This year, Hiwassee College Equine instructor and Monroe County native, Kara Graham, took home first place in the Lite Shod World Grand Championship at the 76th Annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration held in South Central Tennessee. This event takes place over the course of eleven days preceding Labor Day,…

Some people spend their lives simply living. Others choose to dedicate their lives to serving. Chief Justice Sharon Lee is one such person, and she is an inspiration to all who call Monroe County home. Sharon Lee’s story began in Madisonville, where her mother worked as a clerk for 38…

In 1956, Mrs. Walter Babb bought her son, Walter Jr., a fly fishing tying kit to help him earn his Cub Scout badge. It was at that time, young Walter discovered his love for tying flies.“Not many people knew how to tie a fly back in those days. It was…

The ceremony and dedication are over and what remains is a big sign naming the curved street in front of Sweetwater High School “Kippy Brown Way.” Kippy Brown is a hometown guy who has made it to the top, starting with quarterbacking SHS’s state championship football teams in 1971 and…

Emi Sunshine, age nine, lights up the stage wherever she goes. Her incredible God-given talent, beautiful singing voice, and contagious smile have received national attention almost overnight.Emi is from Madisonville, Tennessee and has been singing since she was two-years-old. She began humming songs alongside both of her grandmothers before she…

Following a performance of The Cooke Book, a tribute to the music of Sam Cooke by theatre and music professional Darrian Ford of Chicago, at Hiwassee College recently, many audience members lingered in the lobby to express gratitude for a fantastic show. These are the moments which make all of…