SUNDAY 161st YEAR • No. 20 MAY 24, 2015 CLEVELAND, TN 52 PAGES • $1.00 Inside Today Gray: Less than 1% in U.S. mark Memorial Day and emotional talk as he and Polk County service others remembered the nation’s remembers the veterans, especially those who paid the supreme sacrifice for the nation’s veterans freedoms Americans enjoy. “Freedom is not free,” Gray, By LARRY C. BOWERS and others, emphasized. Banner Staff Writer Polk County High School’s Polk County got a jump on cheerleaders were nearby having surrounding communities a car wash and bake sale, but Up on a pedestal Saturday morning with its 2015 when the program began they Memorial Day service. came across the street and Cleveland High senior TJ A moderate crowd of veterans attended the patriotic service. Parker found his way to the attended, along with a number of Gray, the commander of DAV TSSAA podium twice, while Benton, Polk County and region- Chapter 25 in Cleveland, began some of his teammates joined al community leaders. The fea- his talk with some disturbing him during the Spring Fling’s tured speaker was Disabled statistics. state track meet. The Lee American Veterans Commander “We no longer have any veter- Flames have to settle for second Bill Gray. ans from World War I, because place again at NCCAA World Polk County Executive Hoyt they’re all gone,” he said. “We’re Series. Former Walker Firestone, Polk County Veteran still lucky enough to have a few Valley/Cleveland State standout Affairs Officer Ben Bright, veterans from World War II.” finds a new home. Bears out-kick Banner photo, LARRY C. BOWERS Benton Mayor Jerry Stephens There were a couple of these Blue Raiders in alumni pigskin DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS Chapter 25 Commander Bill Gray walked among the flags, and Tennessee Rep. Dan Howell veterans at the service. action. See Sports, Pages 17-21, crosses and monuments in front of the Polk County Courthouse in Benton Saturday, prior to his serving were all part of the program. “Somewhere in America today, 25-26 and 28. as the featured speaker in the community’s Memorial Day service. In his presentation, Gray said he read The Polk County High School before the sun does down, a vet- recently that less than 1 percent of Americans will be celebrating this year’s Memorial Day. He told those chorus presented patriotic songs. Remembering War participating Saturday, “You’re among the 1 percent.” Gray provided an inspirational See MEMORIAL, Page 12 Local World War II veteran Jack Murphy, now 88, shares what it was like joining the U.S. Board Marine Corps at the tender age Banner photo, of 16 and witnessing the Battle of HOWARD PIERCE Peleliu, which claimed many SCOUTS take lives. See Lifestyles, Page 29. may vote a moment during Memorial Day Weekend to Presidential Honors after the reflect on the sac- Cleveland State Community rifices military per- College has announced the stu- sonel made for dents selected for its first class of interviews their freedom. Presidential Honors Scholars. Local Boy Scouts The smart students will be in the County school placed U.S. flags college’s new honors program on the graves of this fall. See inside, Page 45. director may be veterans. See named Tuesday more photos, Fun on the Farm Page 6. Polk County 4-H students recently enjoyed the 20th annual By CHRISTY ARMSTRONG Fun on the Farm Day event in Banner Staff Writer Benton, learning about every- The Bradley County Board of thing from butter to bees. See Education could be choosing its photos inside, Page 44. new director of schools as soon as Tuesday night. Classic Revolution Board members will interview Lake Forest Middle School’s two candidates for the position show choir, Revolution, recently Tuesday. The board has indicat- took New York’s music scene by ed it may vote on its choice that storm. The choir earned multiple night. honors in the New York Music The two final candidates are Festival Big Apple Classic. See Dr. Linda Cash, assistant direc- People, Page 37. tor of Tennessee’s Robertson County Schools, and Dr. Bill Heath, director of Lawrence County Schools. Head Start commemorates 50th anniversary Forecast “I think either one will serve our school system extremely The forecast for today calls for well,” 3rd District Board Students and board members plant rose bushes mostly sunny skies and highs in Chairman Nicholas Lillios said Special to the Banner gram. Today, Head Start has ing roses as an arts and crafts counties in two states. There are the lower to mid 80s. Tonight’s served more than 32 million at- project. four counties in Tennessee — outlook calls for cloudy skies with On May 18, 1965, President See BOARD, Page 12 risk children nationally. Earlier this year, at the White Bradley, Polk, Meigs and McMinn lows in the mid 60s. Memorial Lyndon B. Johnson announced On May 18, Head Start pro- House Summit on Early and six counties in Georgia — day should be mostly cloudy with Project Head Start from the grams across the country cele- Education, President Obama Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, a 