MONDAY 161th YEAR • NO. 57 JULY 6, 2015 CLEVELAND, TN 18 PAGES • 50¢ Ex-POW Bill Norwood, veterans honored in Shenandoah’s ‘I Love America’ event By JOYANNA LOVE Norwood was 20 when he was deployed remind them of the great price that was Banner Senior Staff Writer with the U.S. Army. paid for our freedom,” Coley said. “The greatest loss we had was just from The number of former POWs still living is Shenandoah Baptist Church honored guys that gave up,” Norwood said of his shrinking, Coley noted. Of all the POWs for those who served in the United States mili- time as a POW. “There were times I didn’t the United States wars, only about 5 per- tary and prisoners of war Sunday during an think I would make it. cent are still living today. He said of this “I Love America” observance. “I’m no hero, by any means. The heroes number only about 500, based on his Local resident and Ex-POW Bill Norwood are still over there,” Norwood said, speaking research, are in good health. was recognized for his service in the Korean of those U.S. troops who died and were “I want you to know how honored we are War. buried there. today to have a [former] prisoner of war “Mr. Norwood was a prisoner of war from The Korean War had more than 7,000 with us today,” Coley said. “It’s a rare April 21, 1951, until Aug. 15, 1953. He was American POWs, Coley said. thing.” held in North Korea,” Pastor Brent Coley “Parents and grandparents, we have a World War II had the most POWs, with said. “Thank you, Mr. Norwood, for what responsibility to the younger generation, nearly 124,000 troops being held by enemy Banner photo, JOYANNA LOVE you endured as a prisoner of war, so that who have lived in great freedom with very GEAR AND MEMENTOS from military service were on display at we can enjoy our freedom.” little price of freedom in recent days, to See AMERICA, Page 18 Shenandoah Baptist Church for I Love America Sunday. Inside Today CU sales stronger in 2 of 3 divisions Electric lagging behind in May By RICK NORTON Associate Editor As Cleveland Utilities entered the gates of pre-summer — that U.S. wins Cup! is, the month of May — the Banner photo, HOWARD PIERCE Electric Division’s financials The United States women’s CONTESTANTS FOR THE 2016 Distinguished Young Women of Tennessee scholarship competition arrived in Cleveland Sunday. struggled with a net loss, but its soccer team jumped to an early A welcoming ceremony was held at Cleveland State Community College and a kickoff event was held Sunday evening at Bradley Water and Wastewater sister divi- 4-0 lead and easily defeated Square Mall. sions fared better by reporting Japan in the World Cup champi- operating income gains. onship Sunday in Vancouver, Marshall Stinnett, CU chief British Columbia. Dale Earnhardt financial officer, said for the Jr. drove to an early Monday month CU’s cost of purchased morning victory in the rain- Distinguished Young Women power was 78.6 percent. delayed Sprint Cup race in Purchased power refers to the Daytona Beach. The Atlanta local utility’s payments to TVA for Braves dropped the final game of electricity as a percentage of their weekend series with retail sales. Philadelphia. See Sports, Pages Cleveland welcomes 20 state contestants; In other words, of CU’s revenue 11-13. derived from its retail electric sales to residential and commer- week underway with rehearsals, projects cial customers, 78.6 percent of Long-term care that amount was paid to TVA for electricity at wholesale pricing. now a big issue Ashley’s advice: Rowland, Seymour For the year to date, which was Although most people save for comprised of 11 months because retirement with hopes that they’re greet DYW hopefuls the CU fiscal year ends June 30, saving enough, too few take into ‘Have some fun!’ the total purchased power per- consideration the expense of By TONY EUBANK centage was 82.2, Stinnett long-term care. The costs can be By BRIAN GRAVES Banner Staff Writer explained. The budgeted forecast crushing. See the guest Banner Staff Writer called for 83.2 percent. This year’s Distinguished Young Women “Viewpoint” on Page 14 of today’s “The results for May are elec- Ashley Stevens returns to Cleveland this of Tennessee competitors were welcomed to edition. tric sales revenue for the month week to relinquish the position she earned Cleveland Sunday by Mayor Tom Rowland of $7,490,610, which was offset here last year as Tennessee’s 2015 and Cleveland State Community College by purchased power [from TVA] of Distinguished Young Woman. Forecast President Bill Seymour at the George R. $6,155,974,” he said. “This “It’s been really nice,” Stevens said as Johnson Cultural Heritage Center on the resulted in an operating margin she spoke of the year just past. “I’ve been CSCC campus. of $1,334,636, which is com- mostly preparing for the national competi- Committee Co-Chair Nikki Wilks spoke pared to the budgeted amount of tion and going to all the programs in about the Distinguished Young Women $1,207,648.” Tennessee, meeting all the girls that are program, saying “It is one of the oldest Stinnett said revenue numbers coming to Cleveland this year.” scholarship programs for young women in were driven by an Electric That national competition brought the country. This is the 58th annual Division customer base of Stevens a Scholastics award and Daily Tennessee program.” 