News
November 4, 2026 by Staff Report
Farragut High School students, believed to be eight football players, according to a spokesperson from the Knox County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO), are facing misdemeanor assault charges with two facing bullying charges after a reported hazing incident.
In a release, the sheriff’s office said it was made aware of the event by parents on Monday, Nov 2. Moreover, a KCSO spokesperson noted he only became aware of it when other media outlets requested information on the matter.
“Our Schools Unit immediately identified the students involved and took action to hold those responsible accountable,” the release stated. “Students involved face citations for misdemeanor charges for assault and harassment for bullying.”
The sheriff’s office is not aware yet of what happened, though the investigation remains ongoing through the aforementioned KCSO Schools Unit.
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November 4, 2026 by Jake Nichols
For the first time in more than three decades, someone without the last name Courtney will lead the Farragut Admirals football program.
Farragut football coach Geoff Courtney, the son of TSSAA Hall of Famer Eddie Courtney, announced his resignation Tuesday, Nov. 3.
In his time at the helm, Courtney posted a record of 8-24 with a 1-9 record his final season in 2026. Prior to being named the head coach in 2024, Courtney served on his father’s staff as offensive coordinator, helping Farragut reach its lone state title in 2016.
Eddie Courtney did not have a comment, but Geoff detailed his decision in an email sent to the farragutpress Tuesday.
“After much thought and reflection, I have made the decision to step down as Head Football Coach at Farragut High School, effective immediately,” he said. “It has been an honor and a privilege to lead the Farragut Admirals football program over the past three seasons. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to work alongside so many outstanding young men, dedicated coaches and supportive families who have invested so much into this program.”
In his statement, Courtney thanked his players for their commitment, effort and willingness to grow and develop on and off the field.
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November 4, 2026 by Jake Nichols
The Chicago Bulls had Michael Jordan. NASCAR had Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt. Alabama had Nick Saban.
And in the same dominant, award-winning vein, the farragutpress has the quiet yet confident team of Tony Christen and Cindy Wilfert.
Having racked up more than 220 Tennessee Press Association honors together since 2018, the design dream team added to its total with 12 awards this year, including eight first-place finishes.
There were a total of 231 entries from 17 newspapers in this year’s contest.
With entries judged by members of the Maine Press Association, along with other judges from Arkansas and North Carolina, the farragutpress awards spanned multiple categories.
First-place finishes were as follows:
Best Special Section, Even Better Now (N-2); Best Self-Promotion of a Newspaper, farragutpress Fur Family (N-2); Best Sales Promotion for a Retailer, YMCA ad series (N-1,N-2,D-1); Best Use of Single Color Ad, Water into Wine (N-2); Best 1/4 Page or Smaller Ad, Camp Big Fish (N-2); Best Professional Service Ad, McKinnish Law (N-2); Best Furniture and/or Appliance Ad, Keith Window Company (N-1,N-2,D-1); Best Niche Publication, Tellico Pulse (N-2,D-1).
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November 4, 2026 by Tammy Cheek
A proposal for city of Knoxville to fund $750,00 for 100 new affordable apartments at 360 Lovell Road, just past Parkside Drive, won a unanimous “yes vote” by Knoxville City Council at its meeting Oct. 27.
The development, Union at Smoky Mountain, is located just past Parkside Drive in a vacant, wooded area between Taco Bell and McDonald’s.
“We are thrilled to celebrate the beginning of construction on this incredible property with community members, partners and friends,” said Parker Zee, vice president of development for The Annex Group, which is developing the apartments. “Union at Smoky Mountain is going to be part of Knoxville’s continued growth.
“In recent years, several businesses have launched or expanded here, bringing hundreds of new job opportunities,” Zee said. “As more jobs come to the area, so, too, come more people needing a convenient place to live near work.
“We believe Union at Smoky Mountain will bring more than just a desirable commute,” he said. “It will feature impressive and robust amenities for households to enjoy, including a community center, fitness center, business center, playground and gazebo.”
According to the city’s resolution, it authorizes the mayor “to execute any documents necessary to award an amount not to exceed $750,000 from the Affordable Rental Development Fund to Impact Housing Indiana Corporation for the development of 25 affordable rental housing units to be located at 360 Lovell Road (Parcel ID No. 131 05703) in Council District 2.”
