FRIDAY 161st YEAR • NO. 181 NOVEMBER 27, 2015 CLEVELAND, TN 18 PAGES • 50¢ Local gun permits increasing since Chattanooga shootings By ALLEN MINCEY Department of Homeland Banner Staff Writer Security. “The first day after the A class for those seeking their Though there may not be a incident that happened gun-carry permit was recently direct correlation, the fatal shoot- in Chattanooga, we had hosted by the Bradley County ing of five military servicemen in over 150 calls to take Sheriff’s Office at a local firing Chattanooga in July may have this class.” range. Instructor George been a factor in the increase in — George Campbell Campbell, a veteran of local law gun permits being issued locally enforcement, led the class. and statewide. “This is called the basic gun Local firearms instructors said rising from 506,252 in July to carry class to get your permit. You they saw an increase in interest in 521,212 through Nov. 1. Over must make a 70 on it, and we permits following the July 16 11,000 permits were issued in have an eight-hour classroom and Banner photo, ALLEN MINCEY shootings in Chattanooga. 2015 in July, August, September range together,” Campbell THE MOST RECENT firearms training class for those attempting to receive their handgun carry per- Tennessee statistics back that up, and October each, according to mits included not only classroom lectures, but also shooting on a range under the supervision of qualified with the number of permit holders statistics from the Tennessee See PERMITS, Page 5 instructors. Bradley jobless "#%%#&%%(!*+ "*#+,&++$,-')*(.#+ picture ,"(+#''#',"(&&-'#,1 /#," ((+,)%+ (*,""(%#1+ " -'/"#"#+ #+ .(%-',*+-))(*, (*, plunges (&(0+*0), ,(!#.'(-,,"#+1* (',#('+&1&#%,(#*+, ''++'$(0 %.%' (* to 4.9% *())( ,#*+,''++ '$, #,", Rate now 14th Inside Today lowest in state By RICK NORTON Associate Editor Hiring increases have served up another slice of thanksgiving as Bradley County’s unemploy- ment rate for October dipped below 5 percent for only the third time in eight years. At 4.9, the local jobless mark plunged like a “WKRP In Cincinnati” turkey from 5.6 per- Banner photo, HOWARD PIERCE cent in September. BLACK FRIDAY shoppers packed into Bath & Body Works for a limited-time “Buy 3 Get 3 Free” deal. It’s not altogether foreign ground for Bradley because the rate hit the same low once before this year — in April. But before that, the last time the local figure Lady Raiders take Gobbling up Black Friday reached such a low was in January 2007. a double hit “Bradley County went all that The Cleveland Lady Raiders time without getting below 5 per- took a 1-2 punch Wednesday cent, and now it’s happened twice when star player Shawnia Long lines, huge crowds bring spirit in 2015,” said Larry Green, labor Anderson went down with a knee market analyst for the Tennessee injury in a loss to Murray County, Department of Labor & Workforce Ga. Tennessee linebacker Darrin of commerce to the holiday season Development. “The rate is looking Kirkland has emerged as a big really good.” part of the Volunteers’ defense. chase the larger TV. Of course, Bradley’s drop came By ALLEN MINCEY in good company. For the month, Two new volleyball signees have Banner Staff Writer Other shoppers were not concerned the Lee Lady Flames seeing dou- with electronics, but with the sales on 89 other Tennessee counties — ble. See Sports, Pages 9-11. Bradley Square Mall was packed, it most anything. out of 95 — also saw declines in was wall-to-wall at Walmart, and folks “I am shopping for Christmas pres- joblessness. But the local figure Forecast lined the sidewalk to Target for what ents,” said Monica Luithle. “Three teen- also grabbed the spotlight as the would have been several blocks. age boys, so it is expensive. This is when state’s 14th lowest unemploy- Today looks to be partly sunny, Welcome to Black Friday. to buy gifts.” ment rate. “Bradley County was not alone with a high near 69. Tonight’s It might be more appropriate to say The parking lot at Bradley Square Mall “Black Thursday” as many stores opened was filled Thursday night, as many of the in the unemployment drop, but forecast calls for mostly cloudy their doors around 6 p.m. Thursday for the local rate did go down signifi- skies, with a low around 49. stores had special deals. Many of those their special Thanksgiving deals. And, stores also opened at 6 p.m., while some cantly,” Green said. Saturday should be mostly cloudy, they were not disappointed, as thou- opened for Black Friday earlier, and October’s rate is so low that it with a high near 66. Saturday sands of shoppers used the opportunity some, such as Kmart were open all day actually bettered both the state night calls for clouds, with a low to purchase early Christmas gifts, or just Thursday for their Thanksgiving