30,778. Diary award. Wilks continued, “We gather girls from Although CU’s purchased “It was very fun even if I didn’t place all across the state and they either partici- power percentage to TVA for the Today should be partly sunny, well,” she said. “All of the girls were amaz- pate in a local program where they are fiscal year is running slightly with a high near 87 degrees. ing.” selected by a panel of judges or they come lower than expected — which is She said one activity she’s been doing Tonight looks to be partly cloudy, from an at-large program, where they’re good news — the May ledgers still has been using her singing talent across still evaluated by a panel of judges. That’s showed a net loss for the month, with a low around 69. Tuesday’s the state. But, even the most talented can for girls that don’t have local programs in forecast calls for partly sunny skies, the CFO cited. However, the loss find themselves at the mercy of technology. their area.” was less than originally forecast. with a 30 percent chance of show- “I remember being in Cleveland and the She went on, “The girls are measured in ers or thunderstorms and a high Banner photo, HOWARD PIERCE “Operating expenses for the microphone wasn’t on. And, there was ASHLEY STEVENS, Distinguished the scholastic achievement, in fitness, in month of May were $1,467,396,” Rhea County, where it kept falling off my near 89. Tuesday night should be Young Woman of Tennessee 2015, advises public speaking, which is a category called Stinnett said. “The net loss for ear because we didn’t tape it,” she recalls ‘self-expression,’ but it is really measuring mostly cloudy with a slight chance the 2016 candidates to remember to have the month was $8,969. This is of rain, and a low around 72. with a laugh. “All of the little things that public speaking skills, talent, and an inter- compared to a budgeted net loss can go wrong in production will go wrong. fun this week during the 2016 DYW of view. Tennessee scholarship competition kickoff of $135,573.” Index See ASHLEY, Page 4 event at Bradley Square Mall. See DYW, Page 4 See CU SALES, Page 4 Classified................................16-17 Comics...........................................8 Editorials......................................14 Horoscope......................................8 MINI Pages.................................5-6 Pete VanDusen always loved firefighting Obituaries.......................................2 By TONY EUBANK department. He was constantly studying Sports......................................11-13 Banner Staff Writer and trying to improve his knowledge level TV Schedule..................................9 PERSONALITY up to the day that he retired.” Weather........................................10 Pete VanDusen has always wanted to VanDusen, now the training captain be a firefighter. He started working in fire with the Cleveland Fire Department, service right out of high school and knew PROFILE started working with the CFD in 1998, Around Town immediately that it was going to be his and before that was a volunteer firefight- career. er in Hamilton and Rhea counties for Taylor Jones enjoying a cook- He explained, “I started in an Explorer He added, “It comes back to taking about 10 years, starting fresh out of high out with family... Angela and program in Rhea County and so I got care of people. I don’t want to sound out of high school. Barry Mathis enjoying a beautiful introduced to it before I even got out of cliché, but it’s true.” He explained that he progressed rainbow ... Jimmy Strickland high school. I quickly developed a love VanDusen has an associate’s degree in through the ranks and began working as grilling up some great barbecue for it. I guess, at that age, it was proba- fire science and holds all basic firefighter the training captain about a year ago. ribs ... Nazareth Curtis having bly about the adrenaline rush and the certifications, including being a certified “We have 88 people right now and I’m some fun with fireworks ..