News
September 16, 2026 by Tammy Cheek
State Senate District 5 residents will have two new candidates from which to choose for state senator in the Nov. 3 general election.
With the retirement of Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge, who has served as state senator since 1987, Jimmy Matlock (R-Loudon County)and David Miller (D-Oak Ridge) are running for the District 5 Senate seat. Matlock and Miller both advanced from the Aug. 6 primaries.
McNally announced his retirement in February, citing health concerns. Ending a legislative career spanning 40 years, he has represented District 5 in the state senate for 10 terms.
Miller, a retired longtime educator, is
making his first run for state office.
“I’m already on the Anderson County School Board — I’m the only Democrat on the school board — and I worked in the last presidential election
down in Savannah for [the National Education Association],” he said. “They had a program where people could volunteer to go to battleground states, so I worked down there for five weeks in the presidential campaign.
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September 16, 2026 by Tammy Cheek
While hearing committee reports during the Farragut Board of Mayor and Aldermen’s Thursday, Sept. 10, meeting, Board members questioned Stormwater Advisory Committee vice chairman Patrick LaPine about actions the committee is taking in response to a May sewer main break that contaminated North Fork Turkey Creek.
“Earlier this spring, on May 11, Town of Farragut staff notified First Utility District of a sewer main break that contaminated North Fork Turkey Creek, from Grigsby Chapel Road to Fort Loudoun Reservoir,” LaPine said. “At the time, residents were informed that no one, both humans and animals, should be around North Fork Turkey Creek, south of Grigsby Chapel Road, until FUD said the water was safe.
“It should be noted that the Town of Farragut was not responsible, in any way, of course, in this contamination nor involved in the cleanup, but Town staff served as a liaison to FUD during the process,” he said.
LaPine added the committee received updates on the sewer main break and reports regarding coordination with FUD’s sewer rehabilitation project.
“There’s some concern expressed about children playing in the different waterways in the Town,” Vice Mayor Greg Wiberley said. “Apparently, testing of water is not a routine thing by the Town, but every couple of years. Is that what’s advised, or should we be more prudent in testing the waters?”
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September 16, 2026 by Tammy Cheek
After the May 6 sewer spill, which contaminated North Fork Turkey Creek, between Founders Park at Campbell Station and Grigsby Chapel Road greenway, Town of Farragut’s staff revisited the way it handles reporting of emergencies.
At the time, there was concern that there was a breakdown in communications between the Town and First Utility District. As such, FUD reported it did not get notified until May 10.
“The Town of Farragut evaluated its citizen call routing process in late May and implemented an update to our processes routing citizen calls, concerns and reports to the appropriate department as quickly as possible,” said Chris Sheffield, Town director of public services. “As a general rule, Town staff will document concerns and notify the appropriate department immediately.
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September 16, 2026 by Tammy Cheek
With new members on board, the Farragut Board of Mayor and Aldermen addressed several housekeeping items to get the new administration underway, starting with the selection of a vice mayor during its meeting Thursday, Sept. 10.
The Board chose Alderman Greg Wiberley to fill that role. According to state law, Wiberley “shall serve as mayor when the mayor is absent or unable to discharge the duties of the mayor’s office, and in case of a vacancy in the office of mayor, until the next regular municipal election.”
Town administrator David Smoak explained how that provision has previously affected Farragut.
“If the mayor is incapacitated and unable to perform his duties, the vice mayor will take on the role of the mayor until the next regular municipal election,” Smoak said.
“This has come up one time previously in Farragut when Mayor [Ralph] McGill passed away near the end of his term in 2018 and then-Vice Mayor Ron Pinchok was sworn in as mayor for a couple of months until the election in August of that year,” the administrator added.
In addition to the vice mayor selection, Mayor Alex Cain appointed Angel Ray, Michael Wilson and John Tague to fill vacancies on the Farragut Municipal Planning Commission. Cain, as mayor, and Wiberley, who was chosen to serve as the Board’s representative, also will sit on the Commission.
