TUESDAY 162nd YEAR • No. 217 JANUARY 10, 2017 CLEVELAND, TN 16 PAGES • 50¢ Finance leaders to review county credit card policy By BRIAN GRAVES finances issued a finding that several officials that their privileges would be in you lose a receipt on a certain date, you point to see that all of those receipts are Banner Staff Writer departments did not follow the county’s jeopardy, if they did not conform to the have to write a memo saying you had there.” policy in 219 of 430 uses in 2016. county policies. this much of a purchase on the certain He said some receipts are not detailed The issue of credit card usage by The audit cited 52 purchases which Concerning the credit cards, Davis date for this county car and turn it in and have to be noted by hand as to the county employees will be heading to the did not have detailed receipts and 167 said each department received an with the bill. That will work,” Davis specifics of the bill. Finance Committee of the Bradley receipts which were not signed. accounting of their violations and card explained. “Maybe they did not know “All department heads have agreed County Commission. State auditors did not report any mis- usage is being monitored for proper doc- that extra step. When receipts were lost, those would be corrected and not be an Commissioner Thomas Crye, a mem- use of the credit cards. umentation. they were just turning the bills in and issue again next year,” Davis said. ber of that committee, requested the Bradley County Mayor D. Gary Davis The mayor explained the county’s pol- then, it’s sent to us and signed off by the “We had five findings last year and county’s policy be placed before that told commissioners letters went out to icy is when a bill is turned in to be paid, department head to be paid. We usually they are now showing as being correct- body to review the county’s credit card all departments warning those under the credit card receipts must be turned have two or three days to get it paid to ed,” the mayor said concerning the over- policy. his office that card privileges would be in with the bill. avoid a late fee. We pay it, but there has The recent audit of the county’s taken away and those headed by elected “What has been explained to them is if to be more policing of the bills up to that See CREDIT CARDS, Page 16 Inside Today Lawmakers TENURE FOR 20 TEACHERS give views on some expected hot topics General Assembly convening today By BRIAN GRAVES Banner Staff Writer The Tennessee General Assembly begins its 110th ses- sion today with some hot-button issues on the table. Tide can’t hide State Rep. Beth Harwell (R- The Clemson Tigers pulled off Nashville) will once again preside a win over Alabama with one sec- over the state House of ond left on the clock in the Representatives as speaker of National Championship game. the House. The Walker Valley Lady Mustangs State Rep. will compete at the substate level Glen Cassada in bowling. Several familiar (R-Franklin) names from the area will be takes over as inducted into the Chattanooga house majority Sports Hall of Fame. The first AP leader with prep basketball poll has been state Rep. released, with the Bradley Central David Hawk Bearettes in the No. 2 spot. See Banner photo, SARALYN NORKUS (R-Greeneville) Sports, Pages 9-11. TWENTY CLEVELAND CITY SCHOOLS teachers were granted tenure at a Cleveland Board of Education session Monday night. serving as his They include (in no particular order) Kayla Akins, Arnold; Grace Avirett, Stuart; Melissa Barnett, CHS; Brandi Beard, Stuart; Dale Brown, assistant. Brooks Mayfield; Morgan Walker Burke, Mayfield; Caitlyn Cagle, Yates; Cassie Cantrell, Stuart; Joda Clark, Yates; Amanda Diaz, Mayfield; In the state Resolution ideas Joshua Foggin, CMS; Eric Frazier, CMS; Maria Hannah, Yates; Luke Medema, CMS; Ashley Pemberton, CMS; Cody Raper, CMS; Senate, state Emily Raper, CMS; Jeffrey Robinson, CMS; Sarah Smartt, CMS; and Lauren Steward, Mayfield. Sen. Randy for those liberals McNally (R- The battle of wills and wits Oak Ridge) will between the conservatives and take the post liberals of America most likely will Cleveland Board of Education recognizes group of lieutenant go on forever; at least, for as long g o v e r n o r as politicians rule the day among By SARALYN NORKUS (Yates), Luke Medema (CMS), Ashley Banner Staff Writer Pemberton (CMS), Cody Raper (CMS), which was the electorate. For the latest by a held by state political pundit, see the New Emily Raper (CMS), Jeffrey Robinson The Cleveland Board of Education meet- “Granting tenure is one of the (CMS), Sarah Smartt (CHS) and Lauren Sen. Ron Year’s resolutions one conserva- ing was a celebratory one Monday evening, best things a school board has the Ramsey, who Howell tive feels liberals should make in Steward (Mayfield). as a total of 