KINGSPORT ‚¬ During a Monday morning news conference, the Kingsport Higher Education Commission welcomed two new colleges who joins the ranks of higher education institutions offering instruction at the downtown Kingsport Academic Village.

With Monday mornings announcement, Milligan College and Tusculum College united with East Tennessee State University, King University, Lincoln Memorial University, the University of Tennessee and Northeast State Community College in offering courses at the Kingsport Higher Education Center since the facilitys opening in 2009.

Tusculum will begin classes beginning during the 2013 Fall Semester, while Milligan will offer classes beginning in January 2014.

Both Colleges intend to offer upper-division courses at the downtown site. Currently, more than 2,200 students are studying in the Academic Village, including ETSU students who just started attending at a downtown campus earlier this year.

The presence of Tusculum and Milligan in the Higher Education Center can only complement what has been started with Northeast State Community College, the University of Tennessee, King College and Lincoln Memorial University, Mayor Dennis Phillips said Monday. Along with East Tennessee State University, we now have seven outstanding higher education organizations serving our area.‚  This is extremely exciting and should be welcomed by the citizens of Kingsport as a major step forward toward reaching our access and educational attainment goals for the community.

Tusculum President Dr. Nancy Moody indicated that the opportunity for Tusculum College to move to the Kingsport Higher Center for Higher Education is congruent with the mission of the College and compliments efforts that began almost 30 years ago to provide user-friendly programs designed with working adults in mind.‚  Tusculum looks forward to forming an even stronger presence in Kingsport by collaborating with other Colleges and Universities, as well as the community, to develop new concepts and programming for the benefit of the community and its citizens.

Tusculum College is excited to join the Kingsport Center for Higher Education, and we look forward to the opportunities we will have to collaborate with other member institutions and also with the Kingsport community, Dr. Moody said.

Milligan President Dr. Bill Greer indicated that his school is looking to make it easier for people of all ages to improve their skillsets and marketability by focusing on bringing programs closer to students.

We are pleased to partner with KCHE to offer programs that are in demand and beneficial for the needs of our region, Dr. Greer said. The classes we offer at KCHE will be taught by our highly regarded faculty who are caring and respected experts in their fields. Professionals in the Kingsport area now will have the opportunity to experience the Milligan community closer to home.

In all, Kingsport Higher Education Commission Chair John Williams agreed that Kingsport continues to move forward at a fast pace by continuing to open new avenues to access higher education in a local setting.

Todays actions have moved Kingsport many steps along the path to academic advancement and access to higher education for our city and region, William said.‚  These two well established and highly respected institutions bring more opportunity and options to the Higher Ed Center and elevate our Academic Village to yet another, higher level.‚  We are grateful to the trustees and administrative leadership of these colleges who share our vision.

Kingsport – The public is invited to view an exhibit by local artist Amanda J. Richardson titled Doldrums of Spectacle at the Renaissance Center Atrium Gallery through June 30, 2013. This body of work is from 2010 to 2013. The Renaissance Center Atrium Gallery is free and open to the public daily from 8 AM to 5 PM.‚  The Renaissance Center Atrium Gallery is located on the second floor of the Renaissance Center at 1200 E. Center St. Kingsport TN 3766.

Amanda currently resides in Tazewell, Virginia. Amanda received a BFA in painting from ETSU in 2008.‚  She primarily paints with Acrylic and Watercolor. She participated in painting one of the rounding boards for the Kingsport Carousel Project.

Statement by the artist:

The work is spontaneous and unpredictable and I figure out what it is trying to say later. It has a vague gist of general ranting with some Wizard of OZ thrown in. The portraits of beautiful mental states, walking through a window instead of finding a door‚¬¦. Hope is scattered throughout the dim thunderstorms. Lightly…Everything is alive with psychedelic vibrancy and technicolored yawning‚¬¦

Amanda can be contacted at www.facebook.com/Amanda718 or Starla1_@hotmail.com

The artist also has a blog at www.amandajrichardsonart.wordpress.com

For more information and a price list of available work, contact the City of Kingsport Office of Cultural Arts at (423) 392-84

About the City of Kingsport Office of Cultural Arts & Engage Kingsport:

City of Kingsport Mission: The mission of the City of Kingsport is to provide economic, educational and quality of life opportunities that create a safe, vibrant and diverse Community.

