SPORTS: LOCAL NEWS: Lee kicks off a new Fowler ascends era with women’s from Explorer lacrosse: Page 11 to deputy: Page 8 162nd YEAR • No. 242 18 PAGES • 50¢ CLEVELAND, TN 37311 THE CITY WITH SPIRIT THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2017 Legislation is intended No. 12? to improve Veterans home transparency: Howell, Bell moves up, and By BRIAN GRAVES Banner Staff Writer down, on new State Rep. Dan Howell (R- Georgetown) calls it a “bill to close a loophole in lawmaking.” U.S. priority list House Government Operations Subcommittee By LARRY C. BOWERS Chairman Howell, along with Banner Staff Writer Senate Government Operations The Southeast Tennessee Veterans Home Council Committee Chairman Mike Bell has received some good news concerning prospects (R-Riceville) and Senate for the Cleveland/Bradley State Veterans Home. Commerce and Labor Committee This latest list from the U.S. Department of Chairman Veterans Affairs is being interpreted as mostly posi- Jack Johnson tive, but with a slight negative. (R-Franklin) Veterans Affairs has released its held a press 2017 priority list of VA State home conference construction grants, and the status this week in of a veterans home for Nashville, to Contributed photo Cleveland/Bradley County has announce the ONCE THE SOUTHEAST Tennessee Veterans gained ground — overall. introduction of Home is built on Westland Drive in Cleveland, the state Although the community and Howell new legislation will have five veterans facilities across the state. The state have met requirements of to ensure state’s newest veterans facility was opened last year in funding, approved property and the transparency, Clarksville (above photo). The state’s oldest treat- state’s acceptance of the project Brooks full vetting ment/care facility for veterans is the Murfreesboro cen- and design — the project had been and public ter, below. Two other centers are located in Humboldt slow in making its way up the fed- input regard- and Knoxville. eral priority list. ing “guides to On this list, the practice” for Cleveland/Bradley facility is 52nd all licensed on a list of 99 federal veterans professions in home projects. It is No. 12 among Bell Tennessee. 25 new construction proposals list- Guides to ed, where state matching funds are practice include the professions’ available. codes of ethics, voluntary certifi- Last year, the proposed veterans Rowland cation programs and other pro- home was listed at 66th in overall fessional measures that estab- projects and 11th in new construc- lish service quality standards in tion proposals. This means the Tennessee. local project has moved up 14 spots Senate Bill 449 requires all on the overall list, but dropped a professions which adopt guides space in the critical area of new to practice to promulgate rules construction proposals. subject to the state’s Uniform The big question is for local and Administrative Procedures Act. state officials: “Did we gain, or lose, Davis Any rules or code of ethics ground?” No one (outside of developed or approved by a pri- Washington, D.C.) seems to know, and an attempt by vate organization or association the Cleveland Daily Banner to reach the person in must be adopted in accordance the nation’s capital who compiled the list has been with the proposed law. The bill unsuccessful. also prescribes that guides to The proposed Cleveland/Bradley veterans home practice changes must be adopt- will be a $27 million-plus facility constructed on 28 ed in accordance with UAPA acres off Westland Drive in South Cleveland. The procedures. property has been accepted by the state, as well as Under the UAPA, a hearing on the design. the rules to formally adopt a State Rep. Kevin Brooks (R-Cleveland) and local code of ethics is generally held Veterans Home Council Chairman Cid Heidel have by the department of state gov- ernment which governs the pro- See VETERANS, Page 8 fession. The rules must be filed with the secretary of state. The rule’s draft is reviewed by the state attorney general to deter- mine its legality and constitu- tionality before moving forward SBA loans available to a hearing by the legislature’s ‘Forgotten Trial’ Joint Committee on Government Operations where the public has for tornado victims an opportunity to comment. If of 1958 reviewed By ALLEN MINCEY effective and customer- approved there, the rule has the Banner Staff Writer focused response possible to force and effect of law. All rules assist businesses of all sizes, must finally be approved by the by attorney-author The U.S. Small Business homeowners, and renters with full House of Representatives Administration is offering federal disaster loans,” said and Senate in the omnibus rules By BRIAN GRAVES loans to residents of Polk SBA’s Tennessee District bill which is considered each Banner Staff Writer County and Bradley County Director