T H U R S D A Y 162nd YEAR • No. 184 DECEMBER 1, 2016 CLEVELAND, TN 30 PAgES • 50¢ Deadly Polk storm confirmed to be EF-3 tornado; Bradley damage also By ALLEN MINCEY Department. Banner Staff Writer SEE PHOTOS, PAGE 9 Polk County authorities would not release the names of the fatalities until they were Authorities have said the storms that 140 mph. sure that all relatives had been notified. struck Polk County late Tuesday into The length of the tornado’s path was 4.6 However, Polk County Emergency Wednesday morning included tornadic activ- miles, with a width of 155 yards, Hotz noted. Management Agency director Steve Lofty did ity. He said there were two fatalities in the torna- acknowledge this morning the two were occu- David Hotz, meteorologist with the do and 20 injuries, and that there was heavy pying a mobile home when the tornado National Weather Service in Morristown, con- damage to multiple buildings in Polk County, struck. firmed this morning it was an EF-3 tornado many of which were mobile homes. Lofty said of those injured, four were trans- that touched down in Polk County. He said Media reports named the two victims as ported to hospitals for treatment. the tornado began around 2:28 a.m. Mark Faulk Jr. and his wife, Saundra, both of In the midst of the storms in Polk County, Photo courtesy Lindsay Hathcock Wednesday, and lasted for five minutes. Hotz Bloomingdale, Ga. Faulk is reported to be an TWO MEN WALK up a road in Polk County observing the devas- added the tornado had sustained winds of active member of the Bloomingdale Fire See POLK, Page 9 tating effects of the weather in the area from Wednesday morning. Food for local Survey set Local families in need A NEW TREE IN TOWN A goal to distribute 750 boxes to collect of food staples and $24,000 in firemen donations has been set by the William state of city Hall Rodgers return to Christmas opinions Basket Fund. By LARRY C. BOWERS help Polk The food Banner Staff Writer staples will be given to families in need Cleveland City Manager Joe in the community just before Fivas and his staff have initiated a families Christmas. The fund, which is a community survey, targeted for 501(c)(3), is a volunteer-sup- completion in February. ported effort. Donations may be The survey is for responses from From wildfires mailed to First Tennessee Bank, Cleveland residents, businesses, P.O. Box 3566, Cleveland TN corporations, to EF-3 tornado 37320-3566 or dropped off at organizations and others to By ALLEN MINCEY First Tennessee Bank at 3870 Banner Staff Writer Keith St. determine the state of the city. Firefighters from Cleveland and Fivas told the Bradley County returned home Inside Today City Council Wednesday after helping to battle earlier this wildfires that swept across the week organizers Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge are hoping for a region. minimum of At last count, those blazes took Fivas 500 to 800 seven lives and damaged or responses, but destroyed an estimated 400 struc- would like to obtain many more, tures, including private homes, for a clearer determination of the cabins, businesses, hotels and city’s needs. tourist attractions. Fivas emphasized it can often be Those from the Bradley County difficult to appeal to people to fill Fire-Rescue service returned to out questionnaires, but it is Banner photos, ALLEN MINCEY help with other agencies working extremely important to receive VISITORS TO DOWNTOWN Cleveland will be able to enjoy not only the traditional Christmas the aftermath of the Polk County feedback from as many Cleveland tree at the Bradley County Courthouse Square, but also a new tree donated by United Community storms that were confirmed to be households as possible. Bank at the First Street Square park, where a sculpture of the city’s namesake, Col. Benjamin an EF-3 tornado. Chief Shawn Blank surveys are available at Cleveland (top right), watches over the park. Chris Bryant, lower photo, helped move the tree from Fairbanks said that the agency was the Cleveland Municipal Building, the bank to the park, and worked to secure the top portion of the tree. the Cleveland/Bradley County Chamber of Commerce, and at See FIREMEN, Page 4 other locations around town. First Street Square gifted Several were filled out during the break between Monday’s work ses- with an evergreen tower Two more sion and the regular Council meet- Lady Vols roll ing. By ALLEN MINCEY The Tennessee Lady The survey is going online today, Banner Staff Writer charged Volunteers put a halt to a two- and will be included in Cleveland game skid with a win over Utility mailings. One of the highlights of the Cleveland Tennessee State. Middle City staff is also planning com- Christmas season is the lighting of the tree on in assault Tennessee pulled off a win over munity meetings for each of the the Bradley County Courthouse