News
Town of Farragut is getting the holiday season started
November 12, 2025 by Staff Reports
Town of Farragut is getting the holiday season started with its annual Countdown to Light the Park, which starts 5 p.m., Monday, Nov. 24, in Founders Park at Campbell Station.
This year, Santa will help flip the switch at 6:45 p.m. on the Town’s massive light display. Additionally, there will be a full slate of entertainment and other activities. Farragut High School drumline also will make an appearance, a Town press release stated.
WVLT’s Whitney Kent emcees this year’s event, which features entertainment from Farragut High School choral department, Meredith Laing Trio, Spectra Twirlers and musician Andrew Witherspoon.
Younger visitors will enjoy crafts, games and dropping letters into Santa’s mailbox to receive a reply from Santa,
children are asked to mail letters by Wednesday, Dec. 17, and include a return address.
Parking for Countdown to Light the Park is available across Campbell Station Road at Westgate Christian Fellowship, as well at Autumn Care Assisted Living, 400 Herron Road, and Holy Cross Anglican Church, 515 Herron Road. Knox County Sheriff’s Office will be on hand to assist those crossing Campbell Station Road.
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November 12, 2025 by Tammy Cheek
When Town of Farragut’s director of public services Chris Sheffield joined the Town’s staff, he brought with him his years of U.S. Air Force service.
While in the Air Force, he organized security on bases. Now, he uses those organizational skills for the Town.
Before coming to Farragut as a paid employee in January 2024, Sheffield was with the Town in a fellowship status in September 2023 through a program, Skillbridge. It is a program “that allows military members who are separating from the service, either having finished up their commitment or, in my case, retiring, to essentially become fellows, or interns, in another government agency, a local business or industry and allows those folks who are changing their career paths to go, while still employed by the military, to new agencies to learn skills or immerse in their next life.”
In Sheffield’s case, he was involved in the Veterans Local Government Management Fellowship Program through the International City and County Managers Association.
“That program placed me here with the Town as an introduction to city and county management,” he said. “So, from September ’23 until December, I was an active duty Air Force officer, but my full-time job was with Farragut, learning that life.
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November 12, 2025 by Michelle Hollenhead, Correspondent
While Santa and his elves finish up production at the North Pole, Shop Farragut officials are hoping area shoppers will look no further than Town limits to check off everyone on their Christmas lists.
To that end, the organization is offering its 2025 “Shop Farragut for the Holidays” campaign — sponsored by Southeast Bank — kicking off Nov. 21 and running through Jan. 1.
“Shop Farragut is excited to kick off our ‘Shop Farragut for the Holidays’ campaign,” Shop Farragut/Farragut Business Association president Candace Viox said. “On Nov. 21, you’ll notice that Christmas is in the air in Farragut and we appreciate everyone’s support while they shop local this holiday season.”
Already, “Many new local businesses have reached out and are eager to participate … while offering fantastic holiday specials to the community.”
The event itself is free for area businesses with a Farragut Business Privilege License, according to Shop Farragut executive director Vic Scott.
Businesses must register and complete instructions and agreement forms by this Friday, Nov. 14, and can turn in the official forms via the www.shopfarragut.com web site, Scott added.
Benefits to joining the campaign include temporary signage at no cost; advertising holiday activities sales and in-store promotions; and reduced price advertising opportunities, including in farragutpress’ “Santa Shops Farragut” which publishes Dec. 3, and has a participation deadline of Nov. 28.
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November 12, 2025 by Tammy Cheek
A crowd of Farragut and other West Knox County residents braved the cold and flurries to learn more about and give input on Tennessee Department of Transportation’s Interstate I-40/I-75 West Knoxville Corridor Planning and Environmental Linkages Study at TDOT’s open house in Farragut Community Center Monday, Nov. 10.
“I’m excited about this project because we need some help, from the I-75 and I-40 split, all the way to I-640,” Don Mann of Farragut said.
“Right now, (THP) is soliciting feedback from the public,” Town engineer Darryl Smith said. “It’s important that the public provides that feedback so they can help identify all the deficiencies.”
He urged residents to “make a comment.”
Similar public open house meetings are taking place from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 12, at Pellissippi State Community College in J.L. Goins Administration building and Student Center, 10915 Hardin Valley Road, and from 5 to 7 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 13, in City of Knoxville Public Works Service Center Community Room, 3131 Morris Ave., Knoxville.
While at the open house, residents, joined by Town and state officials, had the opportunity to listen to a brief, recorded presentation then peruse the maps and other displays.
“This is the I-40/I-75 West Knoxville Corridor (Planning and Environmental Linkages) Study,” said Mark Nagi, TDOT Region 1 communication officer, said regarding TDOT’s reason for the open house. “What we’re trying to do is look at the different ways we can improve this corridor.
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November 12, 2025 by
• On Oct. 5 a complainant reported that a check was stolen from the outside box at the Farragut Post Office on Municipal Center Drive. The check, for $3,706.70, was originally written to Elan Financial Services; the payee was later changed while the amount remained the same. The complainant was advised to contact her bank to learn where the check was cashed.
• A complainant reported a wallet theft between 12:30 and 1:24 p.m. Nov. 2 at a grocery store on Brooklawn Street after a man distracted her with a question and she later discovered the wallet missing, deputies wrote. Reported losses included a wallet, about $60 in cash, identification and multiple credit or debit cards.
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