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The Advocate & Democrat
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. ...
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. ...
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...
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...
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/
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The Advocate & Democrat serves Sweetwater, Madisonville and surrounding areas of East Tennessee.
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