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November 4, 2026 by Tammy Cheek
Town of Farragut is welcoming two new staff members to its team, Town recorder Karla Magnuson and public information officer Jeannine O’Malley.
Magnuson takes on the role of Town recorder, which Town administrator David Smoak held until Magnuson was hired near the end of last month.
“I’m excited,” Magnuson said. “It’s like coming back home."
Magnuson was a planning technician for Highlands County Board of County Commissioners in Florida in 2023 and deputy clerk with Highlands County Clerk of Circuit Court from 2014 to 2023.
“I moved here from Florida in 2024,” she said. “I took a job here [with the Town] as an admin assistant in June of 2024. I used to do the [Farragut Municipal] Planning Commission minutes with [Community Development director] Mark [Shipley].
“I left this year to go to the city of Oak Ridge [as a deputy court clerk], but then the Town recorder’s position was open, so I’m back,” she said.
“I love it,” O’Malley said about her new position. “It’s a wonderful group of people, from everyone here at Town Hall to the Board of Mayor and Aldermen.
“I’m very fortunate to get to work with such a great group of people,” she added.
O’Malley comes to Farragut from her work as a social media and digital marketing manager with Blount Partnership, an umbrella organization for Blount County Chamber of Commerce, Blount County Industrial Development Board, Smoky Mountain Tourism Association and Workforce Development.
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November 4, 2026 by Tammy Cheek
Area runners can lace up their running shoes to celebrate veterans with the annual Veterans Salute Race Saturday, Nov. 7.
“This is a recurring event that supports veteran causes,” Town Community Development director Mark Shipley stated in a report to Farragut Board of Aldermen.
“The event set-up will begin at 8 a.m. and the breakdown will conclude at 10 a.m, for both the 5K and 10K,” he said.
The event will start and finish at the Farragut Community Center, 239 Jamestowne Blvd.
“Participants will follow some streets in the Village Green subdivision and finish along the west side of North Campbell Station Road, where the outside southbound lane will be coned off for the section of the race described as the ‘Salute Corridor’ along the frontage of Founders Park,” he said. “There will be over 20 volunteers and three or four [Knox County Sheriff’s Office] officers at key points on the course to help with traffic flow.
Shipley said the course starts in front of FCC on Jamestowne Boulevard, runs through Village Green neighborhood and finishes back at the community center. Set-up will begin at 6 a.m., and it will close down at 10:30 a.m.
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November 4, 2026 by Tammy Cheek
Farragut households are feeling more of a squeeze than any other city in Tennessee, or even in the country.
According to DoxoINSIGHTS, an online data tool that reports household bill-paying spending statistics, residents in the Town of Farragut are paying more than the average median than the state and the country.
The site reported the median household in the United States pays $2,107 per month — or $25,286 per year — on bills, which is 30% of the income.
Meanwhile, Household bills in Farragut are 6 % higher than U.S. median, according to DoxoINSIGHTS.
“The median household in Farragut pays $2,228 per month or $26,734 per year on bills,” the site reported. “Farragut household bills are $1,449 per year higher than U.S. median of $25,285.
In Tennessee, “statewide, household bills are 17% lower than the U.S. median at $1,743 per month,” it reported.
Also, it stated, Farragut is the No. 14 most expensive municipality in Tennessee for household bills.
“The median household in Tennessee pays $1,743 per month or $20,914 per year on bills,” it added.
“Tennessee households bills are $4,371 per year lower than U.S. median of $25,285,” DoxoINSIGHTS reported. “However, the state is No. 36 most expensive state in the U.S. for household bills.
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November 4, 2026 by Jake Nichols
On Saturday, Oct. 31, a single-vehicle crash resulted in the death of one person near Farragut Primary School. Multiple reports indicate the accident occurred in the early morning hours, as officers responded to the scene around 3:03 a.m. The only person in the vehicle died, according to the Knox County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO).
Two days after the accident, on Monday, Nov. 2, a KCSO representative confirmed it was a single-car wreck with one occupant traveling at a high rate of speed.
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November 4, 2026 by
Knoxville Symphony Orchestra principal second violin, Edward Pulgar, tunes his violin before working with Farragut High School students in KSO’s Side By Side program last
week. The photo, which ran in the community section on Page 6B of the farragutpress, was identified incorrectly. We regret the error.