Square. Now, Mississippi on the hardwood. The city’s five districts, and the surveys residents and visitors will have two downtown Atlanta Falcons are having to will be available at those times. trees to help them celebrate the holiday. of Russell Dates and times for these meetings A second tree has been placed at the First make do with the defensive per- By ALLEN MINCEY will be released in the near future. Street Square, and it will be lit on Friday, the sonnel they have. Strong defens- Banner Staff Writer es helped Florida and Alabama Key issues included in the sur- same evening that the lights on the traditional reach the SEC championship. vey: Christmas tree at the Courthouse Annex are to Two more individuals have See Sports, Pages 11-13. — City core services; officially illuminate the season. been charged over their reported — Perceptions of the city; The tree at the First Street Square was involvement in an assault which — Public safety; donated by Matt Jenne and United Community occurred near Red Clay State Forecast — Perceptions of safety; Bank. Many will remember viewing that tree as Park in early — Neighborhood issues; they entered Cleveland from North Lee November. Today looks to be sunny, with a — Retail, development and re- Highway, being in the front of the bank at the According to high near 55. Tonight’s forecast development; intersection of North Ocoee Street and Keith Bradley County calls for mostly clear skies, with a — Solid waste services; Street, next to Walgreens. Sheriff’s Office low around 33. Friday should be — Parks, recreation and green- “It was always such a lovely sight to see that Communications sunny, with a high near 56. Friday ways; tree as you come into the city, and for United Director James night calls for mostly clear skies — Traffic congestion and trans- Bradford, the See TREE, Page 8 two are said to and a low around 34. Saturday See SURVEY, Page 8 calls for mostly cloudy skies and a have been slight chance of rain, with a high involved in the near 53. Saturday night calls for Nov. 9 assault of 60-year-old Finley clouds and a 60 percent chance of Taylor Spring Park plans progress James Russell at rain, with a low around 39. his home. By LARRY C. BOWERS Joshua P. Index Banner Staff Writer Finley, 23, of Cleveland, has Classified................................16-17 A unique and historic Cleveland been charged Comics...........................................6 city park is moving closer and clos- with criminal Editorials......................................14 er to becoming a reality. It is hoped responsibility for Horoscope......................................6 it will become a downtown show- conduct of NASCAR......................................18 place and a site members of the another/aggra- community can learn about local vated assault, a Obituaries.......................................2 S. Hinds Stocks............................................4 history. Class C felony. Taylor Spring Park, named by Finley has post- Sports......................................11-13 the city’s Andrew Taylor Spring ed an appear- TV Schedule..................................7 Committee, will be located on 1st ance bond of Weather..........................................9 Street, less than a half mile west of $10,000, while the Bradley County Courthouse. Stephanie S. Around Town The property once belonged Hinds, 37, of Andrew Taylor, one of the earliest Apison, has been Danny Murray out bright and settlers of the community. charged with the early on a Monday morning ... The park project was launched same felony Cameron and Donna Fisher by the city in an effort to preserve counts. She has greeting a longtime friend. the area surrounding the spring, posted an which is being called the a p p e a r a n c e C. Hinds “Historical Birthplace of Cleveland, Contributed photo bond of $2,000. Tennessee.” A TENTATIVE DESIgN has been created for how Taylor Spring Park, Cleveland’s new downtown Both subjects are scheduled to For a number of years, the park, will appear when completed. A log cabin springhouse will cover the actual spring, which will flow appear in General Sessions out into a pool. Concrete walls and landscaping will also be incorporated. The historic site is just off 1st 6489076 75112 See TAYLOR, Page 4 Street, considered the birthplace of the city. See ASSAULT, Page 8 2—Cleveland Daily Banner—Thursday, December 1, 2016 www.clevelandbanner.com Car pursuit ends with OBITUARIES (USPS 117-700) Periodical Postage Paid at Cleveland, TN 37320-3600 Post Office arrest of three POSTMASTER: Send Address Changes to: Banner, P.O. Box 3600, Cleveland, TN 37320-3600 Hubert T. Bracket Published at 1505 25th Street, NW (P.O. Box 3600) From Staff Reports To submit an obituary, have the funeral home or cremation in Cleveland, TN 37320-3600, daily except Saturday Hubert T.