close to his elderly the House floor recognizing parents. Around Town Graves for his “extraordinary “For the two years Brian has efforts as … an outstanding Rep. Dan Howell (R- been a member of the Cleveland Loretta Brownlee “taking a journalist” and his “ability to Georgetown) said. “When I see Daily Banner family, he’s been two-month vacation from friends” report news with integrity.” The his byline, I know it’s going to a true asset to our community ... Kelsy Kimsey getting blamed proclamation also acknowl- be fair and balanced.” newspaper,” said associate edi- for drinking the last of the soft edged how Graves is regarded While Graves said he was tor Rick Norton. “He not only drinks ... Gary Ownbey making by his colleagues and commu- honored by the recognition, he has a talent for writing, he — said it meant more to him Submitted photo his second trip to Madisonville nity.