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KINGSPORT – Joseph Dee Morgan Jr. has recently been named as Kingsports Fifth Building Official after serving in an interim capacity since the retirement of Mike Freeman earlier this year.
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| Dee Morgan |
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I am honored to serve our City in this position and look forward to continuing to provide the highest quality construction services in the customer-focused style our community expects, Morgan said. The role of building official is not always popular, but essential to ensure safe commercial and residential structures in Kingsport. The office has a role during the construction process, as a building or residence ages, and many years into the life-cycle of a building as renovations or expansions occur.
Morgan is a Kingsport native, growing up in downtown neighborhoods and is a graduate of Dobyns-Bennett High School.‚ After graduation, he studied at East Tennessee State University and continued his education with hands-on experience in the construction industry.
Mr. Morgans familiar face has been seen inspecting construction sites for the last twenty years. He was hired by former Building Official Zack Wright in 1993.‚ Dee became a Certified Plans Examiner in 1997 and was promoted to Senior Building Inspector.
He also received his certification as a Code Official in 2003, completed the University of Tennessee/Municipal Technical Advisory Service Level 1 & 2 Management Academy in 2007, reaching the final certification of Building Official from the International Code Council in 2012.
One of the principal roles of a City Manager is to ensure employees are given the opportunity and training essential to improve their performance on behalf of the public and advance within their chosen career path, City Manager John Campbell said. Dee is a fine example of one our own citizens who grew up in this community taking advantage of those opportunities to continuously learn and grow, and I have the utmost confidence he will serve the citizens of Kingsport as Building Official at a very high capacity.
Assistant City Manager Jeff Fleming noted that integrity, fairness and transparency will continue to be hallmarks of the office under Morgan.
Kingsport has a strong reputation of being responsive and fair to builders and developers, Fleming said.‚ ‚ Dee has been an integral part of that Development Services team for many years and he will continue that legacy.
Dee will continue to partner with our community and regional representatives through his participation with the local Greater Kingsport Home Builders Association as well as the Upper East Tennessee Building Officials Association, having served as past president of the UETBOA.
We will work every day to identify problems as early as possible and be flexible in finding solutions, Morgan said. Whether the project involves a construction professional or a citizen tackling a weekend project, in every circumstance, our office will provide prompt, professional and useful advice on how to complete a safe project everyone will be proud of upon completion.
Mr. Morgan is married to Patty and is quite proud of his daughter Cindy, and two grandchildren Lance and Ian. He spends his spare time playing music and reading.
KINGSPORT -‚ Artist P. Buckley Moss will be in Kingsport on Friday, November 22 and Saturday, November 23 visiting some favorite spaces and‚ researching new projects.‚ P. Buckley Moss is an internationally known artist whose art celebrates the ancient proposition of the triumph of beauty and truth over injustice.
As a dyslexic, Moss art has served as her refuge and‚ means of communication. Very early in life, when she failed at everything else in school, her art became her solace. ‚ Now, with recognition and success, Moss reaches out through charitable endeavors to help others through her art, especially those with learning differences.‚ Donations of‚ P. Buckley Moss art have raised over four million dollars for worthy charities. ‚ The P. Buckley Moss Foundation for Children’s Education is devoted to promoting the use of art in the classroom, especially as a means to teach children with learning differences
Moss has a special relationship with Kingsport.‚ Mike Milhorn of Up Against the Wall Gallery remembers meeting her in 1972.‚ Our gallery represented some of her earliest prints, said Milhorn.‚ Over the years Moss has painted a variety of Kingsport landmarks including Exchange Place, Allandale, the Train Station and even the Milhorns cabin and outhouse.‚ She has also done paintings for the Childrens Advocacy Center and Bristol Rhythm and Roots festival.‚ This year Moss has a new print Christmas at Church Circle.‚ Traditionally these prints sell out quickly.‚ We only had 15 prints of Netherland Inn, explained Milhorn.‚ There were 1000 total, but the rest were sold all over the country.
Moss will be available to meet the public from‚ 2 ‚¬ 7 PM on Friday November 22 and from 9 AM ‚¬ 12 PM on Saturday, November 23 at Up Against the Wall Gallery located at ‚ 316 E. Market Street in Kingsport, TN.‚ ‚ While in Kingsport, Moss will do ground work and research on Kingsports Carousel which is a likely candidate for a new work of art next year.
For more information call 423-246-7210
Special note to the media:‚ Ms. Moss will visit the Carousel Carving Studio at 257 Walker St. Kingsport, at 12:30 on Friday November 22, 2013.‚ She will be doing research for a new print in the future.‚ ‚ At this time she will be available to meet with the media for photos and interviews.
About the Office of Cultural Arts & Engage Kingsport
City of Kingsport Mission: To provide economic, educational and quality of life opportunities that create a safe, vibrant and diverse Community.
The 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 Kingsport Carousel Project, the Carousel Fine Craft Show and a broad range of support to the areas arts organizations.‚ They work in tandem with Engage Kingsport, Inc., the Friends of the Cultural Arts group, a private, volunteer-led 501(c)3 non-profit community organization.
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 Office of Cultural Arts and Engage Kingsport are dedicated to cultivating cultural assets and promoting them as vehicles for economic and community development.
For more information or to purchase tickets to any event contact the City of Kingsport Office of Cultural Arts at (423) 392-8414 or log on to www.EngageKingsport.com
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KINGSPORT – The Bays Mountain Park Association is hosting two special holiday concerts in the planetarium theater with internationally-known space-music artist, Jonn Serrie.‚ The concerts will be held on Thursday, December 12, 2013 at 7 & 9 p.m.
“Upon A Midnight Clear combines the lush, romantic and ethereal sound of Jonn Serrie with the melodies of the season.‚ Warm, peaceful and sensual tones take the holidays to the far reaches of space.
Jonn Serrie is a diverse instrumentalist best known internationally as the preeminent composer of space music.‚ Serrie evokes timeless feelings, anchors us in the familiar, and gives himself plenty of room to play with new sonorities raves Keyboard magazine.‚ Jonn Serrie, perhaps better than anyone else, can take a listener to other worlds.‚ Upon A Midnight Clear is unlike any seasonal program youve experienced.
Two special performances in the planetarium theater are offered on December 12, 2013.‚ 7 p.m. & 9 p.m.‚ Tickets are $20 each for the general public or $15 each for Park Association Members.‚ If you purchase four or more tickets at one time, then pricing is lowered to $16 & $12 respectively.‚ Tickets can be ordered and paid for over the phone.‚ Call the Bays Mountain Park Association at 423-229-9449.‚ Hurry, seating is limited!
To learn more about this event, please click here.
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(Donated by Kingsport Tomorrow)
V.O. Dobbins, Sr. Complex
Gym #2
301 Louis St.
Tuesdays & Thursdays
9:30 am‚¬â€11:30 am
Get Out of the Cold!!!
Parents! Bring your infants and toddlers along and take a stroll inside the gym at V.O. Dobbins, Sr. Complex. Let your toddlers romp around on an island of mats while you walk around the court and socialize with other parents. Feel free to bring your stroller and walk at your own pace.
This is a self-guided activity and it is open to anyone with children infant to toddler ages.
There is no cost for this activity.
Please call 224-2489 for more information.
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