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The Advocate & Democrat
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. ...
Man gets shot, runs into woods to hide
A man said he ran after being shot June 2, but his alleged attackers found him and told him if he didn’t leave, they’d shoot him again. Monroe County Sheriff’s Det. Conway Mason said he went to a hospital in Sweetwater where he talked to a man who said he was at a house on Sweetwater/Vonore Road when he got into an argument with other people there. The alleged victim...
Industrial painting pre-apprenticeship program coming to Athens
CLEVELAND — The Cleveland State Community College Workforce Development Department has announced a new industrial painting pre-apprenticeship program designed to prepare students for an advanced career in the coating industry. Partnering with the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT), the four-week training begins Monday, July 29, at the McMinn Higher Education Center (MHEC) in Athens. The program is a combination of hands-on and online training. Students will earn...
TDCI, TEMA remind Tennesseans about flood insurance
NASHVILLE — After the tornadoes of last month, the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance (TDCI) and the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) remind consumers to learn more about flood insurance as part of their emergency preparedness plans. The latest disaster to impact Tennessee is a reminder that the state is no stranger to flooding. May marked the fourteenth anniversary of the historic floods that struck Tennessee, causing more than $2 billion in damages and claiming over 20 lives. ...
Secretary of State urges Tennesseans to become poll workers
NASHVILLE — In preparation for the Aug. 1 State and Federal Primaries and the Nov. 5 State and Federal General Election, Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett has urged all Tennesseans meeting eligibility requirements to consider becoming poll workers for the 2024 election cycle. “Poll workers are essential to conducting elections in Tennessee, and I hope all eligible Tennesseans will consider answering the call to serve our fellow Tennesseans,” said Hargett. ...
PPG to construct paint and coatings facility in Loudon County
NASHVILLE — Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Stuart C. McWhorter and PPG officials recently announced the company has selected Loudon as the location of its newest paint and coatings manufacturing facility. PPG will invest a total of $225 million and create 129 new jobs in Loudon County through the project. The Loudon plant will be PPG’s first new U.S. manufacturing facility in the last...
Monroe sees unemployment fall as labor force rises
All 95 counties across the state witnessed a drop in the unemployment rate for the month of April, including Monroe County. According to the State of Tennessee, Monroe County had a rate of 2.8%, which is a 0.2% decrease from the previous rate of 3.6%. State Statistical Analyst Patrick Todd noted that the month of April typically reflects a decrease in rates across the state. ...
Sweetwater officials planning for upcoming Independence Day
The City of Sweetwater is gearing up for its annual Independence Day celebration this year that will be taking place in Downtown Sweetwater. According to Sweetwater City Recorder Jessica Morgan, much of the currently planned festivities will be similar to last year’s event. “We have Pyro Shows doing fireworks again at dark. It will be on July 4 like it always is, we will have live music, vendors, dancing in...
Back in the saddle
Cattle roping was just one of several event rodeo riders took part in Friday and Saturday during the Monroe Rodeo at the Monroe County Fairgrounds. See more photos from the rodeo inside this week’s edition and online at https://www.advocateanddemocrat.com/
Sweetwater commission considers new position for city recorder
The Sweetwater City Commission is considering a promotion to a new position for a city employee that would impact the town moving forward. The discussion originally begin during the May 20 Sweetwater City Commission Meeting where board members received a request from City Recorder Jessica Morgan. “We have received a request from Jessica to consider a title change to city administrator or city manager, they are both kind of hand...
General Sessions for 5/28/24
Haley Marie Anderson, 28, County Road 274, Niota, shoplifting, 11/29 suspended. Nathan Edwin Arrowood, 45, Lincoln Drive, Madisonville, dogs at large, dismissed. Henry David Ashford, 50, Southgate Road, Madisonville, driving on a suspended license, four traffic violations, reset for 8/13. Joni Lee Bayless, 32, Meek Street, Madisonville, assault by domestic violence, reset for 6/25. ...
Man upset over girlfriend not wanting to do drugs anymore pulls knife
A man who would be arrested in a Taco Bell drive thru a couple of days later has been charged with telling a woman he was going to kill her with a knife May 24. Monroe County Sheriff’s Deputy Karrie Wilburn said she spoke with a woman in Vonore who said she had been attacked by James Myers at a house in the Corntassel area. She said she and Myers...
Man tapes dog's mouth shut to prevent it from barking
A man who appeared to think it was funny taping his dog’s mouth shut ended up being arrested May 25. Sweetwater Police Officer Jordan Moore said he went to Cannon Avenue on a call of a dog with its mouth taped shut with Duct Tape and that’s what he found when he arrived. He said the dog was attached to a leash that was tied to a table in a...
Man says cop will have to kill him before he goes to jail
He was looking to get a supper taco, but ended up going to jail May 26. Madisonville Police Officer Cameron Foister said he was sent to the C&R Market on Ball Play Road around 5 p.m. on a call a wanted person was at the store. Foister said he was told James Myers, wanted for domestic assault, was at the store, but he left before Foister arrived. ...
Trailer park fight leads to alleged knife attack
A fight between a boyfriend and girlfriend led to an alleged knife attack May 27 in Sweetwater. Sweetwater Police Officer Kelvin Franco said he went to Valley Trailer Park where found Austin Wathen and the alleged victim. Franco said the girlfriend told him there had been ongoing issues between the two and she did appear to be shaken up by the episode. The woman told Franco she was scared for...
Man pulls knife at Taco Bell, threatens manager
A man was arrested May 29 after he allegedly pulled a knife and threatened to kill a man at the Madisonville Taco Bell. Madisonville Police Sgt. Kyle Day said he went to the restaurant on Highway 411 a few minutes after 5 p.m. and talked to the general manager who said a man identified as Miguel Andres Gonzalez came into the restaurant and started making loud noises and disturbing the customers. ...
Slover resigns as Sweetwater girls’ basketball coach, program begins summer with another coaching search
Editor's Note: This story has been updated on June 3 at 1:25 p.m. with comments from Jennifer Slover and Kim Vineyard. The girls’ basketball head coaching job is open again at Sweetwater. The school announced the opening on its Facebook page Thursday before confirming Jennifer Slover’s resignation with The Advocate & Democrat later in the day. ...
Annual Englewood Celebrates coming up in three weeks
The Community Action Group of Englewood (CAGE) is preparing for its annual Englewood Celebrates event that is planned to take place in a few short weeks. According to information submitted to The Advocate & Democrat, the event is currently scheduled for June 21 through June 23 and will feature several events that have become standard for the festivities. Among the events will be: Music and entertainment from the band Highway...
National Guard works Sweetwater out through summer’s first practice
Tommy Bunch Jr. wanted to make the first practice of the summer for Sweetwater football significant. As the new head coach continues to try to establish the culture and conditioning of what he thinks can be a championship football team in Sweetwater, he knew there was a group of people who could help set the standard. He reached out to members of the National Guard Armory outside of Sweetwater who...
Kesling visits Sweetwater, tells of his start as Voice of the Vols
A man who has called many ups and downs for University of Tennessee athletics was in Sweetwater Thursday to lend his voice to the Kiwanis Club of Sweetwater. University of Tennessee Director of Broadcasting Bob Kesling was the guest at the club’s meeting, regaling members and visitors with stories of how he got into the business and experiences he’s had since. This is Kesling’s 26th year with the university, though...
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The Advocate & Democrat serves Sweetwater, Madisonville and surrounding areas of East Tennessee.
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