Tuesday, November 3rd

The Chattanoogan- Bradley County Commissioner Mark Hall said Monday night he is ready to cut ties with the SPCA that operates the county animal shelter after an incident involving one of his constituents. Commissioner Hall said the resident had picked out a small dog, then went back to get it and was told it was slated to be transported to a facility in Ohio. The commissioner said, “They would rather ship a dog to Ohio in hopes it will be adopted rather than giving it to someone here who is ready to adopt it.” In response, Commissioner Dan Rawls said the SPCA has a contract with the Ohio shelter and was obligated to send that dog.He went on to say the constituent, had said she would return on Wednesday, but had not done so. He said he would talk with the individual in hopes of finding another suitable small dog for her daughter. In another matter, the commission voted to ask the Legislature to raise the county’s hotel-motel tax from five percent to seven percent. Commissioner Terry Caywood urged support for the measure, but noted that the last time it was tried “it never made it out of committee.” The earlier tax boost was to have been dedicated to Lake Forest Middle School. This time the plan is to put it toward industrial development. The commission approved a one-year contract with Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company. Employees will have three options for a cost of $518.75 per month for each employee enrolled. The panel agreed that employees may or may not take part in a wellness survey. A contract was approved with Alex Vaughn of River City Athletic Field for installation of an infield mix and some pavement at the Elrod Park. The cost is $97,750. The funds will come from the sale of surplus property. Commissioner Thomas Crye said there needs to be a closer watch on filing of employee workers’ compensation claims. He cited a recent 12 from the sheriff’s office, 12 from the road department and five from EMC. Channel 3- UPDATE: CLEVELAND, BRADLEY COUNTY, TN (WRCB) Sunset Memorial Gardens Cemetery could lose it’s license to operate over poor conditions if the property owner does meet a list of demands by the Tennessee Dept. of Commerce and Insurance. Tennessee state documents show the smell of “decomposing human remains” has been present there for at least 3 years. Owner Cecil Lawrence was given months to clean up the property. His firm was required to hire a mausoleum expert who could inspect the grounds then provide a progress report with a plan of action. State Officials did receive a preliminary progress report from Ensure-A-Seal out of Pennsylvania, just before the 5 p.m. deadline lateMonday night. Officials say they are in the process of reviewing it and Sunset Mausoleum has not been suspended at this time. Grieving families tell our news partners Channel 3, they want to see improvements made now. Times Free Press Reports- WASHINGTON — The Volkswagen emissions scandal widened Monday when the U.S. government accused the German automaker of cheating for a second time. Although VW denied the charge, it faced the prospect of steeper fines and lost sales, as well as more intense scrutiny from disbelieving U.S. lawmakers. The Environmental Protection Agency, along with the California Air Resources Board, said Volkswagen installed software on thousands of Audi, Porsche and VW cars with six-cylinder diesel engines that allowed them to emit fewer pollutants during tests than in real-world driving. The previous revelations of cheating involved four-cylinder diesels in smaller cars. U.S. regulators continue to tell owners of all the affected cars they are safe to drive, even as they emit nitrogen oxide, a contributor to smog and respiratory problems, in amounts that exceed EPA standards — up to nine times above accepted levels in the six-cylinder engines and up to 40 times in the four-cylinders. Volkswagen denied that software was installed on the larger diesels “to change the emissions values in any impermissible way” and vowed to cooperate with the EPA. The Times Free Press reports- The Bradley County Board of Education will meet in a work session on Tuesday, Nov. 10, and in a regular voting session on Thursday, Nov. 12. Both meetings will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the William R. Walker Board Room at the Administrative Office Building for the Bradley County Schools. Press release- The Bradley County Sheriff’s Office will participate in the “No-Shave November” campaign to fight cancer. The goal of No-Shave November is to “grow” awareness by embracing hair, which many cancer patients lose, according to the organization’s website. During the month of November, Bradley County deputies and staff members will be allowed to grow a goatee or beard after making a $25 or $30 donation to the American Cancer Society, according to a news release from Sheriff Eric Watson. “Cancer has touched just about everyone I know, as well as many families that make up the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office. I was happy to approve this unusual and fun way to donate to fight cancer,”Watson said. The Cleveland Daily Banner- If you own or operate a business in the Cleveland/Bradley County area, chances are you know Aaron Weatherford. That’s his job. Weatherford is marking his seventh year as the membership director for the Cleveland/Bradley County Chamber of Commerce just as the Chamber is marking its 90th anniversary.