FRIDAY 161st YEAR • NO. 157 OCtOBER 30, 2015 CLEVELAND, tN 22 pAGES • 50¢ Mayor gives updates on variety of initiatives in Cleveland area By CHRISTY ARMSTRONG and state publications and organiza- ization called Cleveland 100 to sup- Banner Staff Writer tions. port local emergency responders, he Cleveland has for years been ranked serves on the boards of the Cleveland Cleveland Mayor Tom Rowland has well for its cost of living, crime rate, Board of Public Utilities, Coming Sunday the distinction of being the longest- business climate, education, charita- Cleveland/Bradley County Chamber serving mayor in Tennessee, having ble giving and other characteristics. of Commerce, the Economic been continuously re-elected since While he said there are many rea- Development Council, the Industrial Habitat section 1991 for a total of 24 years. sons to be proud of Cleveland, he also Development Board, and Cleveland He recently gave members of the thanked the Rotarians and others like Bradley County Keep America to be featured! Bradley Sunrise Rotary Club a look at them for serving the community. Beautiful. what he likes about being Cleveland’s “It’s you who make this a great He has also served as president of To help Habitat for Humanity mayor. of Cleveland celebrate its 25th place to live,” Rowland said. the Tennessee Municipal League and Rowland said he sees it as his job to As he serves as the city mayor, the vice chairman of both the anniversary, the Cleveland brag on Cleveland, and what happens Rowland often gets to experience the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Daily Banner will include a spe- here. people work to make Cleveland “The Intergovernmental Relations and the cial magazine in Sunday’s edi- He listed several rankings and titles City with Spirit.” tion. Learn more about the the city has received from national In addition to co-founding an organ- Cleveland Mayor tom Rowland organization, and enjoy some See UPDATES, Page 7 of its civic-minded history. Don’t miss it! Retiring Bringing the ‘Boo!’ home Peterson Local family honored "#%%#&%%(!*+ "*#+,&++$,-')*(.#+ cooking up ,"(+#''#',"(&&-'#,1 /#," ((+,)%+ (*,""(%#1+ a few scares Sunday " -'/"#"#+ #+ .(%-',*+-))(*, (*, at Halloween (&(0+*0), Optometrist ends ,(!#.'(-,,"#+1* By ALLEN MINCEY (',#('+&1&#%,(#*+, Banner Staff Writer a 56-year career ''++'$(0 %.%' (* Years ago, when Halloween By JOYANNA LOVE *())( ,#*+,''++ came around, it was a given Banner Senior Staff Writer '$, #,", that the Cook family would Oakmont Eye Care will be cel- host its annual haunted ebrating Dr. Walter Peterson’s Inside Today house, most often called the 56-year career, 53 years of which “House of Horrors.” were spent in Cleveland, on The haunted house disap- Sunday. peared, much like Dracula Community members includ- changing from man to mist, ing current and past patients are but the love of Halloween has encouraged to participate by stayed in David and Kathy attending an open house anytime Cook’s heart. Banner photo, ALLEN MINCEY between 1 and 3 p.m. He will no The Cooks have created YOu kNOw SOMEthING IS up as you enter the long driveway to David and Kathy Cook’s home longer be seeing patients after their own “House of Horrors” on White Oak Valley Road when you see the banner that welcomes you to the “House of Horrors.” that day. Though he is retiring, at their White Oak Valley office staff say that’s a word he home. It is not open to the doe not like using. public, but has been created “There are patients that he has for their families, friends and Cleveland couple puts some seen since they were children co-workers. It features all and they are 50, 60 years old sorts of Halloween visitors, now,” doctor’s assistant Janene such as Frankenstein, witch- Carder said. es, pirate skeletons, and spi- fright into video production Peterson’s first ders, snakes and things that practice was go bump in the night. By ALLEN MINCEY located in the “This is something that the Banner Staff Writer Village Green’s Hurd on the run Cooks have been involved in Swiss Alley. He for probably around 35 years, There’s nothing like a scary Tennessee Volunteers running film for Halloween. relocated to the back Jalen Hurd says weight gain give or take a year,” David present location Cook explained. “It started “Dracula,” “Frankenstein,” has made him a better runner. “The Wolfman” ... all classics. in 1985. Bradley Central wrestling coach with Lodge 59 Fraternal Order Carder said the of Police for about 10 years, Well, though they know it is Ben Smith and Assistant Principal hard to compete with the clas- office wanted to Greg Geren, along with Walker and then after that, Kathy and give the commu- I took it over.” sics, a local couple has made Valley High School, have been their own Halloween film that nity a chance to Peterson honored with the A.F. Bridges The first site for the