MONDAY 161st YEAR • No. 171 NoVEmBER 16, 2015 ClEVElAND, TN 20 PAGES • 50¢ Banner photo, BRIAN GRAVES Zeta Phi Beta national sorority DoNNA WIllIAmS, state director of the Zeta Phi Beta sorority, brought other members from throughout the state to Cleveland State Community College on Saturday, in an effort to establish a eyes Cleveland as service area chapter of the public service organization here. By BRIAN GRAVES Fortune 500 companies here, so why Banner Staff Writer not bring a stellar organization that “We are interested in gives back to the community, either A national sorority group is expanding into areas of through scholarships or service?” already planning an area public Tennessee where we do not Williams said. “We are a community- service even before a chapter has have a presence, and conscious, action-oriented organiza- been formally organized. Cleveland is one of those tion.” Zeta Phi Beta came to Cleveland select cities where we wanted That service started 95 years ago State Community College on to come.” — Donna Williams when five co-ed students at Howard Saturday, along with a group of University in Washington, D.C., members from across the state, in envisioned a sorority that would pro- an effort to get a chapter started one of those select cities where we mote the highest standards of here. wanted to come.” scholastic achievement and finer “We wanted to come here,” said Williams said that when it comes womanhood. state director Donna Williams. “We to bringing the services of the sorori- Williams noted the organization’s sig- are interested in expanding into ty to the area, the question is, “Why nature initiative is called “Z-HOPE-” or areas of Tennessee where we do not not?” have a presence, and Cleveland is “There are approximately 12 See SORORITY, Page 6 Bradley, Submitted photo Cleveland BlYTHE-olDFIElD "#%%#&%%(!*+ CommUNITY ASSoCIA- "*#+,&++$,-')*(.#+ TIoN President Julia delegates ,"(+#''#',"(&&-'#,1 Porter and Vice President /#," ((+,)%+ (*,""(%#1+ Shirley Knight stand with " -'/"#"#+ #+ the recently installed sign .(%-',*+-))(*, (*, want BEP (&(0+*0), promoting the associa- ,(!#.'(-,,"#+1* tion’s recycling program. (',#('+&1&#%,(#*+, Organizers hope the envi- ''++'$(0 ronment-friendly program funding %.%' (* will grow through the mov- *())( ,#*+,''++ ing of recycling bins out- '$, #,", side the Blythe Avenue restored Family Support Center Inside Today and the addition of a sign. The sign designates that State vote taken the bins are a part of the association’s program. at TSBA’s event The program is nearing its By LARRY C. BOWERS two-year mark, and was Banner Staff Writer started in the building with the nonprofit offices Cleveland and Bradley County housed there. delegates to the Tennessee School Board Conference in Nashville voted Sunday with a large major- ity of TSBA members, urging the state to fund all previous recom- mendations from the BEP Review Committee. The committee had backed off from previous recommendations in a surprising report at the beginning of November. The committee makes recom- mendations for education funding Recycling program going strong in the state, but the panel did a complete turnaround this year. Strong start The committee’s recent deci- sion was to drop the previous The Tennessee Lady Vols Blythe-Oldfield Community Association making eight years of recommendations, opened up their basketball sea- and the funding proposed for the son with a dominating win. The programs. Lee Flames split their games at a statement in the neighborhood and community Among the programs previous- weekend tournament. The Titans “It is 100 percent free. We have not ly recommended were support fell to the undefeated Carolina By JOYANNA LOVE paid a penny for recycling,” Porter said. services such as counselors and Panthers at home on Sunday. In Banner Senior Staff Writer “We wanted recycling close, Impact Cleveland lets members of the CTE positions, classroom size for NBA action, the Memphis An effort to make recycling convenient because most people in our middle and high schools, and Grizzlies picked up a win in neighborhood know about the program to those in the Blythe-Oldfield neighborhood don’t have cars with flyers every couple of months. increased funding for supplies. Minnesota. See Sports, Pages Community Association is taking a more and they can’t drive to recycling Sunday evening, 217 of 219 13-15. As awareness of the program has visual approach. (centers).” grown, the number of people recycling TSBA delegates approved a reso- lution calling for full funding of Organizers hope the environment- — Shirley Knight has increased. the committee’s previous recom- friendly program will grow through the “I’ve been really impressed with the Forecast mendations. moving of recycling bins outside the neighbors and the participation,” Porter reusable, durable bags distributed in the Last Thursday night in a formal Partly sunny skies should transi- Blythe Avenue Family Support Center said. and the addition of a sign. neighborhood to encourage