SPORTS: LOCAL NEWS: Casteel, Longwith CHS students still pursuing MLB plan Stuart dream: Page 11 project: Page 10 162nd YEAR • No. 243 20 PAGES • 50¢ CLEVELAND, TN 37311 THE CITY WITH SPIRIT FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2017 Vouchers, testing get resolutions by school board By CHRISTY ARMSTRONG Banner Staff Writer The Bradley County Board of Education has passed a series of resolutions board members hope will influence state legislation this year. The four resolutions passed Thursday offer the board’s views on school vouchers, state testing, physical education requirements and school accountability. Banner photo, LARRY C. BOWERS “All four of these resolutions we BETWEEN 40 AND 50 people turned out Thursday evening for the 5th District community meeting being sponsored by City Manager Joe Fivas and his staff. District 5 feel support public education and Councilman Dale Hughes, standing, opened the meeting in the Cleveland High School library. our teachers and students,” board Chairman Rodney Dillard said. “At the end of the day, that’s who we’re here for.” District 5 residents give ‘thumbs up’ to meetings The first resolution criticized state legislators’ approval of By LARRY C. BOWERS “It was unattainable. It 2016’s House Banner Staff Writer would have been in the neigh- Bill 155 and borhood of $60 million, The city concluded a series of dis- Senate Bill 300. because there are just too This directed trict community meetings Thursday many homes close to the evening, the fact-finding events laced the Tennessee roadway.” Department of with complimentary comments from — Jonathan Jobe those in attendance. Education to develop a grad- Career educator and Cleveland he said. ing system for City Schools administrator Kellye He said the information gathered, school account- Bender tossed out the compliments which will be provided to City Dillard ability which Thursday in the Cleveland High Council members, is a helpful tool to would assign each school letter School library. consider priority projects for the grades ranging from A to F. Under “Thank you for having these meet- future. The city is planning to put state Public Chapter 680, this new ings,” said Bender, a former Arnold together a three-year plan in the near grading system is set to take effect Memorial School principal. “The city’s future. during the 2017-18 school year. staff does a very good job, and we The Community Survey Meetings, “While accountability and trans- appreciate you.” which have been held in all five dis- parency are important, this new City Manager Joe Fivas, who has tricts, will conclude Feb. 24, and city law has the potential to create a coordinated the five meetings with staff will then compile the findings system that is misleading, and it respective Cleveland City Council for consumption by the Council. Well oversimplifies the factors that go members, responded to Bender’s over 900 surveys have been collected into educating a child,” said board praise, noting, “It’s a partnership, with residents’ comments. member Vicki Beaty. and a team effort.” But, there is one general forum The board resolution says the Fivas said after Thursday’s District session remaining. This session will new system will be “grossly mis- 5 meeting that city staff may look at be held at 3 p.m. next Wednesday, at leading to the public and will over- the possibility of continuing the com- the Museum Center at Five points. Banner photo, LARRY C. BOWERS simplify the link between poverty munity meetings, perhaps once each Fivas said this session is planned THERE WERE A NUMBER of discussions before the start of Thursday evening’s and low test scores, thus stigmatiz- year. for the afternoon, so downtown ing low-performing schools that “It’s a great way to get feedback on Cleveland business people can attend District 5 community meeting in the Cleveland High School library. At left, school board things we’re doing right, and for us chair Dawn Robinson talks with district resident Hugh Hogeman. At right, District 5 receive F’s, as well as the students to listen to concerns of our citizens,” See MEETINGS, Page 5 Councilman Dale Hughes, right, talks with retired Cleveland Utilities President Ken Webb. See SCHOOL BOARD, Page 5 Local first-time DA Steve Crump homebuyers are sees staffing as offered THDA aid big district need By LARRY C. BOWERS By ALLEN MINCEY Banner Staff Writer Banner Staff Writer Directors of the Tennessee Housing To better serve the public and prosecute those Development Agency are crossing the state guilty of crimes, more resources, which could this week, announcing the availability of mean prosecuting attorneys, are needed. $15,000 in downpayment assistance for first- That was the message presented by 10th time homebuyers. Judicial District Attorney General Steve Crump These “forgivable” funds, which will be treat- Thursday. Crump was the special guest speaker ed as a second mortgage, are targeting ZIP