Beneficial rain still looks promising this week across the entire region! It won't be enough to get rid of the drought, but it should be enough to put
Beneficial rain still looks promising this week across the entire region! It won’t be enough to get rid of the drought, but it should be enough to put out the wildfires. Rain, Round 1: Monday night, the vast majority after midnight, Wind gusts of 25-30 mph are likely in the valleys; Rain will be heavy for a while, totaling up to 1″ in some spots; Thunder possible. Rain, Round 2: Tuesday night through Wednesday; Thunder possible; An additional 1″-2″ of rain possible.
Times Free Press-
A 17-year-old McMinn County girl was killed Saturday when the gun her 13-year-old brother was unloading discharged, McMinn County sheriff Joe Guy confirmed Sunday. The girl was struck by a single round from the rifle inside the family’s home on County Road 278 near Niota. “It’s a very tragic event,” Guy said. “I just spoke with the father a little bit ago and just expressed that they’re in our thoughts and prayers.” Guy said the sheriff’s office is still investigating, but the incident appears to be an accident, he said.
Press Release-
A cigarette thief is using a church van stolen from Second Missionary Baptist in Chattanooga to steal cigarettes in Cleveland and Bradley County, authorities say. A news release from the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office said the white Ford van, Tennessee tag 968-CRC, was stolen from the church Wednesday. The BCSO and Cleveland police are asking for the public’s help to identify the person who used it in burglaries at the Fuel Mart on South Lee Highway, which is inside the city limits, and the Cleveland Country Mart on Waterlevel Highway, in the unincorporated county. In both cases, a male forced his way into the stores and stole numerous cartons of cigarettes, according to the news release. Anyone who can help identify the suspect or provide information on the crimes is asked to contact the Criminal Investigations Division at 423-728-7336.
Times Free Press-
Cleveland led Tennessee’s metro cities for job growth over the past year, adding 4,430 jobs in the past 12 months to lead the state with a robust 8.2 percent growth in employment over the past year. The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development said the jobless rate in metropolitan Cleveland last month fell by three tenths of a percentage point to 4.5 percent. The rate of job growth in metro Cleveland, which includes Bradley and Polk counties, grew nearly twice as fast as Tennessee’s overall job growth and was more than four times as fast as the U.S. rate in the past 12 months. Gary Farlow, who heads the Cleveland-Bradley Chamber of Commerce, said the area has the lowest unemployment numbers in about the last 15 years. “The employment market is strong,” he said, noting companies such as Whirlpool and Amazon are among local businesses that are hiring. Across the Chattanooga region, unemployment was lowest in Bradley County at 4.3 percent, down 0.5 percent. Other counties in our area reports for Octobter,
* McMinn, 5.7 percent, down 0.1 percent
* Polk, 5.5 percent, down 0.3 percent
* Meigs, 6.4 percent, down 0.6 percent
* Rhea, 7.5 percent, up 0.3 percent
* Hamilton, 5.1 percent, down 0.1 percent
Lee University’s School of Music will present its 27th annual “A Classic Christmas” on Sunday, Dec. 4, at 3 p.m. in the Conn Center. This year’s concert will feature Lee’s Choral Union, directed by Rodgers; Lee Chorale, directed by Dr. William Green; Lee Handbell Choir, directed by Laud Vaught; Lee’s Symphony Orchestra, directed by Robert Bernhardt; and Lee’s Brass Choir, directed by Dr. Nathan Warner, plus a special surprise featuring student soloists. The concert is a free event and open to the public, but tickets are required. Tickets can be reserved at the Dixon Center Box Office, Monday–Friday, from 3-6 p.m. or by phone at (423) 614-8343.
