FRIDAY 161st YEAR • NO. 240 FEBRUARY 5, 2016 CLEVELAND, TN 22 PAGES • 50¢ Lawsuit hits state marriage laws Legal action by local pastor, county commissioner By BRIAN GRAVES “provisions of the Tennessee law relative to the licensing along with the state’s attorney general’s office and the Thompson Simpson Banner Staff Writer of marriages are no longer valid and enforceable” after the state organization of county officials, to prompt her office U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in July which opened the of the decision. A local minister and county commissioner have filed a door to legal same-sex marriages in the United States. The suit lists eight “causes of action” to make the case lawsuit against Donna Simpson, in her official capacity The plaintiffs also claim the issuance of marriage for the plaintiffs. They are: as Bradley county clerk, requesting a declaratory judg- licenses “under these circumstances violates their afore- 1. Plaintiffs are uncertain if the criminal sanctions ment on the status of Tennessee’s marriage laws and the said rights under the Tennessee Constitution.” apply to them, “because if the licensing laws for marriage criminal sanctions as they might apply to them Also requested in the lawsuit is an order for Simpson’s are no longer valid and enforceable ... there may be no The Rev. Guinn Green, pastor of Kinser Church of God, office to cease issuing marriage licenses. valid license for them to sign and return to the defendant. and Bradley County Commissioner Howard Thompson Bradley County issued its first such same-sex marriage Plaintiffs are also uncertain as to whether they can be filed the suit in Bradley County Circuit Court Thursday license only hours after the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling compelled to return a license submitted after the date of morning. in June 26. The suit seeks a decision that would declare those At that time, Simpson said her office had been waiting, See LAWSUIT, Page 5 Green Fowler Inside Today Opaso case gets ‘deferred status,’ Banner photo, LARRY C. BOWERS THE JUDGING PANEL at Thursday’s Youth of the Year competition at the Cleveland-Bradley County Chamber of Commerce says DA includes, from left, Ed Jacobs, Karen Jacobs, Phyllis Dill, Lisa Geren, Bonnie Hathcock, Eric Moyen, Kim Casteel, Holly Tarver, Mike Griffin, Kay McDaniel and Bridgette Slack. The Youth of the Year winner will be announced Monday, Feb. 22. Former student returns to Nigeria Warlick wins 100th By ALLEN MINCEY The Tennessee women’s bas- Seven teens compete Banner Staff Writer ketball team handed coach Holly Warlick her 100th career victory Olayinka Opaso, the former Lee with a win over Arkansas. Bradley University student who posted Central High School celebrated for ‘Youth of the Year’ threats to kill and harm over 100 the signings of two more athletes people on campus, is back in his By LARRY C. BOWERS tion. Two young ladies won state titles, homeland of Nigeria, per an agree- to colleges scholarships. Haley regional titles in Atlanta, and advanced Yarber will be playing soccer at Banner Staff Writer ment reached by the local District to the national finals in Washington, Attorney’s office. the University of North Alabama Seven young people will be waiting D.C. and Trevon Ware signed to play The case against him, however, anxiously for the next 13 days to find One was national runner-up a few is not closed, but football at Bethel University. See out who is 2016 Youth of the Year for the years ago. Sports, Pages 11-13. in a “deferred sta- Boys & Girls Clubs of the Ocoee Region. This year’s Ocoee Region winner will tus,” which This year’s competition began be announced at the Youth of the Year means that Parents also need Thursday evening at the Awards Banquet, scheduled for 6:30 Opaso can be Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of p.m. Monday, Feb. 22, at the OCI on p r o s e c u t e d to be advocates Commerce. Between 40 and 50 people Urbane Road. should he Parents take on many different attended the event. Thursday’s competitors presented a attempt to return roles in the lives of their children: Three middle-schoolers are competing speech, details of life’s challenges, and to the United in the Junior Youth of the Year title, but cheerleader, counselor, teacher, how the club has made a difference in States. are ineligible for the overall title due to their lives. Opaso friend and so many more. A role we Banner photo, LARRY C. BOWERS Tenth Judicial their age. Four high school students are A judging panel of 11 community don't hear about as often though is 2015 YOUTH of The Year Gaby Ortiz, seat- District Attorney entered in the Senior Division, with the leaders listened to the teenagers’ pre- General Steve advocate. For one person’s per- winner advancing to state competition