SPORTS: LOCAL NEWS: Raiders ride Sen. Mike Bell unbeaten mark gets legislation to state: Page 9 award: Page 4 163rd YEAR • No. 19 16 PAGES • 50¢ CLEVELAND, TN 37311 THE CITY WITH SPIRIT MONDAY, MAY 22, 2017 Local surgeon Dr. Ron Coleman reflects on recent medical mission to Mosul, Iraq By CHRISTY ARMSTRONG thing is that the Iraqi military moved out of Mosul, and their plans. [email protected] and this had to do with ISIS.” Coleman shared some statistics from the World With the on-the-ground influence of the American Health Organization which detailed how IS has War is continuing to ravage the communities in the and Iraqi troops gone, Coleman said this gave the allegedly carried out thousands of executions of peo- Middle East affected by forces like the terrorist group Islamic State group the chance to take over the city. ple in Iraq. which calls itself the Islamic State, also called ISIS in He noted the group initially won the trust of some According to those numbers, IS executed about some circles. of the people there by promising food and other 750 Shia Muslims with ties to local military. The That was the assessment of local surgeon Dr. Ron resources. He noted their presence “was not heavy- group’s leadership is made up of Muslims from a Coleman, who recently returned from a humanitari- handed, initially.” rival division of the Islamic religion, the Sunni. an medical mission in Mosul, Iraq. There were also numerous executions carried out Speaking to the Bradley Sunrise Rotary Club on innocent civilians. For example, a group of recently, he recounted how he saw the tangible “Over 7,000 people were executed. These are not military deaths. These are execu- teenagers were said to have been executed for watch- effects of war every day. ing a soccer game against the wishes of the terror Coleman recently volunteered at a field surgical tions for various things they did not like.” — Dr. Ron Coleman group. hospital in Mosul set up by an organization called Numerous families — including ones with children Samaritan’s Purse, in partnership with the World — were also executed if they tried to escape and Banner photo, CHRISTY ARMSTRONG Health Organization. “The people thought this was a good thing,” move elsewhere, Coleman said. He explained the area has in recent years been rife Coleman said. “It was later when they started setting He added some 250 women were also said to have with conflict, leading to many injuries and casualties. up their Sharia law and everything they did,” that the DR. RON COLEMAN, a local surgeon, speaks been executed “because they wouldn’t be sex slaves.” to the Bradley Sunrise Rotary Club about the “In 2014, two things happened in Mosul that were citizenry felt oppressed. “Over 7,000 people were executed. These are not significant,” Coleman said. “The first thing was that Later, things did escalate, and those with the ter- time he spent helping out at a field surgical hos- the American military moved out of Iraq. The second rorist group began killing those who opposed them See COLEMAN, Page 8 pital in wartorn Mosul, Iraq. Operation Compassion CU battles Nonprofit long power based here, outages on but heals the world busy night By CHRISTY ARMSTRONG [email protected] Weekend storm When tragic circumstances like natural disasters and widespread impacts 28,000 poverty devastate an area, chari- ties and volunteers are often set By LARRY C. BOWERS into action to help. However, there [email protected] is much that goes on behind the scenes to make many of those Cleveland Utilities crews were in South efforts a reality. Cleveland late Saturday night to address a Necessities like water, food and lengthy power outage caused by a furious thun- blankets are often given to people derstorm which swept through the area. in need by charities around the The rain, lightning and wind struck around 9 world. What many people don’t p.m. Saturday. know is exactly how those items Customer Relations Representative Jamie get to the places they are needed Creekmore said this morning that the outages the most. ranged over a wide are, though the most serious Operation Compassion, a were in South Cleveland. 