F R I D A Y 162nd YEAR • No. 144 OCTOBER 14, 2016 CLEVELAND, TN 20 PAGES • 50¢ TCCI studies state strengths and needs in regional gathering held in Cleveland By BRIAN GRAVES hear from those who are on the front lines and terms of our competitiveness.” Banner Staff Writer see things we don’t see.” He credited the work of the state Legislature He said it is also important that what the and said some of the “major things they have The Tennessee Chamber of Commerce and TCCI works on “reflects the business commu- enacted have been a game changer for Industry held its regional meeting in Cleveland nity and what we are hearing.” Tennessee.” Thursday and spoke of how the state once Jackson said “the facts speak for them- “If you look at the rankings now, Tennessee again is competitive in winning new business. selves” as to where Tennessee is as a state. always is up at the top,” Jackson said. “We have had a number of these across the “When you go back five to seven years, the “Tennessee has a massive budget surplus state and I believe this is probably the highest employer community had some major issues right now. That’s based on our economic turnout we have had,” said TCCI President we had to deal with,” he said. “When you look growth. It’s based on the market principle that Banner photo, BRIAN GRAVES Bradley Jackson. “The purpose of this is it at where we ranked competitively, Tennessee if you let things grow and keep government STATE REP. DAN HOWELL, left, speaks with Tennessee helps us form our legislative agenda, and it’s would get beat frequently by Georgia, North Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Bradley Jackson dur- important to us to stay out in the field and Carolina, Texas and a lot of other states in See TCCI, Page 12 ing the TCCI’s regional meeting Thursday in Cleveland. Coming Sunday Business women Tiffany tribute scheduled Diversity continues to grow in the Isaza business world, and one group that continues to make its mark is women. In Sunday’s edition, the Cleveland Daily Banner will present paroled its annual “Women in Business” special edition which is dedicated to Cleveland and Bradley County women who are succeeding in the by state business world. Don’t miss it! Contributed photo Banner photo, CHRISTY ARMSTRONG Inside Today A PORTABLE BUILDING which has for years been used at Taylor Elementary School recently got a makeover. At left, the build- board ing’s bland paint job makes it show its age. At right, new paint makes the building appear much more colorful. The school recently nicknamed the freshly painted building “The Cottage.” Action supported by Ledford family Taylor Elementary converts aged portable By BRIAN GRAVES Banner Staff Writer The Tennessee Board of Parole building into ‘The Cottage’ with artist’s aid has granted a parole to the woman who was intoxicated By CHRISTY ARMSTRONG When it came time to choose what the when she crashed into another Banner Staff Writer building should look like, it was decided vehicle, killing its driver and HIDDEN a mural could be painted on the side to starting a local movement for Though it is largely hidden from view to give it some child-friendly whimsy. stiffer penalties for driving under those passing by on Bates Pike, a The school ultimately recruited local the influence. portable building which got a facelift over CLEVELAND artist Hollye Kile to tackle the project. Tiffany L. Isaza, 35, was given the summer is now a source of pride at Kile is perhaps best known for her mural parole during a Taylor Elementary School. work, as some of her work can be found recent hearing. The building, now dubbed “The Kaylor said it was “too brittle” to stay put. in the hallways of several local schools. The parole Cottage,” was added to Taylor’s campus While this addressed one concern, Taylor Elementary commissioned Kile was granted years ago to help alleviate overcrowding. those affiliated with the school still want- to improve the building’s look by incorpo- pending an Though the building has continually ed to see something done about the rating bright colors and images of flowers a p p r o v e d served its purpose, its age had become building’s aged appearance. and trees. Kaylor said the artist also release plan. evident. After having a successful fall festival came up with the idea of adding “shut- She was Principal Elizabeth Kaylor said the last year, the Taylor Elementary School ters,” “window boxes” and other faux fin- ordered to per- dark weather stains which had formed on PTO decided to make the project a priori- ishes to make the building look “more form communi- the sides and torn vinyl skirting around ty. homey.” ty service and the bottom edge of the building did not Lady Raiders punch PTO President Kali LaDuke explained Kaylor said the painting project also