According to Sevier County Sheriff Ron Seals, The identity of a Sevier Co. woman that perished in a house fire on Sunday morning has been confirmed. Seals states that the autopsy confirmed that the victim was Jessica R. Myers, age 30, who resided at the address where the fire occurred. The autopsy also confirmed that Myers died of smoke inhalation and there were no signs of foul play found. The cause and origin of the fire is still being investigated by the Sheriffs office Fire Inv. Unit and State Bomb and Arson investigators.

This week's winner of the make me laugh for the movies contest is Jack Smart of Pigeon Forge.

Last week's funny pet photo featuring a funny pet costume prompted Jack to send in a photo of his dog Paco who is dressed as Yoda from Star Wars.

Make Me Laugh For The Movies is a weekly contest sponsored by Reel Theaters. The rules are simple. Send us a funny story, funny photo or anecdote about a personal experience and if we publish it we will send you two free tickets to Reel Theaters Movies on the Parkway.

Please make the stories brief and suitable for the family. The Sevier County News reserves the right to reject any story for objectionable content. Winners will announced each Wednesday.

Send all entries to Sevier County News

635 Wall Street,

Sevierville, TN. 37876 or e-mail themto seviercountynews@gmail.com

Reel Theaters is located at 713 Winfield Dunn Parkway in Sevierville. For more information call (865)453-9055 or visit them on the Web at reel-theatres-sevier.com.

     The Sevierville Police Department is requesting the public’s assistance identifying a man suspected of committing fraud.

    According to SPD Detective Dweese Milliron, the suspect apparently made three separate withdrawals at two local Tennessee State Bank ATM’s in late March. This person is also suspected of using the victim’s debit card at the local Wal-Mart and K-Mart stores. The total amount of money and merchandise believed to have been fraudulently obtained from the ATM’s and local stores is over $4,000.

    Anyone with information regarding this suspect is requested to contact Detective Milliron at 865-453-5507.

                                            Gretchen Gunter

SEVIERVILLE – Music instructor Gretchen Gunter has announced a revolutionary, playing-based approach to learning to play piano for the residents of Sevierville, using an innovative teaching method called Simply Music. Highly experienced as both a private instructor and classroom music teacher, Gunter completed extensive training to become a certified Simply Music teacher after discovering how quickly it allows students to start making music on their own.
“I have been fortunate to be involved in several effective ways of teaching, but I have never seen anything as powerful, as fast or as fun as Simply Music,” Gunter said. “Students are actually playing songs starting with their first lesson and they add new songs very quickly from that point on.”
“We are delighted to have Gretchen on board, and thrilled that she will contribute to the musical growth of Sevier County,” said Neil Moore, founder & executive director of Simply Music. “Gretchen’s enthusiasm will shine through in the lessons and I am excited about her students creating a new relationship to music.”
   For those interested in knowing more about Simply Music, Gretchen Gunter will be hosting a series of local Free Student Introductory Sessions in Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg and Knoxville.
For introductory session dates or for more information, write to gretchenpiano@gmail.com or call 541-274-9807. www.facebook.com/playpianowithgretchen

About Gretchen Gunter
Gretchen’s love for music started at age 3 with violin lessons and continued throughout college, where she performed with a number of instrumental and choral ensembles. Her experience as a classroom music teacher and private instructor, coupled with a deep love for music, makes learning an exciting and interactive process. Through Simply Music, she discovered a new approach to music education that has made an enormous contribution to the progress of her music students.

About Simply Music and Play-a-Story
Simply Music is the largest playing-based music education institution in the world. It presents a piano learning method that looks at music in a totally new light. Created by Neil Moore, Simply Music first translates entire pieces into simple shapes and patterns that students can clearly see and easily play on the keyboard, quickly building an extensive repertoire in various musical styles. For information visit: www.simplymusic.com.

Play-a-Story is a musical journey in which you and your child travel through a storybook world. It uses the piano as its mode of travel, creating sounds, melodies, harmonies and rhythms to express the story... literally, students create their own musical soundtrack. Using the piano, students learn to interpret mood, color and nuance as the story unfolds. Play-a-Story teaches this by providing a foundational, systematic and creative experience that harnesses children’s intuitive, musical appreciation and interpretation.