people to voting session, the Bradley tion to mostly cloudy, with a high carry recycling to the family support The new sign will also help to raise County Board of Education The sign designates that the bins are a awareness of where recyclers can partici- near 62. Tonight’s forecast calls for part of the association’s program. center. The children have continued to passed a resolution urging the clouds, with a low around 48. support recycling by gathering recy- pate. BEP Review Committee to recon- “We wanted recycling close, because “People have said they didn’t know Tuesday should be mostly cloudy, most people in our neighborhood don’t clables from each of the offices in the sider its earlier stand on the building and taking them to the desig- where it was,” Knight said. question of state funding priori- with a high near 69. Tuesday night have cars and they can’t drive to recy- The sign was installed by the city of nated bins. ties. calls for mostly cloudy skies and a cling (centers),” said Shirley Knight, Cleveland’s sign shop. Program expansion to the Blythe- That county school board low around 58. association vice president. As recycling increases in the neighbor- The program is nearing its two-year Oldfield community was made possible action was reported in a front- hood, trash decreases, Knight said. page article in Friday’s edition of mark, and was started in the building through a partnership with Coca-Cola Many things the people throw out can Index with the nonprofit offices housed there. and the city of Cleveland. BOCA presi- the Cleveland Daily Banner. actually be recycled. The Blythe program Over the weekend, Tennessee The Boys & Girls Clubs Blythe Unit dent Julia Porter said the company pro- accepts aluminum, paper, cardboard and Classified................................18-19 embraced the idea with a logo contest. vides the bins used for the recycling and School Board officials, including Comics...........................................8 The winning logo was featured on picks them up when they are full. See RECYCLING, Page 6 Editorials......................................16 See FUNDING, Page 6 Horoscope......................................8 MINI Page......................................5 Obituaries.......................................2 Sports......................................13-15 TV Schedule..................................9 Erika Cooke hooked on ‘Girls on the Run’ Weather........................................11 By ALLEN MINCEY “I wanted to lose that baby weight,” Banner Staff Writer she said. PERSONALITY Running became something that she Around Town Erika Cooke helps young girls, through liked. Cooke said that it is a sport that Girls on the Run, enhance their self- PROFILE anyone can participate in, and you don’t Brian Fretwell enjoying his esteem by working with others. She does have to be the best at it to succeed. coaching duties ... Skippy White the same for herself through her intense “I was always shy when getting into joking about his “homemade” exercise plan. girls to be healthy and confident using a sports, and never considered myself an license plate ... Betty Bryant and Cooke serves as executive director of fun, experience-based curriculum that athlete. I remember my dad (former Arlene Marr discussing how Girls on the Run, a program that con- involves running. As Cooke learned more Sheriff Robert Lawson) getting me out in much they enjoyed this year’s fall nects volunteers with girls and helps about it, she knew she wanted to get the yard and trying to get me involved, leaf season in Tennessee ... them build themselves up through run- involved, so she became a coach for girls but I wasn’t that interested,” she said. Karen Cooper posing with “inspi- ning. She has been involved in the pro- at both North Lee Elementary School and “But then, I got into running and enjoyed rational Sonya Jones” ... John gram since it began in Bradley County E.L. Ross Elementary School. it so much.” Baker helping out by putting several years ago, first as a volunteer She said that the national organization That led to other athletic endeavors, stamps on 200 letters ... Wanda and now as a paid employee. wishes for its local chapters to be staffed including getting into body building — Elrod making good use of a step “I found out about Girls on the Run, by a full-time paid employee. A grant actually, becoming a figure athlete. stool while she files. loved the mission, and knew that was from United Way of Bradley County led “I was running all the time, and I got exactly what I needed at that age — to to Cooke being that employee. very, very skinny, so I tried some weights have the courage to get involved in some- The 34-year-old Cooke said that she to get less skinny,” she said. thing,” Cooke said. got involved in running after having a The organization’s mission is to inspire child, Tori Beth, who is now 8 years old. See COOKE, Page 6 Erika Cooke 6489076 75112 2—Cleveland Daily Banner—Monday, November 16, 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.