T H U R S D A Y 162nd YEAR • No. 77 JULY 28, 2016 CLEVELAND, TN 20 PAGES • 50¢ Area wallets warming up for start of annual Sales Tax Holiday Friday By RICK NORTON islative delegation whose foursome endorsed Now in its 11th year, the Sales Tax Holiday Associate Editor the action. is credited with being a major boost for par- The holiday, which exempts many items on ents whose children are now entering back- Unlike past years, Tennessee’s annual store shelves from state sales tax — about a to-school mode, and that means new supplies Sales Tax Holiday in 2016 is arriving in July 10 percent savings in total cost — was in growing numbers. Plus, it’s not all about — instead of August — and that means some launched beginning August 2006, with the school supplies. The unique weekend grants significant savings for Cleveland and Bradley Legislature’s passage of Public Chapter 398 a savings on a diverse list of items, some of County families well ahead of the start of (Tennessee Code Annotated Section 67-6- which don’t necessarily have a direct connec- school. 393). tion to school. Traditionally landing on the first weekend This year, the three-day march to savings “This Sales Tax Holiday has been a tremen- in August, the tax savings opportunity has starts at 12:01 a.m. Friday and ends at 11:59 dous success," according to state Sen. Mike been moved up a week, thanks to a change in p.m. Sunday. state law, according to Bradley County’s leg- See WALLETS, Page 10 Inside Today Brooks, Howell endorse session to oust Durham Mustangs hot on the trail Legislators among signers of petition The Walker Valley Mustangs Contributed photo are staggering practice times, THIS JONES AIRWAYS aircraft, a Falcon 900, played a major role in making possible a benefit concert this week in Dallas by a hoping to find some relief from By BRIAN GRAVES large number of country music stars. It was held to help the families of seven slain police officers. From left are Jan Smith, Jones Banner Staff Writer the relentless heat of fall camp. Airways; Wally Fowler, The Oak Ridge Boys; Patrick Butler, Jones Airways; musicians Rod Landers, T.G. Sheppard, Ronald The TSSAA has reset districts Two local legislators have and regions in a realignment McDowell, Collin Raye, John Conley, Kelly Lane, T.G. Brown and Richard Sterban (Oak Ridge Boys); Shaun Barry, Jones Airways; Duane Allen and Darrick Kinslow, Oak Ridge Boys; Adam Tyler, Jones Airways; and Joe Bonsall, Oak Ridge Boys. signed a petition endorsing a move. Tennessee Titans head special session of the state coach Mike Mularkey feels the Legislature to oust state Rep. team is a good fit for his third Jeremy Durham (R-Franklin). NFL coaching job. The Atlanta State Reps. Kevin Brooks and Braves swept a two-game series Dan Howell have signed that from the Twins. See Sports, Flying some friendly skies petition along with House Pages 13-15. Majority Leader Gerald McCormick (R-Chattanooga) Shootings are not and GOP House Caucus Jones Airways aircraft opens Falcon wings Chairman Glen Casada (R- fault of the guns Thompson’s Station). A recent report by Tennessee America’s seemingly never- to make benefit concert possible in Dallas A t t o r n e y ending string of mass shootings G e n e r a l over the past few years is a hor- Special to the Banner streamed online so that fans across the Herbert H. world could watch. Active police officers rible statement about violence in Country music’s biggest stars didn’t “I am a lifelong supporter of Slattery III this country, but one writer says were given free admission if they detailed allega- hesitate when asked to perform a spe- law enforcement and when I showed their badge at the gate. not to be so quick to blame cial concert for slain Dallas police offi- heard about the concert, I tions of inap- The sold-out event was made possible propriate sexu- guns. See the guest “Viewpoint” cers — and Cleveland businessman and wanted to help.” — Allan Jones largely because the company Jones on Page 16 of today’s edition. philanthropist Allan Jones didn’t hesi- al contact or Airways offered the use of its Falcon interactions tate to offer the free use of his state-of- 900 for the flight from Nashville to the-art Falcon 900 aircraft for them. traveled from as far away as California with 22 women Texas. The company, based in by Durham Forecast On Wednesday, Tanya Tucker, Randy to be a part of the history. Cleveland, uses its high-performance, involving leg- Travis, “Elvira” hit-makers the Oak The legends performed Wednesday Brooks Today’s outlook is for mostly tri-engine plane to provide travel for islative staff Ridge Boys and other celebrities joined night at “Stars Behind the Stars: a celebrities and corporations