News
Farragut’s Wreaths Across America count was 278 honored Dec. 14: Williams
December 18, 2024 by Tammy Cheek
About 100 volunteers, from veterans to families and Scouts, arrived at Pleasant Forest Cemetery to lay wreaths on the graves of veterans as part of this year’s national Wreaths Across America program Saturday morning, Dec. 14.
“We’re here to remember not their deaths, but their lives,” said Farragut operations manager Chris Sheffield, a retired Air Force officer. “Each wreath is a gift of our appreciation from a grateful America.”
Participants were asked to step up to the grave, place the wreath, say aloud the name of the veteran and thank him for his service.
Dave Stinton, Pleasant Forest Cemetery caretaker, along with cemetery board members provided cards, each with information about a veteran and where his grave is located in the cemetery, to those laying wreaths.
Town Mayor Ron Williams said there were 278 wreaths being placed on veterans’ graves in Farragut. Along with Pleasant Forest, wreaths also were laid on veterans’ graves at Virtue Cumberland Presbyterian Church Cemetery along Evans Road and Grigsby Chapel Cemetery.
Among those laying wreaths were Williams, District 5 Knox County Commissioner Angela Russell, District 5 Knox County Board of Education rep Lauren Morgan and Brad Hair, representing Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs’ Office.
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December 18, 2024 by Alan Sloan
With Town traffic congestion something most Farragut citizens must tackle, it was a local businesswoman and chair of Shop Farragut/Farragut Business Alliance asking a key question concerning technology originally scheduled to be completed earlier this fall, which would better time traffic light changes and help alleviate congestion.
“What’s going on with the lights, the traffic and the craziness?” Candace Viox, owner of Water into Wine bistro and lounge, asked Town administrator David Smoak during the SF/FBA meeting in Farragut Community Center Wednesday morning, Dec. 11.
“I see it at (North) Campbell Station (Road) on Grigsby Chapel (Road), especially at school time. And then everybody’s making a left (from Grigsby to North Campbell) trying to get on the freeway, and it backs all the way up. And I get to hear about it all the time,” she added.
“So the contractor is five months behind schedule,” Smoak answered. “We are still waiting on them to finish their main work to get done. When they finish, then we will have a timing plan, all these other new things that are going to come with that we’ll be able to put in place. And then we’ll actually have access to it from a staff point to where we can make adjustments as we need to.
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December 18, 2024 by Tammy Cheek
Shop Farragut, in partnership with the Town of Farragut, will host 5th Annual Farragut Health & Wellness Expo, presented by Turkey Creek Medical Center/Tennova.
Taking place between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 11, in Farragut Community Center, 239 Jamestowne Blvd. just north of Village Green Shopping Center, the Expo will feature unique presentations by the TCMC staff and more than three dozen additional local businesses “specializing in the care of the human body, mind and spirit,” Shop Farragut executive director Steve Krempasky said.
So far, he said the event’s planning is going great and added, “People are excited about a new year.”
This special event is free to the public, according to Krempasky. Parking is available at Farragut Community Center and at Village Green shopping center.
“The Expo will showcase the products and services currently available in our community for your comfort and well-being supporting your healthy lifestyle,” he said.
Last year, Krempasky recalled the Expo drew about 1,200, and he expects the same this year.
“It gives you an opportunity to talk directly to the business,” he said. “If you’re ever thinking about hearing aids, you’ll be able to talk right to Beltone.
“You’ll be able to talk to people directly about things for your home, things you thought about — you drive by the places every day — but you haven’t stopped,” Krempasky added.
With last year’s success of the Crunchy Mama Box pavilion, “we’re going to put that in the assembly room this year” as Crunchy Mama Box Wellness Pavilion, Krempasky said, adding it will offer more vendors with healthy products to demonstrate and sell.
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December 18, 2024 by Staff Reports
Concerning what The Diocese of Knoxville labeled as “an important matter concerning Father Joseph Reed,” priest at St. John Neumann Catholic Church and School, the following is a letter addressed to “Dear Beloved Parish Members” and shared with farragutpress from John Mecklenborg, director of The Diocese of Knoxville Office of Communications, concerning Reed:
“On behalf of the Diocese of Knoxville and Bishop Mark Beckman, we are writing to inform you of an important matter concerning Father Joseph Reed.
“Effective immediately, (Reed) will be placed on administrative leave in accordance with the Diocese of Knoxville Safe Environment Policy. A complaint of boundary violations has been brought to the Diocese’s attention, and we are committed to being fully transparent about our response.
“As required by Diocesan policy, the complaint has been reported to state authorities. The diocese has informed Father Reed of the complaint and will await the completion of the civil authorities’ investigation before conducting its own independent and comprehensive review of the matter.
“With an abundance of caution, Father Reed has been removed from his pastoral responsibilities during the time of the investigation, as our primary concern is the protection of those in our care and ensuring a fair, comprehensive review of the allegations.
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December 18, 2024 by
Knox County Commission is continuing its Junior Commissioner youth civics leadership program for a third year. This unique program is available to Knox County high school juniors and seniors (public, private and homeschoolers) “and offers them the opportunity to learn the functions of their local government and further develop healthy citizenry habits while promoting the importance of community engagement and public service,” stated Commissioner Larsen Jay, At-Large Seat 10 representative.
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December 18, 2024 by
• At 12:45 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 15, two Knox County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to a Battery Hill Circle residence on report of a disturbance. The father said his son “had been behaving erratically: yelling, talking out of his head and making everyone in the residence fear for their safety and well-being,” the report stated.
An officer spoke with the father of a son who “was having mental health issues and exhibiting concerning behavior,” the report stated.
Though the officers tried to speak with the son, “he began to walk into the residence after officers explicitly told him not to,” the report further stated. “For the safety of officers and civilians, the son “was placed in wrist restrains,” but the son “became aggressive by pulling away from the officers, throwing his head back and kicking.”
One deputy was kicked by the suspect, “making contact with his right knee, causing pain,” the report stated. “Officers then restrained the suspect, placed him under arrest and transported him to the KCSO detention facility.”
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