LaTanya Channel. year. affected by the severe weather “Getting businesses and com- “This legislation treats every- Jerry H. Summers, a lifelong resident of Chattanooga of Nov. 29 and 30. munities up and running after one fairly,” Bell said. “It not only and Hamilton County, is best known for his work as an These are the dates when a disaster is our highest prior- ensures that Tennesseans are attorney. the tornadic activity struck ity at SBA.” responsible for governing our He is also only one of around five attorneys in the area. McMinn County res- These are not Federal own professions, but that the Tennessee who has been selected for membership in the idents are also eligible for the Emergency Management rules or code of ethics are fully major honoraries based on legal ability and ethical crite- loans, as are Loudon, Meigs, Agency grants, but rather vetted and that Tennesseans ria. He is a fellow in the International Academy of Trial Monroe and Roane counties. loan, and must be paid back. Lawyers, American College of Trial Lawyers, The areas struck by the FEMA opted not to offer have an opportunity to weigh in Banner photo, BRIAN GRAVES on the rules that govern them. International Society of Barristers, and the American long-lasting drought of last grants to those affected by the Board of Trial Advocates. He is one of three attorneys in CHATTANOOGA attorney Jerry Summers year are also qualifiers for this The vetting includes a review by spoke to the Rotary Club of Cleveland on the storms. the State Attorney General.” Tennessee invited to join the American Board of assistance opportunity. Businesses and private "The focus of this bill is to Criminal Lawyers. legal, political, and judicial career of Raulston “The SBA is strongly com- nonprofit organizations may Schoolfield, including his impeachment and mitted to providing the people See LEGISLATION, Page 8 See FORGOTTEN, Page 8 removal from office as a judge. of Tennessee with the most See LOANS, Page 8 AROUND TOWN WEATHER INDEX Kayla Suits and Diane Hampton Today’s forecast calls for mostly sunny skies, Classified......................16-17 Obituaries.............................2 working on a special upcoming fam- with a high near 43. Northwest winds of around 15 ily event ... Courtney Marr being mph could gust as high as 25. Tonight should be Comics.................................6 Stocks...................................4 congratulated after being awarded mostly clear and cold, with a low around 25 Editorials.............................14 Sports.......................... 11-13 for “going the extra mile” ... Jeff degrees. Friday looks to be mostly sunny, with a Wagner enjoying the Super Bowl ... Horoscope............................6 TV Schedule.........................7 Jamie Mikel brushing up on his high near 58. Friday night calls for mostly clear dance moves. skies, with a low around 40. NASCAR............................18 Weather................................9 2—Cleveland Daily Banner—Thursday, February 9, 2017 www.clevelandbanner.com Big utilities try OBITUARIES to tilt solar (USPS 117-700) Periodical Postage Paid at Cleveland, TN 37320-3600 Post Office energy market POSTMASTER: Send Address Changes to: Banner, P.O. Box 3600, Cleveland, TN 37320-3600 Wayne Arp in Dalton, Ga. She loved to read, Winston S. Worley Published at 1505 25th Street, NW (P.O. Box 3600) work crossword puzzles and in Cleveland, TN 37320-3600, daily except Saturday Wayne Arp, 49, of Cleveland, embroidering. She was known Winston S. Worley, 63, of in their favor and Christmas day by Cleveland Newspapers, Inc. died Monday, Feb. 6, 2017. for having a “Green Thumb” and Englewood, died Wednesday, Phone (423) 472-5041. A Remembrance of Life serv- could grow any vegetables and Feb. 8, 2017, in a South Pittsburg INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana’s ice will be held Saturday, Feb. 11, flowers. Most of all, she loved health care facility. energy utilities want state lawmak- Ralph Baldwin Joyce Taylor 2017, at 11 a.m. from the being with her family. She attend- Survivors and arrangements ers to pass a law that critics say Editor & Publisher General Manager Wildwood Avenue Chapel of Jim ed the Baptist church. will be announced by Companion Rush Funeral and Cremation would muscle out smaller compa- Member of The Associated Press Survivors include her daughter, Funeral Home & Crematory. Services. nies from the emerging solar ener- Deborah Wilkins and her hus- The Associated Press is exclusively entitled to the use for publication of all news dispatches The family will receive friends gy market. credited to it or not otherwise credited in this newspaper, and also the local news of spontaneous origin band, Clarence, of Dalton, Ga.; Friday, Feb. 10, 2017, from 5 Solar power provides only about herein. 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