Thursday, December 3rd

Here is today’s news on mymix1041.com, sponsored by Toyota of Cleveland:

In news today…

After 36 years of service to the Bradley County Jail, Superintendent Anderson Sanders will retire, effective December 17. In preparation for his departure, two major personnel changes will occur, effective December 7; along with a returning employee to oversee compliance.

Senior Lieutenant Christi Walls will assume the duties of the Superintendent and will oversee all workhouse operations and all minimum security areas of the Bradley County Jail. Leading this area of the jail is one that Lt. Walls has an ample amount of experience in, which will be beneficial to a smooth transition.

Lieutenant Justin Miller will be promoted to the position of Senior Lieutenant over the jail. Since his career began as a corrections officer in 2007, Lt. Miller has served in many ranks and leadership positions, making him an excellent candidate for his new position.

Additionally, Meghan Bales, who has previously served in the Corrections Division, rejoined the BCSO as the Compliance Officer for the jail and workhouse on October 30 of 2020. Her job responsibilities include ensuring that the jail’s facilities continue to meet standards mandated by the Tennessee Corrections Institute. 

Walls and Miller will assume their new positions beginning on Monday, December 7.

Also in news today…

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas and downtown Cleveland will sparkle this Christmas season.  New for 2020, Ocoee Street will be especially festive with 30 light wrapped trees from Inman Street to Central Avenue.  Roof tops along Ocoee Street and the Courthouse rooftop will be outlined with LED lights.

MainStreet Cleveland is very excited to unveil these beautiful lights for the community to enjoy.  We are very appreciative of Mayor Kevin Brooks for his leadership in this initiative and funding partners Allan Jones, Robert Thompson, and Logan-Thompson Law Office that is sponsoring the Bradley County Courthouse rooftop lights.

The 45-foot-tall Community Christmas Tree at the old post office on Broad Street is covered with 5,000 LED lights and will be illuminated at 6 p.m. on December 4.  The tree was planted in 1966 by then postmaster Robert Easterly as part of the Lady Bird Johnson beautification program. The tree was named the Community Christmas Tree by joint proclamation of the Cleveland City Council and Bradley County Commission on November 26, 1990.  A plaque commemorating Mr. Easterly was placed at the base of the tree in 2019 by the Allan Jones Foundation.

All displays, trees, and lights will be shining bright by December 4.  For more information visit www.mainstreetcleveland.com or Mainstreet Cleveland on social media. 

From the Cleveland Daily Banner…

Rick Norton reports: A COVID-19 exposure that forced the Bradley County Trustee’s Offi ce to lock down its lobby for 2½ weeks might have robbed local taxpayers of some extra time to sign up for heavily-used tax-assistance programs, but the inconvenience was merely temporary.

Now that Trustee Mike Smith has reopened the doors to in-person visits, area home and property owners can resume applying for the tax-relief and tax-freeze initiatives, as well as signing up for the 10-year old partial payment plan, the latter of which takes the sting away from making conventional once-a-year, lump-sum payments.

Application deadlines for tax relief and tax assistance are not pressing. Deadline to apply for either program — both of which are income-based — are not until April 5, 2021.

On the other hand, sign-up for partial payment includes two enrollment periods, and the deadline for the fi rst is Friday. The second registration will be off ered early next year, from Jan. 4 through Feb. 5.

Traditionally, the second sign-up has been the heaviest, due primarily to two reasons: One, in November and December taxpayers are more focused on holiday activities; and two, after New Year’s many have a better handle on the state of their fi nances and cash fl ow for the coming year.