WVHS, Denning Center hold graduation ceremonies: Pages 8 & 11 163rd YEAR • No. 17 24 PAGES • 50¢ CLEVELAND, TN 37311 THE CITY WITH SPIRIT FRIDAY, MAY 19, 2017 AE graduation BCSO honors the work of 23 local adults deputy in CSCC event receives By CHRISTY ARMSTRONG [email protected] Twenty-three adults from Bradley County and reprimand Polk counties have finally gotten to reap the rewards of many hours of hard work. A commencement ceremony for the two coun- ties’ Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development Adult Education pro- for actions gram graduates was held Thursday at Cleveland State Community College. The graduates were celebrated for having Adam Beard’s letter earned their high school equivalency diplomas after taking either the HiSet or GED tests. Leslie Travis, district coordinator for the Adult said to be violation Education program, helped kick off the gradua- tion with some statistics. She noted “over By BRIAN GRAVES 500,000” adults in Tennessee currently lack [email protected] high school diplomas. BCSO Deputy Adam Beard has been given a “These people here are going to change that,” written reprimand by Sheriff Eric Watson for Travis said, gesturing to the graduates. violating the department’s policy on dissemi- She also pointed out that each of the gradu- nating department information to the public. ates worked toward their diplomas while jug- The letter, obtained Friday morning by the gling commitments like busy work and/or fami- Banner photo, CHRISTY ARMSTRONG Cleveland Daily Banner using a Freedom of ly lives. Information Act request, was During each Adult Education graduation, one DANIELLE GIBBY, center, grins while participating in Thursday’s Adult Education commencement for delivered Thursday evening to Bradley and Polk counties, held at Cleveland State Community College. She was one of 23 local adults Beard. See ADULTS, Page 10 who chose to take part in the festivities after earning high school equivalency diplomas. Watson cited General Order 54.1.1 Section A which reads: “With the limited exception of emergency situations where the immediate safety of the public would be jeopardized BCHS to graduate 378 GOAL Academy eyes by not informing the news media of a particular danger, no one is authorized to Beard big day for 34 seniors release any information in ceremony Saturday regarding any BCSO matter to the news media By CHRISTY ARMSTRONG without prior approval of the sheriff, chief By CHRISTY ARMSTRONG With 378 graduates, Bradley [email protected] deputy or a division captain.” [email protected] Central has a dozen fewer stu- The violation cited by Watson concerns dents receiving diplomas this GOAL Academy, Bradley County School’s alternative Beard’s appearance at the May 15 County Bradley Central High School year. Still, Principal Todd school, is getting ready to graduate 34 students this week- Commission meeting where Commissioner Dan is getting ready to see off 378 of Shoemaker points out there are Milliron end. Rawls read a letter which was signed by Beard its seniors as they graduate plenty of reasons to be proud. The school’s commencement is scheduled for Saturday at containing allegations of harassment. from the school this weekend. “The Class of 2017 is a great 6 p.m. in the “gymatorium” at Ocoee Middle School. In the letter, Beard claims to be speaking The school’s 101st com- group of students who worked GOAL Academy is a school which enrolls two different “on behalf of 90 percent of the deputies that mencement is scheduled for very hard during the last four types of students — those with behavioral issues and those are honest and who work hard every day at Saturday at 9 a.m. in Bear years,” Shoemaker said. “We are who have, for whatever reason, fallen far behind in their the sheriff’s office that are too scared of retali- Stadium, the school’s football very proud of the accomplish- work at their regular high schools. ation to step out and stand up to all of this venue. ments that they achieved during The 34 graduating seniors have each worked hard to elected official’s dishonesty and mistreatment School officials say they are their time at Bradley Central recover all their high school credits and earn their high of the employees of the BCSO.” keeping a close eye on the High School.” school diplomas. After the letter was read, Beard then weather, however. In the event Among those being honored "A lot of these students have been through a lot to get to approached the Commission podium and again of rain, the graduation will be where they are today," Principal Kyle Page has said of the claimed to apologize “on behalf of the sheriff’s held Sunday at 3 p.m. at North Cleveland Church of God. See BCHS, Page 10 McKinney See GOAL, Page 10 See DEPUTY, Page 4 Cleveland Historic District named to National Register By BRIAN GRAVES director of the Tennessee Historical Submitted