FRIDAY 161st YEAR • NO. 193 DECEMBER 11, 2015 CLEVELAND, TN 22 PAGES • 50¢ Cormetech makes $3,500 donation for career-tech education in county By CHRISTY ARMSTRONG Brittany Cannon, Bradley County Banner Staff Writer Schools’ work-based learning coordina- “It’s really our privilege to tor, thanked Cormetech for its invest- Local manufacturing company give back to the community.” ment and explained how the company Cormetech has donated almost $3,500 — Jeff Walker has also been helping students and to help two Bradley County high teachers through opportunities like schools beef up their career and techni- tours and internships. cal education programs. Cormetech operations manager. “It’s really a big step for our kids and That was just one of several reasons The money, which is expected to be for our community,” Walker Valley the Bradley County Board of Education split evenly between the schools, was teacher Alan Bivens said of the dona- chose to celebrate Thursday night. raised by Cormetech employees tion. “We’re just really blessed.” Representatives from Cormetech pre- through the company’s recycling pro- Bradley Central teacher Darrell sented the school system with a check gram. Walker said the company sells Oakley also expressed gratitude for the for $3,449 to help improve the mecha- the recyclable items, and that gives it donation and expressed hope the Banner photo, CHRISTY ARMSTRONG tronics programs at Bradley Central extra money to help the community. schools would in turn help Cormetech High School and Walker Valley High Walker explained the employees real- by providing the company with well- OFFICIALS from Bradley County Schools and local manufacturer Cormetech gath- School. ly liked the idea of supporting school prepared job candidates. er to celebrate a special donation. Cormetech gave the school system $3,449 to help “It’s really our privilege to give back programs which could train future the mechatronics programs at Bradley Central High School and Walker Valley High to the community,” said Jeff Walker, manufacturing employees. See COUNTY, Page 10 School. Grisham Audit: legal fees County "#%%#&%%(!*+ for work "*#+,&++$,-')*(.#+ debt has ,"(+#''#',"(&&-'#,1 /#," ((+,)%+ (*,""(%#1+ cost city " -'/"#"#+ #+ dropped .(%-',*+-))(*, (*, (&(0+*0), ,(!#.'(-,,"#+1* $14,670 (',#('+&1&#%,(#*+, by $4.1M ''++'$(0 Project included %.%' (* Revenues show *())( ,#*+,''++ city policy review '$, #,", an upward trend By JOYANNA LOVE Inside Today Banner Senior Staff Writer By BRIAN GRAVES The Cleveland City Council Banner Staff Writer greatly underestimated the Bradley County, by its fiscal amount of time it would take a numbers, is in good overall shape, consultant, attorney J. Greg and with decreased debt. Grisham of Leitner, Williams, That is the result of the most Dooley, Napolitan PLLC, to review recent audit of county finances and recommend changes to the released by the Tennessee city personnel policy. Comptroller’s Office. At a September City Council According to the report, the meeting, Councilman Richard Banner photo, LARRY C. BOWERS county’s total long-term debt Banks estimated it would take 10 CLEVELAND HIGH SCHOOL Principal Autumn O’Bryan conducted a tour of community leaders decreased by $4.1 million during hours. Invoices to the city for serv- through the new Raider Arena Thursday afternoon. The group is shown on the second-floor track the Fiscal Year ending June 30. ices in September and October at the east end of the gymnasium. The playing surface will be below the spectator and track floor. The audit cites the reason for show Grisham spent 38 hours A large, now-operational scoreboard is in place over the playing court, and one of the basketball this decline as being “primarily a working on the project, with addi- goals has been installed. result of the annual scheduled tional time logged by associates in debt reduction payments.” researching particular items for Revenues are shown to be on Grisham. an upward trend. Total cost to the city, including Those amounts for FY 2015 gas reimbursements, was Leaders tour arena totaled $34.8 million, which is Bears take $14,670. Invoices to the city list $1.8 million more than the previ- $6,517 for work completed in ous year. wrestling win September and $8,152 for work Local taxes collected accounted completed in October. O’Bryan explains vision of using for most of that increase, amount- The No. 1-ranked Bradley This time was spent reviewing ing to $1.3 million. Central Bears battled to a emails from City Manager Janice Assets and deferred outflows of wrestling win over Baylor, also No. Casteel addressing specific ele- new facility as community center resources of the county exceeded 1 in its division. The Lee Lady ments of the policy, such as the Schools Dr. Martin