20 teachers were awarded opportunity to do.” In the Director’s Report, Dyer discussed decided not to the guest “Viewpoint” on Page 12 tenure on what had been their first day — Dr. Russell Dyer seek re-elec- of today’s edition. his trip to visit city department heads and back to work following winter break. commended both the school system’s own tion. “Granting tenure is one of the best maintenance and transportation depart- There are Forecast things a school board has the opportunity must have a recommendation from the ment as well as the city’s road crews for many issues to do,” declared Director of Schools Dr. principal, superintendent and be voted on ensuring that students and teachers were which will Russell Dyer. by the school board. It is quite a process able to make it in to school on Monday come through Dyer explained that the process to and is a big deal,” Dyer explained. with ice posing little to no problem. the diverse receive tenure is now a much more difficult The board of education quickly passed Steve Morgan took some time to update c o m m i t t e e s one for the teachers than it used to be. the motion approving tenure for the 20 the board with the site committee’s work to now beginning “They have to meet a time requirement, teachers. better word the construction contract for their work at have to be a teacher for five years, meet Teachers receiving tenure at Monday’s Candy’s Creek Cherokee Elementary the state Bell evaluation standards of fours and fives, school board meeting were Kayla Akins School. Morgan proposed that the Request Capitol. One in which are the two highest for two consecu- (Arnold), Grace Avirett (Stuart), Melissa for Quotation committee be comprised of particular many will be watching tive years toward the end of that five-year Barnett (CHS), Brandi Beard (Stuart), Dale himself, Dyer, Peggy Pesterfield, Paul for is a potential increase in the Today looks to be mostly cloudy, cycle. It’s just a very stringent cycle. It Brown (Mayfield), Morgan Walker Burke Ramsey and Hal Taylor. The motion was state’s gas tax. with a high near 50 degrees. used to be three years of teaching and a (Mayfield), Caitlyn Cagle (Yates), Cassie quickly passed. Gov. Bill Haslam spent nearly Tonight’s forecast calls for cloudy recommendation from the principal and Cantrell (Stuart), Joda Clark (Yates), Taylor has also been named the official a year crisscrossing the state, skies and a 70 percent chance of you got tenure. Now it’s five years, you Amanda Diaz (Mayfield), Joshua Foggin including a stop in Bradley must meet a certain benchmark and you rain, with a low around 46. South (CMS), Eric Frazier (CMS), Maria Hannah See TENURE, Page 16 winds of 10 to 15 mph could gust See LAWMAKERS, Page 16 as high as 25. Wednesday calls for mostly cloudy skies and a 70 per- cent chance of rain, with a high near 63. Wednesday night should City earns 19th consecutive budget award be mostly cloudy, with a low around 51. Thursday calls for partly sunny By LARRY C. BOWERS skies and a high near 67. Thursday Banner Staff Writer night should be mostly cloudy, with Monday was a day of budgeting a low around 54. and auditing honors for the city of Cleveland. Mark Lay of the auditing firm of Index Arnett, Kirksey, Kimsey, Sullivan, Classified................................14-15 Law and Hall attended the 1 p.m. Comics............................................6 work session to present the Cleveland City Council with a Editorials.......................................12 complete set of financial state- Horoscope......................................6 ments, while Assistant City Obituaries.......................................2 Manager Shawn McKay Sports........................................9-11 announced the city has received Stocks.............................................4 its 19th consecutive TV Schedule...................................7 Distinguished Budget Weather..........................................8 Presentation Award. Lay acknowledged the work of City Manager Joe Fivas, McKay, Around Town and staff members on the com- prehensive audit for this year, Regina Williams discussing emphasizing there were no some upcoming features ... charges in the detailed disclo- Sheeko Ndegwa, Kendra sures of the document. Edwards, Nazareth Curtis and Mayor Tom Rowland pointed Abby Brennan helping a friend out that the budgeting award is celebrate a birthday. for all of the United States and Canada, adding that Bradley Banner photo, LARRY C. BOWERS County government has also THE CITY OF CLEVELAND has been presented with the Distinguished Budgeting Presentation Award for the 19th straight year. Showing received this award for the past off the certificate at Monday’s City Council meeting were employees who have been involved in the city’s financial process.