MONDAY 162nd YEAR • NO. 234 JANUARY 30,2017 CLEVELAND, TN 20 PAGES • 50¢ ARSON SUSPECTED ‘Act of cowardliness,’ sheriff says of local church burning By ALLEN MINCEY Pastor Sieglinda Sherrill said the Banner Staff Writer “These are good church had been entered illegally people, but the person at least three times in the past two “Act of cowardliness” is what who did this — well, it weeks. Bradley County Sheriff Eric was a cowardly act on “They had stolen equipment, Watson called the alleged arson of his part.” — Eric Watson guitars and microphones, and a a small church on Rabbit Valley small amount of money we had in Road early Sunday morning. the church,” a distraught Sherrill The Christian Outreach Church, said. located at 225 Rabbit Valley Road, gutted by the fire when firefighters The pastor said that the church was first thought to be the site of a arrived just minutes later. had set up a sensor alarm at the burglary, but when first respon- The incident occurred just church, which alerted some of her ders arrived on the scene they before 2:30 a.m. Sunday, accord- family members (who live next found the structure engulfed in ing to Watson, and the Sheriff’s door to the church) of someone flames. Deputies with the Bradley Office’s Communications Director inside. They contacted the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office, responding James Bradford said that once fire County Emergency 911 service to the reported burglary, found department personnel arrived at about a possible burglary in smoke coming from the church’s the church, over half of the build- progress, then found the fire as Banner photo, ALLEN MINCEY windows then contacted the ing was engulfed in flames. they and deputies neared the Bradley County Fire-Rescue serv- It was not the first time the DEBRIS FROM the Christian Outreach Church lies outside the building following a fire that occurred ice. The church had already been church had been burglarized. See ARSON, Page 10 Sunday morning. Authorities are presently deeming the fire as arson. Inside Today Rowland to return to VC role on TACIR Contributed photos board THIS COLORFUL ARTWORK from a Cleveland High School student is one of 13 images which has so far been featured in the “ArtSmart” billboard campaign by Edge Billboards and the Bradley Cleveland Public Education Foundation. Mayor enters Roger rides to the Aussie title ‘ArtSmart’ showcases student talent his 7th term Roger Federer defeated Rafael By LARRY C. BOWERS Nadal to claim his 18th Grand Banner Staff Writer Slam title at the Australian Open tennis tournament. Atlanta BCPEF’s Cleveland Mayor Tom Rowland Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff followed up his State of the City says the Falcons-Patriots Super address to the Cleveland Kiwanis Bowl is a dream matchup for him. electronic Club last Thursday with a trip to The excitement of the NCAA Nashville, where he was re-elect- National Signing Day See may ed to a seventh two-year term as change forever, with the advent of vice chairman of the Tennessee an early signing period. Sports, billboards Advisory Commission on Pages 13-15. Intergovernmental Relations. Senate Majority Leader Mark on display Norris (R- Writer to Trump: Contributed photos Collierville) was A BRIGHT CARDINAL stands out in this artwork from an Ocoee Middle School student. It was re-elected to Stop taking bait By CHRISTY ARMSTRONG one of the pieces featured in the “ArtSmart” campaign by Edge Billboards and the Bradley Banner Staff Writer serve as chair- As President Donald Trump con- Cleveland Public Education Foundation. man. tinues to stamp his brand of leader- Local art students are now The elections ship within the White House, many enjoying a unique opportunity embraced the idea and began “I’m a big proponent for said. “This is such a generous came during suggestions are coming his way — to have their artwork seen by asking schools to submit art sharing art (and showing) how gift to the community.” the quarterly hundreds of people each day. to be displayed on the bill- hard the teachers work, and Voelz said the foundation from supporters and opponents — meeting of the The Bradley Cleveland board. how amazing the students contacted all the Cleveland state organiza- on how to build a strong partnership Public Education Foundation Voelz said five local schools are,” Waller said. and Bradley County public tion. TACIR with the American people. One has teamed up with Edge responded, and 13 students A Cleveland High School schools and invited them to meets at the Rowland writer offers this: Stop biting at every Billboards for a campaign have so far gotten to see their graduate, Waller noted she participate. Representatives state Capitol in piece of bait that rivals dangle in his called “ArtSmart.” creations on the big screen. had an “amazing” experience from the schools then selected the Legislative Plaza four times direction. See the guest “Viewpoint” To showcase the importance Each billboard image fea- studying art in school. artwork for consideration. each year, for two days. on Page 