FRIDAY 162nd YEAR • NO. 48 JUNE 24, 2016 CLEVELAND, TN 24 PAGES • 50¢ Commissioner seeks investigation of Watson By BRIAN GRAVES morning that the allegations include: threatening written complaint submitted relating to Sheriff Banner Staff Writer and attempting to intimidate Bradley County Watson since he took office.” Sheriff’s Office employees and public officials; Crump said he has forwarded the written A Bradley County commissioner has requested favorable treatment being given to his wife, who is request to the Tennessee District Attorney’s an official investigation into allegations of poten- a bail bondsman, and other potential conflicts General Conference for the appointment of a tial illegal actions by Sheriff Eric Watson. with her occupation; getting bonds lowered for a District Attorney pro tem to determine if any of the Tenth District Attorney Steve Crump confirmed female jail inmate with whom Rawls said Watson claims warrant further investigation. to the Cleveland Daily Banner late Thursday appeared to have a personal relationship; and “I have asked for this appointment because evening that Commissioner Dan Rawls had sub- whether the Sheriff’s Office may have misused Sheriff Watson contributed to my campaign for mitted “a written complaint to my office detailing a public money. district attorney,” Crump said. “Any time this number of claims of wrongdoing.” “The announced policy of my office is that I do office has a conflict of interest, we seek the While Crump’s statement to the Banner did not not consider anonymous complaints,” Crump said identify the allegations, Rawls confirmed Friday in his statement to the Banner. “This was the first See INVESTIGATION, Page 7 Rawls Crump Watson Coming Sunday ‘Reader’s Choice’ Bradley CU gets awards scheduled The time is here and the time jobless rare cut is now! In Sunday’s edition, the Cleveland Daily Banner will dedi- cate a special section to the annual “Reader’s Choice” figure in water awards. Who’s the “Best of Bradley County” in any number of categories? Find out Sunday and be sure to stake your claim on a remains rates by copy of this prized tabloid! Don’t miss it! Inside Today stable regional at 3.6% system The last increase HUC reduction to benefit locals came in June ’15 Contributed photo A SPECIAL INVITATION to Cleveland police by Selby Dover asked her “superheroes” to join her By LARRY C. BOWERS By RICK NORTON Banner Staff Writer Associate Editor at Stuart Elementary School to celebrate her birthday. Cleveland Utilities administra- Bradley County’s strong 6- tors were pleasantly surprised month string of drops in unem- recently by communication from ployment ended in May, but not the Hiwassee Utilities because the rate went up; It’s a very special day Commission, and have passed on instead, it stayed the same. that surprise to Cleveland water At 3.6 percent, the local jobless customers. mark — originally posted in April City customers have been the and which remained unchanged 7-year-old Cleveland girl gets recipients of several cost increas- in May — is still at its lowest rate es in the past, but in 15 years, according to Larry seldom (if ever) Mustangs brave Green, labor market analyst for birthday celebration with CPD have they received the Tennessee Department of a cost decrease. heat at Night Labor and Workforce The utility’s Development. By ALLEN MINCEY budget had antici- Banner Staff Writer of Champions The last time Bradley’s unem- pated the usual 2 ployment mark rose was in June Sunday was a special day as it was Father’s percent increase The Walker Valley Mustangs 2015, when it jumped to 6.3, up Day, and several Cleveland Police officers were in Hiwassee’s worked through sweltering heat to nine-tenths of 1 percent from the able to spend it with their children. rates this year, finish up the first half of summer 5.4 tally in May. Three other Several others were working that day, so it and therefore was Webb football workouts at their seventh times during the past year the was not necessarily a special Father’s Day. projecting a 5.13 annual Night of Champions. The rate remained unchanged from However, due to a request from a little 7-year- percent hike for local customers. Atlanta Braves started another month to month: in July when it old girl in Cleveland, it turned out to be a spe- That projection was sidetracked winning streak with a victory over maintained the same 6.3 percent cial day after all. when a letter from Hiwassee the New York Mets. Three fresh- rate from June, in August to Selby Dover made a special request to have Manager Teresa Torbett notified men were chosen 1-2-3 in the September when it stayed 5.6 her “superhero cops” attend her birthday party Cleveland Utilities President and 2016 NBA draft. See Sports, percent, and from October