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November

Saturday, Nov 14th Oak Ridge 2026/2027 winter basketball leagues The City of Oak Ridge Recreation & Parks Department has opened registration for its 2026/2027 winter basketball leagues. Basketball registration will close on Saturday, Nov. 14. The teen basketball league will be held on Saturday mornings and is open to anyone eighteen or younger who has not played TSSAA basketball during the 2026/2027 school year and is still currently enrolled in school. Boys’ and girls’ basketball divisions will be offered. Games are scheduled to begin Dec. 10. Co-Ed Volleyball registration will be from Monday, Nov. 9 through Saturday, Dec. 12. Co-Ed Volleyball matches are scheduled to begin Jan. 5, and matches will be held on Tuesday evenings. Interested teams may obtain registration information at the front desk of the Oak Ridge Civic Center or by contacting Matt Reece via email at mreece@oakridgetn.gov. For more information, call the Recreation Center at (865) 425-3450.
Friday, Nov 20th Knoxville Fire Fighters Association benefit concert The Knoxville Fire Fighters Association represents the professional fire fighters of Knoxville and has been proudly serving our community since 1918. In order to raise funds for educational and safety programs, they are hosting a benefit concert featuring the Ultimate Garth Brooks Tribute with songs like “Friends in Low Places,” “The Dance,” and “The Thunder Rolls.” The concert will be held Friday, Nov. 20, at 8 p.m. at the Knoxville Civic Auditorium. The purchase of tickets to the show helps to support programs in Knoxville, Knox County and East Tennessee. Visit www.knoxvillefirefighters.com for more information and to purchase tickets.
Saturday, Nov 21st Owl Ridge Raptor Center presentation Join the UT Arboretum Society as Lisa Thomison, director and co-founder of the Owl Ridge Raptor Center, introduces the audience to some of their feathered “ambassadors” on Saturday, Nov. 21, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the UT Arboretum Auditorium, 901 S. Illinois Ave, Oak Ridge. Several live raptors will accompany her while she introduces the work of this federal and state licensed raptor rehabilitation center. Register at: http://www.utarboretumsociety.org/programs/. This is a free program, but a donation box will be available. All donations will be given to Owl Ridge Raptor Center to support their work.
Thursday, Nov 26th Angel Tree and Silver Bells programs The Salvation Army Knoxville Area Command has registered 2,838 children and seniors for its annual Angel Tree and Silver Bells programs. Organizations can adopt a small or large number of Angels. Individuals and families are also encouraged to participate in online Angel adoption. Sign up to adopt Angels and Silver Bells by visiting the Knoxville Salvation Army’s website at:  https://southernusa.salvationarmy.org/Knoxville/angel-tree
Monday, Nov 30th Buddy’s Coupon Books Buddy’s bar-b-q is partnering with Alzheimer’s Tennessee to launch a special fundraising initiative. The 2026 Buddy’s Coupon Books are available at all Buddy’s bar-b-q locations. Each book costs just $1 and provides $15 in savings on Buddy’s menu items. All proceeds benefit Alzheimer’s Tennessee. The coupon books also include helpful resources and tips about Alzheimer’s and brain health. Coupon books will be on sale through November, and coupons are valid through March 15, 2027. For more information, visit www.alztennessee.org/buddys.
Monday, Nov 30th Friends & Pets in Need Holiday Food Drive Food City is preparing to kickoff its 9th Annual Friends & Pets in Need Holiday Food Drive. Now through Thursday, Dec. 31, specially marked bags containing non-perishable food items, as well as bags containing pet food products, will be available for purchase for only $15 (plus tax) at all area Food City locations. Customers wishing to purchase the bags may deposit them in the collection bins located at the front of the store. 100 percent of the products collected will benefit local hunger relief organizations and animal shelters throughout the region.
Monday, Nov 30th Race Against Hunger campaign Food City’s annual Race Against Hunger campaign will run from now through Monday, Nov. 30. Food City customers are invited to make a $1, $3 or $5 contribution as they checkout or round up their order total to the next dollar amount. Customers shopping online will also have the opportunity to make an online contribution. 100 percent of the proceeds raised will benefit local hunger relief organizations. Approximately four meals are provided for every dollar donated.
Monday, Nov 30th Dogwood Arts Chalk Walk The 19th Annual Dogwood Arts Chalk Walk will be held on April 10, 2027, and artist registration is open now. Each spring Downtown Knoxville transforms into a vibrant, open-air art gallery as more than 300 artists take to the pavement to bring their creativity to life. Chalk Walk spots fill up fast. Visit https://www.dogwoodarts.com/chalkwalk for more information and to register.

December

Saturday, Dec 5th Keyboards at Christmas Keyboards at Christmas returns to the Clayton Center for the Arts at Maryville College on Saturday, Dec. 5, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 6, at 3 p.m. The event brings together talented musicians for two performances of beautiful Christmas music with all proceeds benefiting Mission of Hope. Tickets are $29.99 each with reserved seating for both performances. Parking is free. Tickets are available now at missionofhope.org/keyboards-at-christmas/, which links directly to the Clayton Center’s box office.

