News
February 25, 2026 by Jake Nichols
A billboard hung from the stage at Wild Wing Café last Saturday, Feb. 21, casting a glow onto multicolored streamers nearby. A neon sign hung in front of the streamers reflecting the same words plastered across the billboard: “Songwriters Showcase.”
The words gave an easy descriptor for the four local musicians who belted out tunes as college basketball games played on televisions overhead.
Singer-songwriters Mitch Townley, Karen Bowles and David Haley Lauver delved into covers and original choices, each one accompanied by Gary Gilleran on harmonica.
This marked the eighth straight year for the songwriter’s event, which is hosted by Visit Farragut.
Representatives from the organization set up a table near the stage, handing out free coozies throughout the night. There also were Songwriters Showcase pint glasses available for those who registered for the event, which was free to attend.
The showcase is held each year in conjunction with Tennessee Songwriters Week, which supports music venues and songwriters with all genres of music — thus inspiring travelers to experience musical venues and attractions across the state.
Read More
February 25, 2026 by Tammy Cheek
Motorists traveling along North Watt Road can expect a roundabout at the southern entrance to Mayor Bob Leonard Park in the future.
The Farragut Municipal Planning Commission approved preliminary plans for the roundabout at 301 N. Watt Road during its meeting Thursday, Feb. 19.
“This is a project that has been on our books for a couple of years,” Town engineer Darryl Smith said. “The idea is it will slow traffic and create a safer entrance to the park.
“The roundabout will also discourage heavy truck traffic that might be using Watt Road to avoid the truck scales on Interstate 40/75 just east of Watt Road,” he added. “The proposed roundabout has an outer radius of 70 feet. For comparison, the roundabout at Northshore Drive and Concord Road has an outer radius of approximately 66 feet, and the roundabouts on McFee Road have a radius of approximately 50 feet.”
“I think the other roundabouts that we have in town are on two-lane roads, and this is on a three-lane road,” Commissioner Jon Greene said. “North of that proposed roundabout is a crosswalk, and it’s been run over two or three times, so I’m curious about how we make a transition from three lanes onto the two-lane roundabout. Do you have any comments on that?” Greene asked Seth Bradley, designer with Thompson Engineering.
“Basically, that transition will happen on the island,” Bradley answered. “The center line runs east to west.
Read More
February 25, 2026 by Tammy Cheek
A draft proposal to update the Town of Farragut’s home occupation ordinance is expected to head back to the ad hoc committee for further consideration.
After a lengthy discussion and hearing from ad hoc members during a workshop Thursday, Feb. 19, the Farragut Municipal Planning Commission took no action on the proposed ordinance. However, several members recommended sending it back to the committee.
“A lot of people — on the streets, emails and phone calls — asked what happened,” said Brian Walker, who served on the ad hoc committee. “We started off with a lot of people, and unfortunately by the last meeting, everyone left except myself, Alderman [Alex] Cain and [resident] Don Mann.
“There were three of us operating as a committee,” he said. “That was unfortunate. I want to note the last meeting we had was June 2025.”
After reviewing notes from the meetings, Walker said, “The trend we had with the committee was every objection, every suggestion we had was basically omitted or overlooked as we brought it in.
“We had questions; we had concerns about what was being shown,” he said.
Walker cited a quote from Planning Commissioner Louise Povlin, who posted on Nextdoor that, from her perspective, “The ad hoc committee process broke down.”
“I want to say the process didn’t break down because the citizens involved in the process and the ad hoc committee did their job fighting back and pushing back on what was being pushed on by the Town,” Walker said. “We gave our opinions; we debated; we argued.
Read More
Attorney raises concerns over agricultural rezoning proposal
February 25, 2026 by Tammy Cheek
A new zoning district could be in the works as officials consider changes affecting property currently zoned Agricultural.
During a Farragut Municipal Planning Commission workshop Feb. 19, Community Development director Mark Shipley proposed modifying the town’s ordinance to provide estate-lot regulations. The proposal prompted opposition from attorney John Neal, who spoke on behalf of resident Greg Wiberley.
“I’m really troubled by this concept,” said Neal, of Neal Law Firm in Knoxville. “I grew up as a 4-H’er; I own a farm, so to me, the concept of agricultural zoning and the availability of farming is really important.
“I also grew up on a 2-acre lot, which is supposedly under this proposition to preserve a rural character to the neighborhood,” he said. “Well, my 2-acre lot was two blocks from the town courthouse.”
Shipley said the modification would potentially establish provisions for subdivisions with estate-lot sizes, typically at least 2 acres.
“That’s not rural,” Neal said. “You’re not going to preserve a rural atmosphere with a house on a 2-acre lot. You’re just not going to do it successfully.
