🌱 Chattanooga BBBS Search For Mentors + Citizen Forester Classes

Up and at 'em, Chattanooga! Let's get you started this Friday with everything you need to know going on today in town.

---

First, today's weather:

Partly sunny. High: 52 Low: 38.

---

Here are the top 3 stories in Chattanooga today:

1. Jessica Whatley from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Chattanooga talked about how January is National Mentoring Month. They are looking for additional mentors or 'Bigs,' who can offer consistency to the "Littles." (WTVC)
2. The Chattanooga Tree Commission and Take Root Chattanooga will hold their annual Citizen Forester Classes. They will take place over four Saturdays in February from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. in Hamilton County. The classes promote tree advocacy by educating citizens on the value of the trees and building a core of volunteers in the community. (Chattanooga Pulse)
3. Chattanooga's unemployment rates are lower compared to nationwide and statewide averages. The rate hit 2.7% in Nov., which is particularly low. In the state of Tennessee, the unemployment rate rested at 3.1%. (WRCB)

---

From our sponsor:

Today's Chattanooga Daily is brought to you in part by our friends at Verizon. They're building the fastest 5G network in the country. To learn how 5G is going to change life for you and your community — and to get access to this amazing technology — click here. And thank you Verizon for sponsoring this community resource in Chattanooga!

---

Today in Chattanooga:

• Outdoor Storytime - Southside Community Park (11:00 AM)
• Fun, Crafts, Games, Or Puzzles - Red Stone Estates (3:00 PM)

---

From my notebook:

• An amazing day for the Chattanooga Fire Department as multiple firefighters took their careers to the next level! It's great seeing them advance and seize leadership opportunities. Today, Dan Peterson and Justin Vice were promoted to the rank of Captain, and Joe Fuller and Jakob Gann were promoted to LT. (Twitter)
• All Tennesseans are invited to share what they would like to see in a new, student-based funding formula for public education. Email your public comment to tnedu.funding@tn.gov by Jan. 14 at 3 p.m. CT for subcommittee review and consideration. (Twitter)
• The 2022 MLK Day of Service and Donation Drive is quickly approaching! It is on Jan. 17 from 8:30-11:30 a.m. at 101 East 11th Street and Parking Lot. Be sure to get involved! (Instagram)

---

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Announcements:

• Paid Pregnancy Research Study (Details)
• Add your announcement

---

Loving the Chattanooga Daily? Here are all the ways you can get more involved:

• Send a friend or neighbor this link so they can subscribe
• Get your local business listed in front of readers

---

You're all caught up for today. I'll be in your inbox tomorrow with a new update!

— Kayla Harrison

About me: Kayla Harrison is a Writing Arts professor, as well as a freelance writer for content creation agency Lightning Media Partners. In her free time, you can find her listening to podcasts, writing poetry, and visiting local coffee shops.