Wednesday, February 22nd

From the Tennova Healthcare Cleveland News Desk, here are your news headlines for Wednesday, February 22nd, on Mix 104-1 and Talk 101-3 The Buzz.

From the Cleveland Daily Banner…

Tim Spires, president and CEO of the Tennessee Association of Manufacturers and the Chattanooga Regional Manufacturers Association, died unexpectedly Sunday.

Spires, 58, had 30 years of experience with a career that included working for American Cyanamid, Union Carbide, Elkem, Olin, and NA Industries, according to the TAM website.

He was deeply involved in the local community, including at one time serving as a president of the Rotary Club of Cleveland. He was also a board member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Ocoee Region, the Cleveland/Bradley County Greenway board, and the United Way of the Ocoee Region. He served as an advisory board member of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, College of Engineering and Computer Science; an advisory board member of the Engineering Technology Department of Chattanooga State; the Business Advisory Council of Lee University and as a member of the Workforce Investment Board of the Southeast Tennessee Development District.

His passing will mean a tremendous loss to the area, according to several friends.

Spires was a dedicated jogger, running many mornings with friends through the city of Cleveland. He reportedly died while hiking with his wife, Cindy.

Rotary Club of Cleveland President Victor Boltniew announced arrangements for Spires will include a public visitation from 1 to 4 p.m. today at First Baptist Church, with a Celebration of Life to follow at 4 p.m.

The family is requesting memorial donations be made to the Boy Scouts of America, the United Way of the Ocoee Region and the First Baptist Mission Fund.

Ralph Buckner Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Also from The Banner…

The move to redevelop the South Cleveland area got a major boost Monday with the announcement of the sale of the former Whirlpool Plant 3 on Euclid Avenue.

The Whirlpool Corporation, in a press release, said the Milwaukee-based Phoenix Investors has acquired the property, saying the new owner’s portfolio totals approximately 17 million square feet across 22 states.

Cleveland Mayor Tom Rowland said he was “pleased that one of the Whirlpool buildings will get a new lease on life.”

In its long life as a manufacturing facility, the Plant 3 structure once housed a stand-alone operation that included assembly, fabrication and finishing. The plant was closed shortly after the former Maytag Corporation was purchased by the Whirlpool Corporation. That acquisition took place in March 2006.

David Marks, managing director of Phoenix Investors, said the company “is pleased to acquire another former Whirlpool complex in Tennessee ripe for an adaptive use.”

He cited Phoenix’s recent acquisition of the former Whirlpool plant in Milan, which is now being leased to Delta Faucets.

Elizabeth Michelle Burdett

Also in today’s news…

The Criminal Investigations Division with the assistance of patrol deputies executed a search warrant Monday evening at 5936 S. Lee Hwy in the McDonald community.

An ongoing investigation over several months resulted in the seizure of over three ounces of suspected methamphetamine, $40, 620.00 in U.S. currency, one camper, two cars, several handguns, and various items of drug paraphernalia.

Elizabeth Michelle Burdett, age 49, who lived at the location, was arrested on charges of Possession of Schedule II for resale, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Possession of a Firearm during a Felony.

Burdett was booked inside the Bradley County Correctional Facility pending arraignment in General Sessions Criminal Court.

This has been your local and state news. You can get news anytime by visiting our website, mymix1041.com, powered by Pioneer Credit. From the Tennova Healthcare Cleveland News Desk, this is Jeremy Gault reporting.