in sentations, then conducted an intensive ed, gets a big hug from her younger sister, Brenda. Brenda is seeking the Junior Youth of Crump said that spective, see the guest “Viewpoint” Nashville the final week of March. question-and-answer session with each having Opaso on Page 14 of today’s edition. The Cleveland-area clubs have been the Year title for this year’s Boys & Girls Clubs return to Nigeria very successful in the national competi- See YOUTH OF THE YEAR, Page 8 competition. was a decision Forecast reached by his office after speak- ing with law enforcement and Crump Banner photo, LARRY C. BOWERS informally with TEENAGERS competing the general coun- for this year’s Boys & Girls sel for Lee Clubs Youth of the Year titles University. Opaso include, from left, Quentin was a student at Lee when the Scott, Wendy Armenta, posting on the Ellissa Lawson, Richard social media site Today looks to be sunny, with a “Rickey” Burke, Brenda Ortiz, Yik Yak was high near 46. Tonight should be Dawson Tyler and Embry made. mostly clear, with a low around 26. Barks. “We have deter- Kanavos Saturday’s forecast calls for mined that while increasing clouds, with a high near Mr. Opaso considered his actions 50. Saturday night’s skies should in the nature of a prank, the effects were extremely serious,” be mostly cloudy during the early Crump told the Cleveland Daily evening, then gradually clear. Lows Banner on Thursday. should be in the upper 20s. The attorney general said that Opaso has returned to Nigeria Index Cooke’s helps “and will not return to this coun- try. Should he attempt to re-enter Church........................................6-7 Basket Fund the United States, we will prose- Classified................................19-21 cute him for the offenses he com- mitted.” Comics.........................................15 exceed goal Opaso was charged with com- Editorials......................................14 mission of an act of terrorism in By ALLEN MINCEY Horoscope....................................15 early October. The post he admit- Banner Staff Writer ted to sending said “there would be Obituaries.......................................2 The William Hall Rodgers a shooting at Lee (University) next Stocks............................................4 Fund reached and exceeded its week and 53 students would die Sports......................................11-13 goal this past holiday season and 59 injured.” He told Cleveland Police in an TV Schedule...........................16-17 due to the support of the com- munity, and of the special gift Oct. 13 interview that he posted Weather..........................................9 made by Cooke’s Food Stores the threat on Yik Yak “to get a and Fresh N’ Low markets. reaction and as a joke,” and he That donation was a record wrote an apology letter to the stu- Around Town by Cooke’s, reaching over dents of Lee University for posting Johnny and James Townsend $13,000 that will be used for the threat. A request by the getting new fishing equipment on the Christmas basket program Banner for a copy of the letter was their day off ... Kristie Hines for 2016. Donations that are denied by Lee University officials. being “one happy mother” ... raised in one Christmas period He was released on a $75,000 Cindy Brewer saying she’s “lov- are used to supply the baskets bond, much of which was raised ing this weather” ... Debbie for the next season, so funds by faculty and students at Lee who Williams proclaiming Traci Fant raised this past year will go sympathized with Opaso. He had to be a saint ... Callie Jacobsen toward the coming holiday. been suspended from the universi- cruising around on her new four- “We have never had that ty following his actions. Opaso’s attorney — Scott wheeler. much raised before,” said Todd Banner photo, ALLEN MINCEY Duggan, project coordinator. Kanavos of Cleveland — has char- COOKE’S FOOD STORE and the two local Fresh N’ Low markets raised over $13,000 for the acterized Opaso as a young man “It went very well this year, William Hall Rodgers Christmas Basket Fund. The donation was presented to program officials and we prepared 961 baskets who had trouble with the English Thursday. From left are Cooke’s Food Store manager Keith Scott; program director Todd Duggan; and language, and was not sure of the See COOKE'S, Page 5 board members Horace Coffey and John Bryan. 6489076 75112 See OPASO, Page 8 2—Cleveland Daily Banner—Friday, February 5, 2016 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 James Vaughn Published at 1505 25th Street, NW (P.O. Box 3600) Nelson Artie Goldston Douglas Ray Shelton in Cleveland, TN 37320-3600, daily except Saturday Hembree Donohue Nelson Artie Goldston, 28, died Douglas Ray Shelton, 59, son James Vaughn, 87, of and Christmas day by Cleveland Newspapers, Inc.