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The Advocate & Democrat
General Sessions for 6/11/24
Michael Lynn Bagwell, 68, Overhill Road, Sweetwater, aggravated reckless driving, $365, 11/29 suspended; two traffic violations, dismissed. Terry Paul Baker, 47, Hickory Grove Road, Madisonville, criminal impersonation, 6 months at 75 percent; evading arrest, 11/29 at 75 percent. Tommy Joseph Boshears, 31, Windchase Way, Madisonville, criminal trespassing, public intoxication, reset for 8/20. David Aiden Bowman,...
Red, White & Boom scheduled for June 29 in Tellico
The Fourth of July is a time to celebrate in Tellico Plains — celebrate not only independence, but a significant birthday. On July 4, 1911, Tellico Plains was incorporated as a town by the State of Tennessee. Named after the Cherokee capital of Telliquah, which was once along the shores of the Tellico River, the small town celebrates in style with an annual event (formerly called the Square Dance). The...
Despite years of study, we're all still too fat
For many, many, MANY years now I’ve been spending at least one week a year looking at how fat Tennesseans are. Because somebody is always doing a study about how fat we are state by state and Tennessee always makes the top 10. This time the study was done by something called Flex AI which used America’s Health Rankings data for their findings. I don’t know what either of those are, but their findings fall pretty much in line for all the studies in the...
Video shows truck backing into car wash, causing damage; driver says nope, not him
A longtime Sweetwater business is undergoing renovations after a transfer truck backed into it on June 10. But the driver of the truck seen on video swore it wasn’t him that caused the damage. Sweetwater Police Officer Adam Dowell said he was sent to the Big Orange Car Wash on Main Street and when he arrived he could see power lines down and that power lines coming into the car wash had been ripped completely out. ...
Bathrooms are close, but woman uses grass
A homeless woman from Sweetwater who made her way to Indian Boundary June 12 was arrested for indecent exposure. Monroe County Sheriff’s Deputy Kerrie Wilburn said she went to the camping area on a call of a woman walking around exposing herself and talked to a witnesses who gave her a description and said the woman was in a tent across from them. Wilburn said before she could approach the...
Running from shadow monkeys in Vonore
A man was arrested in Vonore June 14 after he allegedly knocked on doors, seeking shelter from scary monkeys. Vonore Police Officer Brandon Watkins said at around 3:30 a.m. he was sent to Dawson Street on a call of a suspicious man knocking on doors and yelling for help. Watkins said he began searching for the man and around 4:20 a.m. found him in the Chota parking lot on Highway...
Woman tells boy he's going to heaven, threatens cop with stick
A woman preaching with a stick was arrested in Tellico Plains on June 14, but claimed she was trying to save a child. Tellico Plains Police Officer David Bookout said he went to some apartments on Bank Street and found Angela Dalton was the woman with a stick. Bookout said Dalton had been told earlier in the day to go back into her apartment and not come back out, but here she was again. ...
Out of town trio allegedly empty cash register of $100 bills
Three people from different parts of the country teamed up to allegedly take nearly $2,000 from the Madisonville Walmart June 4. Madisonville Police Detective Adam Russell said Patrolman Colby Eaton was sent to the store on Highway 411 around 3:15 p.m. on a call of a theft of $1,900 from a cash register. Eaton said he looked at security footage and saw a woman in a white dress, blue hat...
Best talks expectations for upcoming summer tourism
The first official day of summer is right around the corner with many outdoor activities lined up across the county. According to Monroe County Tourism Director Blaina Best, summer tourism in the county continues to grow despite not having as many events as the fall and spring seasons. “Our two biggest seasons as far as events go are fall and spring. Monroe County has a lot of events during those...
All-County: Eleven names shine on the diamond for area softball
Editor’s Note: The All-County team is chosen with stats provided to The Advocate & Democrat as well as experiences in coverage and coaches recommendations The 2024 season of softball has come to a close. Across the three months, 10 players stood out for area teams, using their prowess to keep the team competing for titles or helping the group accomplish their goals. ...
