FRIDAY 162nd YEAR • NO. 24 MAY 27, 2016 CLEVELAND, TN 22 PAGEs • 50¢ Dyer named new city schools director Education veteran comes to Cleveland from Collierville By LARRY C. BOWERS was from Dr. Murl Dirksen, who was out fired in February for conduct unbecoming was the contract approved for Ringstaff. Banner Staff Writer of the country and unable to cast his bal- a school system official. Assistant Cathy Cagle will then forward the proposal to lot. Goodman has since served as interim Dyer (and his legal adviser) for approval or Cleveland Board of Education members Dyer was selected by the board over director. a submission of possible changes or were in complete agreement Thursday on Knox County Assistant Superintendent Cogdill made the motion to select Dyer amendments. the selection of a new director of schools. Dr. Elizabeth Alves. They were the final on Thursday afternoon, with a second Board members are hopeful the con- Board Chair Dawn Robinson, Peggy two candidates from 26 applicants in the from Pesterfield. tract can be approved as soon as possible, Pesterfield, Charlie Cogdill, Tom Cloud, director search, which began three Following Thursday’s vote, the board since by state law the contract must be Steve Morgan and George Meacham all months ago with the assistance of a also approved a contract proposal for the signed by June 19 due to time restrictions voted for Collierville Schools Chief of Staff Tennessee School Board Association new director. They also voted to utilize the in an election year. Dr. Russell Dyer to take over the search committee. legal services of School Board Attorney Once an agreement is reached, Dyer will Cleveland City Schools at the start of the Dyer, who has spent his 20-year career Chuck Cagle in contract negotiations. take over the school system at the start of 2016-17 school year July 1. in Shelby County, will replace former Cagle will review the contract proposal, Dr. Russell Dyer The only board vote Dyer did not receive director Dr. Martin Ringstaff, who was with which he is familiar. The guideline See DYER, Page 6 Inside Today ‘Jane Doe’ Bradley motion by jobless American figure Atheists headed for at 3.6%; U.S. court lowest in County says ID 15 years a ‘moot’ point In May 2001, By BRIAN GRAVES rate was 2.9% Johnson dashes to Banner Staff Writer The parties involved with the By RICK NORTON sixth-place finishes lawsuit by American Atheists Inc. Associate Editor Banner file photo, HOWARD PIERCE Cleveland speedster Tiyanna and “Jane Doe” against Bradley Anchored by increased hiring Johnson reached the podium County and Sheriff Eric Watson INTERsTATE 75 can become more congested than usual as travelers make their way to Memorial Day weekend activities and/or summer vacation destinations. As seen here in an Exit 20 in construction, retail trade, twice Thursday evening at the will go before a U.S. District Court tourism and temporary services, Spring Fling track and field finals Magistrate judge on June 8, to file photo, the Bradley County stretch of the busy roadway stays busy throughout the year. The Bradley County’s unemployment in Murfreesboro, finishing sixth in argue their positions on the issue Memorial Day weekend will be even worse. rate in April dipped to its lowest both the 100-meter dash and the of proceeding with one of the mark in 15 years. 200-meter dash. Bradley plaintiff’s names remaining with- At 3.6 percent, the local figure Central’s Spencer Goode is seek- held. plunged another two-tenths of 1 ing to stand atop the podium with But, Bradley County is saying percent from the March tally of a first-place medal in the shot put. the unintended release of a docu- ‘Start your engines’ 3.8. See Sports, Pages 13-15. ment with the apparent “Jane Larry Green, labor market ana- Doe” identified makes the entire lyst for the Tennessee National parks matter moot. Law enforcement patrols set Department of Labor and Magistrate Judge Susan Lee Workforce Development, told the get sponsors? signed the order Tuesday which Cleveland Daily Banner on will allow, at the request of both Thursday his research indicates Facing an $11 billion backlog in parties, for all concerned to for heavy roadway presence unfunded maintenance projects, the local jobless mark hasn’t been “await ruling on the motion” until this low since May 2001, when the National Park Service is tin- after a June 8 injunction hearing. By ALLEN MINCEY eled times of the year. and we want to be proactive in kering with the definition of phi- Banner Staff Writer “This weekend officially preventing accidents from the figure plummeted to 2.9 per- That will leave in place the cent. lanthropy. It is granting corporate order to maintain the status quo kicks off the start of summer occurring.” sponsors the opportunity to Officials expect this vacation season, and it will Bradford said that