The Karns Community Club has both a clubhouse (the old Karns library building) and a grove. The grove has been underused, but club president Brent Howell came up with the idea of Music in the Grove, a concert series outdoors.
Urban Engineering Inc. made a substantial contribution to sponsor construction of a performance stage. Club members met on a Saturday and built it. We’ve got pictures.
Charlie Austin reports that four concerts are scheduled for 2026 with a fuller schedule starting in spring 2027.
“First concert is Knoxville group Timberwinds, Saturday, August 15, probably 7 p.m. at the Karns Community Club Center, 7708 Oak Ridge Hwy. That will be a part of a four-show fall series (August, September, October and November).
“The Music in the Grove concert series is a free, family-friendly event to give back to our community. It’s a chance to come together as community in a fun, safe environment and enjoy a beautiful evening outdoors with some great music and even better friends.”
Footers are first
Flooring is next
Finally framing
Karns Landing kayak launch set to open
The work continues. Knox County Parks & Rec has announced a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new Beaver Creek ADA accessible kayak launch at 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 28, at 8051 Oak Ridge Hwy. (behind the rugby field).
Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs, Parks & Rec Director Joseph Mack and at-large commissioner Larsen Jay have put both staff and dollars into the water trail. It won’t be built in a day, but we must encourage the new officeholders to carry on with a project that actually began during Mayor Tim Burchett’s term.
To reiterate: It is free, outdoors fun close to home; the creek clearing helps prevent flooding; when done, a 44-mile water trail will be a tourist draw.
Turtle on a stump: Floating Beaver Creek
Turtle takes a break on Beaver Creek
Lolly Ordonez went down Beaver Creek (Powell High to Weigel’s) and posted her reaction online. She had paddled the route a couple of years ago and says recent heavy rains have made it a much different experience.
“Today we barely paddled and we did not have to get out of our boats to make it through the shallow area under the Clinton highway bridge.
“What was supposed to take at least 1.5 hours, only took an hour. It was a great experience.” Ordonez thanked everyone who works on keeping Beaver Creek as clear as possible.
The Facebook page for Beaver Creek Kayak Club has up-to-date reports on creek conditions.
Finn has head start on farming career
Farmer Finn
Proud mom Ashley Hamby calls her son, Finn, age 10, a “little future farmer.” But it looks like he’s already there. Finn set up a farm stand under a tree on Maloneyville Road in East Knox County this week.
Ashley posted, “All produce was picked today from his garden.”
Prices were reasonable but not cheap: corn $6 a dozen; onion, zucchini or cucumbers, $1 each; okra $3 per pound.
By end of day, he had sold out. His mom promises to post again when he sets back up.
TWRA head is UT grad
Jason Maxedon
Jason Maxedon is a University of Tennessee (Martin and Knoxville) graduate who now heads the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA).
As TWRA executive director, Maxedon works with over 700 professionals to conserve Tennessee’s wildlife and natural habitats, while promoting safe, sustainable outdoor recreation. He also works closely with the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission, helping set strategic direction, developing policy and ensuring our programs meet the needs of the public.
“A key part of my role is serving the hunters, anglers and outdoor users of Tennessee – ensuring they have access, opportunity and a strong voice in conservation.”
Maxedon was profiled in late 2025 in a publication by the UT Institute of Agriculture. The full story is here.
Karns Community Fair will be Saturday, July 18, at Karns High School, 2710 Byington Solway Rd., Knoxville. Carnival Midway – 10-5 p.m. with Pendleton’s playground, rides, slides, games and classic carnival foods; Inside Vendors – 10-4 p.m. And now, because you’ve read to the bottom of this column, you’ve got a chance tonight, 6-9 p.m., for 1/2-price rides. Check it out.
Outdoor Knoxville has upcoming races, rafting, bird walks and more. It is free online from Legacy Parks Foundation.
Early voting starts today. Thursday, Aug. 6, is Election Day in Knox County. It’s the general election for county offices – mayor, sheriff, at-large county commissioners and some district commissioners and school board members. The Republican and Democratic state and federal primaries will also occur – pick one to select nominees for the November general election. Town of Farragut will be electing a new mayor and two members of the board of aldermen. Early voting starts today – Friday, July 17 – and ends Saturday, August 1. Info: knoxvotes.org/.
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Sandra Clark is a daily contributor to KnoxTNToday, where she writes the Let’s Talk series, including Let’s Talk -Law, Let’s Talk – Neighbors, Let’s Talk – Schools, and Let’s Talk – Outdoors.
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