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The Advocate & Democrat
Sweetwater looks to balance expectations, maturation in new season
There is an aura of expectation around Sweetwater, but also a recognition of a challenge for this baseball season. Perhaps the two beliefs coincide — they might for coach Travis Watson. The Wildcats return the majority of last year’s team that reached the Class 2A state semifinals, including two All-State selections, four All-County selections and multiple college commits. ...
A new Tellico gears up for growth in 2024
Tellico Plains baseball is looking to show growth in 2024. The Bears expect to be solid on the mound, but a younger team will be spread around the diamond. For sixth-year head coach Heath Ware, this season is about getting better. “As far as pitching, I think we are going to be alright in the No. 1 and No. 2 spot. We are going to compete there, but I think...
Tennessee starts new year with continued low unemployment
NASHVILLE — Tennessee started the new year with little movement in its seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate. New data from the Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD) showed the statewide jobless number inched up only 0.1 of a percentage point to 3.5%. December’s revised rate was 3.4%. In a year-to-year comparison, the statewide unemployment rate increased by 0.1 of a percentage point. Employers added a healthy number of new jobs across...
Sweetwater brings experience, new faces to new season
The Lady Wildcats return nearly the full roster from 2023 — a team that commonly fielded only 10 players. On top of that, five faces have joined, or rejoined, the program and have a shot of being involved this spring. “We knew that we would have a little bit of a rough year last year when the majority of the team was sophomores. We knew we had to get reps into those sophomores to build ahead and we did,” Sweetwater coach Sarah Davies said. ...
Tellico brings experience, new names to new season
Tellico Plains is eager to get on the diamond this spring. The Lady Bears are loaded with returners and new faces joining the program to round out a stout defense and fill significant holes. District 3-2A remains stout, but Tellico has shown it can battle in it. Depth in the circle and other areas could be the key to pushing the program forward. ...
Sequoyah adds new looks to familiar team
Sequoyah softball is picking up where they left off. On paper, the Lady Chiefs house a roster latent with talent and familiar faces. But there are a few things new. The team has a mix of bats and several pitchers who could throw off the balance. But Sequoyah enters the season without something they had...
Early voting 'slow and steady' in advance of March 5 election
Early voting for the March election has concluded with this particular election period taking a leisurely pace. According to the Monroe County Election Commission Deputy Clerk Kendra Henry, the early voting period went well. “I think it has been going well, we haven’t had any issues and all of the voters seem to be happy,” Henry said. “The turnout for this early voting period has gone by slow and steady...
Six local fire departments receive grant funding
Several local volunteer fire departments have received extra funding from the State of Tennessee through grants. In total, 196 Tennessee volunteer fire departments will receive $10 million in grants this year through the Volunteer Firefighter Equipment and Training Grant Program. According to a news release submitted to The Advocate & Democrat from the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance, this grant funding program was created through legislation overseen by Tennessee...
Tellico eager to field full team this spring
Soccer is returning in Tellico Plains — this time for a full season. The Bears are fielding nearly a full roster and aim at playing 12 games while competing through District 3-A action this spring. Tellico played through a handful of games last season to test the waters of interest. Though graduating players off of last season’s roster, this team fields 15 players at the time of writing and aims...
Loaded with numbers, experience Sweetwater looks for continued success
Another soccer season is about to start in Sweetwater. The Wildcats built a roster of 25 varsity players and 44 students involved in the program. Moving into a new district, Sweetwater is joined by familiar faces now under District 3-A. Adding to the mix, Sweetwater is led by interim head coach Ricardo Torres, who started working with the team in the middle of February. ...
Sequoyah finds new life, goals in deeper pool
Sequoyah soccer will step back on the field this spring, but things are looking noticeably different from the previous seasons. The Chiefs bring a roster of 23 players to the season — moving well beyond the previous seasons of hoping for enough players to field a team. But coach Lindsay Liszeski is not short to give out credit for the change. It does not start from the sidelines but comes...
County officials gearing up for spring tourism season
Monroe County Tourism Director Blaina Best discussed the spring tourism season for the county and how it “kicks off” the rest of the year for tourism. According to Best, the prime seasons for tourism in Monroe County have been summer and fall, however the spring season “kicks off” the rest of the year for tourism. “We really start seeing an influx of visitors in March and then our visitor count...
A look back at African-American communities in Madisonville
The African-American community of Mt. Moriah was founded in 1868 on Vinegar Ridge behind the current location of Madisonville Marine on Highway 411. By 1896, the community had a Baptist church and a school with 30 pupils in the first grade taught by Ms. Ada Donohoo. By 1930, the church had been disassembled and the community dissipated. Now, only the cemetery remains buried deep in the woods. ...
Tellico season ends in region semifinal after slow start
After the first eight minutes of Monday’s Region 2-2A semifinal, Tellico Plains found itself in a hole that was going to be too deep to climb out of. Meigs County stormed in front by 16 points after the first quarter en route to a 60-46 win in Englewood. Meigs County (22-9) knocked down nine of its 13 field goal attempts in the first quarter, including three triples. The Lady Tigers...
Tellico Plains valiant season ends at Brainerd in region tournament
Tellico Plains clawed itself back in a Region 2-2A quarterfinal Saturday, but the upswing effort ended shy of a berth in the final 32 teams in the state and ended the Bears’ season in Chattanooga. Visiting District 4-2A runner-up Brainerd, Tellico Plains (20-9) lost 61-54 to the hosts. For all but one member on the Bears’ roster — senior Burgess Tate — Saturday was the first time they stepped on...
Sweetwater outshot by Rams in quarterfinals
Sweetwater’s season came to a close Saturday night, losing 67-46 to Tyner Academy in the Region 2-2A quarterfinals. The Wildcats (10-17) kept pace through most of the first quarter but struggled to continue against potent Ram shooters. “They did okay. We ran into a Tyner team that was on fire and they shot the ball well. We struggled to score a little bit and they slowly pulled away from us,”...
Monroe on the Go!
Missoula Children’s Theatre The Missoula Children's Theatre (MCT) production of “The Secret Garden” will be presented for public viewing on Friday, March 1 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, March 2 at 3 p.m. in the Hiwassee Auditorium on the Hiwassee Bruderhof campus (former Hiwassee College). MCT’s residency in Monroe County is brought to you by the Monroe Area Council for the Arts (MACA) with support from the Tennessee Arts Commission,...
General Sessions for 2/20/24
Amanda Lynette Adams, 52, Beaty’s Chapel Road, Tellico Plains, violation of probation, 11/29 at 50 percent. Brandon Daniel Adkins, 39, Ogle Road, Sweetwater, assault by domestic violence, reset for 3/12. Shawn Michael Beasley, 35, Dry Fork Valley Road, Ten Mile, violation of probation, revoke and reinstate probation for 11/29. Ronnie Cecil Bivens, 36, Community Drive,...
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The Advocate & Democrat serves Sweetwater, Madisonville and surrounding areas of East Tennessee.
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