Friday, August 9th

Here is your news for Friday, August 9th, sponsored by Toyota of Cleveland:

From the Cleveland Daily Banner…

A Cleveland man who died Tuesday in a motorcycle crash with an SUV on No Pone Road has been identified by Tennessee High Patrol investigators.

The rider of the motorcycle, Riley Eugene Jenkins, 20, had been a national champion BMX racer from his childhood to his early teens, according to his obituary.

According to the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to the fatal accident in the 2200 block of No Pone Road at approximately 4:45 p.m. Tuesday. In addition, Bradley County Fire-Rescue and Bradley County EMS responded to the scene.

Jenkins was pronounced dead by EMS. The female driver of the SUV reportedly sustained minor injuries and was treated at the scene.

From WRCB Channel 3…

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee authorized a $25,000 reward for information leading to the capture of escaped prisoner Curtis Ray Watson, the suspect in the death of Tennessee Department of corrections administrator Debra Johnson.

There have been no credible sightings, according to TBI Director David Rausch at the Thursday news conference. He asked people in the area to be diligent in checking on their property and neighbors, as well as trail and surveillance cameras. He urged that if Watson was spotted to not approach him, since he is considered to be dangerous, and to call 911 immediately.

Rausch asked those who live in the area of the prison to look for things that are “out of place,” such as missing food, weapons or vehicles. The TBI chief said Watson could be outside of Tennessee.

The combined reward for information leading to the capture of Watson stands at $52,500; $25,000 authorized by Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, $5,000 from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, $2,500 from the TBI, $10,000 from the FBI and $10,000 from U.S. Marshals.

Watson was placed on the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s Most Wanted List Wednesday evening after the morning escape from the West Tennessee State Penitentiary in Henning, TN, about 45 miles northeast of Memphis.

Also from WRCB Channel 3…

On Wednesday, a strong storm moved through the Cleveland area around 5:30 p.m. It caused power outages along with damage by bringing down several trees.

The hardest hit areas were on the northwest and western sides of the city.

Most damage is in the form of downed trees in yards, but there were a couple of homes that had trees on the roof.

Radar estimates at the time indicated potential wind gusts at 58 mph as the storm approached the Cleveland.