S U N DAY
161st YEAR • No. 211
CLEVELAND, TN 48 PAGES • $1.00
JANUARY 3, 2016
One fatality united Way no longer funding
in interstate
Matt Ryerson: ‘Not enough funding to go around’
accident
From Staff Reports
Law enforcement authorities
were rushed into action
Saturday evening following a
serious traffic accident at mile
marker 24 on Interstate 75.
Lt. John Harmon of the
Tennessee Highway Patrol said
traffic was halted in both the
northbound and southbound
lanes of the interstate following
the crash, which included a
confirmed fatality. The accident
occurred at 6:29 p.m.
“The Highway Patrol, Bradley
County Sheriff’s Office and
Tennessee Department of
Transportation are in the
process of rerouting traffic off
the interstate at Exit 20 and
Exit 25,” Harmon reported just
after 8 p.m.
No other information was
available, with the investigation
of the tragedy ongoing. An accident report was anticipate late
Saturday, or early today.
Harmon estimated the interstate would be blocked for up to
three hours.
Inside Today
Lee back in action
Both Lee University basketball
teams got back to the court
Saturday at West Georgia.
Georgia “slays” Penn State at
TaxSlayer Bowl. The Vols
impressed at the Outback Bowl
Friday. Jalen Hurd earns MVP
honors. The Bearettes returned
from Panama City Beach with
some new hardware. See Sports,
Pages 17-21, 25 & 28.
New year’s goals
Cleveland residents ranging
from college students new to
town to business and government officials who have lived
here for years share their expectations for 2016. See Lifestyles,
Page 29.
Homeless help
Representatives of The RFK
Project recently donated hundreds of items for the homeless
staying at a cold weather shelter
at Wesley Memorial United
Methodist Church. See People,
Page 38.
Forecast
The new week will have a
chilly start. The outlook today
calls for mostly clear skies and
temperatures in the lower 50s.
Tonight, the temperatures are
expected to fall to the mid to
upper 20s with partly cloudy
skies. On Monday, expect sunny
skies and highs in the upper 30s
to lower 40s. Monday night
should drop to lows in the lower
20s.
Index
Business news ............................27
Classified.................................44-47
Comics.........................................39
Editorials..................................22,23
Horoscope....................................39
Lifestyles ................................29-33
Obituaries.......................................2
Sports..........................17-21, 25, 28
TV Schedule............................40,41
Weather........................................15
Around Town
Anna Kalfayan getting a good
start on a new year’s resolution
... Justin Cannon telling the world
how proud he is of his wife ......
Amy Mercer gearing up for a particularly busy season ... Brandon
Akiona embarking on a special
trip with classmates ... April
Rader focusing on positivity ...
Austin Morgan getting ready to
study at a local college ... Martika
Barrett hoping everyone will
enjoy 2016.
By LARRY C. BOWERS
Banner Staff Writer
Developmental screenings, parent trainings and early intervention services by Signal Centers of
Chattanooga are no longer being
funded through United Way of
Bradley County.
Signal Centers announced this
week that it was notified early in
December the agency’s funding is
being discontinued.
Signal Centers officials emphasize the organization has worked
with children in Bradley County
for more than 30 years.
Matt Ryerson, president and
chief executive officer of United
Way, called Saturday with com-
ments on the decision to deny
funding for Signal Centers this
year.
“This was a very tough decision
for our committee in determining
funding,” Ryerson said.
“Signal Centers has been a very
good partner for us. We hope to
partner with them again,” he
added. “It was just a situation
Signal Centers
where there was not enough funding to go around.”
Ryerson emphasized there were
29 to 30 requests this year, and
United Way was able to fund all
but two or three, including Signal
Centers.
“This was not a decision anyone
was excited about, but there are
times when there is not enough
money,” he said.
“The decision (to not provide
funding for Signal Centers) is in
no way a reflection on them, or
the work they do,” Ryerson continued. “There is just so many
programs (in need of funding).”
Signal Centers has worked with
children with a variety of special
needs, helping families find the
services needed to maximize brain
development of babies, toddlers
and preschoolers during the critical early years when most of the
See SIGNAL CENTERS, Page 9
New laws
become
valid with
new year
PCL earns
Four-Star
charity
distinction
Driver’s license renewals
change from 5 to 8 years
By LARRY C. BOWERS
Banner Staff Writer
By BRIAN GRAVES
Banner Staff Writer
The
Tennessee
State
Legislature passed some new
laws that are now effective with
the first of the year that will have
an impact on most people’s dayto-day lives.
Two of the laws concern the
acquisition of driver’s licenses.
Those who renew their licenses after Jan. 1 will find the
length of their validity expanded
from five to eight years.
Driver license issuance and
renewal fees will now be as follows: Class A — $64, Classes B
and C — $56, Class D— $26 and
Class M — $26.
Photo ID cards and renewals
will be $10.
Fees for less than eight years
may be prorated, but Class D,
Class M and photo ID licenses
will have $2 deducted from the
gross prorated fee.
Drivers will also be required to
provide satisfactory proof of
insurance or a statement that
See LAWS, Page 8
2015 was year
of beginnings
for the county
— Part 1 —
By BRIAN GRAVES
Banner Staff Writer
The year 2015 was more about
the &Vv