Fans of Twilight can meet Booboo Stewart in Gatlinburg

 Fans of the hit movie "Twilight" are making plans to attend the Twilight Girls Getaway June 1-3 at the Hard Rock Cafe in Gatlinburg.

  Twilight is a 2008 American romantic vampire film based on Stephenie Meyer's popular novel of the same name. Directed by Catherine Hardwicke, the film stars Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson. It is the first film in The Twilight Saga film series. This film focuses on the development of the relationship between Bella Swan (a teenage girl) and Edward Cullen (a vampire), and the subsequent efforts of Cullen and his family to keep Swan safe from a coven of evil vampires

    The Twilight weekend will be filled with games such as Edward Cullen’s Deal or No Deal and  Twilight Survivor. Popular actors from the Twilight Saga will be making appearances on Saturday. Those scheduled to appear are: Peter Facinelli who portrays Dr. Carlisle Cullen; Alex Meraz who plays Paul; and Booboo Stewart who portrays Seth Clearwater. The Hillywood Show and an Edward Cullen look-alike will also be making appearances throughout the event. The weekend will wrap up with a star studded Red Carpet Event at The Hard Rock Café – Gatlinburg. For your convenience, two ticketing options are available–day tickets and all-inclusive weekend tickets. The all-inclusive ticket holders have lodging provided at The Gatlinburg Falls Resort in Twilight character themed rooms as well as all meals provided among other amenities. For more informormation send an email to jamiephlps@gmail.com. You may also visit the Facebook page for the event at: www.facebook.com/TwilightGirlsGetaway.com. Tickets are currently on sale now!

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Walters State freshman catcher Randi Wimpy was honored Wednesday afternoon by the National Junior College Athletic Association by being named the NJCAA National Player of the Week for her performance last week.
    Wimpy, a graduate of Woodland High School in Cartersville, Ga., helped lead the Lady Senators to a 4-2 record last week by going 13 of 19 at the plate (.684) including an 11 of 13 showing in four conference wins over the weekend.
    Wimpy had six home runs, including a grand slam, 13 runs batted in, a double, six singles and scored 11 runs while also drawing a pair of walks.
    For the season, Wimpy leads the nation in batting average (.649) and is tied for the national lead in home runs with a school record 26 round trippers. She is also fourth in the nation and tops in the TCCAA in RBIs with 78, and she leads the country in on base percentage at .685 for the year.
    Wimpy and the Lady Senators (41-4, 14-2 TCCAA) will close out the regular season Friday when they host 15th ranked Volunteer State (44-6, 15-1 TCCAA) at the Lady Senator Softball Complex. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.
 

Many Sevier County students received honors at Walters State’s Honors Night Festivities. From left are Sue Frazier, dean of the Walters State Sevier County Campus; Telena Smith; Heather Ward and Randal N. Herzog.

     Walters State Community College presented the President’s Outstanding Student Award for 2012 are James Dustin Chandler of Morristown;  Katey Hopkins of Talbott  and Kara Rountree of Kodak. The highest honor that can be bestowed by the college, the award is based on scholarship, character, participation and leadership.

      Chandler will graduate with an associate of science in mathematics degree. He is president of the History club, a member of Phi Theta Kappa, and has been named to the 2011-12 USA Today
All-American Tennessee Team. He also volunteers for various service learning projects. He also assists with his son’s Cub Scouts and his daughter’s Girl Scouts activities.

    Hopkins will receive an associate of arts in English this semester. She has served as president for the Walters State Folk Club, was nominated for the Outstanding English Award and is a member of Phi Theta Kappa. Her works were also published in the 2011 edition of “Gallery,” the college’s award-winning literary and arts magazine.

   Rountree will receive an associate of science in teaching. She is the recipient of the Outstanding Education Student Award, a recipient of an International Travel Scholarships, treasurer and member of the Student Tennessee Education Award and a Phi Theta Kappa member.

