Titled “Road to Recovery — The First 30 Days,” the keepsake edition will be available for a $1 donation at 16 partner locations, along with the Cleveland Daily Banner. All proceeds will be forwarded to the newly consolidated Cleveland-Bradley Disaster Relief Fund which has been established to support the unmet needs of tornado and storm victims in Bradley County.
AbitibiBowater Newsprint Calhoun Operations is donating all newsprint and seven area financial institutions, as well as United Way of Bradley County Inc., are serving as distribution outlets.
The 32-page edition will include new human interest features and news updates not previously published in the Banner’s print edition or posted to the newspaper’s website; however, much of it will consolidate previously published articles and photographs used over the past month in the Banner’s print and electronic editions.
“Cleveland and Bradley County residents will never forget the tragedies that befell our community on Wednesday, April 27,” according to Stephen Crass, Banner publisher. “Most importantly, they will always remember the impact on our families and how so many relief organizations, businesses, industries, civic groups, churches, government entities, local news media outlets and individuals came together to launch our journey down the road to recovery.”
Crass described the special edition as a memorial to those killed in the storms and their families, as well as a remembrance of the devastation and the thousands of volunteers who gave their time and talents in the exhaustive recovery efforts.
The edition will include no paid advertising.
“This is a collaborative effort that includes our newspaper staff, our newsprint supplier and our gracious distribution partners who are donating their materials, locations and valuable time in support of this cause,” Crass said. “Our community’s recovery could require years, but those first 30 days told us much about ourselves, our neighbors and thousands of others in surrounding cities and states whose residents reached out to aid in our recovery from this disaster.”
He added, “It speaks to the importance of a printed document that showcases the resolve of the human spirit. People are truly at their best when times are at their worst. This special edition will point to our caliber of community, our strength of character and our willingness to work together to support such an endearing common cause.”
Distribution points for the special editions beginning Friday will include:
- Bank of Cleveland: Four sites including 1400 25th St. N.W., 1200 Perimeter Drive, 75 First St. N.W. and 190 Paul Huff Parkway.
- Southern Heritage Bank: Three sites including 2530 Dalton Pike, 3795 Georgetown Road and 3020 Keith St.
- United Community Bank: Two sites including 4405 North Ocoee St. and 2525 Keith St.
- Athens Federal Community Bank: Two sites including 950 25th St. N.W. and 3855 Ocoee St. North, Suite 300.
- Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union: Two sites including 2440 Treasury Drive (near Walmart South) and 180 Stuart Crossing (off Stuart Road).
- Andrew Johnson Bank: 555 North Ocoee St.
- Bowater Credit Union: 4531 Hardwick Farms Parkway.
- United Way of Bradley County: 85 Ocoee St. S.E.
“Road to Recovery — The First 30 Days” will not be published as an inside section in Friday’s regular edition of the Banner. It may be obtained only at the designated distribution sites.
Additional donations beyond the $1 special edition cost will also be accepted. All will be given to the Cleveland-Bradley Disaster Relief Fund which continues to be promoted daily on the front page of the Banner.
