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The Advocate & Democrat
Best talks impact of food options on tourism as weather warms
Monroe County tourism hopes to highlight local businesses in the food industry to pique the interest of tourists. Food based tourism, or culinary tourism, has been gaining popularity across the country with various online sources expecting to see a growth in culinary tourism over the next 10 years. According to Monroe County Tourism Director Blaina Best, while most of Monroe’s events are not food oriented, all of Monroe County’s events...
Volunteer hosts sought for Indian Boundary campground
Cherokee National Forest officials are currently looking for volunteers to act as campground hosts at Indian Boundary. Cherokee National Forest Volunteer and Service Program Director Nicole DeRoche stated they were looking for dedicated volunteers who are used to being outside. “We have two volunteer positions available to people who enjoy being outside, working with people and comfortable working in a variety of different places and elements,” DeRoche said. “We have...
ALL-COUNTY: Eleven names earn honors after 2023-24 season
The 2023-24 season has come to a close for girls’ basketball in Monroe County. The Lady Bears returned to the region semifinals this season while Sequoyah, Sweetwater and Tellico Plains combined for 29 wins on the season. Making an impact as a freshman, Lilly Woodruff led the county with 401 points scored and a staggering 276 rebounds. The Sweetwater Lady Wildcat averaged a double-double on the season and recorded one...
Sequoyah students test for welding certification
Welding students at Sequoyah High School recently participated in a welding certification test last Wednesday that could provide those who pass the opportunity to pursue a welding career. According to Sequoyah High School’s Welding Instructor Michael Stamey, this was the first time that he got to have his students participate in the testing. “I was very excited,” he expressed. “The school itself had done these tests in the past prior...
Talking tourism
The Tennessee Overhill Heritage Association — which serves Monroe, McMinn and Polk counties — and 150 tourism/destination marketing organization members met recently at the Montgomery Bell State Resort Park in Burns near the Kentucky/Tennessee border for meetings and classes on tourism in Tennessee. Included in those attending was Monroe County Tourism Executive Director Blaina Best. This conference is held every year to gather data and to make network marketing connections. Tennessee ranks 11th among the 50 states in number of tourist visitors. The new 2024 Tennessee Tourism logo statement is “Tennessee Sounds Perfect.” Shown here are (from left) Paige Finnell, tourism coordinator for Meigs County; Adrian Lambert, executive director of Tennessee Overhill; Best; Amy Anderson, tourism coordinator for Southeast Tennessee Association; Melanie Beauchamp, assistant commissioner of Tourism for Tennessee; Nancy A. Dalton, tourism and marketing coordination for Tennessee Overhill; and Mark Ezell, commissioner of tourism development for Tennessee. Talking tourism
Sweetwater commission discusses capital improvement plan
Discussions for Sweetwater’s Capital Improvement Plan arose during last month’s city commission meeting. During last month’s meeting, Sweetwater City Recorder Jessica Morgan started the discussion of the capital improvement plan by stating that they were able to remove some of the requests from the city fire department due to a grant. “The police department still needs to do an expansion to fix the bathrooms on the second and third floor...
Sweetwater farmers win first place in 2023 National Corn Yield Contest
ST. LOUIS, Mo. — Sweetwater farmers Joshua, Whitney, Jabe and Kate Watson earned first-place state awards in the 2023 National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) National Corn Yield Contest. Joshua also captured a second-place national award. Joshua achieved a yield of 344.90 bushels per acre with DEKALB DKC67-44RIB brand blend in the Conventional Non-Irrigated Class. Whitney...
Sequoyah Boys State
Pictured, from left to right: Sequoyah High School history teacher Justin Miller; American Legion Post officer Linda Ulom; Brody Deakin, Boys State alternate; American Legion Post officer Richard Swartz; Caleb Lane, Boys State alternate; Dallas Tallent, Boys State primary delegate; and American Legion Post member Rich Comiso.
Boys and Girls State delegates selected
The American Legion and the American Legion Auxiliary sponsor yearly programs called the Boys and Girls State respectively, a program started in 1935 to counter the fascist-inspired Young Pioneer Camps. In Tennessee, the programs consist of sending select high school juniors to a six-day camp where participants are exposed to the rights and privileges, the duties and the responsibilities of a franchised citizen. The training is objective and practical with city, county and state governments operated by the students elected to the various offices. Activities...