   Miranda Church of Mosheim was named the Outstanding Student on the Walters State Greeneville/Greene County Campus. Telena Smith of Sevierville was named the Outstanding Student on the Sevier County Campus, and Laronda G. Walters was named outstanding student at the Claiborne County Campus.

   Mark E. Coe of Morristown was named the Outstanding College Express Student. College Express is designed to make college more accessible for busy, working adults. The program is fast-paced, with students completing an associate degree in two years, attending one night a week.

    Three dual enrollment students were recognized. These students will actually earn an associate’s degree before graduating high school: Kaley Shepherd of Gatlinburg; Tammy Knapp of Greeneville; and Aaron Adkins of Morristown. Lance T. Fezell and Rachel Wadell of Greeeneville both received scholarships from the Faculty Council. Kyndal Brock of Morristown was recognized for her service as SGA president and Chelsea Young was recognized as president of the Senators Pages.

   One athlete in each sport was recognized for academic achieve. These were Andrew Farmer of Bean Station (men’s basketball); Akia Jones of Nashville (women’s basketball); Kendall Keeton of Columbia, Tenn (baseball); Courtney Davis of Rogersville (softball); Rafael Jackson of Rutledge (golf); and Katie Kreeceman of Morristown (cheerleading).

   These awards were given during annual honors night festivities on April 17. Other academic awards given were:

Education – Kara Rountree, Sevierville

Early Childhood Education – Dorothy S. Lawson, Sevierville

Mathematics – James Dustin Chandler, Morristown

Biology – Daniel Crandell, Morristown

Chemistry – Alexa P. Hubard, Dandridge

Physics – Brian C. Bradley, Greeneville

“Gallery” – Celeste Rudd, Morristown

Creative Writing – Ashley Williams, Afton

English – Christin Ball, Morristown

Spanish – Evan Corlew and Hanna Corlew, Morristown

Visual Arts – Susan Voorhees, Rogersville, and Celeste Rudd, Morristown

Debate – Stephanie Lewis, Dandridge

Philosophy – William Moore, Bean Station

Administrative Office Assistant – Amanda Hill, Hartford

Business Administration Careers – Patricia Waite, Bean Station, and Michael Stawski, of Champaign,
Ill.
Culinary Arts – Randal Herzog, Newport

Legal Studies – Edward Bower, Strawberry Plains

Agriculture Resource – Courtney Dean, Greeneville

Production Horticulture – Tina Lady, Greeneville

Computer and Information Science – Sergey Chibizov, Pigeon Forge

Engineering Technology – Joshua Brown, Bulls Gap

 Criminal Justice – Tony Ricker, Midway

Paramedic – Shelley Hammonds, Newport

Fire Science – Jacob L. Moss, Hampton, Tenn.

Nursing, Morristown Campus – Meredith Cromer, Morristown; and Kari Susong, Newport

Nursing, Greeneville/Greene County Campus: Tyler Starnes, Greeneville

Nursing, Sevier County Campus – Heather Ward, Kodak

Nursing, Career Mobility (LPN-RN) – Peter Berryman, Maryville

Physical Therapist Assistant – Kenneth C. Norton, Newport

Respiratory Care – Brittany Hensley, Mosheim

Health Information Technology – Eileen Beagle, Newport

Pharmacy Technician – Mary Strange, Morristown

Medical Transcription – Leslie Norton, Greeneville

Medical Coding – Rosemarie Foster-Smith, Greeneville

Medical Insurance Specialist – April Hodge, Bean Station

This week's winner of the make me laugh for the movies contest is Pat Arnett Morris of Sevierville.

"My sister, Karen, would like to have grandchildren. Unfortunately, her daughter and son-in-law don't seem to be in a hurrry. Recently, she began dropping not-so-subtle little hints. She put a bumper sticker on her car that reads 'Let me tell you about my grandchildren--oh, wait, I don't have any grandchildren.'"

Pat Arnett. 

Make Me Laugh For The Movies is a weekly contest sponsored by Reel Theaters. The rules are simple. Send us a funny story or anecdote about a personal experience and if we publish it we will send you two free tickets to Reel Theaters Movies on the Parkway.

