Many events are being scheduled to remember the events which occurred almost a year ago, including one aimed at safety and preparedness. Challenges are being made to area businesses to fund weather radio giveaways.

Bob McIntire of McIntire and Associates Insurance is teaming up with Ace Hardware and Mix104.1 to promote weather safety awareness and give away 60 weather radios. The event will be held Saturday at Ace Hardware located on 25th Street.

“What started out small has grown into a community event,” said Randall Slack, manager at the local Ace Hardware.

Slack is also issuing 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 chain saw which will be given away during the event.

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

Cleveland-Bradley County Emergency Management Agency director Troy Spence concurred.

“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,” Spence said.

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

Mix104.1 will be giving 60 radios away throughout the day. Area residents can contact Curtis Cline at the CBCEMA office to pre-qualify and announcements will be made via Mix104.1 or by a return phone call if chosen.

CBCEMA will use strict criteria to choose the pre-qualifiers. Those who qualify will be able to pick up their radio at the event Saturday.

“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.

Slack said additional radios will be on sale inside the store, basically at his company cost.

CBEMA officials will be on hand to program the radios.

City, county and state officials will also be presenting a special program at 11 a.m.

“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 begins at 9 a.m. and 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.