News
Unapologetically Adams: Part 3
August 5, 2026 by Jake Nichols
This is the third part of a three-part series on Terry Adams, a west Knoxville businessman and musician.
Well before Terry Adams’ music became known across the world, his sound formed in dive bars on Cumberland Avenue.
At the time, he transitioned from imitating other artists to putting his own spin on well-known hits.
That sound developed further through songwriting sessions with artists, such as Jeffrey Steele, Wayne Mills, Craig Wiseman, Channing Wilson and Dave Kennedy, among others.
For reference, Wilson has written hits, such as Luke Combs’ “She Got the Best of Me,” while Steele has put together chart-toppers like Rascal Flatts’ “What Hurts the Most,” Tim McGraw’s “The Cowboy in Me” and “My Town” by Montgomery Gentry.
Working alongside those talents, Adams began writing his first record, American Songwriter, which came out in 2024.
And this past January, he released “Country Music,” which features a dozen more tunes ranging from “Dog Bite Town” — an ode to his mother in its description of the Nashville music scene — and Iroc Blue, which details his maturity to adulthood through the lens of his first car.
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Questions linger for restaurant tenants
August 5, 2026 by Jake Nichols
This summer, Nick and Amy Batson have endured multiple jarring wake-up calls.
On Wednesday, June 10, the couple awoke to several messages with one horrifying theme: their beloved lakeside restaurant, Cheers at Choto, was engulfed in flames.
More than a month later, after an investigation by Knox County Sheriff’s Office, the fire was “officially ruled undetermined,” according to multiple reports.
The Batsons claim they were not notified by anyone of the investigation’s change in status, despite renting the property as tenants since 2019.
“We were not notified by anyone and found out about it on the news at 7:50 in the morning,” Amy Batson said. “I’m sure the property owner knew about it and did not inform us. I was completely shocked. I woke up, looked at Facebook and thought, ‘Wow.’ We were all over the news and had no idea.”
Once the news broke, the Batsons were flooded with calls and texts yet again.
“It was uncomfortable and surprising,” Amy Batson said. “We have a lot of questions that have not been answered.”
She noted they would like to see the physical report with the findings from the investigation, wanting more insight for how that conclusion was reached.
She did add that, despite the local investigation being closed, “both insurance companies are still under investigation for tenant and property owner.“
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August 5, 2026 by Jake Nichols
There is a new addition to the Ballpark at Farragut, and it is awfully hard to miss.
On Sunday, Aug. 2, the team held its 2026 “Ball on the Wall” ceremony, unveiling the 5-foot aluminum sign recognizing the Admirals’ latest state championship.
This one, the fifth-straight in Class 4A, gives FHS a TSSAA-best 15 titles on a rèsumè that remains the best in the state.
It is one of the final forms of recognition each season, following the immediate go-to’s of bleached hair (a tradition for every state tournament) and team-wide leaps into swimming pools (a must-do the night of each championship win).
But long after the hair coloring fades and the uniforms dry out, this sign will remain.
Because each baseball is so large, this year’s version was “stacked” on top of two others — a first for a tradition that dates back to 2006.
Everyone around the program, including booster club president Erin Harris, agreed it’s “a good problem to have.”
Since there are now 15 state titles, this ball is the 15th to be drilled into the barrier that sits just a few feet from Kingston Pike.
Each one is specially ordered from Great American Sign Company through representative Steve Carro.
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August 5, 2026 by Tammy Cheek
The early votes are in for Knox County General and State/Federal Primary elections.
“Saturday, Aug. 1, at 3 p.m. marked the end of early voting for the Aug. 6, Knox County Election,” a Knox County Election Commission press release stated. “A total of 52,633 early votes have been cast, with an additional 1,974 votes cast by absentee ballot and in nursing homes.
“All totals are unofficial and are subject to verification and certification by the Knox County Election Commission,” the Commission’s website stated.
The release stated there were 1,314 first-time voters. Of those, there were 506 Republican voters, 770 Democratic and 38 General.
The oldest voter was 102 years old and voted absentee by mail and 101 years old early voting in person.
The Commission reported the Republican Primary had 32,707 early votes, the Democratic Primary had 21,211 votes and the General only votes were 689.
In Farragut, there were 9,160 votes cast during early voting, the Election Commission reported. Farragut had the second largest number, compared to Downtown West, which had 12,918 votes.
Other votes came from Carter with 1,589 votes, Clinton Highway with 4,798 votes, City-County with 2,510, Emerald Youth with 2,041, Gibbs with $1,173; Halls with 4,594, Karns with 4,665, New Harvest with 5,323 and South with 3,862.
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August 5, 2026 by Tammy Cheek
Motorists traveling along Grigsby Chapel Road, at the intersection of Weatherly Hills Boulevard and Woodchase Drive, last week questioned the panels over the mid-block pedestrian crosswalk at that intersection, wondering if they were flock cameras.
In response, the Town posted, “The Town of Farragut has operated an automated traffic enforcement program for four intersections since 2009. There are no additional license plate reader devices located on our streets or rights-of-way.”
Thursday, July 30, Town administrator David Smoak said there are no cameras at that intersection. What people on Grigsby Chapel Road saw were “just solar-powered pedestrian crossing warning signs,” he said. “The Town has not installed cameras.”
To help residents cross the street on Grigsby Chapel the Town installed the crosswalk in 2025.
According to Town records, the Board approved the installation Dec. 21, 2023, as part of a Town project, which also included a crosswalk on Turkey Creek Road near Anchor Park and one at McFee Road near McFee Park.
In 2021, the Board approved and the Town installed a crosswalk on Grigsby Chapel Road at the Grigsby Chapel Greenway near the intersection with Campbell Station Road and a mid-block crosswalk with flashing lights near Mayor Bob Leonard Park that same year. The flashing lights at those two mid-block crosswalks also are solar powered.
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August 5, 2026 by
Cryptocurrency fraud: On July 15 a complainant reported losing about $800,000 in a months long investment scam after suspects posing as investment advisers convinced the couple to send money through wire transfers and cryptocurrency. The victims later discovered the investment platform and chat groups were fraudulent. The case was referred to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation for possible recovery of digital assets.
Fraud: On July 16, a Farragut woman reported receiving a fraudulent computer alert claiming she had accessed illegal websites and was instructed to send nearly $60,000 in cash and provide personal identification. She stopped the bank transfer after realizing it was a scam and did not lose any money. The report was later classified as unfounded.
Harassment: A Parkside Drive bank employee reported on July 20 a customer repeatedly called the bank after leaving, using racial slurs and threatening to assault her. Deputies documented the harassment and threats.
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