January

Wednesday, Jan 13th Remote Area Medical clinic Remote Area Medical is seeking volunteer medical, dental and vision professionals and general support staff for its Jan. 15-17 clinic. The three-day clinic is to be held at Knoxville Expo Center, located at 5441 Clinton Highway, Knoxville. RAM also is in need of general support volunteers to help set up on Wednesday and Thursday, Jan. 13-14, and take down on Sunday, Jan. 17. Overnight parking volunteers to greet patients also are needed, and interpreters can volunteer to aid patients through the process, either in the parking lot or during clinic operations. Individuals do not need to work in the medical field to volunteer as general support. If you or your organization would like to volunteer your time to help provide free healthcare services to Knoxville and surrounding communities, visit https://www.ramusa.org/volunteer or call 865-579-1530.

April

Friday, Apr 23rd Homestead Event The Homestead Event will be April 23-24, 2027, at Deep Well Farm in Lenoir City. The “start where you are” focus brings families and beginning homesteaders together for practical education, hands-on workshops, demonstrations and a vendor market. Find more information at www.thehomesteadevent.org.

Geoff Courtney addresses FHS hazing, resignation

On Friday, Oct. 30, an alleged hazing incident took place among 10 members of the Farragut High School football team. The Knox County Sheriff’s Office investigated the following week, and former Farragut football coach Geoff Courtney resigned from his position Tuesday, Nov. 2. In an exclusive statement to the farragutpress, Courtney addressed his resignation, his thoughts on the program and the situation that occurred. “First and foremost, I want to express my sincere gratitude to the Farragut community for its continued support of Farragut Football,” Courtney wrote in an email to the farragutpress. “It has been an honor and privilege to serve as head football coach for the past three seasons, following 14 years as an assistant. Throughout those years, I have taken tremendous pride in the players, coaches, and families who have contributed to the proud tradition of Farragut Football. “I also believe it is important to address the unfortunate incident that occurred before our game against Cleveland on Friday, Oct. 30, and provide clarity regarding the circumstances. At approximately 3:30 p.m., players were arriving at the fieldhouse following the school day to begin pregame preparations. During this transition, an incident involving multiple students occurred, resulting in minor physical injuries to one player. “At that time, assistant coaches were transitioning from classrooms or arriving from off-campus employment while I was assisting with preparations for our pregame meal scheduled for 3:45 p.m. Our established practice allowed players access to the locker room following the school day as coaches and players arrived for team activities.

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Dyer exemplifies service, sacrifice

Throughout his lifetime, Robert Dyer has lived the service and sacrifice he grew up seeing. A son and nephew of Korean and Vietnam war veterans, Dyer learned to appreciate the impact one can have as a member of the U.S. military. “My dad and uncle Joe were in the military,” the Farragut business owner reflected. “My dad was in the Army in Korea, and my uncle was in the Army in Vietnam. I wanted to be in the military because of them.” At 18 years old, Dyer enlisted in the Army and served at Fort Bragg as a combat engineer. Six years later, he transferred to the Air Force. “I went all over the world,” Dyer said. “I started out in Prime BEEF, which is a combat engineer battalion in the Air Force, and ended up in the air refueling squadron as the flight records guy in Kansas, South Dakota then Germany and England.” For reference, Prime BEEF stands for Prime Base Engineer Emergency Force. “In the Air Force, they have Prime BEEF and Red Horse,” Dyer explained. “During the Gulf War, we built the burrs to protect the F-16s from the sand. It was 12, 14 hours a day, and we didn’t get a day off except the Fourth of July.” Within those grueling days, Dyer suffered an ankle injury during Desert Storm. That injury, combined with a back complication, led Dyer to a medical retirement in 1999. He left the service with multiple honors, including achievement medals, accommodation medals, a United Nations medal from his service in Tuzla and good conduct medals. That same year, he married his wife, Kendra Barnard-Dyer. Together, the couple opened Bahia Tans in Farragut and became part of the principal ownership group of the Knoxville Ice Bears. And even though his military service has ended, Dyer has found other ways to contribute. He was named the 2024 Wanda Amos Service Award winner for the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL), having volunteered for the American Red Cross in multiple natural disasters across the country. In that work and his daily occupations, Dyer puts his military background to use.

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News

Geoff Courtney addresses FHS hazing, resignation  Read More

Ten FHS students cited in hazing incident  Read More

Bus routes face possible cuts  Read More

Dyer exemplifies service, sacrifice  Read More

Voters set new legislative lineup  Read More

Board to review Comprehensive Land Use Plan in Nov. 12 workshop  Read More

Presstalk

PRESSTALK RULES  Read More

Opinion

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR RULES  Read More

School

CCS celebrates milestone  Read More

Business

Big plans rising on Watt Road  Read More

A natural approach to better skin  Read More

Community

Giving families a bright Christmas  Read More

Sports

Lions roar to first-ever playoff win  Read More

Rolling out the mats  Read More

Two advance, two fall  Read More

Youth XC teams see notable ends  Read More

Warriors, Irish claim state XC titles  Read More

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