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Local News for Monday, March 22nd

Here is your Cleveland, Tenn. | Bradley County, Tenn. news on mymix1041.com, sponsored by Toyota of Cleveland: From the Cleveland Daily Banner… Tim

Here is your Cleveland, Tenn. | Bradley County, Tenn. news on mymix1041.com, sponsored by Toyota of Cleveland:

From the Cleveland Daily Banner…

Tim Siniard reports: It may be a new day at Sunset Memorial Gardens.

On March 12, the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance issued a consent order instructing the cemetery, which has been a focal point to complaints regarding its upkeep for more than a decade, to clean up its act.

Melaine Marshall, who along with others with loved ones interred at the Lee Highway cemetery, have been pressing the state to order the cemetery to make improvements, was pleased with the decision.

She said the terms outlined by the state may result in not only improving conditions at Sunset, but also save money in the long run for its owner, Cecil Lawrence, Inc.— the Georgia-based company  has paid several fines in the past regarding the cemetery’s condition.

Disrepair has been common theme at Sunset over the past decade: overgrown grass, mud-strewn grave plots and markers, weed-choked drainage ditches, crumbling statuary, and unsown grass on grave plots.

In addition to paying a $6,000 fine,  Lawrence must submit a plan of action within 60 days to address the following:

  • A plan for or proof of repair, remediation, and/or resolution of all maintenance issues listed in the complaint, with proof of repair to “receipts of purchase, photographs of repair or remediation taken within 147 days of the action, written correspondence or similar tangible proof”:
  • A plan for continued proof of repair of the cemetery’s mausoleum roof, in order to mitigate water leakage and damage; and
  • A plan of action to “increase positive public relations within the community regarding the maintenance and upkeep of the cemetery.”

For a period of three years, Lawrence was also ordered to provide a report regarding cemetery maintenance, including a periodic maintenance report to update the department which will be due the first day of the following months, including February, April, May June, July, August, October and December.

The cemetery will also be subjected to unannounced visits from TDCI officials.

Also from The Banner…

Autumn Hughes reports: Bradley County can expect a windfall of approximately $21 million as its portion of funding from the American Rescue Plan Act approved this month by Congress.

The Bradley County Commission’s Finance Committee met Friday to discuss the ARP funding.

Finance Committee Chairman Milan Blake said everyone has heard a lot about the new stimulus package, but not heard many details.

There are not a lot of details yet, but officials know half of the allocation is to be deposited 60 days after the bill becomes law, he said. The second payment will be a minimum of 12 months later.

There are four categories for funding use:

  • Used to respond to negative economic impacts of COVID-19 — it can be passed on to businesses, households, nonprofit organizations, etc.;
  • Used to respond to workers performing critical/essential work through the COVID-19 pandemic;
  • To replace lost revenue due to COVID-19 — this includes from gasoline tax shortfalls, sales tax shortfalls, etc.; and
  • For necessary investments in water, sewer and broadband infrastructure.

From WRCB Channel 3…

A Tennessee man recently won over $1 million in the Tennessee Lottery, but almost lost out on the cash prize after briefly losing the lottery ticket.

Nick Slatten of Sparta, north of Chattanooga, bought the ticket and a drink at a grocery store after he finished a day of laying tile on March 10. The following morning, Slatten said he checked the results and discovered the ticket was worth more than $1 million dollars.

Slatten said he then rushed to his fiancée Michelle’s work and told her about the winnings. After sharing the news, Slatten said he continued to run errands, including taking his brother to go shopping at an auto parts store.

However, about an hour later, Slatten said he realized that he had lost the ticket, explaining he “couldn’t find it anywhere.”

Slatten said he retraced his steps and found the ticket lying on the ground in the auto parts parking lot, near the driver’s side door of another vehicle.

Tennessee Lottery officials said they encourage players to sign the ticket when they purchase it “to help prevent someone else from cashing it, in the event that it is lost or stolen.”