W E D N E S D A Y 162nd YEAR • No. 183 NOVEMBER 30, 2016 CLEVELAND, TN 24 PAGES • 50¢ Local firefighters still battling Gatlinburg blazes By ALLEN MINCEY morning — he is up there — and he said age,” Atchley said. “They would also come there were being replaced late Tuesday aged or destroyed in Sevier County, offi- Banner Staff Writer that they have mostly been working on up on roads where power lines were with three others. He said two volunteers cials there said on Tuesday. fighting fires, as the winds up there dried down and have to wait for utilities to who were sent up to help BCFR also Dean Flener of the Tennessee Local firefighters remained in the up the area and led to additional spark- come and remove them from the road so returned on Tuesday, and that most of Emergency Management Agency report- Gatlinburg area Tuesday and this morn- ing,” Atchley said. “I think that they will they could continue. I don’t think that the fires they were working in Gatlinburg ed Gatlinburg remained under a manda- ing, as wildfires around the popular be moving from firefighting today to they have had much sleep, if any, over were on Highway 321. tory evacuation order, while that order resort town continued. search-and-rescue, as they will go into the 24 hours they have been there, and On Tuesday the mayor of Gatlinburg had been lifted in Pigeon Forge overnight. Fire Marshal Ben Atchley of the homes that were destroyed to see if any we are sending up a new crew to replace confirmed the outdoor inferno had taken He said it is estimated more than 14,000 Cleveland Fire Department said the lad- victims are in these areas. them today.” at least three lives. There were also 14 people were evacuated from the der truck that has been dispatched to “Jason said that they would go down Chief Shawn Fairbanks of the Bradley reported injuries from the fires. Gatlinburg area on Tuesday. that area remained there, as did four fire- the road, and see three or four or five County Fire-Rescue service said it Gov. Bill Haslam said it's the state's The TEMA spokesperson also said a men from the department. homes completely destroyed by fire, and replaced its tanker sent late Monday, and largest wildfire in 100 years. More than “I spoke with Lt. Jason Pennell this then come upon one that had no dam- the three firefighters who had been sent 400 homes and businesses were dam- See GATLINBURG, Page 7 Food for local families in need A goal to distribute 750 boxes Storms kill 2 in Polk County of food staples and $24,000 in donations has been set by the William Hall Rodgers As many as 50 Christmas Basket Fund. structures said The food staples will be given to families in need in the community just before to be damaged Christmas. The fund, which is a 501(c)(3), is a volunteer-sup- By ALLEN MINCEY ported effort. Donations may be Banner Staff Writer mailed to First Tennessee Bank, P.O. Box 3566, Cleveland TN Though not yet confirmed by the National Weather 37320-3566 or dropped off at Service, it is probable that two tornadoes — one with First Tennessee Bank at 3870 fatalities — may have hit Southeast Tennessee, with Keith St. damage in Polk County indicating to some officials there more than just straight-line winds occurred in that area. Inside Today Two people have been confirmed dead from the storms that struck Polk, according to the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency. TEMA spokesperson Dean Flener said this morning that a husband and wife died, while two others were injured in that coun- ty. The National Weather Service said the agency was told that along with the two fatalities, two other indi- viduals were injured in Polk County Flener added that at least seven injuries were reported in McMinn County. Lindsay Hathcock, who is serving as public informa- tion officer for Mutual Aid in Polk County, said first Photo courtesy Lindsay Hathcock reports were that 20 to 25 structures were damaged or THE OCOEE POST OFFICE was destroyed by storms early Wednesday morning. The building was one of several destroyed in the storms. He said late this morning along U.S. Highway 411 which sustained heavy damage in the storms. that the number of buildings affected by the storms had grown to at least 50. Much of the storm damage in Polk County was along U.S. Highway 411 just south of the intersection with U.S. Highway 64, where the Ocoee Post Office and the West Polk Fire and Rescue Station 2 were both destroyed. See STORMS, Page 6 Mustangs tame Red Bank Lions CU crews respond The Walker Valley Mustangs took care of business with a pair to 2 power outages of wins on the basketball court against Red Bank. Bradley By LARRY C. BOWERS Central went on the road and split Banner Staff Writer two games against Maryville. The Cleveland Utilities answered two power outages Lee Lady Flames tuned up for the overnight, but one may not have been from the most beginning of the