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization The first outages were reported just after 9 p.m. based in Cleveland, is one group Power was restored to several residences by 11:30 which equips organizations all p.m., but others lingered until 4:30 a.m., and all over the world to help people in Contributed photo customers were back on line by 5 a.m. Sunday. need. Some 28,000 utility customers lost power during A YOUNG BOY watches with wide eyes as a humanitarian worker looks to see if a particular shirt might fit him. See COMPASSION, Page 4 Operation Compassion ships items of clothing all over the world to help people who need them. See OUTAGES, Page 8 Personality Blythe-Bower’s Judy Cobb saying Profile goodbye after long 38-year career By SARALYN NORKUS the five principals she had the opportunity to work [email protected] with during her time at the elementary school. “Awesome, amazing … patient, kind, there are not May 16, 2017, was officially declared “Judy Cobb enough good things that can be stated about that THROUGHOUT HER 38-year Day” by Cleveland Mayor Tom Rowland, as staff of career, Judy Cobb has worked lady — she is a jewel and I’m so thankful for her,” T.C. Bower and Blythe-Bower Elementary School declared Ron Hill, who served as T.C. Bower/Blythe- under five different principals. past and present celebrated the 38 years she has Former Principals Kelly Kiser, Bower principal from 1997 to 2009. spent in the front office. “I came from the high school and knew very little left, and Ron Hill, right, joined After spending over half her life as a Cleveland about elementary school, and she mentored me — current Principal Dr. Joel Barnes City Schools employee, Cobb has decided that the she trained me.” at Cobb’s retirement party. time is right for retirement. Cobb’s career with Cleveland City Schools began “I just feel like it’s time — everyone said you’ll in 1978, but her roots with the school system stem Banner photo, SARALYN NORKUS know and I have really started feeling that, it’s time back even further, as she was a part of Cleveland to bid it farewell,” Cobb explained. High School’s first graduating class, in 1967. A crowd gathered at the school recently to wish Cobb well on her next adventure, including three of See COBB, Page 4 AROUND TOWN WEATHER INDEX Bennie Hodges going out of his Today’s forecast calls for partly sunny skies Classified.....................13-15 Opinion...............................12 way to save an American flag on and a high near 79. Tonight should be mostly the Greenway ... Gar Winner report- cloudy, with a 30 percent chance of rain and Comics.................................6 ing on the humorous situation creat- Sports............................ 9-11 ed when his pet goat Willy tem- a low around 61. Tuesday calls for partly Horoscope............................6 6489076 75112 porarily got a bucket stuck on his sunny skies and a 40 percent chance of rain, Mini Page.............................5 TV Schedule.........................7 head ... Missy Biggs taking pictures with a high near 75. Tuesday night calls for clouds and a 60 percent chance of rain, of a beautiful sunset. with a low around 61. Obituaries.............................2 Weather................................8 2—Cleveland Daily Banner—Monday, May 22, 2017 www.clevelandbanner.com Bobcat bonanza: Thriving felines poised to be OBITUARIES next urban pest, seeking food in towns, suburbs (USPS 117-700) Periodical Postage Paid at Cleveland, TN 37320-3600 Post Office CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — As POSTMASTER: Send Address Changes to: Banner, P.O. Box 3600, Cleveland, TN 37320-3600 Virginia Carlisle someone who has studied bob- Virginia Carlisle, 87, of Published at 1505 25th Street, NW (P.O. Box 3600) cats for almost four decades, in Cleveland, TN 37320-3600, daily except Saturday Cleveland, died on Sunday night, wildlife ecologist John Litvaitis and Christmas day by Cleveland Newspapers, Inc. May 21, 2017, in a Chattanooga remembers many times return- Phone (423) 472-5041. hospital. Survivors and arrangements ing from the field without spot- ting a single one of these soli- In thIs APrIl Ralph Baldwin Joyce Taylor will be announced later by Editor & Publisher General Manager Companion Funeral & Cremation tary and shy creatures that 2012 fIle Photo, Service. often hunt at dusk. a small, likely juve- Member of The Associated Press But bobcats are less elusive nile, bobcat is The Associated Press is exclusively entitled to the use for publication of all news dispatches now as their numbers rise and credited to it or not otherwise credited in this newspaper, and also the local news of spontaneous or igin perched on a power herein. All rights of all other material herein are as reserved. ©2016 Cleveland Newspapers, Inc. they become more comfortable pole in a residential around humans. Joining the neighborhood of SUBSCRIPTION RATES likes of foxes, coyotes and even Publishser Reserves the Right to Change Rates Without Notice mountain lions in rare cases, Victorville, Calif. Print Only 3 months 6 Months 1 Year Monthly Daily Carrier Collect Rate * $6.75 orville Gilman sr. bobcats are making a home in small towns and suburbs — By Carrier Home / Business Delivery $20.00 $38.00 $75.00 Orville Lee Gilman Sr., 77, of By Mail inside Zip 307 $25.00 $45.00 $85.00 Cleveland, died Saturday, May and realizing there is plenty to By Mail outside Zip 307 in TN, GA $38.00 $55.00$105.00 By Mail Outside TN $38.00 $67.00 $ 130.00 20, 2017, in a local hospital.