haunt- come and “honor ed house was the old Health they hope will lead them to Award. See Sports, Pages 13-15. making classic movies in the (him) for the years of service that Department near the intersec- he has given to this community.” tion of Stuart Road and future. Dack Guy and his partner, Over the years, Peterson has Forecast Urbane Road, near the new had loyal employees as well as Cleveland Family YMCA. It Michelle Gruver, who co-own a company called Deadbox loyal customers. Today looks to be mostly sunny, moved several times over the “He’s like a second dad to me,” years, to the building behind Productions, have released five with a high near 66. Tonight should projects, with the most recent Carder said. the old National Guard Carder has worked in the be mostly clear, with a low around Armory, to the present site of titled “Easy Pickings.” 43. Saturday should see increasing “Easy Pickings” has been office for more than 25 years. Hardwick Men’s Store, to Carder said the optometrist clouds, with a high near 65. There Sanda Hosiery Mill. accepted into some film festi- is a 70 percent chance showers will vals, including “Horror in the office is family-oriented and “And we did it one year Peterson always cared about his move into the area Saturday night, under the (Bradley County) Hills” in Gatlinburg and Banner photo, ALLEN MINCEY “Fright Night” in Louisville, Ky. employees and what was going mainly after 8 p.m. A low of 55 is Courthouse, which was an DACk GuY and Michelle Gruver are co-owners of Deadbox on in their lives. expected. experience,” he remembered. Though they did not win Productions, and have produced several horror films through their any awards at either festival, “They are a good place to work Sunset: 6:49 p.m. company. The Cleveland couple submitted one, “Easy Pickings,” at and most people who work here, Sunrise: 8:01 a.m. See HOME, Page 12 two recent film festivals coinciding with the Halloween holiday. See COUPLE, Page 12 work here long term,” Carder said. Index Some of the employees are family members, including Church........................................8-9 Tall Betsy set to appear Peterson’s children. Classified................................20-21 “I always loved going to work Comics.........................................17 with Dad,” said daughter Linda Editorials......................................16 Dixon. Horoscope....................................17 at Block Party, 7:30 p.m. Dixon serves as the bookkeep- er and a dispensing optician for Movies..........................................18 Special to the Banner Oakmont. Obituaries.......................................2 Dixon said she had started Stocks............................................4 Saturday’s downtown Halloween Block “The new Tall Betsy looks and coming to work with her father, Sports......................................13-15 Party will include a brief appearance by feels like a real person. We took on occasion, when she was 11. TV Schedule...........................18-19 one of Cleveland’s most historic and the goblin to the next level of While she moved away to go to Weather........................................11 spookiest legends. spookiness.” school, she returned to Starting at 7:30 p.m., Tall Betsy — the — Allan Jones Cleveland after graduation. Around Town famous goblin thought to have been “Most parents look forward to retired forever to a mausoleum at Fort the day their children grow up Connie Fleming saying she Hill Cemetery — will return for only the the pioneer of the payday loan industry and move away, but (my brother) cannot wait to dig out her third time in 16 years. who founded Check Into Cash. Jones Blake and I just came back,” Halloween costume ... Tom and The ghoul will entertain the crowd created the modern Tall Betsy character Dixon said. “He doesn’t want the Judy Grissom getting ready to until 8 p.m., sponsored by Check Into in 1980. recognition. He is a very humble make a ministry trip to Chicago Cash. “Tall Betsy has fans worldwide, but man, but I think he deserves it.” The Cleveland Daily Banner has con- Cleveland is where the legend started Fellow optometrist Dr. Kari ... Recie and Ashley Austin say- Contributed photo ing they’re excited to take their firmed the Tall Betsy at Saturday’s Block and we wanted to do something to honor Hudson came to the practice Party will be the new version of Tall this city and the generations who wit- BAILEY JONES is seen here as seven years ago. baby boy Parker trick-or-treating Cleveland’s favorite goblin, Tall Betsy, in for his first Halloween. Betsy that debuted to much fanfare last nessed the original goblin,” Jones said. “I was really drawn to it be year. “The new Tall Betsy looks and feels like a October 2014. Look closely in the mirror and being a family-type practice, and The new version was designed by pro- real person.