News
Once disbanded program shines bright
January 7, 2026 by Jake Nichols
Steve Matthews is quite familiar with the trophy he stood back to admire Sunday night.
Now his Concord Christian School (CCS) football team will have a chance to become acquainted with it too after winning farragutpress’s annual How the West was Won contest for the 2025 high school football season.
Notably, CCS won the award in its first full campaign at the TSSAA varsity level, making this the first year the Lions have been eligible for the contest.
“It’s awesome,” said Matthews, who first earned the trophy when he was at Knoxville Catholic in 2014 and 2016. “It’s a great achievement for our program in the first year out the door. Really appreciate what you guys do for the community and for our team. Hopefully we can continue to build this relationship and win this thing a couple more times.”
The contest has been an annual occurrence for more than two decades, as the seven teams within the farragutpress coverage area — Farragut, Bearden, Hardin Valley, Christian Academy of Knoxville, Knoxville Catholic, Webb School of Knoxville and Concord Christian School — compete for the regular-season title.
“We are ecstatic for Concord Christian School and their first How The West Was Won victory,” farragutpress general manager Kathy Hartman said. “Seeing the growth of the program in such a short amount of time under coach Matthews is a true testament to the dedication, hard work and determination of both the athletes and the coaching staff. Undoubtedly, this will not be their one and only win in our contest.
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January 7, 2026 by Tammy Cheek
Farragut residents interested in running for a Farragut Board of Mayor and Alderman seat may pick up petitions on Friday, Jan. 9, according to Chris Davis, Knox County Election Commission administrator.
“That Friday is the first day for people who want to run for mayor or aldermen can pick up [petitions] to run for [those seats],” he said. “Nobody’s picked up yet because they can’t.”
After picking up the petitions, Davis said potential candidates have until Tuesday, March 10, to return the petitions to the
Election Commission West office at 109 Lovell Heights Road, Knoxville.
“The mayor will be on the ballot,” he said. “There will be a new mayor because Mayor [Ron] Williams is term limited.”
Additionally, “there will be two alderman seats — one North [Ward 1], one South [Ward 2],” Davis said.
Those seats currently are held by Vice Mayor Scott Meyer, Ward 1, and recently appointed Joe
LaCroix in Ward 2. LaCroix was appointed to fill the seat left vacant when David White passed away.
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Former FHS athlete falls in the line of duty
January 7, 2026 by Jake Nichols
Over the last week, the Farragut community has mourned the loss of one of its own. Blount County Sheriff’s deputy Justin Mowery, 30, was killed in a wreck during a patrol shift on Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025.
He was a 2013 Farragut graduate, having played football as an offensive lineman under former head coach Eddie Courtney. The news of his death was announced by BCSO Sheriff James Lee Barrong in a Facebook post.
“I am heartbroken,” Barrong wrote last Sunday. “This is devastating for his family, his shift-mates, this agency and our community. We appreciate the swift response of the Tennessee Highway Patrol, and together we are working to determine how the accident happened.
“We are also thankful for the response from all of the surrounding law enforcement agencies as well as the offers for assistance from agencies across the state.”
After graduating from Farragut and The University of Tennessee, Mowery worked as a security officer at The University of Tennessee Medical Center. He then pursued his desire to become a deputy sheriff with Blount County and began his career at the BCSO in May 2020, per Berrong’s post. Mowery attended BCSO Regional Training Academy, graduating from Class 021 in October 2020, and was assigned to evening shift as a Patrol Deputy.
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January 7, 2026 by Tammy Cheek
With 2025 in the rearview mirror, Town of Farragut leaders are reflecting on a year marked by major projects, expanded amenities and strong resident satisfaction.
Town administrator David Smoak praised the Farragut Board of Mayor and Aldermen for its work, noting
a community survey conducted early last summer showed 97 percent of respondents rated Farragut as an excellent or good place to live.
“As we say goodbye to 2025, it’s always important to reflect on the wonderful accomplishments the Town has made over the past year,” Smoak stated.
Highlights from 2025 include:
• Returning to a fully renovated Town Hall;
• Opening the Campbell Station Inn as a visitor center and adding a winter skate park;
• Updating and implementing the Town’s Classification and Compensation study;
• Completing the Advanced Traffic Management System, which reduced travel times;
• Opening a nine-court pickleball complex at Mayor Bob Leonard Park;
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Keeping Warm, Part 1 of 3
January 7, 2026 by Tammy Cheek
While factors – utility shutoffs, homelessness and equipment failures — constantly change, affecting the number of Knox Countians affected by lack of heating — local organizations indicate a significant number of residents, particularly low-income individuals and seniors, face challenges affording or maintaining adequate heating during cold periods.
Along with low-income individuals and families, the homeless population — according to the Knox County Office on Housing Stability’s 2025 Point-in-Time, 1,174 people in Knox County are identified as homeless on a single night — are looking for shelter.
While numbers are not available yet for this winter, Knox County Office of Housing Stability stated trends show major challenges, according to its website.
“Millions of U.S. households are behind on energy bills; heating aid [Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program] faced [federal] funding stalls, causing potential disconnections; and local offices … are struggling with increased need, limited funds and insufficient warming centers, indicating a high risk of households facing cold conditions,” the website stated.
Additionally, the site stated rising energy costs, up to 7.6 percent projected, compound issues for low-income families, straining resources.
Additionally, Knox County has warming stations, run by partners like the Office of Housing Stability, open on cold nights — usually below 25° Fahrenheit.
“Knoxville-Knox County Office of Housing Stability (OHS), in partnership with the Knoxville-Knox County Homeless Coalition, announced the launch of the 2025-25 winter warming center effort,” the Office on Housing Stability stated in its website.
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January 7, 2026 by Tammy Cheek
The farragutpress welcomes Jake Nichols to its staff as it begins a new year.
“I’m excited,” Nichols, 30, said. “So far, it’s been a really welcoming environment. I feel like I can do a lot of great things here.
“I’m especially excited from not just the storytelling but also the social media and video perspective as well and just helping to elevate what seems like an already good and respected publication,” he added. “I feel like I’ve accumulated a good bit of sports media experience; I enjoy the job; and I feel like I’ve gotten a wide breadth of skills."
Nichols, who was hired Thursday, Dec. 17, grew up in Jackson, Tennessee, where he attended and graduated from Jackson Christian School in 2015 then attended University of Tennessee, Knoxville, graduating in 2019 with a Bachelor of Science degree in journalism and media.
Subsequently, he covered high school sports for a news outlet in Sevierville for six months then worked in radio in Dickson, Tennessee, through the pandemic for six months in 2020.
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