For Immediate Release – Kingsport City Schools
September 28, 2010
Kingsport Board of Education to Hold Called Meeting
KINGSPORT — The Kingsport Board of Education will hold a special called meeting Thursday, September 30 at 5 p.m. in the Dobyns-Bennett Field House Alumni Hall.
The purpose of the meeting is to review a proposal to construct a new Administrative Support Center on the former Kingsport Foundry location at the corner of Sullivan and Main Street.
For more information, contact Amy Greear, Director of Communications, at (423) 378-2123.
Students Recognized In National Merit Scholarship Program
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KINGSPORT ‚¬ Five Dobyns-Bennett High School students have been named as semi-finalists for the 2011 National Merit Scholarship program.
Those named as National Merit Scholarship Semi-Finalists are:
Farrah Alyssa Carter, daughter of Jason and Nani Carter;
Meredith Elaine Jack, daughter of Bob and Laura Jack;
Melissa Janette Jenkins, daughter of Steven and Jodi Jenkins;
Emily Jasmine Liang daughter of Shaowo and Weimin Liang;
Amy Katherine Oreskovic, daughter of Richard and Kathleen Oreskovic.
These five students will compete with the top high school students in the nation for some 7,000 Merit Scholarship awards worth more than $33 million.
In September, about 16,000 students, or approximately one-third of the 50,000 high scorers, are notified that they have qualified as Semifinalists. To ensure that academically able young people from all parts of the United States are included in this talent pool, Semifinalists are designated on a state representational basis. They are the highest scoring entrants in each state.
The National Merit Scholarship Corporation provides scholarship application materials to Semifinalists through their high schools.‚ To be considered for a Merit Scholarship Award, semi-finalists must advance to the finalist level of the competition by fulfilling several requirements. About 90 percent of the semi-finalists are expected to attain finalist standing and approximately half of the finalists will be selected as Merit Scholarship winners.
The nationwide pool of semi-finalists, which represents less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest scoring entrants in each state. More than 1.5 million juniors in some 22,000 high schools entered the 2011 National Merit Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) which serves as an initial screening of program entrants.
For more information on the National Merit Scholarship, please contact the Dobyns-Bennett High School Counseling Office at (423) 378-8409.
For more contact:
Communications Director Amy Greear
1701 E. Center Street,
Kingsport TN 37664
(423) 378-2123 w.
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KingsportTN.gov selected as top local government website in Tennessee by Juggle.com
KINGSPORT — Juggle.com has selected KingsportTN.gov as one of the top 7 local government websites in Tennessee.
Juggle.com casts a wide net as a reference resource finder and encylopedia featuring searchable news articles, timelines, well-sourced answers to Frequently Asked Questions, word definitions and biographies tailored to an audience of students, educators and researchers.
Kingsport’s latest web portal kicked off 30 months ago, replacing the orginal website that dated to 1996. Ease of use for visitors and city staff for whom website updating is a secondary duty were key goals of the website.
The website mission is to become the destination of choice for residents who want to learn more about their local government and community events, while serving a critical role as Kingsport’s front door to the world, recognizing that more and more business site selection consultants review local websites before ever considering placing a phone call inquiring about the potential for a new business location.
Currently, KingsportTN.gov averages about 450 unique individual visits a day, jumping as high as 1,000 visits during key peak times such as major local festivals or weather events.
In a nutshell, KingsportTN.gov is all about governmental transparency and marketing the community to the world. We appreciate the recognition by Juggle, and ask our visitors to drop us a line on how to improve the overall product and delivery of services to our citizens.
To visit the Juggle.com article, please click here.
KINGSPORT Traffic Division crews are striving to reopen East Center Street from Ft. Henry Drive to Memorial Boulevard after a late Monday wreck destroyed a traffic signal control cabinet at the intersection of East Center and North Eastman Road. Traffic Division crews are replacing the control cabinet and are working hard to reopen East Center Street by 1 p.m. Tuesday. City officials are asking motorists to obey Road Closed signs and seek alternative routes. Motorists using Memorial are asked to continue onto Ft. Henry Drive, rather than attempting to turn on East Center.
KINGSPORT – City leaders will host a very special ribbon-cutting and dedication as the V.O. Dobbins Sr. Complex is formally dedicated on Friday, September 24, 2010 at 4 p.m. at the facility.
The $8.2 million project is a centerpiece of Kingsports effort to rejuvenate the Riverview Community, and will feature the unveiling of a new state historic marker denoting the structures original usage as the largest African-American high school in the greater Tri-Cities Tennessee-Virginia area, the former Douglass High School.
A dedicated Douglass Alumni Association office as well as a Douglass Community Room pays tribute to Kingsports African-American heritage at the site in a time when segregation was mandated by law. As part of the preservation effort, three trophy cases will hold old school annuals, pictures, and other memorabilia, as well as about 40 sports trophies dating from the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. The school closed in 1966 with desegregation.
This day marks the fulfilling of Kingsports commitment to the Riverview community, Mayor Dennis Phillips said. The progress here, helping folks who want to help themselves, empowering those who cherish Kingsport, its all a remarkable change and really proves that good things happen when we all work together and no one worries about who gets the credit.
On the day of the ribbon-cutting, building tours and refreshments will be available, and a shuttle bus will be operating from the Eastman Employee Center Parking lot to the V.O. Dobbins Center. Special guest speakers include Dr. Carroll Van West, the director of Historic Preservation at Middle Tennessee State University, who will be speaking on the importance of Douglass as a Rosenwald School, as well as the historical preservation of Culture.