at the Cleveland Kiwanis Club’s weekly luncheon codes such as 37311 in Cleveland. The pro- meeting. gram is supported by $60 million in federal “It is different in the DA’s office, because we see funding. every criminal case,” Crump said. In other cases, Jeremy Heidt, director of Industry and those in court have individual attorney represen- Governmental Affairs for THDA, joined Banner photo, LARRY C. BOWERS Banner photo, ALLEN MINCEY tation. Cleveland Mayor Tom Rowland in making the THDA DIRECTOR of Industry and Governmental DISTRICT Attorney General Steve Crump was That is why the office needs additional Affairs Jeremy Heidt explains a new homebuyers the special speaker at Thursday’s Cleveland See THDA, Page 10 assistance program in Tennessee. Kiwanis Club luncheon. See CRUMP, Page 5 AROUND TOWN WEATHER INDEX Cameron Woody winning first Today looks to be sunny, with a high near 59 Church....................................6-7 Obituaries...................................2 place in her first dance competition degrees. South winds of 10 to 15 mph could gust as Classified.......................... Stocks......................................... of the season ... Chuck Blackmon high as 20. Tonight’s forecast calls for mostly clear 18-19 4 wearing out the cart path at a local skies, with a low around 41. Saturday calls for partly Comics....................................15 Sports................................11-13 country club ... Sarah Smith worried sunny skies and a slight chance of showers, with a high Editorials.................................14 TV Schedule.....................16-17 about her friends catching the flu from her. near 64. Saturday night calls for mostly cloudy skies Horoscope..............................15 Weather..................................10 and a 30 percent chance of rain, with a low around 56. 2—Cleveland Daily Banner—Friday, February 10, 2017 www.clevelandbanner.com Jerry Wade Jerry Wade, 77, of Benton, died Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017, in OBITUARIES a local hospital. (USPS 117-700) Survivors and funeral arrangements will be Periodical Postage Paid at Cleveland, TN 37320-3600 Post Office announced by Higgins Funeral POSTMASTER: Send Address Changes to: Banner, P.O. Box 3600, Cleveland, TN 37320-3600 Home. Published at 1505 25th Street, NW (P.O. Box 3600) in Cleveland, TN 37320-3600, daily except Saturday to submit an obituary, have the funeral home or cremation and Christmas day by Cleveland Newspapers, Inc. society in charge of arrangements e-mail the information to obitu- Phone (423) 472-5041. [email protected] and fax to 423-614-6529, attention Obits. Ralph Baldwin Joyce Taylor Editor & Publisher General Manager host of special friends. She graduated from Member of The Associated Press The funeral will be held at 1 Cleveland High, Cleveland The Associated Press is exclusively entitled to the use for publication of all news dispatches p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, 2017, in State Community College, and credited to it or not otherwise credited in this newspaper, and also the local news of spontaneous origin the chapel of John P. Franklin the University of Tennessee at Judy Walk herein. All rights of all other material herein are as reserved. ©2016 Cleveland Newspapers, Inc. Funeral Home, 1101 Dodds Chattanooga. Judy Walk, 67, of Cleveland, SUBSCRIPTION RATES Avenue in Chattanooga. The She was employed by Santec died Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017, at the family residence. Publishser Reserves the Right to Change Rates Without Notice interment will be in Highland Waste Services’ Corporate Print Only 3 months 6 Months 1 Year Monthly Daily Cemetery. Offices, Chattanooga. Survivors and funeral Carrier Collect Rate * $6.75 arrangements will be The body will lie in reprose She is survived by her son, By Carrier Home / Business Delivery $20.00 $38.00 $ 75.00 after noon today, and the family Nicholas Hayden Dean, a sen- announced by the North Ocoee By Mail inside Zip 307 $25.00 $45.00 $ 85.00 will receive friends from 7 to 8 Chapel of Jim Rush Funeral By Mail outside Zip 307 in TN, GA $38.00 $55.00 $105.00 ior at Cleveland High School; By Mail Outside TN $38.00 $67.00 $130.00 p.m. at funeral home. and Glenda Morrow, Amy and and Cremation Services. Sam Blankenship, and Sheree Print + E-Edition By Carrier Home / Business Delivery $21.25 $40.25 $ 79.25 Joe Cox Delk. By Mail inside Zip 307 $26.25 $47.25 $ 90.50 A graveside service will be By Mail outside Zip 307 in TN, GA $40.00 $58.00 $112.00 Joe Cox, 75, died Thursday, By Mail Outside TN $40.50 $71.00 $137.00 held at Sunset Memorial Feb. 9, 2017, in a Chattanooga Gardens on Saturday, Feb. 11, E-Edition Only $26.85 $53.70 $107.40 $8.95 $1.95 health care facility. 2017, at 2 p.m. with Bro. Sam Survivors and arrangements Wayne Arp Blankenship, officiating. Office Hours: Monday-Friday: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.