Please make the stories brief and suitable for the family. The Sevier County News reserves the right to reject any story for objectionable content. Winners will announced each Wednesday.

Send all entries to Sevier County News

635 Wall Street,

Sevierville, TN. 37876

Reel Theaters is located at 713 Winfield Dunn Parkway in Sevierville. For more information call (865)453-9055 or visit them on the Web at reel-theatres-sevier.com.

   Roll up your sleeves and dig in at Gatlinburg’s 11th Annual Ribfest & Wings festival Thursday, April 26, from 5 to 9 p.m. in downtown Gatlinburg. Come out and enjoy live entertainment, children’s activities and hot wing eating contest, all promising a lip-smackin’ good time at the Parkway is transformed into a Street Fair between Traffic Light 6 and Reagan Drive.

   Regional rock band Demon Waffle and local rock band Tuatha Dea will provide free entertainment. Hot wing eating contests sponsored by All Sauced Up will feature sauces such as “Blazing Bomb,” “Treacherous Tongue,” “Scorching Screaming” and “Next Day Disaster.” Prizes will be awarded to the champion. See if you can handle it!
   Sampling participants include BKW Seasonings, Bubba Gump Shrimp Company, Calhoun’s, Crawdaddy’s Restaurant, Dick’s Last Resort, Gatlinburg Fire Department, Gatlinburg Police Department, Johnny Rockets, Loco Burro Cantina, Partridge & Pear Restaurant, Pucker’s Sports Bar & Grill, Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies, Smoky Mountain Brewery, Texas Roadhouse and Walters State Community College.
   “We think this will be our best Ribfest, Wings & BBQ extravaganza ever,” said George Hawkins, Special Events Manager for the Department of Tourism. “The Parkway is such an exciting and unique venue.”

  Additional sponsors include the City of Gatlinburg, Coca-Cola, Food City, Hard Rock Café Gatlinburg and Mountain Rentals of Gatlinburg.
    An armband for Ribfest, Wings and BBQ may be purchased for a small donation that allows sampling as long as the ribs and wings last. A portion of the proceeds benefit the Gatlinburg Hospitality Association’s educational scholarship fund.
   A panel will judge and award the best ribs or wings in seven categories. All vendors will be vying for the coveted “People’s Choice Award” chosen by popular vote.    

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Walters State Lady Senators picked up where they left off 10 days ago in TCCAA action Friday, as they swept another road conference doubleheader at Southwest Tennessee.

The Lady Senators recorded 24 hits on the afternoon to defeat the Lady Saluqis by the score of 9-2 in the opener and 8-0 in five innings in the nightcap.

With the wins, Walters State improves to 33-2 on the season and 6-0 in TCCAA play, while the losses dip the Lady Saluqis to 20-24 overall and 1-9 in league play.

The Lady Senators struck first in the opener, putting a run on the board in the first inning. Randi Wimpy singled and moved to second when Lindsay Loudermilk was hit by a pitch. Brittany Hefner plated Wimpy with a single to make it 1-0.

Wimpy singled to lead off the third and Loudermilk followed with a walk. Hefner smacked a three-run homer, pushing the lead to 4-0.

In the fourth, Haley Taylor singled and moved to second on a throwing error. After a single by Samaria Curtis, Wimpy lifted a sacrifice fly that scored Taylor and made it 5-0.

Haylee Power got the Lady Saluqis on the board in the bottom of the fourth with a two-run homer, but they never got closer than 5-2.

Taylor drove in a run in fifth on a safety squeeze bunt, and Courtney Davis belted a three-run homer in the sixth to make the final 9-2.

Wimpy recorded three hits to lead the Lady Senators at the plate in the opener, while Hefner had two hits and four RBIs, and Taylor and Brooke Rhodes added two hits apiece.

Ashley Rhyne (17-0) picked up the win after scattering four hits and giving up two earned runs while striking out 12 batters in a complete game effort.

Ali Hare had two hits to place Southwest Tennessee in the loss. Power was tagged with the loss after giving up nine earned runs on 14 hits in seven innings.