The City of Kingsport Office of Cultural Arts, part of the City of Kingsport, connects, coordinates and engages the public with a creative community.‚  It operates a public art program, concert and theatrical events, the Carousel Project and a broad range of support to the areas arts organizations.‚  They work in tandem with Engage Kingsport, a private 501(c)3 non-profit organization, in order to facilitate their objectives.

The City of Kingsport Office of Cultural Arts and Engage Kingsports goals are to collaborate with a variety of arts organizations as well as non-arts organizations, with the aim of increasing opportunities and outlets for artists of all types. As Kingsport becomes a destination for artists and art enthusiasts, new markets and opportunities emerge. The City of Kingsport Office of Cultural Arts and Engage Kingsport are dedicated to cultivating cultural assets and promoting them as vehicles for economic development within our community.

Become a financial supporter of PUBLIC ART in Kingsport‚¬ supporters at all levels are needed. Tax-deductible donations should be made payable to Engage Kingsport, Renaissance Center, Suite 224, 1200 E. Center St. Kingsport, TN 37660. Engage Kingsport is a registered 501(c)3 Non-Profit organization.

Donations can be made through PayPal at www.EngageKingsport.com or by phone at (423) 392-8414

Donations of any amount welcomed.

Kingsport Parks and Recreation Summer Tennis Lessons

To be held at the V.O. Dobbins, Sr. Complex Tennis Courts

‚ 

Divisions Offered:

10 and Under (Quickstart Format) (for ages 6 to 10) & 14 and Under (for ages 11 to 14)

There will be 2 four week morning sessions and 1 eight week evening session offered

First Session: June 3^rd ‚¬ June 28^th & Second Session: July 8^th ‚¬ August 2^nd

Eight week session: June 4^th ‚¬ August 1^st (No classes July 4^th week)

Sign Ups will begin May 20^th and there will also be an onsite registration day on

May 30^th from 5pm to 7pm at the V.O. Dobbins, Sr. Complex Tennis Courts located at

301 Louis Street Kingsport, TN 37664 (Courts are located off of Wheatley St.)

Cost- City Residents $25.00 per session

Non-City Residents $30.00 per session

Class Times

Monday and Wednesday ‚¬ 9:00-10:00am- 10 and Under (Quickstart Format) (for ages 6 to 10)

Monday and Wednesday ‚¬ 10:15 -11:15am- 10 and Under (Quickstart Format) (for ages 6 to 10)

Monday and Wednesday ‚¬ 11:30 -12:30pm- 14 and Under (for ages 11 to 14)

Tuesday and Thursday ‚¬ 9:00-10:00am- 10 and Under (Quickstart Format) (for ages 6 to 10)

Tuesday and Thursday ‚¬ 10:15 -11:15am- 14 and Under (for ages 11 to 14)

Tuesday or Thursday ‚¬ 5:30 – 6:30pm- Various ages (1 night per week: 8 weeks)

‚ 

For more information about tennis lessons: (423) 224-2489

KINGSPORT – In 1962, President John F. Kennedy proclaimed May 15th as National Peace Officers Memorial Day and the calendar week in which May 15th falls, as National Police Week. Established by a joint resolution of Congress in 1962, National Police Week pays special recognition to those law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty for the safety and protection of others.  National Police Week 2013 will be Sunday, May 12th through Saturday, May 18th.

To honor National Peace Officers Memorial Day, the Burgess-Mills F.O.P. Lodge #11 will be conducting both a Memorial Service and a Candlelight Service on Monday, May 13, 2013.  The Memorial Service is scheduled to begin at 4:00 PM and the Candlelight Service is scheduled to begin at 8:00 PM.  Both services will be held at the Kingsport Police Department Justice Center.

These services are dedicated to the many brave men and women who have dutifully served this country in upholding the laws of each state and this great nation and in so doing have lost their lives.  They made the ultimate sacrifice.  They have given their lives to protect and keep each citizen safe from harms way.  May we never forget the sacrifice that each has made.

The Memorial Service will be officiated by Sullivan County Sheriffs Office Lieutenant Bobby Russell, who serves as President of F.O.P. Lodge #11.  Captain Paul Bowman, Kingsport Police Department (retired), will be the keynote speaker, and the Kingsport Police Department Honor Guard will be participating in the ceremonies.

Both services are open to the public.