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Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.® CALL ME TODAY. farragutpress.com • @farragutpress • @farragutpress1 • © 2020 farragutpress all rights reserved • 50¢ State Farm, Home Offi ce, Bloomington, IL ISSUE 25 VOLUME 33 FARRAGUT, TENNESSEE THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021 • 1A Town’s latest ‘Admiral’ retail plans told at FMPC MICHELLE HOLLENHEAD the not-too-distant future. just west of Stonecrest shopping cen- Road directly across from Premier Eye ■ [email protected] Farragut Municipal Planning ter, will initially offer a 12,000-square Center. “It is a challenging piece of Commission approved the site plan, foot strip shopping center in the first property,” said Mark Shipley, Town Farragut’s current construction submitted by Urban Engineering for phase, with a potential second phase Community Development director. boom will include a new commercial/ Horizon Plaza, during its Thursday, offering a 3,750 square foot building. “A large part of it is in the flood plain retail development at the corner of Feb. 18, meeting. Access points are proposed along Kingston Pike and Admiral Road in The project, which would be located Kingston Pike and one to Admiral See NEW RETAIL on Page 3A Aesthetics Mardi Gras Farragut Greenway for 5G lights connections, approved With lots Town traffic by BOMA of ‘Villagers’ big topics ■ MICHELLE HOLLENHEAD showing [email protected] their colors at retreat More than a year after Far- ragut Municipal Planning MICHELLE HOLLENHEAD Commission reluctantly ap- ■ [email protected] proved 11 small cell support structures proposed by Ve- Farragut’s Board of Mayor rizon, the Town now has ap- and Aldermen met in-person proved an Aesthetic Plan for for the first time in nearly a Vertical Utility Infrastructure year Friday, Feb. 19, for its an- in Public Rights of Ways to nual Strategic Planning Re- help potentially regulate fu- treat, evaluating the last year’s ture installations. accomplishments and consider- Farragut’s Board of Mayor ing goals in the year ahead as and Alderman approved a staff works on the Fiscal Year resolution adding the fairly 2022 budget. comprehensive yet flexible Department heads were on Aesthetic Plan to the Farragut hand for any questions arising Municipal Code during its during the meeting, which was regular Thursday, Feb. 11, bi- possibly a “dress rehearsal” of monthly meeting. what in-person meetings will Community Development resemble when they resume. director Mark Shipley has Tax boost worked on the parameters of David Smoak, Town admin- the plan since shortly after istrator, reported that while the Verizon structures were budget cuts were necessary last approved by FMPC in January year after COVID hit, the Town 2020. “headed into this year with While State law prohibits more of a flat budget” as sales any municipality from ban- tax revenues are “5 percent ning small cell support struc- head of last year.” tures outright, it does allow Aldermen, Mayor’s goals aesthetic considerations to be BOMA members previously applied “provided we do it in submitted priorities they would a manner that is non-discrim- like to see in the year ahead, inatory,” Shipley’s report to Photos by Michelle Hollenhead with many having similar BOMA stated. Not holding back on style, Villages of Farragut Senior Living choices. While the Town already community residents and staff celebrated Mardi Gras Tues- Traffic mitigation was top of requires all new utilities be day, Feb. 16, in grand style with a parade, crowning a King mind for the majority of the installed underground, that and Queen with live music. Among those enjoying the festivi- Board, with Alderman Scott requirement would not per- ties were (top) Don Olson and Arleen Malcolm and (left) Meyer asking for data concern- tain to small cell structures, parade participant Betty Riley. (Above) Voting confirmed ing both Grigsby Chapel Road which by design must be above traffic and school congestion. Tom Grant, left, as King, and Joanna Link, right, as Queen. See 5G AESTHETICS on Page 4A Also pictured is Steven Jenks. See RETREAT on Page 3A $5 million ‘long awaited’ high school auditorium breaks ground TAMMY CHEEK of Knoxville said just before the ceremonial ground- Designed by Johnson Architecture Inc., the release ■ [email protected] breaking. stated the new auditorium will encompass 13,500 ”This is a exciting time,” KCHS president Dickie square feet and feature 375 seats, a 1,385-square-foot A morning shower cleared just in time for Knox- Sompayrac said. wide-by 40-foot-deep stage, an audio-video produc- ville Catholic High School and donors, staff and “The best-in-class auditorium will greatly enhance tion suite, 4,000-square-foot lobby, 871-square-foot other