In the nightcap, Wimpy opened the scoring with a solo homer in the first inning, and the Lady Senators added four more in the second. Curtis drove in a run with a base hit, and Davis added a two-run single. Wimpy plated Davis with an RBI double, lifting the lead to 5-0.

Latosha Rectenwald smacked a solo homer in the fourth, and Hefner scored on a throwing error to make it 7-0.

The final run of the game came in the fifth when Courtney Hutcherson homered to make it 8-0.

Wimpy had three more hits and a pair of RBIs in the nightcap for Walters State,while Hefner added two hits in the win.

Kelsey Weddle (14-1) got the win after working four scoreless innings and giving up four hits. Lindsay Vaught retired all three batters she face in the fifth to close out the win.

Heidi Molder had a pair of hits in the loss, and Power (15-19) was saddled with her second loss of the day after allowing eight runs – three earned – on 10 hits.

The Lady Senators will close out their four-game road swing with a doubleheader at Dyersburg State on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
 

                                    Robert L. Jones

 Two Sevier County men were arrested Tuesday in connection with a cabin burglary. Sevier County Sheriff Ron Seals stated  that at approximately 2:40am on Tuesday morning April 10^th, the sheriff’s office received a prowler call in the Cedar Falls cabin community off Walden’s Creek Road stating that subjects were in a red car prowling around a cabin with flashlights.

    Officer Mike Watson arrived on the scene and found a red vehicle backed up to a cabin and when he got out of the car he heard noises coming from the rear of the home. Watson checked the home and found that it had been burglarized and that the suspects had fled on foot. Back-up officers and a K-9 unit were  summoned to the scene and after a two  hour search, two white male suspects, one being a 17 year old juvenile, were apprehended on foot in the area. Both subjects were arrested and transported to the sheriff’s office where they were charged with aggravated burglary. The juvenile was transported to the Sevier County Juvenile Detention Center and the adult, Robert J. Jones, age 20 of Sevierville of 1619 Somerset Ln. was incarcerated in the Sevier County Jail.

  Home Improvements. For all your home repair and improvement needs call Brandon at 865-661-5543. I am experienced and trustworthy with 8 years experience in painting, gutter cleaning, air conditioning and carpentry. Call for a free estimate. No job too small.   

MORRISTOWN, Tenn. – Coming into a critical TCCAA series tied with Chattanooga State for second place in the league standings, the No. 1 ranked Walters State Senators needed to do something big to keep themselves in the running for the regular season crown.

The Senators did just that, as they swept the three game series by taking both games in the doubleheader Saturday at Senator Field. Walters State run ruled the Tigers 11-1 in the opening game in five innings before going extra innings to win the finale, 3-2, in eight innings.

With the sweep, the Senators improve to 34-5 on the season and 14-4 in TCCAA action. The losses drop Chattanooga State to 30-14 overall and 11-7 in league play.

Walters State jumped on top early in the first game, as Marcus Davis reached on an error in the first inning and Jake Ellison smacked a two-run home run to give the Senators a 2-0 lead.

Walters State starting pitcher Josh Peterson cruised through the first eight batters of the game before running into trouble in the third. After getting the first two outs of the inning, Peterson issued a walk and hit a batter before Jordan McDonald drove in a run with a single to make it 2-1.

Walters State blew the game open in the bottom of the fourth. After loading the bases with one out, Kendall Keeton and Ellison both drove in runs with infield singles, and Colin Bennett tagged an opposite field grand slam over the wall in right-center to push the lead to 8-1.

The Senators finished the opener off in the fifth by bringing in a run when Marcus Davis was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Ellison drove in a pair of runs with a base hit to end the contest by the mercy rule at 11-1.

Ellison had three hits and drove in five runs in the win, while Andrew Allen added a pair of hits and Bennett dove in four runs.

Peterson (3-1) picked up the win after going five innings and giving up one earned run on four hits while striking out five.

Taylor Patterson (1-4) took the loss after surrendering four runs – one earned –on just two hits in 3.1 innings.

