KINGSPORT‚ ‚¬ After years of community consideration, the City of Kingsport and the Greater Kingsport Family YMCA broke ground Monday on the Citys Aquatic Center and the adjoining YMCA Wellmont Center in the MeadowView area.‚  This project will serve the Kingsport area by offering aquatic events, lessons, and leisure opportunities to citizens and visitors, while also expanding the Ys current ability to positively impact the everyday lives of children, adults, and families.

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Today is the result of countless hours of public input and effort, and will result in a facility that meets community needs for years to come in a package that is equally attractive to visitors from around the region, Mayor Dennis Phillips said Thursday. From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank everyone who has contributed their time, effort and intellect to the project over the years. We all look forward to seeing this project constructed on-time and on-budget and opening to serve the citizens of Kingsport and the region early in 2013.

Today is the result of countless hours of public input and effort, and will result in a facility that meets community needs for years to come in a package that is equally attractive to visitors from around the region, Mayor Dennis Phillips said Thursday. From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank everyone who has contributed their time, effort and intellect to the project over the years. We all look forward to seeing this project constructed on-time and on-budget and opening to serve the citizens of Kingsport and the region early in 2013.

Although the YMCA will be managing the Aquatic Center, membership in the YMCA will not be required to use the Aquatic Center.

Amenities will include a 50-meter indoor competition/lap pool with three spring boards, a zero-entry 25 yard warm water pool, particularly aimed at seniors, those undergoing physical therapy and swimming lessons, and an indoor leisure pool with a slide. This portion of the facility, called a natatorium, would cover 50,000 square feet and include seating and special purpose/event rooms.‚ 

Outdoors, the water park area will feature two water slides, a water-activity/ climbing structure, beach volleyball court and gatehouse/concession stand. Future expansion could include a lazy river and mat racer or other features.‚  Construction timelines currently call for the indoor facility to open January 2013, with the water park following in May 2013.

This project is far more than a pool replacement, City Manager John Campbell said. The Aquatic Center is a real difference maker for the community, improving our attractiveness as a community of choice for residents. At the same time, it continues to build our community as a tourism destination working in synergy with MeadowView Conference Center and Bays Mountain Park.

On the Y side of the project, the YMCA Wellmont Center will be a 35,000 sq. ft. facility constructed adjacent to the Aquatic Center and is also slated for opening in January 2013.‚  Y members will have access to a wellness center, ChildWatch area, family adventure center/indoor playground, gymnasium, locker rooms, as well as access to all aquatic portions of the facility.‚ 

The Y is honored to have been selected to operate the aquatics center, and we applaud the City on having a vision for a project that focuses on family fun and health, said Charles Glass, Executive Director/CEO of the Kingsport Y.‚ 

Delores Bertuso, president/chairman of the Y Board, stated at the groundbreaking that, Aquatic events provide much enjoyment and physical activity that will improve community health. Across the US, the Y has a strong reputation as a swim instruction expert; its our hope that lessons will aid in the prevention of drowning in our region.

Were further excited about the new Y facility as it allows us to expand the Ys current ability to positively impact children, adults, and families for a better future. For more than 28 years, the Greater Kingsport Family YMCA has provided afterschool child care, summer day camps, teen programs, swim lessons, child care for children with special needs, and health and wellness programming. The new space will allow the Y to better accommodate the communitys increasing need for support and opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive.‚ 

The Y is the nations leading nonprofit committed to strengthening communities in the areas of youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility.‚  The Kingsport Y currently serves over 3,800 people in our community‚¬â€regardless of age, income, or background‚¬â€to nurture the potential of children and teens, improve the nations health and well-being, and provide opportunities to give back and support neighbors.‚ 

For more information, please call the City of Kingsport at 299-9413 or the Y at 423.247.9622 or visit ymcakpt.org.

KINGSPORT – Thanks to the continued growth in knowledge and utilization of the state-of-the-art technology that Bays Mountain Parks renovated Planetarium possesses, a great but older show is getting a second lease on life.‚  The Case of the Disappearing Planet is now showing allowing fans of the Bays Mountain Park original feature a chance to enjoy the show in a whole new format.

Updating The Case of the Disappearing Planet marks yet another first for the parks planetarium and exhibit staff as this is the first show from the older format to receive an update designed to take advantage of the Planetariums new capabilities.‚  One of our goals when the Planetarium was renovated was to not only unveil new shows, but to update some of our existing ones as well, said Astronomy and Space Sciences Program Coordinator Adam Thanz.‚  The new technology allows us to bring the content to life in an exciting way which is, of course, critical in our educational pursuits and beneficial to our public offerings.