across the cloudy skies and a 60 percent Benefit for the Blue” at the famous Billy members, an with Jones for what some in the enter- nation. intern and lob- chance of showers or thunder- tainment industry called “the most Bob’s Texas club in Fort Worth. Tickets sold so quickly that the event was byists. storms, with a high near 91. important concert of the year.” Fans See FLYING, Page 10 D u r h a m Southwest winds of 10 to 15 mph announced he could gust as high as 25. Tonight’s was suspend- forecast calls for cloudy skies and a ing his re-elec- continued 60 percent chance of Issue of using BMH tion campaign, rain, with a low around 72. Friday Political forum set but has denied looks to be mostly cloudy, with a 40 the charges percent chance of rain and a high proceeds for county and refused to Howell near 87. Friday night calls for most- for tonight at 7 resign, despite ly cloudy skies and a 30 percent calls from loans now on hold House Speaker Beth Harwell, chance of rain, with a low around at Lee University Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey and Gov. 73. Saturday calls for clouds and a By BRIAN GRAVES By BRIAN GRAVES Bill Haslam. 50 percent chance of rain, with a Banner Staff Writer Banner Staff Writer Both Harwell and Ramsey high near 90. Saturday night calls have said they would be sup- The motion by local attorney Ginger Wilson Candidates for offices in the city of portive of a special session to for clouds and a slight chance of Buchanan to intervene in Bradley County’s Cleveland and Bradley County elections act on the matter. rain, with a low around 71. Chancery Court motion to approve a plan for mak- have been invited to participate in a non- According to figures provided ing interfund loans from the proceeds of the sale of partisan forum to be held tonight. by the state Department of Bradley Memorial Hospital is now on hold. Index The Bradley County Bar Association and Treasury, Durham would be eli- Chancellor Jerri S. Bryant told counsels on both the Cleveland Lions Club will co-sponsor gible for $4,130 in annual pen- Classified................................18-19 sides Wednesday she has a relationship by mar- Comics...........................................8 Jerri Bryant See FORUM, Page 6 Editorials......................................16 See BMH, Page 10 See ENDORSE, Page 6 Horoscope......................................8 NASCAR......................................17 Obituaries.......................................2 Stocks............................................4 Few gala tables, seats remain for O’Neill Sports......................................13-15 TV Schedule..................................9 By RICK NORTON underway at 6 p.m. with attendees view- often called on to conduct special opera- Weather........................................11 Associate Editor ing all silent and live auction items while tions missions. enjoying wine and hors d’oeuvres, accord- The incursion that took out bin Laden A limited number of tables and individ- ing to Robert Anderson, gala chairman. came May 2, 2011, when a 23-member Around Town ual seats remain for the seventh annual A five-star dinner will be served at 7 SEALS team — which included O’Neill — Bradley Sunrise Sunset Gala whose p.m. infiltrated Pakistan and ended with the Jonathan Higdon looking for- keynote speaker is Navy SEAL Robert J. Anderson credited the caliber of speak- nighttime siege of the al Qaida terrorist’s ward to Friday ... Lynnae Roberts O’Neill, the military commando reported to er, as well as the diverse set of auction compound in Abbottabad. arranging a classroom ... Betty be the trigger man who took out 9/11 items, for the landslide sales of gala tick- “With most of his career shrouded in a Fetzer going for a nice ride on a mastermind Osama bin Laden. ets. classified cloak, O’Neill was the man on beautiful day with son David ... Set for the Cleveland Country Club, the “Thanks to our speaker this year, we’ve the ground we have never heard of but Tyra Murphy helping a friend set annual fundraiser will be held Saturday, reached an entirely new audience from know exists,” Anderson said. “He was one up the perfect cruise. Aug. 13. previous galas which have typically fea- of the quiet professionals performing the O’Neill will meet with members of the tured a sports theme,” Anderson told the most difficult tasks in the most difficult local news media at 5:15 p.m. before Cleveland Daily Banner. circumstances, serving his remarkable attending a private meet-and-greet with The longtime Bradley Sunrise Rotarian career in the shadows and keeping Silver, Gold, Platinum and Diamond-level said O’Neill epitomizes the courage of 6489076 75112 table sponsors.