supporters to break ground on its long-awaited Catholic’s rapidly growing band, theater, choral, green room, full theatrical lighting and will be fully $5 million St. Gregory the Great Auditorium at the digital media, dance and fine arts programs,” a press handicap accessible. school, 9245 Fox Lonas Road near Cedar Bluff Road release stated from Pam Rhoades, KCHS director “This day’s been a long time coming here for late Monday morning, Feb. 22. of marketing and communications. “Construction Knoxville Catholic High School,” Sompayrac said “This (auditorium project) has been in progress will begin in March with anticipated completion in for 15 years,” Bishop Richard F. Stika of the Diocese December 2021.” See KCHS AUDITORIUM on Page 4A bbusinessusiness ccommunityommunity ssportsports “It really came down to I really just liked the food. It’s ”He spent his time helping others and was always do- “We were able to force them to turn the ball over. We fresh, it appeals to all kinds of people because of the ing things for other people. A lot of kids looked up to were able to string the turnovers together. ... You don’t gluten-free and vegetarian options,” him. ... He wanted things to be fair for everybody,” want to turn the ball over in bunches,” - Laurie Lowe, a local businesswoman who let her - Tracy Impellizeri, about a loved one whose memory - Zneyah McLaughlin, a top athlete helping her team taste buds do her bidding. (Read story beginning on lives on in a special way. (Read story starting on roll through a great season. (Read story starting on page 5A) page 1B) page 1C) 2A • FARRAGUTPRESS THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021 High Town financial KCSOreports • At 7:15 a.m., Sunday, pel Road. Suspect was in the cause of his slurred words, his marks from auditor Feb. 21, Knox County Sher- driver’s seat of the vehicle body smelling of alcohol and iff’s Office units made con- with keys in the ignition. “I that he urinated on himself. MICHELLE HOLLENHEAD tact with a complainant at a immediately observed slurred Arrestee continued yelling at ■ [email protected] Concord Road residence who speech, difficulty maintaining officers despite their attempts said there was an unknown thought and difficulty main- to ask him questions. His The Town of Farragut got high marks from its Comprehensive male on the property of com- taining balance,” an officer mother also said her son may Annual Financial Report presented Thursday, Feb. 11, during plainant and victim. Officers reported. “I asked the suspect have consumed an unknown the regular Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting for the fiscal observed the suspect on the if he would perform standard- narcotic. She said the suspect/ year ending June 30, 2020. property near the woodline ized field sobriety tests, which eventual arrestee “was acting Whitlock & Company P.C. of Alcoa conducted the audit for the close to the victim’s house. he complied.” After the tests OK” even though he had been 2020 fiscal year, and CAFIR data was presented by Steve Horton, Victim said the suspect came were concluded, it was deter- drinking — and then suddenly a senior manager in the company’s audit department. into his unlocked house, took mined the suspect was under became violent. Complain- Horton began by apologizing for the lateness of the report. off his shoes, took a cup and the influence and he was sub- ant said she was attempting “We had problems with COVID that put us behind, so I apolo- filled it with water to drink, sequently taken into custody to assist her mother into the gize for that,” he said. then went to the couch to lay without incident. The arrest- bathroom when the eventual Typically the report would have been completed before the down. Suspect came into the ee, after implied consent was arrestee got in her face and end of the calendar year. house from the side front door explained, refused to provide a scared her. Complainant said Overall, Horton reported the audit resulted in an “unmodified from an unknown direction. blood sample for chemical test- she tried to calm down her opinion” indicating there were no irregular audit findings. “Suspect did not know whose ing. Arrestee was transported son, but he put his hands on “It was a clean opinion, there were no findings and no items of house he entered,” the offi- to Roger D. Wilson Detention her face and started starring concern,” he added. cer’s report stated. “Victim Facility. at her, placing her in fear she “An unmodified opinion is the best option an auditing firm can saw suspect in the living room • At 8:26 p.m., Feb. 16, a would be slugged. give,” explained Trevor Hobbs, assistant to the Town adminis- and asked him to leave — he complainant called KCSO Complainant’s mother was trator, during an interview.