Sweetwater commission considers request for brewery to open
Sweetwater City Commissioners recently discussed the possibility of a brewery coming to the town. During the recent commission meeting that was held on Monday, June 3, Sweetwater Mayor Doyle Lowe presented the topic of a brewery to the commission. According to the mayor, a resident of the city has presented the commission with a packet from a “master brewer” to provide information towards opening a brewery in the town. ...
Local residents honored during Monroe Chamber banquet
The Monroe County Chamber of Commerce held its annual awards soiree last week, presenting several businesses, organizations and some individuals with awards for their service and contributions to the county. The festivities for the event featured a welcome by Monroe County Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Brandy Gentry, which was followed by an invocation by Monroe County Mayor Mitch Ingram. Along with food being offered during the event was the chamber’s...
Marine sergeant leads Bears through team-building, rigorous practice
Tellico Plains football has focused on building the Bears’ unit as one this June. And to help usher that commodity through was Sgt. Jayden Stuessel — the U.S. Marine Corps representative for Blount and Monroe counties — who led the team through a series of drills at June 4’s practice. Stuessel spoke to the Bears about the importance of holding together and making sure each member of the team is...
Sounds of Summer returns this Friday with Dirk Quinn
Friendly City Festivals will kick off the 15th annual Sounds of Summer Concert Series on Friday, June 14 with Dirk Quinn Band. Based in Philadelphia, Pa., Dirk Quinn Band is a four-piece, high energy jazz/funk band that travels extensively throughout the US and Canada. As stated in Raleigh Music Listings, “This Philly based band must be the standard bearers of the funk scene up in the City of Brotherly Love...
Criminal Court for May 2024
It was a short session, held at the end of the month, but Monroe County Criminal Court still heard several guilty pleas and handed out indictments in May. Pleas heard included: Jeffery Allen Hobart, 36, Lake Road, Tellico Plains, possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, one year at 30 percent. Ivy Lanette Kaiser,...
General Sessions for 6/4/24
Joshua Arden, 38, Harris Road, Englewood, assault, dismissed. Sherry Renee Barr, 55, Starrett Street, Sweetwater, possession of meth, possession of drug paraphernalia, criminal trespassing, reset for 8/20. Christine Ann Kwiecien Mitchell Bearden, 47, Sweetwater/Vonore Road, Sweetwater, evading arrest, DUI 2nd offense, implied consent violation, driving on a revoked license 2nd offense, five traffic violations, reset for 9/3. ...
For lack of a seat belt, man goes to jail on numerous charges
Failure to put on his seat belt led to a man getting arrested on a slew of charges June 5. Madisonville Police Officer Thomas Spradlin said he was on New Highway 68 near Englewood Road when he saw a Nissan Titan turn at the red light and the driver wasn’t wearing a seat belt. Spradlin said he got behind the truck and followed it, seeing it drift over the fog...
Man hit by truck in his own driveway
A man said guns were pointed out a truck window at him June 2, but instead of shooting him, the driver appeared to decide to hit him with the truck instead. Monroe County Detective Samantha Long said deputies were sent to a house on Reagan Valley Road where they found a man had been hit by a car. Long said EMS was called to check out the man, but his injuries weren’t considered life threatening. ...
Man not that interested in coffee arrested in Sweetwater
An Athens man allegedly having too much fun on his own was arrested at a Sweetwater cafe June 6. Sweetwater Police Officer Kelvin Franco said he went to Cup Runneth Over on Main Street on a call of a man performing a lewd act on himself near a fireplace and did see a man later identified as Matthew Crisp rubbing and tugging at his midsection. Franco said he took Crisp...
Alleged assault goes from Sonic to apartments
An alleged assault that began at the Madisonville Sonic on Highway 411 ended with an arrest at a Madisonville apartment complex June 6. Madisonville Police Sgt. Chris Moses said officers were sent to the restaurant just after 3 p.m. on a domestic assault happening in a car. Moses said while they were in route, they were told the car had left and been followed to an apartment on Warren Street. ...
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