sale, and national marks, which is a around 52. Sunday calls for items they wanted at their homes. then reopened for Black Friday later in rare occurrence. The U.S. rate for cloudy skies and a 50 percent John Jessup, store manager at Target the day. the month was 5 percent and the Banner photo, ALLEN MINCEY Tennessee mark was 5.6. chance of rain, with a high near at Cleveland Towne Center, estimated the PETER CONRAD got the employees at To ensure no problems during the 62. Sunday night should be turnout was better this year than 2014. shopping, local law enforcement had offi- To no one’s surprise, much of Target ready for the multitude of shoppers Bradley’s improvement came in cloudy, with a 70 percent chance He said that there were several TVs on cers at the larger sales sites, and employ- sale, and that was the most popular of soon to enter the store by playing the retail trade as stores — in a sea- of rain and a low around 53. ees were walking around the stores to the items on sale for Black Friday. theme to “Superman” over a megaphone. provide any assistance they could. sonal expectation — began to beef “We came for the 55-inch (TV) but he Many businesses in Cleveland decided up their sales floor staffs in Index told us this was the next best thing,” She said that they got to Target around that Black Friday events should actually preparation for the Thanksgiving Kristen Cordero said about the 50-inch 4:30 p.m., and waited in line to enter the be on Friday, and began their sales this and Christmas seasons, Green Church........................................6-7 flat-screen she and her husband pur- store. Once inside, they went straight to explained. Classified......................................17 chased. the electronics department to try to pur- See FRIDAY, Page 18 But, it wasn’t all retail. Comics.........................................13 See JOBLESS, Page 5 Editorials......................................12 Horoscope....................................13 Obituaries.......................................2 Empty Stocking Fund launches Monday Sports........................................9-11 By RICK NORTON year, the Empty Stocking Fund TV Schedule...........................14-15 Associate Editor COG International brought in some $42,000. This year’s Empty Stocking Fund Weather..........................................8 A popular Cleveland radio station’s made some news of its own earlier this annual Christmas outreach to the hosts kickoff, 6 a.m. year, when the founders of the three Around Town community on behalf of more than a cooperating charities — Christmas thousand children in need kicks off its is anchored every year by Steve Party for Children, Creating Christmas Judy Moore doing some work 40th annual drive bright and early Hartline, owner of Mix 104.1 FM Memories and the ESF — issued a on the computer ... Philip Willard Monday at 6 a.m. (WCLE), will launch from the Church joint announcement saying the trio really enjoying a new job ... The WCLE Empty Stocking Fund, of God International Offices for a had merged efforts in order to be more Sandra Centers discussing how now marking its first year as a merged three-hour opening from 6 to 9 a.m. efficient while also lessening the load she was ready for “Turkey Day” ... campaign with Creating Christmas The campaign will close on Friday, on donors and volunteers who, in Daniel Willard doing some region- Memories, will be doing what it’s done Dec. 11, with a four-hour finale at Life year’s past, had been asked to support al comparative price shopping. for four decades; that is, raising funds Care Centers of America from 6 to 10 all three campaigns. to support the Christmas Party for a.m. “We are grateful that the community Children which provides toys, clothing, The 2015 drive is focused on raising has supported the WCLE Empty some food and a whole lot of love. $1 more — which is always its annual The 10-day radio fundraiser, which goal — than the previous year. Last See STOCKING, Page 18 6489076 75112 2—Cleveland Daily Banner—Friday, November 27, 2015 www.clevelandbanner.com Eller; and nephew, Dennis Eller. Zona Hayes Morrow He is survived by his wife of more than 53 years, Judy F. Zona Hayes Morrow, 62, of Eller; daughter, Patricia Denise Georgetown, died Wednesday, OBITUARIES (Dale) Walker of Cleveland; Nov. 25, 2015, at a local health (USPS 117-700) granddaughters: Amber Walker care facility. Periodical Postage Paid at Cleveland, TN 37320-3600 Post Office (Adam) Cook of Etowah and The funeral will be held at 3 POSTMASTER: Send Address Changes to: Banner, P.O. Box 3600, Cleveland, TN 37320-3600 sonal memory of David or your Brittany Walker of Cleveland; p.m. on Monday, Nov. 30, 2015, at Mount Olive Ministries. Her Published at 1505 25th Street, NW (P.O.