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ISSUE 43 VOLUME 26
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FARRAGUT, TENNESSEE
THURSDAY, JULY 3, 2014
Farragut burglars greeted with open doors at many homes
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ALAN SLOAN asloan@farragutpress.com
A false sense of security while at home entices burglars, while unsecured guns in the home makes burglaries all the more dangerous within the town of Farragut. That’s according to Capt. Jeff Palmer, Knox County Sheriff’s Office liaison to town of Farragut. Palmer said within Town limits in 2012 there were 52 burglaries;
49 in 2013. As of late May during 2014, “We’ve had 27 total,” he added. In Farragut, “Well over 30 percent of these home burglaries, their entry was made through an unlocked door or unlocked window,” Palmer said. “… So far in 2014 [through late May] it’s 40 percent.” Mike Fleenor, president of Fleenor Security Systems of West Knox County, said “opportunistic crime” is prevalent in the summer.
“I remember in one of the neighborhoods several years ago there were a group of out-of-town folks that came through and they would knock on doors, and if nobody answered the door, even though they knew people were out in the backyard, they’d break in, go in and steal something,” Fleenor said. “I remember a couple of incidents where one of the parties would go around and engage people in the backyard while someone else kicked the front door
in,” he added. “People leave their garage doors open all the time, and we regularly hear about, ‘Well, I lost my golf clubs’ or they lost some other item out of their garage. One of the things we always caution people about, ‘Always close your garage door, even if you’re working in the back yard or enjoying your pool.’” Palmer added that while residents are at home, “We’ve had several instances where elderly homeowners in Farragut in the
World Cup fever Farragut style ■
COURTNEY SUCH csuch@farragutpress.com
World Cup is gaining all types of attention across the United States, including in the heart of Farragut. Workers took longer lunch breaks, employees requested the day off, and bosses even coordinated a business outing to local restaurants and bars to support the U.S. National Men’s Soccer noon game against Germany Thursday, June 26. “There has been a lot of support for the World Cup so far, and we have seen a lot of upswing of soccer in this country, and fans have really shown their support,” Eric Whiete, manager of Buffalo Wild Wings, 11431 Parkside Drive, said. They even had to turn people away in the moments leading up to and during the game. “We have had to go on a wait for the last couple of U.S. games and tell people, ‘Sorry we are full,’” Whiete added. Alex Shelton and his father, Larry, were two of those people who were turned down for a table, so they relocated to Smoky Mountain Brewery. “We went to Buffalo Wild Wings first, and, of course, they had people out the door,”
Courtney Such
Tina Burieigh, Matt Stalker and Kylie, 3, wear their most patriotic gear while viewing the United States versus Germany World Cup soccer game at Buffalo Wild Wings in Farragut Thursday, June 26. Area restaurants that had TVs tuned to the game had to turn people away due to overcrowding.
Shelton said. Many of the fans watching in local restaurants planned well ahead for the game, including Ryan McElveen and Dr. Smita Borole, ensuring a table to eat at while watching. “Yes I took off from work … we knew that Germany and
the U.S. were going to play months ago, so I had always planned on watching this game,” McElveen said. Borole, owner of Dental Works, 11340 Parkside Drive, had a table reserved for her entire staff at The Irish Times Pub & Restaurant, 11348 Parkside Drive.
“It was my idea to take off, just 30 minutes blocked off extra … I think it has worked out good having it during lunch. There was too much excitement with this game to miss it, especially with the German in the office,” Borole See SOCCER on Page 2A
Four reappointed to FMPC ■
TAMMY CHEEK tcheek@farragutpress.com
Four Farragut Municipal Planning Commission members have been re-appointed for another term. The Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted unanimously to reappoint Alderman Ron Honken to represent the Board on the Commission during the Board meeting
Thursday, June 26. A f t e r M a y o r R a l p h McGill nominated Honken, Vice Mayor Dot Honken LaMarche seconded his nomination. “I enjoyed it,” Honken said
about the r e appointm e n t . “I’ve been on the Planning Commission for several Holladay years, so yes, I’m pleased to be back on it.”
At the s a m e t i m e , McGill reappointed Edward St. Clair, Ed Whiting and Rita Holladay, to
Whiting
See FMPC on Page 2A
past year or so have been out, say, working in their yard and an opportunist sees they are outside and figures, I guess, that the door would be unlocked and went in and committed the burglary.” Fleenor said he often has to remind homeowners, “‘You’re just as vulnerable gone eight hours’ as they are gone for eight days as far as someone hitting their house.” See BURGLARS on Page 2A
Town hosts architectural workshop
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ALAN SLOAN asloan@farragutpress.com
A first step toward creating a more uniform architectural design for town of Farragut commercial, mixed use and multi-family unit buildings took place recently in Town Hall. Two officials from Winter & Company., the firm hired by Town leaders to create suggestions for a more uniform yet appealing architectural design, led a guidelines public workshop seeking input Thursday evening, June 5. Thirteen citizen attendees, which included Alderman Jeff Elliott, Farragut Municipal Planning Commissioners Ed St. Clair, Rita Holladay and Annette Brun and former FMPC chair Bob Hill looked over some 60 photos of buildings, landscaping (including streets) and storm-water management design examples from which to choose. At the bottom of each photo was an area to note what you liked, or didn’t like, about that photo’s design. A town of Farragut map was made available for individuals or small groups to paste design examples as to where in Town a certain design might best apply. As for sharing their feedback, Holladay said she and St. Clair “liked a lot of the landscaping, but that takes money for upkeep.” St. Clair said he liked designs “with a more integrated look to it.” Town resident Walt Hanson said, “What I liked was variety,” adding that “homogeneity can be boring because everywhere you drive it looks the same.” Hanson also was critical of Farragut’s “awfully large parking lots. I don’t know where we’re going in the future with this. …” Hill said he was “terribly critical,” yet, “I saw a lot of things that I liked.” “The old Kroger shopping center, the West End shopping center, the Ingles shopping center are three places that will definitely be redeveloped. I think also where the Fresh Market is [Village Green shopping center], that will be redeveloped,” Hill said.
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