In the nightcap, the Tigers plated a pair of unearned runs in the first inning on two walks, a pair of wild pitches and a passed ball to take a 2-0 lead.

Chattanooga State starting pitcher Dylan Massengill made that lead stand up into the sixth inning when the Senators finally got a rally going.

Allen and Keeton led off the bottom of the sixth with back-to-back singles, and Keeton took second on the throw after his hit. Marcus Davis followed with a two-run single to knot the score at 2 heading into the seventh inning.

The score remained the same into the eighth, when the Senators put runners on second and third on a single by Keeton, an intentional walk by Ellison and a pair of stolen bases. Keeton scored the winning run on a wild pitch by Tigers reliever Blake Davenport.

Keeton led the offensive attack with three of the seven hits in the second game.

Walters State starter Dale Innes got a no decision after a solid outing in which he allowed two earned runs on two hits while striking out seven and walking three in 6.2 innings.

Cunningham (2-1) got the win after working a scoreless eighth inning. Davenport (0-1) took the loss after working 1.2 innings in relief. The Senators return to action Wednesday when they travel to Wilkesboro, N.C., to take on the Wilkes Cougars. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for 1 p.m.

  Walters State student Rebecca Tyler, (left) displays her “Alice in Wonderland” sketches to Dr. Dennis Elkins, director of the college’s production of the Lewis Carroll classic. Tyler’s work is being used to promote the play.   

   Walters State’s spring performance of “Alice in Wonderland” features a little more student involvement than usual. Students will, of course, will bring Alice, the mad hatter and her other friends to life. Another student’s artwork is actually bringing a special touch to the play’s publicity.

    Rebecca Tyler, a graphic arts major, captured the attention of faculty members in the Division of Humanities last semester with a series of sketches inspired by Lewis Carroll’s fantasy world. With Tyler’s approval, those sketches appear on posters promoting the event and play programs.

    "Alice in Wonderland” runs for only one weekend, with 7:30 p.m. shows April 12-14 and a 2:30 p.m. show on April 15. Plays will be in the theatre of the Judge William H. Inman Humanities Complex. Tickets are $12 for adults and $5 for students.

      The play is directed by Dr. Dennis Elkins, former dean of humanities at the college and the producer of many acclaimed shows while he was head of the theatre department at the college. He didn’t hesitate when the college asked him to fill in after a vacancy last fall. And choosing to bring the world of the hatter and the hare’s mad tea party to life was an easy choice.

      “’Alice in Wonderland’ is challenging and fun. The characters take everyone out of their comfort zone and into a fantasy. Everything about Alice is larger than life. Students put on a full body animal costume and they’re no longer in the real world,” Elkins said.

      This performance is based on the stage adaption written by Charlotte Chorpenning.

      “The perspective depends on the version. In this one, Alice has to try to control some bad habits. This appeals to children because of the set and all of the fun animals. For adults, the play has a double meaning,” Elkins said. The play still stays true to the story’s nonsense genre.

      Given Elkin’s tight schedule, the production was actually done inside the afternoon class schedule. Students registered for the course instead of going the usual route of auditioning. Evening rehearsals weren’t added until almost showtime.

      “This semester, we are actually using the acting class time for rehearsals and drawing from the students in the class,” Elkins said. He admits to being a little nervous waiting to see what students signed up for the class as opposed to the usual rehearsal route. In the end, the class drew in a good mix of students for this particular play.

      “I have some students that have quite a bit of experience and I have some that have very little. When it comes to singling out the stars for recognition, Elkins declines.

      “These students are great and I have always encouraged an ensemble approach to theatre. Everybody has an equal stake in making each performance work. This is a very even production. I’ve tried to make sure people get equal stage time,” Elkins concluded.

      Emily Durand has been cast as Alice, with Emily Myers as the white rabbit; Micah Keck as the mad hatter; and Roxanna Couick and Nathan Hoskins as Tweedledum and Tweedledee. Kyle Gorbski plays the caterpillar and Stephanie Lewis, the duchess. Janie Obaed is the cook, Adam White the frog footman and Nathan McGee the march hare. Anthony Simpson takes on the role of Dormouse; Olivia Fee is Gryphon and Torrie Fain and Douglas Murgola are the King and Knave of Hearts. Allison Wood is the red queen and Dani Tower is the white queen. Fee also serves as the stage manager.

