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The Advocate & Democrat
Burn permits required through May 15
NASHVILLE — To reduce wildland fire risk, Tennesseans are reminded that a burn permit from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture Forestry Division is required through May 15 for all open burning where local restrictions do not apply. “Fire prevention starts with each of us practicing safe burning and only burning when it’s safe. The burn permit process communicates to residents the safe locations and times for open burning,” State Forester Heather Slayton said. “During hazardous fire conditions like high winds or extreme drought, permit issuance...
SJHS students learn about bees' impact on the world
Seventh and eighth grade students at Sweetwater Junior High School received a unique learning experience Friday about the significant roles bees play in the world. The event was sponsored by the Monroe County Health Council’s Healthy Roots Program, which was developed by the health council with the goal of increasing nutrition education, according to their website at monroehealth.org “We had been learning about flowers, plants and pollinators and we thought...
Architect chosen for Sweetwater community center design
The Sweetwater City Commission committed to having Main Street Studio Architects design the city’s new community center during their most recent meeting. The discussion occurred during this month’s Sweetwater City Commission meeting, when Sweetwater Mayor Doyle Lowe noted the city had received several proposals for businesses who were interested in the community center project. “This is on the community center project and they really want you to have more than...
Mass violence threats would be criminal under Cochran bill
State Rep. Mark Cochran (R-Englewood) is working on a bill that would add threats of mass violence as a criminal offense. House Bill 2538 states that it “creates the criminal offense of recklessly, by any means of communication, threatening to commit an act of mass violence and the threat causes a reasonable expectation or reasonable fear of the commission of an act of mass violence.” “The intent of this bill...
Sweetwater bats stand strong, errors prove costly in Knoxville
Sweetwater was putting the bat on the ball Friday afternoon, but continuous fielding errors led a productive night towards an eventual 17-12 loss at the Knoxville Webb Lady Spartans. The Lady Wildcats (2-7) outhit their hosts 17-13, but six errors to a clean Webb game saw Sweetwater lose a fourth consecutive game. “We talk over and over again, when we have five-plus errors we are not going to win ball...
Tellico earns first win in years through Purple Pounders shutout
It is a feeling that has not been in Tellico Plains for some time. After over 50 minutes of surviving with a one-goal lead, the final whistle blew between Tellico Plains and Chattanooga Central. A Bears program, well into its infancy, had won the first game since the sport returned to the school. Tellico traveled to Chattanooga Central, downing the Purple Pounders 1-0 in its season opener. ...
Local organizations bring joy to young boy
Representatives of the Kiwanis Club of Madisonville, Rotary Club of Tellico Lake and Kiwanis Club of Tellico Village visited with Beth Gray Millsaps and her 4-year-old son, Bennett, at their home in Madisonville recently. The visit was to see how Bennett had adapted to his new R82 Rabbit, a wheelchair stander that the three clubs helped sponsor with the help of non-profit organization Wheelchairs 4 Kids. Bennett was born with...
UT Extension visits Healthy Roots classes
Rebecca Layman, UT Extension agent, recently visited Healthy Roots classes at Sweetwater Junior High School and Rural Vale Elementary School. Layman taught two knife safety classes tailored for teenagers. These classes emphasized a comprehensive approach to knife safety, covering topics such as proper handling, storage, maintenance, and usage scenarios. Students used thick, plastic knives designed for teaching safety to practice cutting vegetables for charcuterie cups. The class also had a...
Monroe on the Go!
Living Well with Chronic Conditions “Living Well with Chronic Conditions” is a six-week workshop series designed to help community members manage their long-term health issues effectively. Chronic conditions of those attending may include asthma, arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, chronic pain, sleep apnea, or fibromyalgia, among others. If you or anyone you care for has a chronic disease, UT Extension welcomes you to this series, which is designed to address issues...
General Sessions for 3/19/24
Kayla Darlene Sutton Ashmore, 26, Crowder Road, Madisonville, violation of probation, assault by domestic violence, theft of an automobile, reset for 4/30. Darrell Ray Baker, 63, Lakeside Road, Vonore, DUI, reset for 4/16. Leon McKenley Bell, 35, Third Street, Madisonville, evading arrest, two counts possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, four traffic violations, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, bound over to grand jury;...
Tennessee is finally a top five state, but wait for it
Having lived in Tennessee all my life, I don’t think very often about how great or awful it is. It’s really all I’ve ever known. Things can be embarrassing (politicians) and they can be awesome (the landscape, Dolly), but it’s my home and I take it all, good and bad. Now, though, thanks to something called Pink Storage, a web site in the United Kingdom, I’ve learned Tennessee is the second worst state in the America to live in. ...
Man takes grandpa's truck, attacks another car
A man who allegedly stole his grandfather’s truck on March 21 led law enforcement on a foot chase before being arrested. Vonore Police Officer Eric Watson said he was sent to the Exxon on Highway 411 around 6:30 a.m. on a call of a man driving recklessly in a red truck. Dispatch later told him the man had parked the truck and was running around it naked. Clothed or not,...
Talking bugs and aliens on the way to jail
A woman not making any sense on March 17 was arrested after people reported her for acting strange. Monroe County Sheriff’s Corporal Ashley Chambers said she was sent to Cedar Lane near Madisonville and arrived to find a woman yelling at the ground and walking around erratically. Chambers identified the woman as Kali Lawrence and tried to talk to her, but said she couldn’t answer questions and had a hard...
Man moves toward being banned from every business in Madisonville
A man banned from numerous Madisonville businesses was found wandering around the Waffle House on March 17. Madisonville Police Sgt. Joseph Schultz said he went to the restaurant on Highway 411 just after midnight on a call of a man trespassing and found Garry Lish refusing to leave the premises. Schultz said Lish had bloodshot eyes and was unsteady on his feet. He said Lish was acting confused, unable to...
Man charged with abusing a dog
A Loudon man is facing animal abuse charges after he allegedly coerced his ex-girlfriend’s dog to perform sexual acts on him. Sweetwater Police Officer Chase Atkins said he talked to a woman who said her ex-boyfriend, Michael Thomas Sandberg, had been having sexual intercourse with her dog. She said she would have Sandberg go to her home in Sweetwater while she was out of town to let her dogs out...
Moses shines on mound as Tellico rolls McMinn Central
Kadence Moses’ second start in District 3-2A play was not something new. The sophomore is familiar with the position and repeated the feat she performed nine days earlier. Moses struck out 13 batters in the two-hit night, matching the number from March 12 over Polk County and pushing the Lady Bears (3-1; 2-1) to a 7-1 win over McMinn Central. ...
Sequoyah blasts South-Doyle in District 5-3A Championship rematch
It was nothing short of a complete performance for Allen Roberts. Traveling almost an hour to the team that beat the Lady Chiefs in last year’s District 5-3A Championship will turn some heads, but Sequoyah’s performance turned even more. The Lady Chiefs (3-1; 2-0) dominated all three phases of the night, tallying 15 hits and three home runs while individual performances from Kaleigh Atchley — 14 strikeouts — and Tynleigh...
Unemployment dips to near record-low level in February
NASHVILLE — After a slight increase at the start of 2024, Tennessee’s unemployment rate dropped to near record-low levels in February. Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD) data showed the new seasonally-adjusted statewide rate for the month at 3.3%, a decrease of 0.2 of a percentage point from January’s revised rate. The state’s all-time low seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate is 3.1%, which was recorded during April, May, and June in...
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The Advocate & Democrat serves Sweetwater, Madisonville and surrounding areas of East Tennessee.
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