Greenback
Education
One for the books: Author gives writing advice to Eagleton students
When Sarah Seaton Myers, author or coauthor of 17 books and ghostwriter of 10 books, was invited to speak to students at Eagleton College and Career Academy, she immediately accepted. As a former Eagleton student, she was pleased to have been invited back to her alma mater, where she attended kindergarten through eighth grade before its transition to a middle school and most recently, Eagleton College and Career Academy. “I remained Facebook friends with one of my favorite teachers, my sixth-grade English teacher, Callen Parsley,”...
Thirty-six Blount County seniors earn scholarships from Prudentia Masonic Lodge #719
Prudentia Masonic Lodge #719 has awarded $60,000 in scholarships to 36 Blount County seniors. The scholarship, named after James Leonard Jenkins, is awarded to qualified high school seniors who are attending a four-year university, two-year college, or trade school. What makes the scholarship unique is the fact that any Blount County resident can apply, so long as they attend one of the public schools, whether in the county or city,...
How Blount County is helping more high school graduates enter the workforce
BLOUNT COUNTY, Tenn. (WATE) — A rising number of high school graduates are forgoing college and entering the workforce, according to Labor Department data released last month. The college enrollment rate for recent U.S. high school graduates fell to 61.4% in 2023, the lowest level in at least three decades. Recent high school graduates are […]
Greenback baseball swept by University High in Sub-State
Greenback High School’s baseball season came to an end, as the team lost two straight games to University High School at East Tennessee State University (ETSU) on Thursday, May 16. The Cherokees narrowly lost their opening matchup up 2-0 and followed that loss up with a tough 9-2 thrashing — effectively wrapping up their season just shy of a State Tournament appearance. COMPETITIVE EFFORT ...
Maryville school board approves 5-year facilities plan
Maryville City Schools has developed half a decade’s worth of plans for the district’s facilities as its student population expands. Now, some of the costs and timelines for the school district’s priorities are solidifying. Maryville’s board of education Monday, May 20, approved a five-year facilities plan laying out preliminary timelines and cost estimates for a suite of projects. Those include a planned expansion of Maryville High School, a renovation of what’s now the Maryville Academy building and changes to athletic facilities. ...
Sweetwater baseball finds itself in a familiar spot
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WATE) — Sweetwater has only made one other state championship appearance, but Riverside is a familiar opponent. The Wildcats played the Panthers in their first state game in program history in 2023. Riverside jumped out to a 4-0 lead early in the contest, and it looked like the Panthers were going to roll to […]
Sweetwater’s season ends to Owls’ walkoff in Class 2A State Tournament
MURFREESBORO — With a runner standing on third base in the bottom of the seventh, a quick glove on the ball might have helped Sweetwater to extend its season but, when Smith County’s Wyatt Claywell sent the ball into the gap behind the second baseman, hopes were dashed. The winning run quickly scooted across the plate, propelling the Owls to a 9-8 walkoff win over Sweetwater on day two of the Class 2A state tournament at Stewarts Creek High School on May 22. ...
Panthers route Sweetwater Wildcats 13-0 in spring scrimmage
The Lenoir City High School football team recently hosted the Sweetwater Wildcats in a spring scrimmage matchup held Monday, May 13. The pre-season scrimmage featured the Panthers getting a live look at another team while getting valuable reps in on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. While Lenoir City took the contest 13-0, first-year head coach Scott Cummings said there are several things that can be improved. ...
Maryville school board OKs $73M budget with $50,750 starting pay for teachers
All Maryville City Schools employees could see their pay increase next year. The Maryville Board of Education on Monday, May 20, approved a $73.2 million general purpose budget for the 2024-2025 fiscal year that puts new teachers’ starting salaries at $50,750. The $50,750 base pay for beginning teachers — those with bachelor’s degrees, but no experience — would represent about a 6% raise over the district’s current starting salary of $47,851. ...
Flagging on Sam Houston School Road
The city of Alcoa announced Tuesday, May 21 that upcoming flagging operations will affect traffic on Sam Houston School Road beginning this week. The project, which has already begun, is expected to last through July. Sam Houston School Road between Holliday Drive and the Alcoa Water Treatment Plant will have workers flagging the area from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday for the month of May. This is in conjunction with the Eagleton Ballfield Project to implement a soil borrow pit on Sam Houston School Road. Staff are advising motorists to use caution when driving through the area, as workers will be present, and allow additional travel time when using this route.
Elementary students champion diversity through language
Students at Rockford Elementary School were among those observing National Bilingual/Multilingual Learner Advocacy Month in April. The month was a time dedicated to recognizing the rich linguistic diversity that bilingual and multilingual individuals bring to our communities, schools, and workplaces. “Sarah Day’s classroom at Rockford Elementary has learned all about the benefits of being bilingual,” school officials said. “Students celebrate their linguistic diversity through a collaborative project. These young scholars...
Riverside’s Wallace strikes out 13 Wildcats, Sweetwater falls into elimination bracket
Sweetwater baseball has been in this spot before. The Wildcats started the Class 2A state tournament off with a loss to Decatur County-Riverside, knocking the team into the elimination bracket. A result that emulates Sweetwater’s run in last year’s tournament. Riverside picked up a 5-3 win in the opening round over Sweetwater on May 21 at Stewarts Creek High School in Smyrna. ...
Loudon Baseball falls just short of State Tournament
After earning their spot in the sectional series, the Loudon High School baseball team faced off against the Tullahoma Wildcats in a double-header at Tullahoma High School on Thursday, May 16. The Redskins came into the matchup with confidence as they needed to win two of the three games to advance. After a hard-fought battle, Loudon ultimately fell 6-1 in the first game and narrowly missed the mark in Game Two — losing 4-3. The sweep marked an end to Loudon’s season and saw the...
Loudon Baseball under new leadership
The Loudon High School baseball team will have a new head coach this upcoming season in former assistant coach Trent Elliott. Elliott spent three years as the team’s assistant coach and was a Loudon High School graduate back in 2014. As a player, Elliott was a four-year letter athlete in both baseball and football. He was all-district all four years in baseball. ...
Sweetwater dominates Pigeon Forge, returns to Class 2A state tournament
Sweetwater keeps finding ways to win. The Wildcats have faced elimination four times this postseason, but the program has not looked shaken in those moments. The team delivers with its back against the wall. Falling behind 1-0 in a three-game series was not a deterrent and Friday’s win proved again that the Wildcats can deliver under pressure. ...
Dozens of high school seniors, recent grads accept jobs in Blount County on signing day
BLOUNT COUNTY, Tenn. — The room is buzzing at Blount Partnership's Job Signing Day and it's not just because there are welders and electricians in the room. Nearly 70 graduating seniors from Knox and Blount counties took part in the annual event honoring kids who sign on to work for local businesses right after high school.
Elizabethton’s Siepert signs to Maryville College
ELIZABETHTON, Tenn. (WJHL) — Elizabethton High School Senior John Siepert signed to continue his athletic career at Maryville College. Siepert is ranked 3rd in the Tennessee High School Boys 300m Hurdles category. Below are Siepert’s personal records for the events he’s run: Siepert will continue to run track at Maryville College in the fall.
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