“In my personal view, we shouldn’t make it impossible for people to farm,” he said. “We shouldn’t put them in a situation where their property taxes might go up because of the zoning change, which then makes it impossible for the children of the deceased person to keep the family farm. They are forced to sell it.
“The Wiberleys’ farm is zoned Agricultural,” Neal said. “They are being adversely affected by being forced to be moved into a completely different kind of zoning.
Read More
February 25, 2026 by Tammy Cheek
Traffic stalled Tuesday afternoon following a crash occurring 1:33 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17, at the intersection of Kingston Pike and Jamestowne Boulevard, which resulted in a fatality and an injury.
According to the accident report from Tennessee Highway Patrol, a 2015 Audi AQ5, driven by Lidelle A. Bowling, 68, “was traveling eastbound on Highway 11 (Kingston Pike) and began a left turn onto Jamestown Boulevard.”
Meanwhile, Austin D. Sanford, 22, driving a 2025 Honda Rebel, was “traveling westbound on Highway 11 (Kingston Pike). [Sanford] was traveling in the left lane, accelerated, moved into the right lane to pass a vehicle and swerved back into the left lane,” the report stated.
Read More
February 25, 2026 by Tammy Cheek
Wedding rings, atomic starburst, VW Burst — 42 such quilts highlighted Town of Farragut’s Quilt Show, which took place in Farragut Community Center Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 21-22.
Presented by the Town’s Arts and Beautification Committee, the show featured thoughtful, sentimental and beautifully pieced works of fabric art.
Residents meandered along the displays last weekend to admire the entries. Among them, friends and fellow quilters, Betsy Tyler and Deb Stegner, enjoyed the show on Saturday.
“We met at a quilting class at Gina’s Bernina Quilt Shop about two years ago,” Stegner said. “I never quilted before.”
“We learned how to hand piece,” Tyler added. “We became friends and made my first quilt and Deb’s second.”
Since then, Stegner has made four quilts and Tyler has made two.
“This is fun to see,” Stegner said about the show. “We look at how things are put together, the material used. It’s fun.”
Read More
February 25, 2026 by
As the 2026 election season approaches, farragutpress is providing political candidates with an opportunity to share their message directly with readers through candidate profiles published in the newspaper.
• Each candidate may submit one profile, and the written content should be 400 words or fewer.
• One photograph may accompany the profile.
• While the newspaper will not alter the substance or message of submitted profiles, it reserves the right to make spelling and grammar corrections as needed / AP style.
• All submissions will be reviewed by the Publisher prior to print deadlines to ensure they meet established standards.
• Candidates need to provide contact information with their submission in case clarification or follow-up is necessary.
Candidates may email their political profiles to editor@farragutpress.com
Deadline for profiles is Friday by 12 p.m. prior to the following week’s publication.
February 25, 2026 by
• A vehicle fire was reported Feb. 9 on the 8100 block of Florence Gardens Road in North Knox County.
According to the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, Rural Metro Fire Department responded to a report of a car fire inside a garage. Crews found an engine compartment fire and extinguished it. No injuries were reported, and the fire did not spread to the structure.
The owner of the vehicle told investigators he had started the vehicle and heard a pop before seeing smoke from the engine compartment. The fire damaged the engine and hood of the 1968 Plymouth Road Runner and caused water damage to the interior.
The fire was determined to have originated from a probable fuel leak and was classified as accidental.
• A West Knox County man reported identity theft Feb. 11 on the 11800 block of Cedar Bark Court.
The complainant told the Knox County Sheriff’s Office that an unknown suspect used his personal information for an identity verification check on an old Instagram account. He also believes someone attempted to access his email account using his information.
The complainant said his information may have been exposed during a data breach at his credit union. The case remains under investigation.
Read More
February 25, 2026 by
Democratic candidates running for Knox County Commissioner are Brandon Huckaby, District 3; William Cooper, District 7, Katina Sharp, Seat 10 at-large; Vivian Shipe, Seat 11 at large. Candidates running for Knox County School Board — not County Commission — are John Butler, OT Harris and Breyeauna Holloway, District 1; Kat Bike, District 4; Cadence Collins, District 6; Amy Fenner, District 7; and Brandy Jenkins, District 9. The latter school board candidates were listed incorrectly in an article that ran on the front page in the Wednesday, Feb. 18, issue of the farragutpress. We regret the errors.
February 25, 2026 by
In a previous story, we listed the West Valley Middle School dance coach as Catherine Brasfield. Her name actually is spelled Kathryn. We apologize for the error and once again wish to congratulate WVMS on its two national titles this season.