      For reservations, call the Division of Humanities at (423) 585-6922 between 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Tickets will also be available at the box office an hour before showtime.

   A Veteran’s Forum will be held at the Tennessee Career Center at Morristown from 10 a.m.-noon on Tuesday, April 10. The Center is located in room 110 of the Clifford H. “Bo” Henry Center for Business and Industry.

  This forum will feature Linda Mason, dean of records and veterans service officer at Walters State; Melissa Reynolds, assistant director of WIA services at the Tennessee Career Centers in Talbott and Clyde Vincent with the Volunteers of America.

   The forum is informal and will include information on finding employment and using your educational benefits.

   The workshop is free, but reservations are requested. To reserve a spot, contact Connie O’Vercum at Connie.Overcum@ws.edu or (423) 318-2341. This is funded under an agreement between Walters State Community College and the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development. 

  The search for a missing Sevier County woman ended tragically Saturday when the missing woman was found dead by a search team. According to Sevier County Sheriff Ron Seals,  26-year-old Alicia R. Martin’s body was found at approximately  11:30 am today by a Sevier County Rescue Squad search team.

   Martin had been the center of intense search around her home since Friday by several agencies in Sevier County. Sevier County Sheriff’s Detectives were summoned to the scene where the body was found in a heavily wooded area approximately  200 yards from her home. The investigators did not find any signs of foul play at the scene but an autopsy has been ordered by the Medical Examiner’s office. All indications are that Martin had committed suicide. The investigation is still open pending the results of the autopsy.

MORRISTOWN, Tenn. – The home field has been very kind to the Walters State Lady Senators softball team this season, and they ran their record to 15-0 inside the friendly confines of the Lady Senator Softball Complex with a sweep of Aiken Tech Friday.

Walters State used three home runs and another dominating pitching performance from Ashley Rhyne in the opening game to top the Lady Knights 7-1. In the nightcap, the Lady Senators trailed until Randi Wimpy clubbed a grand slam in the fourth inning that sparked an offensive explosion in an 11-3 victory in six innings.

With the sweep, Walters State improves to 29-2 on the year, which includes 13 straight wins. The losses dropped Aiken Tech to 25-22 on the campaign.

The Lady Senators opened the scoring in the first game with a solo homer by Courtney Hutcherson, her second of the season, in the second inning, and they blew the game open in the third.

Brittany Hefner and Wimpy drew one-out walks in front of a three-run homer by Lindsay Loudermilk, her 12th of the campaign, to make it 4-0. Courtney Davis and Rhyne both added RBI single later in the inning to push the lead to 6-0.

The Lady Knights got on the board in the fourth on a solo home run by Maddie Sharpe, but Hefner got the run back in the bottom of the inning with a leadoff homer for the final run of the contest.

Loudermilk and Wimpy each had two hits in the opening victory, with Loudermilk  driving in three runs.

Rhyne (15-0) scattered four hits and struck out 10 batters while allowing only one earned run in a complete game effort.

Jenny McKellar paced the Lady Knights with two hits, and Danielle Payne (13-12) took the loss after giving up five earned runs on four hits in 2.1 innings of work.

In the nightcap, Aiken Tech took a 3-1 lead into the bottom of the fourth before the Lady Senators exploded.

Wimpy followed singles by Kara Tester, Haley Taylor and Hefner with a grand slam, her 15th round tripper, to give Walters State a 5-3 lead, and they never looked back.

In the fifth inning, Taylor drove in a run with a sacrifice fly, and Hefner followed with a two-run homer, her second of the day and 11th of the season, to extend the lead to 8-3.

The Lady Senators closed it out in the sixth on an RBI single by Tester and a two-run double by Hefner to provide the 11-3 final.

Hefner had three hits and four RBIs in the finale, while Wimpy, Hutcherson, Taylor and Tester each had two hits in the win.

