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KINGSPORT – The Kingsport Police Department has recently added a unique new vehicle to the fleet.‚ A fully marked, black and white, Nissan Leaf zero-emissions police car can now be seen traveling the streets of Kingsport.‚ The Nissan Leaf has an advertised range of over 125 miles between charges, and can be recharged for literally pennies a day.‚ This vehicle was purchased in part by funds from a State of Tennessee Emissions Reduction grant.
In service now for almost a month, K.P.D.s Leaf marks the first completely electric, zero-emissions, fully marked police vehicle put into service anywhere in the United States of America.
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The new Leaf is being driven by Officer Melanie Adkins, Kingsport Police Departments Code Enforcement Officer.‚ This fully electric vehicle is not pursuit rated, so it would not be a practical choice for use in the Departments Patrol Division; however, it is perfectly suited for Officer Adkins daily duties.‚ A photo of Officer Adkins and her new cruiser is included in this release.
This new police car is one of three Nissan Leafs in use by the City of Kingsport.‚ Kingsport fields two additional Nissan Leafs with one being assigned to the Water Department, and the other being placed in the fleet motor pool for use by any city employee in need of a vehicle for official business.
These zero-emissions vehicles are but one aspect of the City of Kingsports Going Green Initiative.‚ There are also over 30 gas/electric hybrid vehicles currently being driven by City of Kingsport employees in the performance of their daily responsibilities.‚ Furthermore, Kingsport is home to the largest propane powered fleet in the State of Tennessee, with over 40 propane fueled vehicles in service.
Country legend Joe Diffie, over 40 unique craft beers, and the best barbecue in the region – thats exactly what the seventh annual Racks by the Tracks Festival will be providing in Kingsport on Saturday, May 17th from noon to 11pm.
With over 10,000 people now attending each year, the popular festival is growing again. In addition to beer and ribs, the headlining artist is Grammy award winning Joe Diffie. With the release of Jason Aldeans hit 1994 earlier this year that name-checked many of Joe Diffies twelve Number One hits, the legendary singer found himself squarely back in the hearts and minds of country fans. The multi-platinum-selling artist who dominated the charts during a hot streak in the -90s has sold over 6 million albums. With chart-toppers like Pickup Man, Third Rock From the Sun, and John Deere Green, and 13 albums and over 20 Top 10 singles to his credit, Joe has little to prove at this point in his career, yet he still has a fire in his belly to make good country music.
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Joe Diffie | Folk Soul Revival |
Kanishka Biddanda, festival founder, says We are excited to continue the tradition of great concerts at Racks by bringing an artist with one of the most successful careers in country music. This is a cant miss concert for anyone in the region, plus it helps to raise thousands of dollars for local non-profits.
Opening for Joe Diffie will be the immensely popular band, Folk Soul Revival. Hailing from the Appalachian mountain region, Folk Soul Revival is a harmony-laden, boot stomping, rootsy Americana band. The Virginia Tourism Board awarded FSR the Virginia Band of the Year, and readers of Virginia Living Magazine named the band among the Top Three bands in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Also on the lineup is rising country star Matt Stillwell. Stillwell has opened for Jason Aldean, Blake Shelton, Dierks Bentley, and Luke Bryan. Matt is also the first musician to be signed to NASCAR driver Kevin Harvicks entertainment label.
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Matt Stillwell | The Twang Bangers |
The festival kicks off at noon with The Twang Bangers, fresh off their Bristol Motor Speedway concert. Closing the festival will be popular blues draw Catfish Frye Band.
CRAFT BEER TASTING
This years craft beer tasting event will again be the must attend feature fans have come to wait year-round for and which lets attendees sample over 40 rare and favorite craft beers from around the world, including gluten-free beers and ciders.
Last year, everyone loved all of the uncommon beers we brought in. So, again in 2014 we searched high and low to find great, hard-to-get beers, said festival organizer James Phillips.
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For those looking for an even more special experience, an exclusive high gravity beer tasting will be available. In addition, some breweries are formulating special, one-of-a-kind Racks by the Tracks Festival brews.