TCAT Athens' Practical Nursing program ranked No. 1 in Tennessee
Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) Athens has announced its Practical Nursing program’s recent accolade as the top ranked Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) program in the state by PracticalNursing.org With a score of 95.82, the institution rose to the top due to its consistent excellence in NCLEX-PN pass rates over the past five years. “We are thrilled to be recognized as the leading LPN program in Tennessee,” said TCAT Athens...
Schultz speaks to American Legion
At the March meeting of American Legion Tellico Lake Post 256, the members heard from guest speaker Rene’ McGill Schultz, who, together with her sisters, Rebecca Willis and Amy Millsaps, have owned McGill Karnes Funeral Home for over 20 years. Schultz’ presentation provided a great deal of information about the process involved when someone passes and the legal steps required. Topics included who can legally release the body to the mortuary, how to specify your final wishes, and the need for having information about any prearrangements available. She also provided information about the possibility of available VA funds for funeral...
Monroe on the Go!
Men in Business Breakfast The Monroe County Chamber of Commerce will hold its Men in Business Breakfast on Thursday, March 21 at 7:30 a.m. at Anderson Ridge, located at 106 Williams Lane (Sweetwater). This event will provide men in the area an opportunity to network with fellow businessmen, get inspired and focused on their business and personal goals, all while relaxing and enjoying breakfast. There will be networking, a message...
Sweetwater kindergarten, Pre-K registration
Sweetwater Primary School will hold kindergarten and Pre-K registration on Friday, April 12, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. To apply for Pre-K, a child must be age 4 by Aug. 15. Only 60 spots are available for Pre-K. Call 423-351-7004 to schedule an appointment to visit Sweetwater Primary School and fill out an application. Applicants should bring proof of residence (mail, rental agreement and/or utility bill), proof of income (W2, Food Stamp case number, and/or check stub), the child’s birth certificate, Social Security card, and shot record. The child will complete a short screening of basic skills. To register for kindergarten, the child must turn five years old on or before Aug. 15. Parents and/or guardians should bring an official copy of the child’s birth certificate, updated shot and physical record and the child’s Social Security card (optional). For more information, call 423-351-7004.
General Sessions for 3/12/24
Brandon Daniel Adkins, 39, Ogle Road, Sweetwater, assault by domestic violence, dismissed. Viktor N. Allen, 34, Highway 68, Sweetwater, violated sex offender registry, reset for 3/26. Scott Nelson Anderson, 58, County Road 274, Sweetwater, evading arrest, possession of meth, possession of Hydrocodone, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving on a revoked license, due care, reset for 4/2. ...
Woman tells deputy to give her a minute, retires to bedroom to smoke and make phone calls
She said she needed to put on some clothes to be arrested, but then she decided, seriously, she didn’t want to be arrested. Monroe County Sheriff’s Deputy Dalton Townsend said he was asked to do a welfare check on Debbie Torbett after someone who knew her said they hadn’t heard from her in a week and thought she might be running from law enforcement. Townsend checked and found Torbett had...
Man threatens to kill business employees before being taken home
A man claiming he wanted to sell a gun ended up being accused of threatening to kill several employees at a Sweetwater business March 12. Sweetwater Police Officer Chase Atkins said it was around 9:30 p.m. when he went to Glass Master and spoke to a manager and several employees who said Mario Gonzalez came into the store around 8 p.m. wanting to speak with an employee and then handed him a gun he wanted to sell. ...
Man insults Dollar General, leads authorities on high speed chase
A man who showed no remorse over being banned from Dollar General and later led deputies on a high speed chase in February was found and arrested by Sweetwater Police on March 9. The saga for Joshua Presley began Feb. 12 when Monroe County Sheriff’s Deputy Ashley Chambers went to the Dollar General on New Highway 68 outside of Tellico Plains on a shoplifting call and was told the man had left in a light colored car. ...
Woman tries to blame pills on another, then reveals her hiding place
A Niota woman tried to claim some alleged drugs belonged to somebody else in the car, then admitted she had an unusual hiding place for a bunch of pills on March 8. Sweetwater Police Officer Jarren Turpeinen said he was on Vonore Road when he saw a man driving a Mazda and knew he hadn’t had a valid license in the past. He contacted dispatch to make sure the man's...
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The Advocate & Democrat serves Sweetwater, Madisonville and surrounding areas of East Tennessee.
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