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September 16, 2026 by Tammy Cheek
As summer makes its way to fall, Farragut West Knox Chamber of Commerce is gearing up for its annual gala, and this year, it is kicking it up a notch while helping children’s dreams come true.
“This year, we are changing up our traditional auction a little bit,” FWKCC president/CEO Julie Blaylock said. “I’m excited for us to try some new things,” she added. “Everybody I talked to is excited about it.
“We wanted to try a new event, so we thought it would be a good idea to just tweak an event everybody already loved, which helps a member non-profit and to see how the members and the community like the changes.”
The event, 2026 The Charity Gala: High Stakes & Fine Spirits, will take place from 6 to 9 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 1, at The Venue at Lenoir City, 7690 Creekwood Blvd. in Lenoir City.
This year’s sponsors are Smoky Mountain Deck Builders, MR10 Realty, Adrian Hall Team at Rate, Coffee & Chocolate, Strategic Tax & Business, Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation, Bowen Door Service, LeConte Realty, LLC. and Texana Bank Mortgage.
For this event, Blaylock said there still will be a big silent auction.
“But we are also going to have casino game tables; we’re going to have a dance floor; food by Classy Caterer and we’re going to have a D.J. with music,” she said. “We’re going to have a bourbon pull and a wine bottle pull, where people can buy tickets.”
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September 16, 2026 by Jake Nichols
This month, Knoxville’s 865 Fest (formerly known as Startup Day) will write a 14th chapter.
Scheduled to take place Tuesday, Sept. 29 at Bridgewater Place in West Knoxville, 865 Fest will feature “a full day of programming,” according to a release, including startup pitch competitions, fireside chats, breakout sessions and panel discussions.
“This event invites investors, entrepreneurs, business leaders and community members to celebrate Knoxville’s vibrant and ever-growing startup ecosystem,” the release stated. “Each year, hundreds of attendees participate in Knoxville’s premier entrepreneurial event.”
This year’s edition will feature a fireside chat with Knox County Mayor Betsy Henderson with City of Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon set to provide welcoming remarks.
Other event programming will include three feature panels focused on three topics: how industry is advancing quantum technologies, supporting commercialization, growing high-wage jobs and building the talent pipeline needed for the future, presented by Three Roots Capital;
Knoxville’s emergence as a nationally recognized destination city, and the role that food plays in attracting visitors, talent and investment, presented by Visit Knoxville; the ups and downs of growing a business and how entrepreneurs in East Tennessee operate, manage, and scale their businesses, as discussed by 865 Fest pitch alumni.
There also will be two breakout session rooms, presented by PYA and LocallQ. These will cover various topics designed to inspire and equip entrepreneurs and connect them with resources to help them succeed.
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September 16, 2026 by Jake Nichols
On Friday, Sept. 11, a long line stretched out from the front door at the Farragut Branch Library on Campbell Station Road.
People waited with bags, totes and even large moving boxes in anticipation of the library’s annual used book sale, which is one of several that happens in partnership with Friends of the Knox County Public Library.
Since 1970, Friends of the Knox County Public Library has fostered a love of libraries, books and reading in the area.
They raise money for local libraries, having donated more than $1 million dollars to the Knox County Public
Library, according to their website.
“I’m not sure how long we have been hosting the book sale here, but we love our Friends of the Library organization,” said James Mauk, the branch manager at the Farragut library. “They’re great partners and support us here at the library and we are happy to have them.”
This event is one of several across the area. The Cedar Bluff location will be hosting a sale on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 13-14, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
A sale with the same hours will unfold at the Bearden library Friday and Saturday, Dec. 4-5.
“For a lot of years,” said Chris Truka, the Farragut branch lead for Friends of the KCPL. “I only joined about a year-and-a-half ago, so I can’t tell you how many years.
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September 16, 2026 by
farragutpress is now accepting political profile submissions for the 2026 election cycle.
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.
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September 16, 2026 by
The photo of Kat Mahn that ran in the business section of the Wednesday Sept. 9, issue of the farragutpress was submitted courtesy of Kat Mahn. The photo credit was listed incorrectly. We regret the error.
