News
May 27, 2026 by Tammy Cheek
First Utility District’s daily testing of the North Fork of Turkey Creek continues following the May 8 sewer line break.
However, samples from the testing recently indicated a decrease in E. coli levels.
“We’ve been posting this information every day,” FUD general manager Bruce Giles said.
The break, which contaminated part of the creek and caused a loss of aquatic life along about 1.5 miles of
the waterway, was reported Monday, May 11, according to Town of Farragut and Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency officials.
Giles, who said the work being done is on a 50-year-old sewer line, explained that “we’re replacing the length of the line over several phases.”
The leak occurred during that construction, but since the break, “we’ve been voluntarily sampling every day at seven sites,” he said. “On one site above the spill, where the break occurred, we were seeing that decrease, as expected, in all the samples, and the farther away from where the break was, the lower the numbers had been until the rain.
“When the rain came, all the samples spiked, including the ones above the [sewer] break,” Giles said. “I had people calling this weekend, asking questions.
“What people don’t understand is that creek has been impaired for years, and every time it rains, E. coli samples spike,” he said. “The numbers spike all up and down that creek. That has nothing to do with First Utility District.
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Admirals claim fifth-straight state title
May 27, 2026 by Jake Nichols
MURFREESBORO — The sequence lasted roughly 12 seconds. Yet in that span, everything became clear.
At 7:53 p.m. Central Time last Friday, May 22, Jake Harris rushed forward and grabbed the 2026 Class 4A state championship trophy from a TSSAA official.
As he lifted the trophy toward the heavens with a scream, every emotion was visible on the Farragut senior catcher's face.
The joy that the Admirals were on top again. The pain that it was suddenly all over. The relieving of pressure that mounts all year. And the wonderful, incomparable triumph that came here, in this moment, as he held the trophy that so many Farragut players have lofted before him.
“Dude, the last inning, all my moments from high school baseball were replaying in my head,” Harris said. “It’s a lot of emotions. Happiest moment of my life, but also, I’m done with high school baseball and it’s on to the next chapter. These guys have been through a lot — and we were able to come out on top.”
Indeed they were, as the Ads overcame rain delays, two three-run deficits and even a venue change to find the same prize as 14 other teams in Farragut baseball history.
This one, an 11-5 win over Houston, featured a bit more drama than some of the other championship games in this program’s storied past.
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May 27, 2026 by Tammy Cheek
Following the May 8 sewer line break, which spilled into the North Fork of Turkey Creek, Farragut Alderman Joe LaCroix reached out to State Sen. Dr. Richard Briggs on what state agencies he could contact about the matter.
Briggs, in turn, reached out to the state’s Office of External Affairs and Division of Water Resources.
Emma Ousley, assistant director of Legislative Affairs for the state, responded to Briggs, which he shared with the farragutpress.
“Last Monday, May 11, our Division of Water Resources team responded to a sewer line leak in Farragut and confirmed First Utility District of Knox County repaired the leak by Monday afternoon,” Ousley said.
“The utility placed warning signs and marker tape around the area of Turkey Creek to prevent public access,” Ousley said. “[Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation] informed the utility that warning signs must remain in place until stream samples for E. Coli downstream of the event are comparable to results upstream. This incident should have no impact on the utility’s drinking water system as Turkey Creek’s entry point into
Fort Loudoun Lake is downstream of the drinking water intake.
Ousley said First Utility District had a contractor clearing vegetation from the area the week before the spill.
“The heavy equipment used by the contractor caused a break in the sewer line, which resulted in a release.
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May 27, 2026 by Tammy Cheek
Mike Davis, Republican candidate for Knox County sheriff, is contesting the results of the Tuesday, May 5, Primary Election results.
Davis announced Thursday, May 21, he will appeal the Primary results under state law. Davis and his attorney, Lance K. Baker, appeared before the Knox County Election Commission to inform Election Commissioners about Davis’s plans.
“Mr. Mike Davis is appealing the results of the Knox County Republican Primary Election for sheriff to the Tennessee Republican Party,” Election administrator Chris Davis confirmed.
“The Tennessee Republican Party chair will render a decision, presumably in the near future, on Davis’ appeal.
Regarding that timeline, “I have no idea,”
the Election administrator added.
Meanwhile, “the Election Commission conducts business as usual — having certified the election — and we are preparing for the Aug. 6 County General, State/ Federal Primary and Town of Farragut Municipal Elections,” the administrator said.
