KINGSPORT, Tenn. ‚¬ The City of Kingsport, nationally recognized for its innovation in advancing economic development through education, is hosting the third annual Straight to the Top conference, Friday, September 28, 2012 at 8 a.m. at the Meadowview Marriott Conference Resort and Convention Center.

Featured speakers in order of appearance include former State Sen. Jamie Woodson, President and CEO – SCORE; Tennessee Board of Regents Vice Chancellor Dr. Warren Nichols; Nika Maples, Texas Teacher of the Year and Author of Twelve Clean Page; U.S. Representative Phil Roe, and Dennis Bega, U.S. Department of Education Acting National Director of Regional Operations/ Office of Communications and Outreach.

This year, Kingsport City Schools, Sullivan County Schools and Northeast State Community College have taken the conference opportunity as an in-service day for faculty and staff, allowing educators to take full advantage of the innovative ideas and creative conversation sparked by conference speakers.

Kingsport has been at the forefront of aligning K-12 and post-secondary education efforts with its economic development goals. Today, Kingsports Academic Village, in the heart of downtown Kingsport, includes the Regional Center for Health Professions, the Regional Center for Advanced Manufacturing, the Kingsport Center for Higher Education, and the Pal Barger Regional Center for Automotive Professions. At the same time, Kingsport continues to draw additional interest from other colleges and universities interested in providing education in downtown Kingsport. Each day, Kingsport has more than 2,000 students on campus learning the skills necessary to join an increasingly well-educated work force.

In 2009, the City of Kingsport won the Harvard University Kennedy School of Governments Innovations in Government award on the strengths of its higher education initiatives as well as the citys Educate and Grow program, the nations first initiative by a city to provide scholarships to fund two years of post-secondary education for qualified students. Kingsport was one of the top two winners out of more than 700 applicants from across the country.

KINGSPORT – The Kingsport Office of Cultural Arts promises to connect you to a creative community.  Join quilters and quilt enthusiasts at the Netherland Inn on October 5-7 at the historic Netherland Inn located on the beautiful Holston River in Kingsport, Tennessee.  The show will feature special activities and demonstrations as well as tours of the only registered historical site which was both a stage coach stop and boatyard. Information on Downtown Kingsports Quilt Trail will also be available. Live music on Saturday and Sunday and home-style bard favorites all weekend: soup beans, potato soup, cornbread, hot dogs and fixins. Admission to the show is $5.00 and students under 10 are free with accompanying adult.  On Friday, October 5 the hours are 12 noon – 5 PM, Saturday, October 6 the hours are 10 AM – 5 PM and Sunday, October 7, 1 PM – 5 PM.

The public invited to participate in the show by bringing your homemade bed quilts – hand quilted or machine quilted – contemporary or antique quilts, baby or crib quilts, wall hangings and lap quilts.  To participate, please bring quilts to the Inn on Wednesday, October 3 from 9 AM – 1 PM or 5 PM – 7 PM.  For more information call 423-765-6826.

The Kingsport Office of Cultural Arts encourages you to get engaged in the arts!  www.EngageKingsport.com

The public is cordially invited to participate in Kingsports Plug In Day on Sunday, September 23, 2012 from 2-4pm at Rush Street Neighborhood Bar & Grill on E. Stone Dr. ‚ Rush Street joins the downtown parking garage, Courtesy Chevrolet, and Wallace Nissan as Kingsports newest public charging station.

This event is part of the second National Plug-In Day taking place in more than 60 cities nationwide and an opportunity to promote the myriad benefits of plug-in. Plugging in saves 80% in fuel costs, 48% in emissions and reduces our need for imported oil; all at the same time.‚  Over 45,000 plug-in vehicles have been sold in the United States enabling millions of miles of cleaner, oil-free driving.

In Kingsport, this Plug-In Day event will be an opportunity to bring together plug-in electric vehicle owners and dealers to educate the public and policymakers about new innovations and opportunities in this arena.‚  There will be several vehicles available for rides and we plan to invite the media.

To learn more check out www.pluginday.org.

KINGSPORT – Child Passenger Safety Week / National Seat Check Saturday September 16-22, 2012, & KFD/KPD Child Passenger Seat Checkpoint KFD Station 2 on September 21^st near Dobyns Bennett, 1804 Crescent Dr, near the intersection of Ft Henry and Center St. from 3:30pm-5:30pm

Car crashes are the number one killer of children 1 to 12 years old in the United States. The best way to protect them in the car is to put them in the right seat, at the right time, and use it the right way.

There are so many car seat types and models, how do you know which one is right for your child? The right car seat or booster fits your child and your car, and is one you will use correctly every time you travel. Not only will your child ride as safely as possible, you will be establishing the foundation for a lifelong habit of seat belt use every time your child travels.