Kelsey Weddle (12-1) grabbed the win after allowing three earned runs on six hits in six innings.

Sharpe and McKellar led Aiken Tech with a pair of hits apiece in the loss. Allie Short (12-10) was tagged with the defeat after giving up 11 earned runs on 15 hits.

The Lady Senators will return to the diamond Wednesday when they host Milligan College for a doubleheader. First pitch of the twinbill is set for 2 p.m.
 

     The Sevier County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the publics’ help in locating a missing Sevier County Woman. Sheriff Ron Seals states that 26-year-old Alicia Renee Martin was last seen at her home on Shiloh Church Rd. yesterday morning. Evidence indicates that she apparently walked away from her home leaving behind personal items. Martin is described as being 5’5” Tall, 110 lbs, with black hair and blue eyes. She is believed to be wearing a black Krystal’s Restaurant uniform and black tennis shoes. Martin may be suffering from an altered mental status which may have led to her disappearance. Anyone with information on Martin is asked to call the Sevier Co. Sheriff’s Office at 865-453-4668 or their local law enforcement agencies.

This week's winner of the make me laugh for the movies contest is Helen Morris of Sevierville.

"My grandson, Cody, is 6-years-old. He was at our house recently and my husband was in bed sick from an attack of kidney stones. My daughter called to see how Cody was doing. Duirng the course of their conversation he told her "Grandad is in bed. He has the Flintstones."

                           Helen Morris

Make Me Laugh For The Movies is a weekly contest sponsored by Reel Theaters. The rules are simple. Send us a funny story or anecdote about a personal experience and if we publish it we will send you two free tickets to Reel Theaters Movies on the Parkway.

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GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- The Tusculum College women’s golf team shot a school, tournament and South Atlantic Conference record 291 in the opening round of the 15^th annual Agnes McAmis Memorial Women’s Golf Invitational at Link Hills Country Club.

 Tusculum holds a seven-shot lead over second place Lincoln Memorial (298) and nine shots in front of third place Lander (302). Lander’s Rachel Uremovich is the first round leader with her three-under par 69, one shot ahead of Tusculum’s Jillian Corum, who posted a two-under par 70 and two shots better than West Florida’s Camila Sevillano (71). Tusculum’s Emee Herbert and Kimesha Anthony of Columbus State are tied for fourth place with even 72 on the 5,085-yard layout.

 Uremovich’s round of 69 matches the opening day score posted by Shorter’s Daniela Vargas during the 2008 McAmis Memorial.

 TC’s 291 breaks the previous 18-hole McAmis Memorial record of 296, posted by Belmont Abbey 2010, while also surpassing the opening round 298 shot by Methodist, also in 2010. Tusculum’s team score bests the previous school record of 301, posted by this year’s team in the opening round of the 2011 Tusculum Fall Classic at Link Hills this past September. The previous SAC record was 295, set by Newberry last year and Carson-Newman in 2009.

 Columbus State is fourth with 304, while Carson-Newman is fifth with 315. Pfeiffer, Wingate and West Florida are in a three-way tie for sixth place with 316. Erskine is ninth with 321, followed by Catawba (322), Anderson (326), North Georgia (330), West Georgia (331), King (334), Belmont Abbey (351), Limestone (363), Mars Hill (367) and Brevard (370).

 Individually, three players are tied for sixth place at 73, including Tusculum’s Aly Pugh, LMU’s Brittany McCown and Columbus State’s Nikki Crowley. LMU’s Desta Walker and Jennifer Oliver of Carson-Newman are tied for ninth place with 74 to round out the top-10.

 Tusculum’s Sara Howard fired a 76 and is tied for 13^th place, while Katie Doane is 17^th with 77. TC freshman Alec Cunningham, playing as an individual competitor, posted an 87 and is tied for 74^th place.

 Corum’s 70 equals the score she carded in the opening round of the Tusculum/Kiawah Island Intercollegiate two months ago. It is also the third lowest 18-hole tally in TC history.

 Tuesday’s final round will begin at 8:22 a.m. from Link Hills.