photo [email protected] Commission. “The National Register is an honorary designation that empha- THE HISTORIC The Tennessee Historical sizes the importance of these special CLEvELAND Commission announced Thursday the properties, [which are] worth main- Commercial District addition of the Cleveland Commercial taining and passing along to future has been officially Historic District to the National generations.” recognized by the Register of Historic Places. The description of the district by It now joins 21 other National National Register of the National Register is as follows: Historic Places. Register designees in Bradley County. “The 65 buildings that make up the Cleveland’s downtown was one of Cleveland Commercial Historic eight Tennessee locations given the District represent the area that was special designation during its most historically the social, commercial, recent list of the nation’s historic and governmental area of Bradley locations. County. Cleveland developed on a grid “As Tennessee grows, it is impor- pattern of streets with the county tant to recognize the unique historic courthouse at the center. places that help define us,” said “As the city grew a variety of new Patrick McIntyre, state historic preservation officer and executive See HISTORIC, Page 10 AROUND TOWN WEATHER INDEX Dennis and Diannia Melton, Logan Today calls for partly sunny skies and a 30 per- Church..............................6-7 Opinion...............................16 Melton, Cooper Melton, Emily Caylor cent chance of rain, with a high near 88. A 30 per- and Holly Vetter having a great cent chance of rain continues tonight, with a low Classified.....................21-23 Stocks...................................4 weekend in Knoxville recently, at the Orange and White spring football around 67. Saturday should be mostly sunny, with a Comics................................17 Sports......................... 13-15 6489076 75112 game ... Relatives commenting about high near 89. Saturday night calls for clouds and a Horoscope...........................17 TV Schedule................18-19 how beautiful Peggy Anselment is in 50 percent chance of rain, with a low around 67. her graduation photo. Obituaries.............................2 Weather...............................11 2—Cleveland Daily Banner—Friday, May 19, 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. Box 3600, Cleveland, TN 37320-3600 John Alford Published at 1505 25th Street, NW (P.O. Box 3600) John Alford, 74, of Cleveland, To submit an obituary, have the funeral home or cremation in Cleveland, TN 37320-3600, daily except Saturday society in charge of arrangements e-mail the information to obitu- and Christmas day by Cleveland Newspapers, Inc. died Thursday, May 18, 2017, in Phone (423) 472-5041. a Chattanooga hospital. [email protected] and fax to 423-614-6529, attention Survivors and funeral arrange- Obits. Ralph Baldwin Joyce Taylor ments will be announced by Fike- Editor & Publisher General Manager Randolph & Son Funeral Home. Lowery Kerr; brother, Grady Dustan Shugart, Kristy Beard, Member of The Associated Press Daniel Chastain; brothers-in-law: Roxy Beard and Robby Coalson; Ralph Lowery, Oscar Kerr, Earl and several aunts, uncles, The Associated Press is exclusively entitled to the use for publication of all news dispatches credited to it or not otherwise credited in this newspaper, and also the local news of spontaneous or igin Griffin and Harland James; niece, cousins and a host of special herein. All rights of all other material herein are as reserved. ©2016 Cleveland Newspapers, Inc. Buffy Beard; and nephews: Brad friends. Chastain and Dwight Lowery. The Remembrance of Life SUBSCRIPTION RATES He leaves behind to cherish service will be conducted Publishser Reserves the Right to Change Rates Without Notice his memory his wife of 57 years, Saturday, May 20, 2017, at 4 Print Only 3 months 6 Months 1 Year Monthly Daily Monita Lalah Beard Chastain; p.m. from the Jim Rush Funeral Carrier Collect Rate * $6.75 Dennis B. Burchfield sons: Derk (Jean) Shields, Kelly and Cremation Services By Carrier Home / Business Delivery $20.00 $38.00 $75.00 Dennis Blaine Burchfield, 62, (Ann) Chastain, Toddy (Sandra) Wildwood Chapel with the Rev. By Mail inside Zip 307 $25.00 $45.00 $85.00 of Benton, went home to be with By Mail outside Zip 307 in TN, GA $38.00 $55.00$105.00 Chastain, Reno Chastain; daugh- Matthew Harris and the Rev. By Mail Outside TN $38.00 $67.00 $ 130.00 the Lord on Wednesday, May 17, ter, Natalie Nina Chastain Larry Hayes officiating. 2017, at his residence. He was Print + E-Edition Whalen; grandchildren: Josh Interment will follow in the By Carrier Home / Business Delivery $21.25 $40.25 $79.25 surrounded by his family and (Mitzi) Shields, Amber Chastain, Liberty Baptist Church Cemetery By Mail inside Zip 307 $26.25 $47.25 $90.50 close friends.