The Case of the Disappearing Planet is a fun, original production about a private eye named Skye Watcher whos looking for the missing planet Pluto.‚  In the course of her search, the street-smart and wise Skye learns more about the status of the planets in our Solar System.

As mentioned, this show is a Bays Mountain Park original production written by Northeast State Community College Associate Professor of Astronomy Robin Byrne.‚ ‚  Byrne also provides the voice to Skye Watcher.‚  The shows artwork was completed by Exhibits Technician Deborah Mann, while its animated sequences were done by Senior Exhibits Technician Allen Davis.‚  The original score was produced by Astronomy and Space Sciences Program Administrator Jason Dorfman.

To provide additional viewing opportunities over the holiday season, beginning Monday, December 19 and running through December 30, Planetarium shows can be seen Monday thru Friday at 2:00 (alternate/optional show) and 4:00 p.m.‚  After December 30, park programming returns to its normal winter schedule and Planetarium shows can be seen Tuesday thru Friday at 4:00 p.m., and on Saturdays and Sundays at 1:00, 2:00 (alternate/optional show), and 4:00 p.m.‚  Tickets are just $4.00 per person per show.‚  Park members are admitted free with the use of their pass.‚  For more information and for updated seasonal hours visitors are encouraged to visit online at www.baysmountain.com.

Annually, more than 150,000 visitors pass through Bays Mountain Park making it one of the State of Tennessees Top 50 Most Visited Attractions, according to the State of Tennessee Department of Tourist Development.

One of the nations largest city-owned parks with 3,550 acres, Bays Mountain Park features 38 miles of trails for hiking and mountain biking, a state-of-the-art planetarium, wildlife habitats, fun exhibits, a 44-acre lake, and much, much more.

¯»¿KINGSPORT – The Kingsport Board of Education will continue its series of Brown Bag events designed to facilitate communication between Board members and the community.

In 2011-12, Brown Bag events will be held every other month at varying schools. The sessions are designed to encourage an informal discussion among attendees, Board members, and school administrators on relevant topics.

Brown Bag Lunch sessions will be held on:

• December 14, 2011 at 12:00 noon – Kennedy Elementary School
• February 8, 2012 at 12:00 noon – Washington Elementary School
• April 11, 2012 at 5:30 p.m. – Lincoln Elementary

For more information, contact Kingsport City Schools Administrative Coordinator Andy True at (423) 378-2130.

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‚ BATH SALTS

These powders are marketed as bath salts but are not salts for bath water. They contain methylmethcathinone (4-MMC) or‚ methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV), powerful mood altering stimulants. These substances are currently banned by the DEA and have been outlawed by the European Union since 2010. They are consumed by smoking or snorting. Users claim a more social and interactive feeling, which can lead to hallucinations and profound paranoia.

POTPOURRI & INCENSE

Forms of synthetic cannabinoids, marketed as types of home air‚ fresheners, or herbal incense are not regulated by the FDA. Risks of severe psychiatric complications may be more likely to occur because the type and amount of cannabinoid can vary considerably from batch to batch, even within the same product. Addiction is a strong possibility. Innovation in manufacturing of these products quickly outdates current product lists.

SYNTHETIC MARIJUANA

K2, K3 or Spice is a chemical compound that is three to five times more potent than THC. It is typically sold in small, silvery plastic bags of dried leaves and marked as incense that can be smoked. The active chemical compound decreases body temperature, leave the body unable to feel certain stimuli, increase heart rate and blood pressure. It appears to be stored in body for a long period of time. Synthetic marijuana products are usually smoked in joints or pipes, but some users make it into a tea.

PLANT FOOD

Mephedrone is labeled and sold as plant bard.‚ It is distributed in capsule form. Users break apart the capsule and snort or smoke the exposed powder. Insomnia, hypertension, vasoconstriction and sweating, as well as psychotic-like symptoms, cardiac dysrhythmias, seizures and renal problems have been reported.

LAZY CAKES

In addition to chemically created synthetic drugs, several products use natural ingredients to mimic the effects of certain drugs.‚ They contain 7.8‚  mg. of melatonin (approximately 0.2 mg. will induce sleep in the average adult). These products can cause impairment to the central nervous system, trouble breathing and nausea.

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