From the Tennova Healthcare Cleveland News Desk, here is your news for Monday, January 15th, on Mix 104-1 and Talk 101-3 The Buzz. From the Cleveland
From the Tennova Healthcare Cleveland News Desk, here is your news for Monday, January 15th, on Mix 104-1 and Talk 101-3 The Buzz.
From the Cleveland Daily Banner…
Polk County Executive Hoyt Firestone, after a total of 28 years in office, has announced he will not seek re-election this year.
He emphasized in a Friday interview that he is not completely retiring, but moving out of the executive’s office. Reportedly, five people have already obtained qualifying petitions to run for the county’s top office.
Firestone said he has some personal projects that should tie him up for awhile, he then plans to explore other opportunities, and maybe have a little fun!
The county executive has served seven terms, the first five consecutively. He was first elected in 1986. The four years prior he served on the Polk County Commission.
In news today…
The 17th annual “Coats for the Cold” drive will kick-off on Friday, January 19, 2018 from 7:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. This event will be held at Chick-fil-A located at 3890 Keith St. N.W. Additionally, the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office Litter program funded by the Tennessee Department of Transportation (T.D.O.T.) will be in attendance to educate participants on the importance of not-littering within the community. Anybody with unwanted new or gently used jackets is asked to donate these items to those in need of outerwear for the winter months.
The “Coats for the Cold” drive will continue through the month of January, and items can be dropped off at these locations; Chick-fil-A, located at 3890 Keith St., N.W. Any Bradley County BB&T Banking location The Village Tire Center, located at 232 Third St., S.W. Bradley County Trustee Mike Smith’s office, located at 1701 Keith St. Family Tire, located at 215 W. Inman St. Logan-Thompson Law Office, located at 30 Second St., N.W. Bradley County Sheriff Office’s lobby, located at 2290 Blythe Ave., S.E.
This event was founded by Sheriff Eric Watson 17 years ago when he observed children playing outside without coats and learned their family didn’t have money to purchase those items. For the past 17 years, over ten-thousand coats and jackets have been collected and distributed to children and adults in need.
Individuals or businesses wanting to get involved or learn about the “Coats for the Cold” program, can contact the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office at 423-728-7300.
Also from The Banner…
Except for a few scattered days, there has been little respite from the bitter cold that descended in mid-November and continues to bring freezing temperatures to the region. For the area’s homeless – or those who need temporary shelter – the weather can be dangerous, but safety is available through Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church’s Cold Weather Shelter.
Wesley Memorial operates the shelter from November to March when temperatures are at or below 30 degrees. Guests are provided with a hot meal and access to hot showers, as well as a safe, warm place to spend the night. The shelter opens at 5:30 p.m. and closes at 7 a.m. on days when in operation.
Amy Mott, coordinator of the Cold Weather Shelter, said organizers go by The Weather Channel’s website, weather.com, to determine the temperature. The decision of whether to open is made 24 hours in advance – based on the forecast. She said the shelter is slated to be open now through at least Thursday.
Each guest must fill out a form to verify they have never been convicted of crimes against children. Mott said that is a licensing requirement related to the Wesley Kids program, which begins after the shelter closes at 7 a.m. Guests must be able to negotiate stairs on their own as there is no elevator available.
While monetary donations are appreciated, Mott said donations of hot chocolate and apple cider packets, and individually wrapped snacks are needed; those items are served from when the shelter opens at 5:30 p.m. until dinner at 6. After guests go upstairs to the shower facilities and sleeping areas, the only food or drink allowed is bottled water.
Mott said the shelter is funded only through donations and “it is not in the church budget at all.”
You can give online by texting an amount and ‘CWS’ to 423-200-4021. Also, if you are interested and available to serve with this ministry, visit wesleymemorialchurch.com, click on the Wesley Memorial Cold Weather Shelter button, fill out the contact information and someone will follow up with you.
For more information, call Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church at 423-472-9578.
This has been your local and state news. You can get news anytime by visiting our website, mymix1041.com. From the Tennova Healthcare Cleveland News Desk, this is Jeremy Gault reporting.
