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ISSUE 41 VOLUME 27
FARRAGUT, TENNESSEE
THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015
Carson enters District 14 state house race ■
ALAN SLOAN asloan@farragutpress.com
The same motivation that led Karen Carson to run for Knox County Board of Education representative in 2004, “seeing a need for service,” has led this Concord resident into the world of partisan state politics. Carson, a third-term School Board representative currently serving District 5 (including Farragut public schools), announced late last week she
was a candidate to fill the vacant District 14 State Representative seat last held by new state Republican Party Chairman Ryan Haynes. A special Carson primary election Wednesday, Aug. 12, has been set up to fill Haynes’ seat. Special General
Election is Tuesday, Sept. 29. “The more that I try to deal with some of the educational issues that we’re dealing with today, a lot of the real struggles that we’ve had have come from changes at the state level,” Carson, a Republican, said. “So it’s keyed me in more to the importance of what our state legislators do. “As I’ve been watching, more and more I hear politicians focusing in on what’s wrong at the county, state and national
level instead of focusing on, ‘What are the solutions to the problems we face?’” Carson added. “And I think this has caused us to get into a rut of people digging into a position and we’re not solving the problems. “So I just believe that I can be, I guess, more proactive in getting the focus back on, ‘What are the potential solutions?’ I think our elected leaders need to do that.” A pediatric nurse for 35 years, Carson said, “I think I have a lot
to offer just with my experience in education and health care. And those are obviously two areas that take a tremendous amount of financial resources. And two areas where we still have work to do. “I have said frequently on the board, I think that corporate reform was a necessary push to get the changes in education that we have to do,” she added. “… We need to have that corpoSee CARSON on Page 5A
Bass, Jefferson debut two new books ■
TAMMY CHEEK tcheek@farragutpress.com
Dr. William Bass, nationally known forensic anthropologist, and noted writer Jon Jefferson, writing as Jefferson Bass in the Body Farm fiction series, captured the audience’s attention at Farragut West Knox Chamber of Commerce’s Speaker Series Breakfast as they talked about one of their newest books. The event, which was part of the Chamber’s 2015 speaker series, took place Tuesday, June 9, at Fox Den Country Club. Part of the proceeds from the event benefited Volunteer Ministry Center, which facilitates permanent supportive housing for the homeless. At the event, Bass and Jefferson signed their newest book, “The Breaking Point,” and introduced another book coming out, “Identity Crisis.” Bass said the Chamber breakfasts are a great place to premier their books. “The Farragut Chamber mem-
bers have been great supporters,” he said. “These [presentations] are a ritual,” Jefferson said. “Through the years, they have been kind of a kick off for us. It has been great. The Chamber always makes us feel welcome.” “I loved it,” Chamber member Andrew Hartung said about the duo’s presentation. “[Bass] always has a way of holding someone’s attention and discussing bones on an early morning like this,” Chamber member Keith Meese said. “This was my first time,” Chamber member Sonia Holas said about attending the presentation. “This was excellent. They made it fun.” No sooner did Bass and Jefferson have “The Breaking Point” on the bookshelves than they had “Identity Crisis,” a short nonfiction book, follow June 15. “Identity Crisis” delves into a 1978 cold case of an Anderson See BASS on Page 4A
Tammy Cheek
Jon Jefferson, seated left, and Dr. William Bass, seated right, sign their latest book, “The Breaking Point,” for attendees of a Farragut West Knox Chamber of Commerce Speaker Series Breakfast Tuesday, June 9, in Fox Den Country Club, Farragut.
Grigsby Chapel Road lane closure announced
■
ALAN SLOAN
Everett Road bid let ■ TAMMY CHEEK
asloan@farragutpress.com
tcheek@farragutpress.com
Beginning around 8 a.m., Monday, June 22, one lane of Grigsby Chapel Road — from its intersection with North Campbell Station Road to roughly East Fox Den Road — will be closed intermittently for resurfacing of all lanes. “There’s a time restriction on any lane closures, from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. [Monday through Friday] so that no work will be done at night to disrupt the residents trying to sleep,” David A. Sparks, Town assistant engineer, said. “… They’re going to grind up the old pavement and put [new] back on. … Rebuild it to give it better structure because it’s failing in places.” No work will take place Friday, July 3. Estimated completion of work is mid-July, according to a Town press release. However,
Photo submitted
An eastward view of Grigsby Chapel Road, near The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, left, near where road construction with begin and end at entrance onto East Fox Den Drive, right.
“Weather permitting, we hope finish earlier,” Sparks said. Both lanes are scheduled to be open on weekends and whenever work is not taking place. “That is their intent and current sched-
ule,” Sparks said. A large part of the problem causing the pavement structure problem, Sparks added, has been
Farragut Board of Mayor and Aldermen started the ball rolling on making improvements to Everett Road. The Board approved a bid and a contract for the work for McKinnon Construction Company LLC, which bid $3,331,706.30, during its meeting Thursday, May 14. The company was the low bidder with Jones Brothers Inc. bidding $3,702,243.30 and APAC Harrison Construction bidding $3,925,070.38, Town engineer Darryl Smith said. “The project was identified as a priority by the Town in 2007, when the Town entered into agreements with the original developers of the subdivision that has since become Split Rail Farm,” Smith said.
“The project includes reconstruction of .94 miles of Everett Road with two 12-foot lanes, curb and gutter, sidewalk and greenways.” As part of the project, the Board approved a proposal from Qk4 Inc. to provide inspection services on the Everett Road improvement project. “This is the largest capital improvement project ever fully funded by the Town, and the largest roadway construction project to be managed by our own staff,” Smith added. “Please understand that while our Engineering staff has a broad engineering experience with various types of construction, we believe it is in the best interests of the Town to employ a professional See EVERETT on Page 2A
See GRIGSBY on Page 4A
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