Tuesday, June 9th

In A Press release- A 39-year-old man and a 17-year-old boy armed with black handguns and a taser who robbed Presswood Antiques located at 3350 N. Ocoee Street are now in custody.    The pair allegedly robbed the store around 3:30 p.m. and were arrested hours later. Ricky Lee Verner, 39, is charged with aggravated robbery, theft over $1,000, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and theft under $500.  The 17-year-old is being charged with aggravated robbery and theft over $1,000.    The pair escaped the scene, but a concerned citizen called police saying they saw men who matched the suspects description exit a vehicle in nearby parking lot, according to Evie West, spokeswoman for the Cleveland Police Department.  The vehicle the caller described was located, and it was determined by its license plate that it had been stolen.  CPD watched the vehicle until the two suspects returned and were arrested, West said.  They were in possession of several items that had been reported stolen during the robbery, she said. From The Times Free Press- Two men were arrested in Bradley County on federal warrants Monday on drug related charges. The arrests stem from a previous traffic stop that began an investigation into Johnny Dewayne Flowers and Chris Keller, according to Bradley County Sheriff Eric Watson.  This investigation led to the warrant and federal charges of possession with the intent to distribute schedule II methamphetamine for both men.  Watson credited the teamwork between the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation for the resulting arrest.  “The cases took a lot of time and effort to build on these men,” Watson said in a written statement.  “…This further proves we will not tolerate the sale of illegal drugs in Bradley County and will take as long as needed to prosecute those involved, be it State or Federal level.” From The  Cleveland City Schools Office- Dr. Martin Ringstaff and the Cleveland City Schools Board of Education are pleased to announce that the Tennessee Department of Education approved a new hybrid non-traditional school in Cleveland. The new school replaces the Teen Learning Center and will be named the F. I. Denning Center of Technology and Careers. This name honors retired educator Frederick Denning who served as Director of Cleveland City Schools for over 17 years. The hybrid school will serve primarily 9th thru 12th grade students focusing on academic recovery and interventions. TLC Principal Barbara Ector will continue as the administrator for the new school. From The Banner- There will be at least four new Bradley County homeowners this week with Habitat for Humanity’s dedication of four new homes.  Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland will welcome the four families into their new homes on Thursday. The ceremony is scheduled for 6 p.m. in the Southgate Hills subdivision on South Lee Highway.  Cleveland and Bradley County residents are invited to help celebrate with these families as they receive keys to their new homes, and hope for the future. Two of the new homes are this year’s Women Build constructions, the other two Habitat Build. The construction of these four Habitat homes would not have been possible without generous donations from local organizations including Bradley Sunrise Rotary, River Counties Association of Realtors, an estate gift from the late James O. and Doris Renner, Toyota of Cleveland, Lowe’s, Regions Bank, RE/MAX Experience, FSG Bank, the Community Builders Association. The Southgate Hills Subdivision is located at 2815 South Lee Highway S.W.