Dr. West has conducted field research at Douglass and its relationship to Tennessees New Deal era landmarks.
Also, Vernell Allen, of Detroit, a member of the Douglass Tigers Basketball team of 1947 will be on hand for a trophy re-dedication, and an open invitation has been extended to past Douglass team members as well.
The newly expanded and remodeled V.O. Dobbins Complex also added a three story non-profit wing, a new two-story educational wing as well as a new regulation-size gymnasium. Agencies housed within the facility include;
Neighborhood Service Center of Upper East Tennessee Human Development Agency, Mountain Region Speech and Hearing, the United Way of Greater Kingsport, the ALS Association Tennessee Chapter, Susan G. Komen for the Cure Tri-Cities, the Palmer Foundation, Kingsport Tomorrow, the American Legion and the Tri-Cities office of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of East Tennessee.
In addition to providing a vibrant nucleus to the community, and preserving an important part of Kingsports heritage, I believe the non-profit center is a unique approach that allows these agencies to stretch vital dollars and magnify their impact by limiting administrative expenses, City Manager John Campbell said. I am convinced that this shared, one-stop-shop approach to offering a variety of community services will serve the city well in the years ahead.
What: Project: Drug Drop Zone
When: Saturday, September 25, 2010
9:00 am until Noon
Where: Parking Lot of Rhoten Allstate Agency
1000 East Center Street
On the corner of Center and Sevier
Drug Drop Zone is Kingsports inaugural medication take-back initiative.‚ This Kingsport event is being conducted in participation with the nationally recognized drug take back program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration.‚ Similar programs are being held on the same day all over the country.‚ This program is designed to keep drugs off the street, prevent overdoses and accidental poisonings, and avoid environmental contamination.
We encourage everyone to go through their medicine cabinets prior to the event and look for any unused, leftover, unwanted and/or expired medications.‚ These can be prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, or dietary supplements.
Bring these items to Project: Drug Drop Zone at 1000 East Center Street on Saturday, September 25th between 9:00 am and noon.‚ Follow the drop-off instructions at the site, and the Kingsport Police Department will properly and safely dispose of these items for you.
This program is completely anonymous.‚ You will not be asked to reveal any personal information.‚ This is a community wide event being sponsored by the Kingsport Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy at East Tennessee State University, South Central Weed and Seed, Kingsport Area Safety Council, Comfort Keepers, Medication Management Center, Sullivan County S.A.L.T. Council, New Vision Youth, Rhoten Allstate Agency, The Oaks, and Aid and Assist at Home.
A flyer is attached to this e-mail.‚ Please feel free to print as many copies of this flyer as you wish and distribute it to help us advertise the event.‚ Larger poster sized copies of this flyer are available at the Kingsport Police Department.‚ We will gladly arrange for pre-event interviews either by telephone or in person at any time prior to the event.‚ We would also welcome any media representatives to join us and cover Project: Drug Drop Zone on the day of the event.‚ Feel free to contact me for additional information.‚ Please help us get the word out.
To print out the flyer please click here.
KINGSPORT – National Child Passenger Safety Week is September 19-25 and the Kingsport Fire Department would like to help parents and caregivers to ensure their children are secured properly in the correct seats ‚¬ every trip, every time.
The Kingsport Fire Department and the Kingsport Police Department will be holding a Child Passenger Seat Checkpoint at KFD Station 2, at 1804 Crescent Drive near Dobyns Bennett Friday, September 24th from 1:30-4PM
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children 3 to 14 years old, according to 2006 figures from the National Center for Health Statistics.‚ However, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), approximately 8,959 lives have been saved from 1975 to 2008 by the proper use of child safety seats.
According to NHTSA, nearly three out of four child safety seats are not used properly, which is a grave risk when traveling.
Parents and caregivers need to make sure their children are in the age and size appropriate child safety seats and in the rear seat your vehicle for better protection in a crash.
Follow these tips to help provide better protection for your children in Child Passenger Seats:
Always read the car seat manufacturers instructions and vehicle owners manual.
Infants: Tennessee Law states children up to one (1) year old and 20 pound must be in a rear facing infant seat.‚ ‚ Keep children rear-facing as long as possible. Though TN state law allows children to face forward after their first birthday it is best that children stay in the seats until they reach the upper weight or height limit of their rear-facing convertible seat.
Toddlers: Tennessee Law states children from age one (1) (and greater then 20pounds) through three (3) must ride in the back seat in a forward facing toddler seat.
Ages 4 through 8: Children age four (4) through age eight (8), and measuring less than four feet nine inches (4’9″) in height, must be secured in a belt-positioning booster seat system placed in the rear seat.
Children age 9 or over 49 tall: (9) through age twelve (12), or any child through twelve (12) years of age, measuring four feet nine inches (4’9″) or more in height, must be secured in a seat belt system. It is recommended that any such child be placed in the rear seat, if available.
For all children under age 13, the back seat is the safest place. (http://tennessee.gov/safety/newCRD.htm)
The Kingsport Fire Department provides Child Passenger Seat Checks to hundreds of families per year. For more information contact Public Education Officer Barry Brickey at 423-224-2820 or brickey@kingsporttn.gov
Sewer work to require Idle Hour Road closure Thursday
KINGSPORT — Sewer Maintenance Department personnel will be installing sewer laterals Thursday Sept.16 from the hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the intersection of Idle Hour Road and St. Erics Court.‚ The construction will require Idle Hour to be closed during work hours‚ from Caribbean Drive to Clint Street. Motorists are asked to seek alternative routes.‚