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Copyright © 2012 farragutpress
ISSUE 34 VOLUME 24
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FARRAGUT, TENNESSEE
THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2012
Record crowd turns out for annual FWK Chamber auction ■ HEATHER BECK
hbeck@farragutpress.com
A record crowd helped Farragut West Knox Chamber of Commerce celebrate its 25th anniversary at the Chamber’s annual auction and dinner Friday night, April 20. More than 250 businesses were represented at the annual fundraiser, which raises funds not only for the Chamber’s
events and for continuing education grants for Chamber members in good standing, but also for a charity. This year, a portion of the event proceeds will go to Shangri-La Therapeutic Academy of Riding. “We thank you so very much,” Chamber president and CEO Bettye Sisco told event-goers Friday night. “Thank you for what you do for us to
help us grow,” she added. Fundraising numbers weren’t available by press deadline. Chamber board of directors chairman Tim Williams said, “I am sometimes asked, ‘What makes this Chamber as strong and as vibrant as it is?’ Well, the answer is the passion, the spirit and the support.” “Look what it’s done tonight,” he added. The silent and live auction, plus dinner,
was themed “Puttin’ on the Ritz” and was held at Rothchild Catering & Conference Center. Tables were decorated on themes of each of the past 25 years. Silent and live auction items included things as varied as a set of tires, paintings and artwork, jewelry, spa packages, design consultations and restaurant gift certifiSee CHAMBER on Page 3A
Remembering Brooke FHS soccer family pays homage to team manager
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ALAN SLOAN asloan@farragutpress.com
Brooke Culbreth undoubtedly would be proud of her little nephew, 10-month-old Casen Brooks Culbreth. Someday soon, Casen will learn to be proud of his late aunt. About Brooke, a popular and beloved former team manager with Farragut High School boys soccer team while a student at FHS in the early to mid-2000s, “Quite honestly, she always made us just feel better for being out there on the field,” said Dustin Crouse, a Class of 2003 player. “If you were down in the dumps about a bad game or a bad practice, or coach is on your rear end for something, she was always there with a bright smile and a friendly word for us. And she’s telling us jokes.” Crouse was among dozens of former Farragut High School alumni soccer players who paid tribute to Brooke’s memory during Sixth Annual Brooke Culbreth Memorial Alumni Games, Odd versus Even graduating years, at Farragut Soccer Complex Saturday afternoon, April 21. “Actually, I kinda grew up with Brooke,” said Josh Riner, Class of 2008 player. “We had a lot of good times together. She was a great girl. Brooke was just the sweetest girl, the nicest girl.” “I went to the prom with her my freshman year” during
Alan Sloan/farragutpress.com
Karen Carson, 5th District Knox County Board of Education representative, speaks to Farragut High School principal Michael Reynolds as Penny Leonard, head of hospitality for FHS teachers, listens during FHS Parent Connection meeting April 13.
‘Bite the bullet’ time, School Board’s Carson says Farragut High School head mens soccer coach Wallie Culbreth holds grandson, Casen Brooks Culbreth, during the annual Brooke Culbreth Memorial Almumni Games.
Brooke’s junior year, Riner added. “We used to cut up all the time about our older brothers. “She was a good friend. I loved her.” Wallie Culbreth, Brooke’s father and FHS boys soccer varsity head coach, said he was
impressed with Saturday’s turnout. “You look on the hill and I see my current players, and I look out here and I see 10 years of my players [2002-2011],” he said. See BROOKE on Page 3A
‘Decorative lighting’ planned for Concord Road
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HEATHER BECK hbeck@farragutpress.com
Decorative streetlights are on the list for Farragut’s 2013 capital investment plan — but this time along Concord Road, not Campbell Station Road. “We’re looking to try to avoid the same mistake we made before,” assistant Town administrator Gary Palmer told Farragut Municipal Planning Commissioners during their meeting Thursday, April 19.
The Town is proposing to budget $400,000 to place decorative streetlights along Concord Road, to be installed while TDOT is widening the street from Turkey Creek Road to Northshore Drive, which is expected to begin in 2013. The widened road is set to be five lanes — including the center turn lane — with medians, bike lanes, a sidewalk and a walking trail. Palmer said the Town would need to have the funds in place if it hoped to have TDOT place dec-
orative lights during the work project, rather than after. “We have to have this money in place before they let the project,” he said. Farragut recently endured harsh citizen criticism for attempting to spend more than $500,000 to replace streetlights along Camp-bell Station with decorative fixtures. Farragut’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen eventually tabled that project See CIP on Page 6A
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ALAN SLOAN asloan@farragutpress.com
Pointing out that Knox County property taxes “haven’t changed since 1990,” Karen Carson said it’s time to bite the bullet for children’s long-term public education. “In order to take the giant steps forward that we need to for our kids, we need to take a step forward in funding,” said Carson, recently elected 5th District Knox County Board of Education representative who formally announced the School Board’s recent passage of Knox County Schools’ Key Educational Investment Proposal, fiscal years 2013-2017. The proposal, costing an additional $35 million per year — on top of a built-in 12.5 percent education increase for FY 2013 — and subject to approval from Knox County Commission, was discussed during Carson’s keynote address during the Farragut High School Parent Connection meeting Thursday, April 12, at Crú Bistro & Wine Bar. “The areas that we’re going to
focus on are technology, performance pay, instructional time,” Carson said. FHS principal Michael Reynolds declared the proposal “a huge leap of faith for Knox County at any point in time,” but much more so “in economic hard times.” “The education system drives the economy,” Reynolds added. “People are not willing to go to a place where you do not have strong education.” Moreover, “If you want your property values to drop overnight, let the educational system falter,” Reynolds said. Reynolds also announced that FHS Education Foundation “drafted a proposal to support this, which I think is incredible and admirable on their part, no pun intended.” Speaking about the proposal last month, Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett, who expressed a level of skepticism about the proposal but said he still wanted to learn more, said it would take roughly a 35-cent property tax increase to pay the $35 million See CONNECTION on Page 5A
Westside Faces 8A • Business 10A • Sports 1B • Community 4B • Classifieds 12B • Real Estate Gallery 14B • Summer Living
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117 Center Park Dr. • Knoxville TN 37922 • Cell: 865-771-4151 • Office : 865-694-8100 • Office Fax: 865-531-6377