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Local News for Wednesday, September 15th

Here is your Cleveland, Tenn. | Bradley County, Tenn. news on mymix1041.com, sponsored by Toyota of Cleveland: In news today… Republican Greg Vital

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

In news today…

Republican Greg Vital was elected Tuesday as the next Tennessee House representative for District 29 in a special election to replace the late Representative Mike Carter. District 29 includes part of Chattanooga, Ooltewah, Collegedale, and Sale Creek. Carter passed away earlier in the year after a six-month battle with pancreatic cancer. Vital was running against Democratic candidate DeAngelo Jelks. Vital took 80% of the vote, with 3,884 votes over Jelks’ 964 votes.

From the Chattanooga Times Free Press…

Volkswagen plans to open a North American regional headquarters in Chattanooga for operations such as engineering, manufacturing, purchasing and quality, an official says.

Johan de Nysschen, chief operating officer at Volkswagen Group’s North American Region, said about 40 people will be stationed in Chattanooga, including himself.

He said that Herndon, Virginia, will continue to serve as the overall corporate headquarters location for the region, with sales, marketing and dealer development located there.

But de Nysschen said he expects the new office in Chattanooga to be staffed up around the first quarter of next year.

From WRCB Channel 3…

A candidate for Tennessee House of Representatives District 29 is facing a criminal investigation.

Democrat DeAngelo Jelks has been accused of rape. A Chattanooga Police Department spokesperson could not provide much detail, but did confirm the investigation after a report was filed Sunday.

Jelks has since stepped down in his role as Vice Chair of the Hamilton County Democratic Party.

Jelks is the Democratic candidate in the race to fill the seat left open by late-Representative Mike Carter (R), who died earlier this year from pancreatic cancer.

While his name remained on the ballots, he was defeated in the special election held on Tuesday.

Jelks responded to the accusation in a statement on Facebook, denying them.

Also from WRCB Channel 3…

A Sequoyah High School student died from COVID complications over the weekend.

A pastor from Christ Family Church in Soddy-Daisy confirms 17-year-old Justin Leming died in the hospital on Sunday.

He’s remembered by many in the community for living a positive and Christ-filled life.

Justin Leming spent a month in the hospital before he passed away.

His family’s pastor told Channel 3 that Justin said “do good and die great” in a testimony in front of his class about a year-and-a-half ago, which the pastor says is very fitting for how he lived and died.

After a tough battle, Christ Family Church Senior Pastor Calvin Nunley says Justin Leming went home to be with his Heavenly Father Sunday.

Hamilton County Schools said in a statement: We are absolutely heartbroken and lifting up a grieving family in prayer during this agonizing season. Our counselors are offering support to students and staff as they process this devastating situation.”

There will be a celebration of life at Christ Family Church on this evening at 7:00 p.m. The family will receive friends from 5 – 7 p.m.

In news today…

The Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) has released the 2020-2021 Tennessee Value-Added Assessment System (TVAAS) scores that measure student growth over time to districts and schools. TVAAS growth scores, on a scale of 1-5, were reported for the district and each school in the following areas: Overall Composite, Literacy, Numeracy, and Literacy/Numeracy.

Bradley County Director of Schools Dr. Linda Cash stated she was beyond delighted to report that the District Overall Composite score is a level 5 in all areas. That score is considered most effective where there is significant evidence that students are making more progress than the Standard for Academic Growth. 

TVAAS measures student growth, regardless of whether or not a student is proficient on the state assessment.

Dr. Linda Cash revealed that Bradley County Schools had 10 schools that received a Level 5 status for their overall composite – Charleston, Hopewell, Michigan Avenue, Oak Grove, Prospect, Valley View, Waterville, Ocoee Middle, Lake Forest, and Walker Valley High School. Bradley County also had three schools with an Overall Composite of Level 4 – Park View, North Lee, and Taylor Elementary