Thursday, December 10th

The Cleveland Daily Banner- The Tennessee State Comptroller’s office has released the audit for Bradley County for the fiscal year ending June 30. The report, released Wednesday morning, shows six “findings,” or issues identified during the audit. Findings include criteria or basis for determining that a problem does exist, a condition or situation that was observed, the effect or impact of the condition, and the root cause of the problem to the extent that it can be determined. They also result in recommendations that resolve the issue and are helpful to management. The Bradley County audit shows , all considered minor in nature: The full audit report is available at www.comptroller.tn.gov online, and will also be posted to the Bradley County government website, OR ON OUR WEBSITE MYMIX1041.COM. – Office of the County Mayor: The General Fund required material audit adjustments for proper financial statement presentation; usernames and passwords were shared by employees in the Misdemeanor Probation Office. – Office of Director of Schools: The School Federal Projects Fund required material audit adjustments for proper financial statement presentation; an interfund loan was not authorized in accordance with state statute. – Office of Circuit and General Sessions Courts Clerk: Multiple employees operated from the same cash drawer. – Ambulance Service and the offices of Clerk and Master and Probate Court Clerk: Duties were not segregated adequately. County Mayor D. Gary Davis said he and Budget Director Rena Samples have been in the process of reviewing the full report and the plan is for County Commission to receive a detailed briefing on the report, including the county’s answers to the findings, at the Commission’s work session Dec. 14. “For the most part, I believe all of the situations have been addressed,” Davis said. “This county is very diligent when it comes to our budgeting process and finances and I believe the record shows that. But, anytime a problem is pointed out, we see that as an opportunity for improvement.” The mayor specifically noted the findings involving employee duties saying those are often found due to limited workforces in those particular department. “It is important to note there is nothing missing,” he said. “These were simply about blips in the process itself.” Davis said while the most attention is usually paid to the findings, it is the inside numbers that tell the county’s real financial story. “The most important part of this audit is showing the assets of the county have increased,” the mayor said. The Times Free Press- The parent company of the Chattanooga Coca-Cola Bottling Co., the world’s first Coke bottler, will take over Coca-Cola production facilities in Cleveland, Tenn., and northern Georgia as part of Coke’s continued push to refranchise its bottling system. Coke said Wednesday it has signed new letters of intent with several independent bottling businesses to take on more of Coca-Cola’s Refreshments bottling distribution system in the United States. Coca-Cola Refreshments is Coke’s company-owned bottler. Under the plans announced today, Coca-Cola United will gain more territory in north and central Georgia, including the Atlanta metro area, Athens, Macon and Rome. It also will acquire production facilities in Montgomery, Ala. and Cleveland. The Cleveland Daily Banner- A chance to experience Cherokee culture and winter celebration is being hosted Sunday by Red Clay State Historic Park. The evening event is from 6 to 8. Tours will be given featuring how the Cherokee would have celebrated the winter solstice and how Europeans would have celebrated Christmas back when the Cherokee held council at Red Clay. Red Clay maintenance director Jamie Russell will provide Cherokee flute music. A soldier from Fort Loudoun State Park will talk about how the Red Clay settlers from Europe would have celebrated. Tours will also include some of the history of Red Clay, winter chores, a cooking demo and light refreshments. The event is free, but donations are welcome. Christmas at Red Clay has been a tradition for the past decade for the state park. Large groups are asked to call the park Visitor Center ahead of time at 423-478-0339. Local News- One of the strongest and most enduring figures in Hamilton County politics has died. Dalton Roberts died Wednesday morning at the age of 82.They gave the job a new title, County Executive, when Dalton Roberts won his first election in 1978. He would hold the office of highest elected official in the county into the 1990s. Roberts was known for keeping a tight thumb on the budget, even during a major period of transition for the city and county, and for the occasional feud with Chattanooga mayors and officials. The Times Free Press- A hot young country artist, a legendary classic rock act and a new rock/bluegrass act are the first three artists set to play Riverbend 2016. New country star Thomas Rhett will play opening night in the late slot on the Coca-Cola Stage on June 10, said Riverbend talent and production coordinator Joe “Dixie” Fuller. Heart will perform on the same stage and time slot the following night, and Trampled By Turtles will play the Coke Stage in the early slot on Sunday, June 12. Riverbend is set to run June 10-18, and this year marks the 35th festival