News
January 14, 2026 by Tammy Cheek
Two Farragut roads will receive traffic-calming speed cushions as the town’s construction schedule allows.
Farragut Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted unanimously Thursday, Jan. 8, to approve the installation of speed cushions on portions of Union Road and Midhurst Drive.
Following resident applications submitted Aug. 29, 2024, assistant Town engineer Eric Schindler proposed installing two sets of speed cushions on Union Road between Everett Road and Smith Road.
“A speed study was conducted and determined that excessive speeding is present in the speed zone,” Schindler said. “Excessive speeding is defined as an 85th-percentile speed greater than 10 mph over the posted speed limit of 25 mph.”
He said the study showed average vehicle speeds of 39 mph to 40 mph at one proposed location
near 12415 Union Road, depending on direction of travel. At another proposed location near 12504 Union Road, average speeds ranged from 38 mph to 43 mph.
During an Aug. 6, 2025, public meeting, Schindler said resident support for the project was strong.
“The Traffic Calming Policy requires that more than 50 percent of the returned ballots from the speed zone be in favor of traffic-calming devices,” he said. “Sixteen ballots were mailed and seven were returned, with six — or 86 percent — supporting the installation.”
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January 14, 2026 by Tammy Cheek
West Knox County residents and community leaders heard directly from state lawmakers about priorities for the 2026 Tennessee General Assembly session, which began Tuesday, Jan. 13.
District 6 Sen. Becky Massey, District 7 Sen. Dr. Richard Briggs, District 14 Rep. Jason Zachary and District 18 Rep. Elaine Davis were among nine state leaders who spoke during the East Tennessee 2026 Legislative Preview, held Tuesday, Jan. 6, at the Bearden Banquet Hall in Knoxville.
The event was hosted by Americans for Prosperity, a conservative, libertarian-leaning political advocacy organization funded
by Koch family interests.
The group is backing a proposed state Regulatory Freedom Act, which would include reforms, such as repealing certificate-of-need laws in health care.
“Our No. 1 priority is going to be this big stack of books,” AFP Deputy State Director Michael Lofti said, gesturing to Tennessee’s regulatory code. “It’s never been printed off before.
“It’s the regulatory code — not the Tennessee Code Annotated, which is just the laws,” he
said. “This is just the rules and regulations on Tennessee’s economy, small businesses, large businesses and individual professions.”
“These are a lot of books with a lot of regulations,” Briggs said, adding that some of the volumes could double as seat boosters.
State Rep. Elaine Davis said she supports reducing regulations.
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January 14, 2026 by Tammy Cheek
The path to adding a dog park at McFee
Park moved forward Thursday, Jan. 8, as Farragut’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen unanimously approved a bid and contract with Fuel Tank Maintenance Company.
Parks and Recreation director Ron Oestreich said the project is part of four improvements funded through a $2.73 million State Local Parks and Recreation Fund grant awarded in late 2023. The grant requires a 50 percent match and also covers synthetic turf replacement at Mayor Bob Leonard Park, ADA pathway upgrades, sand volleyball renovations and a new restroom facility.
The dog park will sit on the west side of McFee Park between the newest parking lot and the adaptive trail. Plans call for separate large- and small-dog areas, vinyl fencing, ADA-rated aggregate paths and landscaping. Retaining walls will be needed in the small-dog area due to grade changes.
Fuel Tank Maintenance submitted the low bid at $562,000, plus a $37,000 landscaping alternate and two fill-dirt allowances, for a total of $637,250. Staff added a 5 percent contingency for change orders. Construction could finish by mid-summer, depending on weather and fill needs.
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Keeping Warm, Part 2 of 3
January 14, 2026 by Tammy Cheek
KNOXVILLE — An estimated 140 veterans in Knox County are facing homelessness and cold temperatures this winter, but local programs are stepping in to help.
Operation Vet Rescue, founded in 2024, provides emergency assistance, outreach and access to critical resources for at-risk veterans, said Janet Trust, the organization’s operation director.
Based in Greenback, the nonprofit serves veterans across East Tennessee through community partnerships.
“Our winter warming station ensures no veteran is left exposed to life-threatening cold,” Trust said. “We provide a safe, heated space, cold-weather gear, hot beverages, light food, hygiene items and referrals for housing, medical care, mental health services and veteran benefits — all at no cost.”
The warming station, located at 519 Williams St. in Knoxville, operates during extreme cold and accepts walk-ins or referrals from partner agencies, first responders and veteran organizations. Proof of service is required, and basic behavioral expectations ensure a safe environment.
Trust said the station recently reopened thanks to a donation from CareCuts of Knoxville after a temporary shutdown. “Operation Frozen Veterans is officially back up and running,” she said.
For more information about Operation Vet Rescue and the warming station, visit their website at ovrtn.org.
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January 14, 2026 by Tammy Cheek
Near the anniversary of Farragut’s incorporation on Jan. 16, 1980, the Town honored its founding leaders with a proclamation designating the third week of January as Founders Week. The recognition came during the Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting Thursday, Jan. 8, and highlighted the grassroots effort that led to Farragut becoming a municipality 46 years ago.
One founding member, Betty Dick, also received a separate proclamation establishing Betty Dick Day for her service and early advocacy.
Mayor Ron Williams read from the proclamation noting residents in southwest Knox County grew concerned in the 1970s about low development standards and commercial growth. A group later known as the Farragut Community Group pushed to incorporate after feeling their concerns were ignored by county officials.
The proclamation stated the group spent hours registering voters, mapping boundaries and convincing neighbors incorporation could be achieved without new taxes. After incorporation was approved Jan. 16, 1980, the group resisted annexation efforts and secured Farragut’s share of sales tax revenue. The Town elected its first Board of Mayor and Aldermen on April 1, 1980.
Founders recognized include Ralph McGill, Eric Johnson, Betty Dick, Ron Simandl, Gene McNalley, George Dorsey and David Rodgers.
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January 14, 2026 by
On Dec. 29 a woman reported that her estranged husband used her personal information, including her name, driver’s license number and Social Security number, to fraudulently apply for an apartment lease without her consent. The incident reportedly occurred between Dec. 25 and Dec. 26, 2025, at a Farragut apartment complex. According to the report, the man informed the victim via text that he had secured an apartment listing both their names. When she contacted the apartment complex, the manager said they had been in contact with someone they believed to be the victim who gave consent for him to live there. It was later discovered that the suspect’s sister had impersonated the victim during those communications.
As of the report date, the suspect had not been evicted. He is also facing a separate domestic assault charge in Roane County.
On Dec. 29 a Farragut resident reported losing $700 in a fraud scheme in which a suspect posed as his pastor and requested donations through e-mail, according to the Knox County Sheriff's Office.
The victim told deputies he was contacted by an unknown suspect between Dec. 27 and Dec. 29 through e-mail. The suspect allegedly claimed to be the victim’s pastor and asked for financial donations.
According to the report, the victim was instructed to purchase $100 Macy’s gift cards, then provide the card codes by scanning and sending images of the backs of the cards. The victim said he sent codes from seven gift cards totaling $700. The offense was classified as fraud by false pretenses, a misdemeanor. The suspect was listed as unknown.
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