A big part of what makes Racks beer tasting so unique is the size of the tasting area and that half of it is indoors and half is outdoors. This gives attendees the ability to bring chairs and sit down inside the tasting area with a direct view of the concert stage.
In addition, with the large tasting area, designated driver tickets will be available for attendee friends who do not want to sample but would like to be in the tasting area.
The beer tasting, from 2-7 p.m., has sold out the past five years, so those interested should buy their tickets well in advance. Each participant receives a souvenir tasting glass.
BBQ & KIDS AREA
For those looking to enjoy great bard, the BBQ Cook-Off Competition will give attendees an opportunity to taste the best barbecue from restaurants and teams from across the region. Each attendee at the festival can cast a vote in 4 different Peoples Choice award categories. Non-barbecue bard vendors will also be on-site.
Kids have a section dedicated to them in the free Leaping Lizards Kids Station, which feature large inflatables. Kids can also enjoy having their faces painted and other activities.
5K RACE/WALK, KIDS MILE & CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT
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5K Race/Walk | Kids Mile |
Events also include the festivals SPF 5K Race/Walk & Kids Mile Dash presented by Dermatology Associates and the return of the Cornhole Tournament. Over 325 runners participated in last years 5k, with proceeds going to The Skin Cancer Foundation. Each runner, regardless of age, receives a performance race shirt. Awards will be given for numerous age groups. Race registrants also receive free entrance into the concerts. Registration for the races and cornhole tournament are available on the festivals website.
SCHEDULE
The family-friendly festival opens for lunch at noon and lasts until 11pm. The craft beer tasting event is from 2-7pm. The Kids Mile begins at 10am and the 5K begins at 10:30am. The Cornhole Tournament begins at 2pm. The ticketed music concert is from noon to 11pm.
COST
The festival grounds are free and bard can be purchased at menu prices. Concert tickets are $10 in advance (kids under 5 are free) and $15 the day of the festival. The craft beer tasting and concert ticket combo is $30 ($40 from May 1). The High Gravity Beer Tasting ticket is $40 ($50 from May 1) and provides access to the concert, craft beer tasting, and the exclusive high gravity beer section.
TICKETING
To avoid waiting in line, attendees should buy their tickets in advance. Tickets can be purchased at www.RacksByTheTracks.com today or at any Food City store.
Stay up-to-date on the festivities by joining the Racks by the Tracks Facebook page. While entrance to the festival is free, all partakers must have a ticket to get access to the special events.
The festival has generated over $30,000 for non-profits.
This years proceeds benefit several non-profit organizations including Sullivan County Humane Society, Relay for Life, Skin Cancer Foundation, Keep Kingsport Beautiful, Downtown Kingsport Association, and Kingsport Chamber of Commerce.
For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit www.RacksByTheTracks.com or contact event organizers at (423) 863-3998.
The festival is sponsored by Food City, Pepsi, WQUT, Nash FM 104.9, WXSM, Libation Station, Dermatology Associates, Appalachian Community Federal Credit Union, Sapporo Beer, Leaping Lizards, KCVB, Biggies, Barberitos of Kingsport and VIP Seen.
ABOUT RACKS BY THE TRACKS
Racks by the Tracks is a barbecue competition, craft beer tasting, and music festival held on May 17, 2014 in historic downtown Kingsport, Tennessee. Celebrating its 7th anniversary in 2014, Racks is one of the largest one-day festivals in the region. The festival is recognized within the community for being fun, family-friendly, well-organized, and committed to charitable giving.
The festival returns to its location at the Kingsport Farmers Market facility.
Quick Facts about Racks:
Unique Craft Beer Tasting – 2-7pm
Attendees loved the unique beers Racks brought in last year and that will continue in 2014 with over 40 unique, hard to find, and favorite craft beers from around the world. There will be every type of beer possible available, including Gluten Free Beers and Ciders. Also, returning this year will be the High Gravity beer tasting that is limited to 500 tickets.