the “Based on what I can find, I in the public entity’s ability to Memorial Day holiday weekend don’t believe Bradley County has prominently display logos and release information about “Jane produce a high volume of vehi- BCSO will have extra patrols gain limited naming rights at the to be the second-highest as far cles on roadways,” said on the roadways throughout been down this low in a long, long Doe.” as travel on record since 2005. time,” he said. nation’s 411 national parks, mon- As reported in the Cleveland Bradley County Sheriff’s Office the weekend, especially in uments and conservation areas. Nationwide, law enforcement Public Relations Director areas that have higher inci- Green called his findings “unof- Daily Banner in the newspaper’s is planning on high traffic vol- ficial,” and pointed out seasonal For one person’s perspective, see May 15 edition, an error by the James Bradford. “In 2015, dents of traffic accidents and the guest “Viewpoint” on Page 16 ume. Locally, local enforce- eight people were killed in traf- reckless driving. patterns can be partially credited. plaintiff’s attorney allowed a ment is also prepared for an However, it’s also indicative of a of today’s edition. county phone log with the appar- fic accidents across the state “The Sheriff’s Office will be influx of motorists, both to of Tennessee during the highly visible having a ‘zero strengthening economy; at least, ent “Jane Doe” identified. and through the area. from the perspective of the The event happened as the Memorial Day weekend. tolerance’ for violators driving Forecast Memorial Day is the unoffi- Fortunately, Bradley County impaired or reckless,” employment base, he said. Banner had submitted a Freedom cial start of summer, and is Bradley’s rate notches it in a of Information request for those didn’t experience any fatal Today’s outlook is for mostly one of the most heavily trav- accidents during that time, two-way tie with Johnson County See ENGINES, Page 7 for the 15th lowest unemploy- sunny skies, but there is also a See COURT, Page 6 slight chance of showers and thun- ment rate among Tennessee’s 95 derstorms. The high should be counties. The mark compares favorably to the statewide figure around 87. Tonight should be partly of 4.3, and the national rate of 5 cloudy, with a low around 64. Law committee hears resident’s complaints percent. Saturday looks to be mostly sunny, By BRIAN GRAVES "was not taking us seriously" and said the feels like the police didn't do the right thing. “It’s just another really good with a high near 86. Saturday night Banner Staff Writer man with the rifle should have been arrest- He can take out a self-warrant or prepare a report on employment for Bradley should be partly cloudy, with a low ed on the spot. case file and take it to a grand jury. These County, as well as for surround- around 64. Members of the Bradley County "The whole issue with this situation is we are safeguards that are in place for the citi- ing counties,” Green stressed. Commission’s Law Enforcement committee weren't brought into this situation," Ptak zens." “Bradley is looking very good Index told a county resident Thursday his com- told the committee. "We were on the scene Smith added that in this case the BCSO compared to other counties ... but plaints are those for the ears of a judge. the whole time. But, they take [the state- stands behind the decision of the officers then, they’re looking strong, too.” Church........................................8-9 Josh Ptak had addressed the ment] of bystanders who weren't even at the involved "100 percent." A year ago Bradley County’s Classified................................20-21 Commission on Monday expressing his con- scene. They scattered over there to take BCSO Director of Communications James jobless rate was strong, but it Comics.........................................17 cerns over how Bradley County deputies their reports and we had to beg several Bradford described the steps that were pales in comparison to 2016. handled a situation on Young Road where a times for them to take ours." taken at the Young Road incident. “In April 2015, the rate was 5 Editorials......................................16 resident was reportedly in his yard with a percent in Bradley County,” Horoscope....................................17 "Our officers have to make discretionary "The Sheriff's Office responded. The rifle and had threatened himself along with decisions every day and they make thou- investigators talked to witnesses which val- Green said. “As good as that was, Obituaries.......................................2 his vehicle passenger and those in another sands every year," said BCSO Chief Deputy idated everybody's statements as far as the the county is now down to 3.6.” Stocks............................................4 vehicle.