presstalk 671-TALK (8255) or editor@farragutpress.com
• I would like to comment on the article entitled “Parents win Title IX, FHS softball to get $1.3 million boost.” I feel that is a very misleading headline. The article mentions that it is now able to equal to its counterpart, Farragut High School baseball’s John Heatherly Field/The Ballpark (at Farragut). That is an unfair comparison because the baseball team raises 100 percent of its money that it uses for its complex’s improvements, upgrades and maintenance. It is completely funded by parents and donations to the program through sponsorship.
Knox County Schools pay only electric and water.
All other ballpark improvements, upgrades and maintenance is paid 100 percent by Farragut baseball boosters, its parents and its sponsors. The article leads readers to believe that we get money from Knox County or the state or whomever, which is completely false and misleading. There should be some explanation of where the funds come from for the Farragut High School baseball team, not lead the readers to believe that the assumption is they get (tax) money and softball does not. Go Ads.
• I just want to express my concern about the Biddle Farm development that perhaps others have not considered. First, it is unknown to me if a hydrology study has been done on the property. My husband, my friends and the second governor of the state of Tennessee (Archibald Roane) are buried at the lovely, historic Pleasant Forest Cemetery. It would be a travesty if water runoff impacted that cemetery. Additionally, I understand the adjacent property of the cemetery is part of a Civil War site, the Battle of Campbell Station.
The cemetery and battlefield are historically significant. I am so hopeful preservation and the heritage groups have been included in this planning and development. I pray that this development will not shadow this beautiful property or the cemetery. Let’s keep it in the light. The treasure of this property deserves to be preserved and protected.
• The apartments proposed for Loop Road do not have to go through a rezoning process. The property is zoned R-V, General Residential, and apartments up to 12 units per acre are an allowable use. This project would not come before the (Knox) County Commission or even the Knoxville-Knox County Planning Commission for approval. It went straight to Knox County Engineering. The only reason the public knows about this project is because (5th District Commissioner) John Schoonmaker digs into things and asks questions.
• It is appalling that the Farragut High School softball team is requiring the (Knox County) Board of Education (because parents won a Title IX lawsuit) to fund upgrades to their field to bring it up to par with the (FHS) baseball field. The upgrades to the baseball field were funded by the booster club, the parents and the members of the baseball team (inaudible).
If the softball parents want the same upgrades, they should raise funds and pay for the upgrades. $1.3 million would be better spent upgrading and growing the CTE offerings at Farragut High School. $1.3 million would fund a lot of needed equipment. It’s embarrassing that these softball parents don’t get that. The softball team should reject these funds that are channeled to the School Board for investment and education.