30 percent chance of showers White House Rose Garden. brated 50 years of opportunity said, “Head Start is one of the Murray, Walker and Whitfield. and thunderstorms. Highs are He made a commitment to Head Start has provided by best investments we can make, “Quality early education expected in the lower 80s. open a window of opportunity for planting rose bushes in front of not just in a child’s future, but in makes good economic sense,” the nation’s most at-risk children Head Start centers, at local our country.” said James Anderson, chief exec- and their families. That summer, parks, or on city hall grounds. Family Resource Agency has utive officer of FRA. Index an eight-week program was In Cleveland and Bradley been a part of this investment. “These children [who have launched, serving 500,000 at- County, rose bushes were plant- FRA currently provides Early gone through the program] have Business news ............................27 risk children nationwide. ed in front of several centers. The Head Start and Head Start serv- higher levels of verbal, math and The program was a success, board of directors planted roses ices to more than 1,500 children intellectual achievement. They Church...........................................4 and in 1966 Congress authorized Classified................................46-52 at the administrative office. The and their families in 50 locations. Cash Heath Head Start as a year-round pro- Comics.........................................41 children also celebrated by creat- These locations span over 10 See HEAD START, Page 13 Editorials.................................22,23 Horoscope....................................41 Lifestyles ................................29-33 Civil War historical marker City’s building Obituaries.......................................2 Stocks..........................................25 permits show Sports....................17-21, 25-26, 28 placement set for June 13 TV Schedule...........................42,43 Weather........................................15 By LARRY C. BOWERS the marker is to be erected. April increase Banner Staff Writer Jim Ogden, historian at Around Town Chickamauga and Chattanooga By JOYANNA LOVE Bradley County was a land of National Military Park, will serve Banner Senior Staff Writer Jerry Barnes offering a “good conflict during the Civil War. as keynote speaker. Bryan Reed, There were pro-Union and pro- chairman of the Humanities April brought an increase in morning” smile for a friend ... the value of building permits Tripp Hathcock showing off his Confederate troops in the area, Department at Cleveland State with sympathizers for both Community College, will also approved in the city of Cleveland. new UT Vols canvas shoes ... Although the number of per- Robert Bradney and daughter sides. speak. Due to these split sympathies The marker, which former mits was down to 24 from 35, the Lily helping locate some keys ... estimated value of the projects Martha Bartolo giving a cheerful in southern Bradley County, the Cleveland resident Tim McCoy is area between the Union lines in sponsoring, commemorates a increased by $3 million over hello to neighbors on a beautiful March numbers. weekend morning ... Jerri Smith Cleveland and Confederate lines distinctly difficult time in the in Dalton, Ga., was designated Civil War when part of Bradley The largest project receiving a supplying some cheery dialogue permit was the Preserve at on a Saturday morning ... Steven as a “No Man’s Land” by some. County lay between Union and The historical significance of Confederate forces. Hardwick, estimated to cost Swiger kindly fixing a damaged $6.46 million. The apartment door. this area will be recognized on McCoy will also speak at the Saturday, June 13, when the ceremony, along with Melissa complex will be a three-story building with 80 units on North Tennessee State Historical Woody of the Cleveland-Bradley Banner photo, HOWARD PIERCE Commission will place a road- County Chamber of Commerce; ABIGAIL BENTLEY, Polk County High School valedictorian Lee Highway. side marker at 7723 Dalton Pike. Mary Ann Peckham of Polk This project was one of four for the class of 2015, delivers her address during the school’s commercial building permits This official dedication cere- County and director of the graduation exercise Friday evening. See more photos, Page 8. mony will take place at 2 p.m., and will be held at the site where See MARKER, Page 13 See PERMITS, Page 12 2—Cleveland Daily Banner—Sunday, May 24, 2015 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. Box 3600, Cleveland, TN 37320-3600 The family will receive friends Published at 1505 25th Street, NW (P.O. Box 3600) To submit an obituary, have the funeral home or cremation society in charge of arrangements on Monday, from 4 to 8 p.m., at in Cleveland, TN 37320-3600, daily except Saturday e-mail the information to [email protected] and fax to 423-614-6529, the Companion Funeral Home, and Christmas day by Cleveland Newspapers, Inc.