16 of today’s edition. of art in schools, students’ tures the art of one student, Because of this, she wanted to Art which has been on dis- The chairman of the commis- artwork is continuously being along with his or her first do something which could play so far has included sion is required to be a state leg- shown on a digital billboard name and the name of the encourage today’s students. everything from an image of a islator, and members are appoint- Forecast on Keith Street near Walmart school he or she attends. It While looking at digital bill- construction paper cutout cat ed on a rotation basis by the gov- and Staples. also serves as an advertise- boards in another city, Waller made by a Yates Primary ernor, lieutenant governor and Today’s forecast calls for sunny “We’ve had a good ment for the foundation. said she saw that another School student to peaceful speaker of the house. Rowland skies, with a high near 49 and a response,” said Lynn Voelz, Key Waller, who serves on company was featuring art paintings of birds created by was first appointed to the com- west wind of 5 to 10 mph. Tonight executive director of BCPEF. the BCPEF’s executive com- from students on its bill- Ocoee Middle School stu- mission by former Gov. Don should be mostly clear, with a low “The art from our students is mittee, said her goal for the boards. dents. Sundquist. around 36. Tuesday calls for mostly amazing, and it’s fun to see.” project is twofold. She said After considering how some- The first billboard in the "I feel honored to serve on this Key Waller, creative director she wants to “be a good stew- thing similar might work in “ArtSmart” campaign went up prestigious body and appreciate sunny skies and a high near 63 and co-owner of Edge ard” with the two digital bill- Cleveland, Waller decided to in November, and new art- degrees. Tuesday night should be the confidence of my fellow com- Billboards, approached the boards she and her husband approach the BCPEF with the work will continue to be missioners. I always look forward partly cloudy, with a low around 41. foundation with the idea of own in Cleveland, and also do idea of its staff helping gather shown as part of the cam- to each meeting where a variety of Wednesday looks to be partly featuring students’ art on the something to promote the art submissions from local paign through October. issues concerning cities and sunny, with a high near 62. billboards this fall for free. importance of art in local schools. counties in Tennessee are dis- The foundation eagerly schools. “We loved the idea,” Voelz See TALENT, Page 6 Index See ROWLAND, Page 6 Classified................................18-19 Comics...........................................8 Editorials......................................16 Horoscope......................................8 Cogdill reflects on 1997 glory season MINI Page......................................5 Obituaries.......................................2 By PATRICK MacCOON championship, including the only one in Sports......................................13-15 Banner Sports Writer basketball. TV Schedule..................................9 PERSONALITY March 15, 1997, marked a proud tri- Weather........................................11 For one of the most invested support- umph over the 31-6 Panthers for a ers and former leaders of Cleveland High teacher/coach, who dedicated 25 years School sports, Charlie Cogdill now PROFILE of his life to the sport. Around Town enjoys being a diehard fan of Blue “Winning state that year was just Raider athletics, giving the program his Brian and Michelle Trotter over Brainerd in the Class AAA State such a journey,” Cogdill said as he all over many seasons. Championship game. Vincent Yarbrough reflected back on a historical season for spending a recent weekend in With Cleveland boys’ basketball off to was the MVP in a strong offensive show- Cleveland in which it won 30 straight North Carolina, and getting to its best start since the 2002-03 season, stay in Andy Griffith’s boyhood ing, which to this day is tied for the games after starting the season 3-2. the same year Cogdill was named “Not only were we the best team in home place ... Josh Holder per- Athletic Director of the Year by the third highest point total by any TSSAA forming his duties well. boys’ basketball program in a state Tennessee and took home the gold bas- TSSAA, there is also another significant ketball, but we got the sportsmanship championship game. date the current Cleveland Board of award out of the eight teams, as well. Education member will never forget. Cogdill was an assistant coach to Ray The team was such a joy to be around.” After all, 2017 marks the 20th Grant for the ’97 Blue Raiders, who are anniversary of Cleveland’s 87-79 win responsible for one of school’s 18 state See COGDILL, Page 6 Charlie Cogdill 6489076 75112 2—Cleveland Daily Banner—Monday, January 30, 2017 www.clevelandbanner.com OBITUARIES (USPS 117-700) Periodical Postage Paid at Cleveland, TN 37320-3600 Post Office POSTMASTER: Send Address Changes to: Banner, P.O.