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Scaled down EZ Stop? Store brass ‘evaluating’

September 11, 2024 by Alan Sloan

It was, in effect, a roughly 29 percent chop of EZ Stop officials’ original plans to build a 7,000-square convenience store/restaurant at the corner of Concord Road and Second Street adjacent to the Old Concord Historic neighborhood.

While EZ Stop was required to scale down its plans to a maximum 5,000-square foot operation to meet the standards per a Knox County Board of Zoning Appeals ruling Wednesday, Aug. 28, it left an outspoken Old Concord neighborhood resident — a leader in the movement to prevent EZ-Stop from building at this location — confused.

Helen ‘OK, so far,’ reaching age 100

September 11, 2024 by Tammy Cheek

“OK, so far,” Farragut resident and long-time Lions Club member Helen Myers said about celebrating her 100th birthday Saturday, Sept. 7.

Surrounded by family and friends in the Colonies clubhouse off Ebenezer Road in West Knoxville, she received plenty of hugs and well wishes while some 1920s’ music played in the clubhouse.

What’s helped her live so long? “I think it’s your good sense of humor,” her niece, Judy Hardy replied.

For Helen, the secret she advised is “work hard and have fun.”

Beloved piano teacher, 89, retires after 43 years

September 11, 2024 by Tammy Cheek

After 43 years of teaching piano to hundreds of children in Town, Barbara Maples, 89, of Farragut has retired.

“It was my life and I loved it,” Maples said.

However, because of health issues, she chose retirement two weeks ago.

“I think, at 89, it’s time,” she said.

Maples started teaching music in her home when the family moved from Fort Wright, Kentucky, to Farragut’s Hickory Woods subdivision in 1981.

“We were all in school, and my dad (Greg Maples Sr.) got a job here,” her daughter, Beth Maples, recalled. “He moved then I came here. My brother and sister (Greg Maples Jr. and Laura Maples) stayed (in Kentucky).”

Greg Sr., now deceased, was a regional manager for insurance companies.