Child Seat Safety Tips

Birth – 12 months

Your child under age 1 should always ride in a rear-facing car seat.
Children under one (1) year of age, or any child, weighing twenty (20) pounds or less, must be secured in a child passenger restraint system in a rear facing position, meeting federal motor vehicle safety standards, in a rear seat, if available, or according to the child safety restraint system or vehicle manufacturer’s instructions. (Note: If the child safety seat has a higher rear-facing weight rating, usually 30 or 35 pounds, it may be continued to be used in a rear-facing position so long as the child’s weight permits. Check the manufacturers instructions accompanying the child safety seat for more information.)

1 – 3 years

Keep your child rear-facing as long as possible. Its the best way to keep him or her safe. Your child should remain in a rear-facing car seat until he or she reaches the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seats manufacturer. Once your child outgrows the rear-facing car seat, your child is ready to travel in a forward-facing car seat with a harness. Children age one (1) through age three (3), and weighing more than twenty (20) pounds, must be secured in a child safety seat in a forward facing position in the rear seat, if available, or according to the child safety restraint system or vehicle manufacturer’s instructions.

4 – 8 years

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, meeting federal motor vehicle safety standards in the rear seat, if available, or according to the child safety restraint system or vehicle manufacturer’s instructions. (Note: If the child is not between age four (4) and age eight (8), but is less than four feet nine inches (4’9″) in height, he/she must still use a seat belt system meeting federal motor vehicle safety standards.) Keep your child in a forward-facing car seat with a harness until he or she reaches the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seats manufacturer. Once your child outgrows the forward-facing car seat with a harness, its time to travel in a booster seat, but still in the back seat.

9 – 12 years

Children age nine (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. (Note: If the child is not between age nine (9) and age twelve (12), but is four feet nine inches (4’9″) or more in height, he/she must still use a seat belt system meeting federal motor vehicle safety standards.) Keep your child in a booster seat until he or she is big enough to fit in a seat belt properly. For a seat belt to fit properly the lap belt must lie snugly across the upper thighs, not the stomach. The shoulder belt should lie snug across the shoulder and chest and not cross the neck or face. Remember: your child should still ride in the back seat because its safer there.

There will be a KFD/KPD Child Passenger Seat Checkpoint KFD Station 2 on September 21^st near Dobyns Bennett, 1804 Crescent Dr, near the intersection of Ft Henry and Center St. from 3:30pm-5:30pm.

GET HELP: Certified child passenger safety technicians are available to help you find the right car seat for your child’s age and size. Find Local Help

For more information on Tennessee’s Child Restraint Laws, visit the Click it or Ticket website, or refer to T.C.A. 55-9-602 below

• Children under one (1) year of age, or any child, weighing twenty (20) pounds or less, must be secured in a child passenger restraint system in a rear facing position, meeting federal motor vehicle safety standards, in a rear seat, if available, or according to the child safety restraint system or vehicle manufacturer’s instructions. (Note: If the child safety seat has a higher rear-facing weight rating, usually 30 or 35 pounds, it may be continued to be used in a rear-facing position so long as the child’s weight permits. Check the manufacturers instructions accompanying the child safety seat for more information.)
• Children age one (1) through age three (3), and weighing more than twenty (20) pounds, must be secured in a child safety seat in a forward facing position in the rear seat, if available, or according to the child safety restraint system or vehicle manufacturer’s instructions.
• 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, meeting federal motor vehicle safety standards in the rear seat, if available, or according to the child safety restraint system or vehicle manufacturer’s instructions. (Note: If the child is not between age four (4) and age eight (8), but is less than four feet nine inches (4’9″) in height, he/she must still use a seat belt system meeting federal motor vehicle safety standards.)
• Children age nine (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. (Note: If the child is not between age nine (9) and age twelve (12), but is four feet nine inches (4’9″) or more in height, he/she must still use a seat belt system meeting federal motor vehicle safety standards.)
• Children age thirteen (13) through age fifteen (15) must be secured by using a passenger restraint system, including safety belts, meeting federal motor vehicle safety standards.
• Provision is made for the transportation of children in medically prescribed modified child restraints. A copy of Doctor’s prescription is to be carried in the vehicle utilizing the modified child restraint at all times.
• The driver of the car is responsible for making sure that children under age sixteen (16) are properly restrained and may be charged and fined for violation of the law. If the child’s parent or legal guardian is present in the car but not driving, the parent or legal guardian is responsible for making sure that the child is properly transported and may be fined for non-compliance.
• Police officers observing violations of this law are permitted to stop drivers and take enforcement action. PLEASE PROPERLY RESTRAIN CHILDREN