Ringstaff its liabilities by $36.7 million. Flames picked up a GSC win over appeals process, research, review- By LARRY C. BOWERS Banner Staff Writer was unable to attend, because The listing for the county’s pri- Valdosta State. Lee will host Rec ing Municipal Technical Advisory mary governmental activities Day during Saturday’s basketball “We were thinking his daughter Jayden was Service information pertaining to Cleveland High School more about a undergoing reportedly success- shows total assets of $134 million matchups. The Tennessee Lady suggested changes, reviewing rec- Principal Autumn O’Bryan — an increase of $11 million from Vols are hoping to turn their for- community center. ful surgery for appendicitis at ommended changes to the policy overflows with excitement This is a way we can Tennova. last year. tunes around today on the road. from city staff and the Council and when she talks about the The county also reported com- See Sports, Pages 13-15. give back to the O’Bryan opened Thursday’s drafting revised copies of the per- school’s new Raider Arena. tour with a promotional pitch sonnel manual. citizens of Cleveland.” The high school administra- — Autumn O’Bryan to the 25 to 30 community See AUDIT, Page 6 Forecast Grisham charged 51 cents a tor conducted a tour of the leaders, explaining that school mile when he traveled to Cleveland $11 million construction proj- officials have launched a spe- Today should be mostly cloudy to present to the City Council and ect late Thursday afternoon, Taylor has monitored the cial project for the expansive Yates worker but with a continuing warming for a meeting with city consultant bragging on the tremendous project for school officials lobby area between the new Larry Wallace in Chattanooga. trend, as high temperatures are structure to representatives of since construction began with gymnasium and the high Wallace had been appointed to the Cleveland/Bradley the demolition of the old school’s main building. is dismissed expected to approach 70. Tonight serve as a liaison between the City should be mostly cloudy, with a low Chamber of Commerce, Raider Dome. “Since next year is the 50th Council and Grisham after finish- Tennova Healthcare, city gov- Joining Cogdill from the anniversary of Cleveland High following GJ around 55. Saturday calls for most- ing his work as police consultant. ernment, other education offi- Cleveland school board were School, we are preparing a dis- ly sunny skies, with a high near 72. Grisham’s office is in Nashville. cials and members of the local Peggy Pesterfield, Dr. Murl play of memorabilia, photo- Saturday night should be partly The City Council had anticipat- media. Dirksen and George Meacham. graphs and other items in the indictment cloudy, with a low around 55. ed hiring Grisham for $225 per O’Bryan was assisted on the Cleveland-Bradley Public lobby area,” said the Cleveland By ALLEN MINCEY hour and that is what was tour by Cleveland Board of Education Foundation Board High principal. Banner Staff Writer charged. President Matt Bentley and Index Education member and former Anyone with items they A Cleveland City Schools A vote on the personnel policy is Director Lynn Voelz also coach Charlie Cogdill as well would like to donate, or loan, employee who was placed on expected at the Cleveland City attended. Church........................................8-9 as Hal Taylor, city schools leave earlier this school year has Council’s 3 p.m. Monday meeting. Cleveland’s Director of Classified................................20-21 maintenance supervisor. See ARENA, Page 6 been fired following her indict- Comics.........................................17 See GRISHAM, Page 6 ment by the Bradley County Editorials......................................16 grand jury this month on a Horoscope....................................17 charge of theft. Movies..........................................18 Callie Callaway Meagher, 44, of Obituaries.......................................2 CHS students building a Centenary Stocks............................................4 Avenue address, Sports......................................13-15 was indicted for computers for Africa theft over $1,000, TV Schedule...........................18-19 according to Weather........................................11 LARRY C. BOWERS Cleveland City Banner Staff Writer Schools Director Around Town Dr. Martin Engineering teacher Ben Williams of Cleveland High School is Ringstaff and an instructor who teaches more than his basic subject. His stu- Cindy Curlee encountering Bradley County dents learn to think outside the box, and go above and beyond. some completely unexpected Sheriff’s Office Meagher Last year they went all the way to Nicaragua to assist a small, yard work ... Dwight