UPDATE: An arrest was made over the weekend in the arson case at Tinsley Park, the most popular playground in the city of Cleveland. Bradley County Sh
UPDATE: An arrest was made over the weekend in the arson case at Tinsley Park, the most popular playground in the city of Cleveland. Bradley County Sheriff’s Office says they arrested Michael Allen Lippencott on two warrants; Arson and Misdemeanor Violation of Probation. The arson warrant was in relation to the Tinsley Park incident. Bradley County Sheriff’s Office says they are not the prosecuting agency, they only served the warrant .Firefighters say the blaze caused more than $100,000 in damage. Lippencott remains in the Bradley County jail. Stay with us as this story develops. Channel 3- A man was sent to the hospital following a crash in Soddy Daisy on Sunday. Investigators said the man was driving a pickup truck on Dayton Pike and hit a bridge. That’s when he went off the road and into the side of a creek bed. Authorities said the man was trapped in his car and firefighters pulled him out. They suspect alcohol might have been a factor in the crash. Police said the man wasn’t wearing a seatbelt. Alert – The Christmas holiday season is a joyous one, and many people spend countless hours trying to find that special gift for a friend or loved one. However, they often leave themselves open to being victims of criminals looking for easy targets concentrating more on presents than on safety. Both Cleveland Police Chief Mark Gibson and Bradley County Sheriff Eric Watson said a few precautions can help shoppers be safe, and not become victims. Safety tips for holiday shopping: Stay aware of your surroundings. Do NOT leave articles of value in your vehicles and make sure the doors are locked. Always try to park in well-lit areas at a familiar location to help remember where you are parked. Shop with a partner. Do not carry large amounts of cash on your person and secure you purses and wallets. Avoid overloading yourself with packages and try to finish your shopping during the day. Use well-lit, well-populated ATM’s. Do NOT use an ATM that has been tampered with. Notify the credit card issuer immediately if your credit card is lost, stolen, or misused. Beware of strangers approaching you for any reason. At this time of year, con-artists may try various methods of distracting you with the intention of taking your money or belongings. If you go shopping with children, make sure all children with you know your cell phone number. Make a plan with children in case you get separated. Have a central meeting place, and review with your children who they can turn to for help if they find themselves alone. Go over the dangers of strangers with them so they know who not to talk to or follow. Vehicle and parking lot safety tips: Know exactly where you park and never park in an unlit lot or area, no matter how convenient. Try to avoid parking next to a van. If you are leaving the business after dark or you have too many packages, ask a store clerk or security guard to assist you to your car or leave with a group of people. Have your vehicle keys out and available to open the door. Check the inside and outside of your vehicle prior to entering. Get in and then lock the doors. Lock your packages and gifts in your vehicle’s trunk. Keep your vehicle’s doors locked and windows closed. Be wary of distractions. If someone tries to get you to stop your vehicle or divert your attention, stop in a well lit and populated area and then call for help. Never leave your vehicle running and unattended. If you are not able to lock an item in your vehicle or hide it. Hold it, taking your valuable item with you will help decrease the chances it will be stolen from your vehicle. Local News- Voices of Lee, Lee University’s elite A Cappella group, recently recorded a portion of the Country Music Association (CMA) Country Christmas 2016 with Rascal Flatts at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee. Voices of Lee was recorded singing back-up for “Joy to the World” and “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” with Rascal Flatts. Along with Rascal Flatts, country singers such as Kelsea Ballerini, Brad Paisley, Kelly Clarkson, Brett Eldredge, and Lee alum Jordan Smith were also a part of the Christmas special. “What a great experience! We really enjoyed being a part of this Christmas special,” said Danny Murray, director of Voices of Lee. Lee alum Jay DeMarcus is a member of Rascal Flatts and a close friend of Murray’s. The Christmas special will air on Monday, Nov. 28, at 8 p.m. E.T. on ABC. The Cleveland Daily Banner- U.S. Sen. Bob Corker is planning to tour fire damage in Hamilton County as firefighters continue to battle wildfires in Tennessee and elsewhere in the Southeast. The Tennessee Republican’s office says Corker will receive a briefing on Monday from the state Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry. Officials say dozens of wildfires have burned an estimated 190 square miles across the Southeast. In Tennessee, the smoke has been especially dense in such places as Knoxville and Chattanooga. Local- Riverbend just booked Toby Keith for this summer’s festival. Keith gets the Coke Stage all to himself on Wednesday, June 14th at 9pm. Keith has 20 #1 hits under his belt, including “How Do You Like Me Now?!” “Courtesy of the Red, White, & Blue” and “Made in America.” Surprisingly, “Red Solo Cup” was only a Top 10 hit