enroll in a sub- Isaza make the building very welcoming. the 2015 fall festival was so successful it presented the school with an opportunity stance abuse state tourney ticket “It’s nice to see the transformation,” had “doubled” the previous year’s budget. to address a safety concern. Whenever it program. Isaza will also not be The Cleveland Lady Raiders Kaylor said. “It was really in need of “Our priority is always to support rained, the wooden stairs and ramps able to have a driver’s license for continued to improve on their something.” classroom instruction, but this gave us leading into the building would become four years. dream season, defeating With funds from Bradley County an opportunity to do something to beauti- too slippery for safe navigation. She was imprisoned in Murfreesboro Oakland to earn a Schools’ capital outlay budget, new metal fy our campus as well,” said LaDuke. To help address this, the steps and Nashville following her 2010 con- trip to the state volleyball tourna- skirting was placed around the bottom The PTO was able to give the school ramp were painted with a special paint viction on vehicular homicide ment. This week’s “Black and edge of the building. Before, school per- $4,800 to give the old portable building a and child endangerment in con- Gold Glory” entry features Steve sonnel had tried to patch the vinyl, but facelift. See TAYLOR, Page 12 nection with the APD 40 crash Bradford, the first African- that killed 24-year-old Dustin American to play football for the Ledford, and was to have Bears. The Tennessee Titans are remained incarcerated until looking to improve special teams September 2017. play. See Sports, Pages 13-15. She had also left her small See PAROLED, Page 12 Forecast Today looks to be mostly cloudy, DA Crump with a high near 81. Tonight’s fore- cast calls for mostly cloudy skies with a slight chance of showers, seeks new and a low around 60. Saturday should be partly sunny, with a high interlocal near 79. Saturday night calls for cloudy skies and a low around 59. agreement Index Contributed photo Banner photo, CHRISTY ARMSTRONG By BRIAN GRAVES NEW PAINT recently gave new life to a portable building used by students and teachers at Taylor Elementary School. At left, weath- Banner Staff Writer er-related stains make the building show its age. At right, the newly painted building blooms with colorful flowers and sports “homey” Church........................................6-7 faux finishes like window boxes and shutters. Tenth District Attorney General Classified................................17-19 Steve Crump is seeking approval Comics.........................................10 from the entities within the dis- Editorials......................................16 trict for a new interlocal coopera- Horoscope....................................10 tion and mutual aid agreement for Obituaries.......................................2 Motorists urged the Drug and Violent Crime Task Stocks............................................4 Force. Sports......................................13-15 He addressed the Bradley TV Schedule...............................8-9 to take caution C o u n t y Weather........................................11 C o m m i s s i o n earlier this week about Around Town at RR crossings executing a new memoran- Betty Chase Lee retiring from By ALLEN MINCEY dum of under- Banner Staff Writer a local hospital after 50 years ... standing. Sharon Kersey keeping “her next Recent events, including a fatality in McMinn “In 1988, the move” a secret ... Gene Smith at County, have led authorities to stress motorists need drug task force the animal shelter enjoying a to exercise caution at railroad crossings. formed under peach he was given ... Josh Presently, there are 26 railroad crossings in the leadership Cameron and Ronelle Bishop Crump Bradley County that are marked for safety. of the law feeling fortunate a recent hurri- They include 16 crossings that have gates that enforcement community and cane was not on the same ocean lower into place to halt traffic, four with flashing lights then-District Attorney Jerry where they were ... Beth, Lee and one that has a special warning. There are also five Estes,” Crump said. “At that time, and Cami Rainey almost settled with just the old-fashioned “crossbuck” sign design, it was a contributory agency only in their new home. in that all of the agents that composed of two slats of wood or metal fastened on a Banner photo, DONNA KAYLOR pole in a formation resembling the letter X, and point- MANY RAILROAD CROSSINGS, like this one on Wool Street in Charleston, have worked for it were contributed by ing out an active railroad crossing. law enforcement agencies.” gates that lower to stop traffic, but some motorists attempt to drive around the gates.