GSC schedule recent storm front which moved through the area. with a win. The Bears rolled to “We’re in good shape,” said Jamie Creekmore, cus- victory on the wrestling mat. See tomer relations supervisor at the utility. “We have Sports, Pages 9-11. power restored for all of the outages.” Approximately 1,606 utility customers were affect- ed by the two outages. Forecast The first incident was at 11:36 Tuesday night, Today should see continued when 506 customers were affected near North Lee Elementary School. Power was restored to this group clouds, showers and possibly a by 12:58 a.m. today. thunderstorm, with a high near 68. The second incident, surrounding Wildwood and South winds of 20 to 25 mph could Inman streets, happened just after 1 p.m. with gust as high as 35. Tonight’s fore- around 1,100 customers were without power. cast calls for partly cloudy skies Creekmore said it is apparent these outages were and a low around 39. Thursday from downed tree limbs from Monday’s previous should be sunny, with a high near storms. Electricity to these customers was restored within two hours early this morning, at 1:50 a.m. 56. Thursday night calls for mostly Photo courtesy Lindsay Hathcock clear skies and a low around 33. A FIRE TRUCK is covered in bricks from the West Polk County Fire and Rescue Station 2 on U.S. Highway 411. The Creekmore said the utility had recorded 1.75 inch- Friday looks to be mostly sunny, station was leveled by storms that struck the area overnight. See OUTAGES, Page 6 with a high near 56. Friday night should be partly cloudy, with a low around 33. Index Law officers’ facial hair Classified................................14-15 Comics.........................................22 grows gifts of goodwill Editorials......................................12 By ALLEN MINCEY Horoscope....................................22 Banner Staff Writer Lifestyles.................................17-19 Obituaries.......................................2 Today will be the last day to see local law enforcement in Stocks............................................4 their rugged beards and goatees as No Shave November comes Sports........................................9-11 to a close. For the past month, personnel with the Cleveland Police TV Schedule................................23 Department and Bradley County Sheriff’s Office have had the Weather..........................................8 opportunity to grow facial hair, which is against both agencies’ policies. While some sported the beards and looked good doing Around Town so, several others learned that they should not ever consider that option to exhibit their manliness. Lois Ann Taylor sharing some The great thing about each agency participating is that it good news ... Kathy Turner and helps in the local area. The Cleveland Police Department Tammy Price seeing a busy raised funds for the Christmas gift-giving program for children shopping season ... Ben Atchley through its Fraternal Order of Police, while the BCSO raised being helpful with some informa- Banner photo, ALLEN MINCEY monies for the American Cancer Society’s local Relay for Life NO SHAVE NOVEMBER comes to a close today at both the Cleveland Police Department and Bradley tion. event. Both agencies were pleased to participate, and give back to County Sheriff’s Office, where employees were able to grow beards and goatees in exchange for contri- the community they serve and protect. At the Bradley County butions to local fundraising efforts. With their beards that will be coming off today are, front from left, Cory Fox (CPD) and Corey Loftis (BCSO). In back are Kody Fox (CPD), Scott Criddle (CPD), Scott Dove See GOODWILL, Page 7 (BCSO), Eric DIaz (BCSO), Arnold Botts (BCSO), Russ Henry (BCSO) and Robert O’Daniel (BCSO). 6489076 75112 2—Cleveland Daily Banner—Wednesday, November 30, 2016 www.clevelandbanner.com Death toll in storms sweeping South increases to 5 (USPS 117-700) The Associated Press Periodical Postage Paid at Cleveland, TN 37320-3600 Post Office Possible tornadoes swept POSTMASTER: Send Address Changes to: Banner, P.O. Box 3600, Cleveland, TN 37320-3600 through parts of Alabama and Published at 1505 25th Street, NW (P.O. Box 3600) Tennessee overnight, killing five in Cleveland, TN 37320-3600, daily except Saturday people and injuring more than a and Christmas day by Cleveland Newspapers, Inc. dozen as heavy rains from Phone (423) 472-5041. storms moving across the South Stephen L. Crass Joyce Taylor produced flooding in areas pre- Editor & Publisher General Manager viously suffering from months of drought. Member of The Associated Press Possible tornadoes were The Associated Press is exclusively entitled to the use for publication of all news dispatches credited to it or not otherwise credited in this newspaper, and also the local news of spontaneous origin reported across several counties herein.