Approximately 40 Bradley County residents have prequalified for a weather radio giveaway being conducted by a local business. Challenges have been issued for additional funding for the crucial weather safety tool.

Saturday beginning at 9 a.m., Ace Hardware will be the location where those qualified can pick up their radios which are being provided through a donation by McIntire and Associates and Safeco Insurance.

Randall Slack, Ace Hardware manager, said the store will also be selling Midland weather radios at store cost.

What began as a small event has blossomed into a community event at present.

At 11 a.m., a small remembrance and memorial ceremony will be held by the mayors and state officials, reflecting on the April 27 storms.

Bob McIntire of McIntire and Associates teamed up with Ace Hardware and Mix104.1 to promote weather safety awareness and give away 60 weather radios.

Slack issued a challenge to local builders, hardware and home improvement stores to get on board and sponsor weather radios which can be given away.

“We think this is a great opportunity to give to our community a great safety tool,” Slack said. “What better way to do it through the means of donations so these lifesaving devices can be purchased.”

Slack said many of the builders, supply houses and others have helped the community in recovery; however, now is a good time to issue the challenge.

“There is no doubt business has been good for us as well as these other companies and individuals who have helped repair or rebuild, sell and provide materials, and we feel it’s time to give a little more,” he added.

Slack also said Stihl will be donating a chainsaw to be given away during the event. Donations for a ticket to win the saw and safety accessories will be taken.

McIntire also issued a challenge to all insurance companies to give.

Cleveland-Bradley County Emergency Management Agency Director Troy Spence agreed with the businessmen.

“We would like to be able to provide every home with a weather radio, but we can only do so much. We agree with the challenge made by Ace Hardware and McIntire,” Spence said.

Spence also said his office will be programming cellphones for Bradley County Nixle alerts and providing other information about Ready TN, which was introduced for Android-based cellphones by Tennessee Emergency Management Agency. CBCEMA will also be giving out Emergency Preparedness Guides.

Area residents can contact Curtis Cline at the CBCEMA office to prequalify.

“We are proud to partner with our friends at McIntire and Ace to honor our emergency service personnel and get as many weather radios into the community as possible,” said Steve Hartline, general manager of Mix104.1.

CBEMA officials will be on hand to program the radios.

“Cooke’s Food Store will be providing hot dogs and donations will be accepted which will go to the Long-Term Recovery Organization to help in the rebuild program,” Slack said.

“McIntire and Associates Insurance has been a part of this community for a very long time and we have partnered with Safeco Insurance to be able to provide some free of charge. We are glad to be able to do this to keep our residents safer,” McIntire said. “We have seen firsthand the devastation left by the tornadoes.”

Bradley County and Cleveland Fire Departments will be present to provide smoke alarm information and schedule for installation in area homes.

The event will last until 3 p.m., according to officials.

Company or individual representatives who wish to answer the challenges of donating for the purchase of weather radios can contact Spence at CBCEMA at 728-7289.