to on Sunday. Not only did some of the police offi- CEO Ken Webb the neighboring Pages 13-15. November when it also held cers attend Dover’s party, they also presented regional water system — which course at 5.6. her with a special gift as well as a cake. sells water to CU — would not Forecast The 3.6 percent mark is far Selby’s invitation read: increase rates this year. below where it stood this time last “You are invited to Selby Dover’s birthday Instead, there will be a signifi- year, Green said. In May 2015, party on Sunday, June 19th at 6:00 p.m. at cant drop. Bradley’s jobless rate was 5.5. George R. Stuart School. I hope that my super- “I am pleased to announce the The May mark — which is hero cops can come please try.” Hiwassee Utilities Commission expected to rise in June due pri- DELTA team on-duty officers came to Stuart will have no increase in rates for marily to the summer closing of Park with stuffed animals and birthday cards for the coming year,” Torbett schools — places Bradley in a 5- Selby, while BRAVO team arrived early to pres- informed Webb. way tie for the 16th lowest rate ent the little girl with a bike and helmet decorat- She went on to say, “The usual among Tennessee’s 95 counties. Today’s forecast calls for partly ed with “Frozen” characters, sidewalk chalk, Contributed photo 2 percent increase in the com- sunny and hot conditions, with a 30 It shares the mark with Dickson, pizza and a cake made especially for the OFFICERS Matt Norfleet, left, and Dewaun modity charge will be omitted and Hickman, Johnson and Smith princess from the entire team. BRAVO team nor- further, the commodity charge will percent chance of showers or thun- counties. Massengill met with Selby Dover to help her cel- derstorms and a high near 95. Heat be reduced by 4 percent from the See BIRTHDAY, Page 6 ebrate her seventh birthday. index values could be as high as present charge.” See JOBLESS, Page 6 Torbett cautioned CU’s leaders 101. Tonight’s forecast calls for part- by adding that “these changes ly cloudy skies, with a low around were approved on a one-time-only 72. Saturday should be sunny and basis, and should not be viewed hot, with a high near 95. Saturday Handgun policy OK’d for TBR campuses as indicative of any future trend.” night looks to be mostly clear, with a The Hiwassee manager went on low around 69. Sunday should be By JOYANNA LOVE provided that they must first register with Mary Moody, TBR general counsel and to give Cleveland Utilities a pat on mostly sunny, with a 30 percent Banner Senior Staff Writer law enforcement having jurisdiction over board secretary, said this policy would be the back. chance of rain and a high near 92. the campus and must carry the handgun on the only exceptions to the TBR campuses “Your continued support in the The Tennessee Board of Regents or about their person, concealed from ordi- ban on firearms and other weapons. agreed purchases are appreciated Sunday night should be mostly Committee on External Affairs has approved nary observation. They may not carry at “The new [state] law only permits hand- cloudy, with a low around 73. and have contributed greatly to a policy on firearms and other weapons on certain times and places prohibited by law.” guns, and they have to have a handgun making these changes possible,” college campuses, in order to comply with The approval was given Thursday and a carry permit,” Moody said. she explained. “The larger vol- Index recent changes in state law. report from the committee meeting will be Since CSCC has its own police depart- umes sold have improved plant The policy “Permits full-time employees given to the full TBR today. ment, that’s where faculty would register efficiency and reduced our per- Church........................................8-9 who possess a valid handgun carry permit Cleveland State Community College is a their handguns. unit production costs.” Classified................................22-23 to carry a handgun on the property of the part of the TBR system and is affected by Comics.........................................17 TBR institution at which they are employed, the policy. See HANDGUN, Page 6 See RATES, Page 6 Editorials......................................16 Horoscope....................................17 Obituaries.......................................2 Stocks............................................4 Atheists lawsuit mediation scheduled July 6 Sports......................................13-15 By BRIAN GRAVES motion by the defendants to delay the dis- tomed,” Steger wrote. “My role as the magis- TV Schedule...........................18-19 Banner Staff Writer covery process pending the outcome of the trate judge conducting the settlement con- Weather........................................11 mediation.