Early voting begins July 17.
“The Republican Primary for sheriff was severely tainted and the election’s basic integrity was undermined. This needs to be remedied by a rerun of the primary election for sheriff,” Baker stated in a press release.
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May 27, 2026 by Tammy Cheek
A new pocket park in Farragut is under way after Farragut Municipal Planning Commission unanimously approved design plans for the Red Mill Dam parking lot, access trail and trailhead during its meeting Thursday, May 21.
Assistant Town engineer Eric Schindler said Red Mill Dam, acquired by the Town, is located on a parcel at the corner of Concord and Turkey Creek roads.
“In an effort to showcase this beautiful piece of property, the Town has been researching different options for access to the dam area,” he said. “This project consists of a 10-stall parking lot and pathway leading to a trailhead and sitting area adjacent to the Red Mill Dam.”
Schindler said staff advertised a request for qualifications to firms in December 2024 and selected LDA Engineering to conduct the engineering, design and bid selection process for the Red Mill Dam project.
He added access to the paved parking area will come through a driveway owned by First Utility District.
“There will be shared plans, and we are in the approval process to utilize that driveway from First Utility District for our access,” Schindler said.
“The plans are to take advantage of the beautiful woods that are right down there next to Turkey Creek,” LDA engineer Lincoln Fugal said. “To get access down there, there is an existing drive that belongs to the utility. We entered into a shared agreement. We’re going to pave their drive in exchange for the use of the access there.
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May 27, 2026 by Tammy Cheek
The Town’s history and people earned a nod from Farragut Board of Mayor and Aldermen, which declared proclamations during its Thursday, May 14, meeting.
In one proclamation, the Board recognized Farragut resident Frank Galbraith as the “official Town of Farragut historian.”
“Frank Galbraith has been a resident of the Town of Farragut for 85 years and throughout that time has demonstrated a deep love for his community and the many people whose lives he has enriched,” Town Historic Resources coordinator Kristi Vining read from the proclamation.
Also, he “faithfully served his community as an educator for 40 years, including three years at Halls Middle, where he started the track team in 1967, followed by 36 years at Farragut Middle School and one year at Concord Christian School,” Vining stated from the proclamation.
“Frank Galbraith has presented the Day of Infamy program for more than 20 years, first for his middle school students and then later for the Farragut Museum as a special speaker around Dec. 7 each year, sharing important historical perspectives with the community,” the proclamation stated. He “has generously shared his knowledge about the history of our area, including the Concord and Farragut communities, as well as the official founding of the Town, at the Introduction to Farragut classes since 2013, with presentations that are consistently engaging and uniquely delivered.”
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May 27, 2026 by Tammy Cheek
Bridgemore subdivision developers, Placemakers No. 2 Partnership, are ready to move forward with Phases 3B and 4 in the northwest portion of the subdivision but found they needed to make changes because of topography and sinkholes.
Farragut Municipal Planning Commission unanimously approved amendments to the concept plan and preliminary plat during its meeting Thursday, May 21.
Community Development director Mark Shipley said the developers requested amendments to the adopted concept plan for the subdivision, located on the west side of McFee Road.
“The plan [from 2021] included a variety of house lots and street arrangements that would create different house styles in different portions of the development,” Shipley said. “One particularly unique portion of the plan was in the northwest portion of the subdivision, where a grouping of smaller lots with some alley access and gridded streets were shown.”
However, as the development expanded into the northwest portion of the subdivision, Shipley said the terrain created challenges.
“After looking at this in more detail, the topography did not lend itself to this layout without significant grading and retaining walls,” he said.
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May 27, 2026 by Ken Lay, Correspondent
Knoxville Catholic High School’s boys soccer team saw its 2026 season come to an end in the TSSAA Division II-AA state semifinals.
The Irish (9-7-4), which punched its ticket to the State Final Four with a penalty kicks shootout victory over top-seeded Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville on May 16, came up just short of a trip to the state title match.
But a 2-0 loss to Briarcrest Christian School at the Richard Siegel Soccer Complex in Murfreesboro didn’t mar a successful campaign on the pitch for Catholic.
“It would’ve been nice to get to play one more game and play for a state championship,” Irish coach Josh Martin said. “But I couldn’t be prouder of these guys.
“Our seniors are going to remain in our program but they’re going to be alumni now and they’ll always be welcome to come back.”
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