KINGSPORT – Installation of a water line and valve replacement work will impact water service to customers on Orchard Place and Orchard Court from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, March 27, 2014. Similarly, replacement of a broken water valve will impact service to customers along the entire length of Highland Street on Friday, March 28, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Residents are asked to plan ahead and take precautions such as shutting off their water heaters to prevent possible damage during service disruptions.
KINGSPORT ‚¬ Motorists should be alert for lane closures on Lynn Garden Drive, from Broadview Street to Carters Valley Road, over the next three weeks as City crews inspect sewer lines. Lynn Garden Drive sewer inspections will begin Friday, March 28, 2014 and run through April 18. During the inspection process, motorists should expect lane closures, with the work zone moving each day through the inspection period. Meanwhile, Rock Springs Road residents should expect the closure of one lane of Rock Springs Road between Edinburgh and Peppertree Drive from March 31 through April 4 as a new sewer line is installed in the area. As always, motorists should slow down and use the utmost caution in a work zone.
Maps of the impacted areas are provided below. (click on links to view images.)
KINGSPORT – The Kingsport Police Department was first accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) in 1992.‚ K.P.D. has maintained CALEA accreditation for 22 years, being reaccredited in 1997, 2002, 2005, 2008, and 2011.
On March 22, 2014, the Kingsport Police Departments Chief of Police, David Quillin, and Accreditation Manager, Sgt. Steve Hammonds, appeared before the CALEA Commission in Garden Grove, California where K.P.D. was awarded Meritorious Reaccreditation Status, an award reserved for agencies that have been continuously accredited for 15 years or more.
Chief Quillin issued the following statement regarding this most recent reaccreditation: Our continuous compliance with the many, many standards set forth, demonstrates our commitment to provide professional police service to the citizens of Kingsport.‚ I know that both the police department and the community take pride in our partnership with CALEA, which is universally recognized as ‚¬the Gold Standard in Public Safety.
There are five general phases in the accreditation process consisting of Enrollment, Self-Assessment, On-Site Assessment, Commission Review and Decision, and Maintaining Compliance and Reaccreditation.
CALEA Accreditation is accomplished through compliance with a highly regarded and broadly recognized body of professional standards.‚ These standards address six major law enforcement areas including:
1)‚ ‚ Role, Responsibilities, and Relationships with other Agencies
2)‚ ‚ Organization, Management, and Administration
3)‚ ‚ Personnel Administration
4)‚ ‚ Law Enforcement Operations, Operational Support, and Traffic Law Enforcement
5)‚ ‚ Detainee and Court-Related Services
6)‚ ‚ Auxiliary and Technical Services
The benefits of CALEA Accreditation include greater accountability within the agency, reduced risk and liability exposure, stronger defense against civil litigation, staunch support from government officials, and increased community advocacy.
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Pictured in the photo, left to right, are: Stephen DeBenedittis (Former Mayor of the Town of Herndon, VA and current member of the CALEA Board of Commissioners), Sgt. Steve Hammonds (Accreditation Manager, Kingsport Police Department), David Quillin (Chief of Police, Kingsport Police Department), and J. Grayson Robinson (Sheriff (retired) of the Arapahoe County, Colorado Sheriffs Office and current President of the CALEA Commission). |
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Paying your utility, miscellaneous receivables bill or building permits payment has never been easier! Click the link below to be directed to Click2Gov, the online payment system that allows users to view their account and pay with a credit or debit card through the secure website.
Pay your red light citation bill online by clicking the button below. You will be redirected to the payment page.
Pay Water (Utility) Bill
Pay Red Light Citation
Pay City Court Citation
Pay Other Receivables
Online Tax Payments
Building Permit Payments
To report a non-emergency, please use the new ConnectKingsport app.
You can also use the app to find information about the City of Kingsport with links to the city website, animal services, ongoing events and more. Download the free app today to be a part of making Kingsport a great place to live, work and play!
To download the free app, please search for it on the Apple App Store or on Google Play. You can also use the online portal below.
Please note that the use of ConnectKingsport is intended for the reporting of non-emergency issues only. If you need immediate Police or Fire response, please call 911.
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