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KATS rings in spring with huge Customer Appreciation Week (that lasts all month!)

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KINGSPORT – Kingsport Area Transit Service (KATS) is hosting its first ever Customer Appreciation/Try Transit Week beginning May 5th through May 9th to express appreciation to thousands of loyal passengers while welcoming those who havent yet tried public transit to give KATS a spin.

During the week, prices for all KATS fixed route trips will be cut to 25 cents each way. Meanwhile, Dial-A-Ride ADA/65 service, which responds to rider reservations via van service, will offer SAME DAY SCHEDULING for a limited time as space is available, as well as HALF-PRICE ticket books and $1.00 rides during the month of May.

Come by the transit station on 109 Clay Street from May 5th to May 9th to learn more about KATS, and participate in a weeks worth of drawings, prizes, and give-a-ways sponsored by KATS and community sponsors Chefs, Southern Smoke, Big Lots, Pals, Food City, The Original TKs, and the Kingsport Aquatic Center.

Sponsors are providing free tea, coupons, bard, aquatic center day passes and merchandise while supplies last.

WHAT A DEAL!!! Friday, May 9th-Come check out KATS and enjoy a TKs Big Dog! Tom Keller with The Original TKs Big Dogs will have his hotdog cart at the KATS transit station on 109 Clay Street from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and will serve you a Nathans hotdog, chips and a drink for only $2.00. His original price on this is $4.25 so you wont want to miss this great deal. Come by and see what our busses and vans look like inside and get some information for you or for a friend or family member that might need transportation.

We want to thank our customers and welcome new riders during this week of celebration, said Transit Director Gary Taylor. We have seen phenomenal growth in passenger participation since we redesigned the entire system in 2008, growing from 52,760 trips a day to 149,400 trips in 2013.

Riders are finding public transit to be a safe, clean, low cost and no-hassle way to get through their daily routine. We want to invite new riders to come check us out, with the assurance that we are continually looking for ways to improve the customer experience.

Kingsport Area Transit Service operates five days a week, Monday through Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. providing six fixed routes throughout the city. For more information regarding KATS Customer Appreciation Week, contact Candace Sherer, Civil Rights Program Administrator at 423-224-2613, follow us on Facebook, or visit our website at www.kingsporttransit.org.

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Here Is What We Have Planned for the Week

Monday, May 5th

Ride for Change and Change Your Life –  ALL RIDES-ALL WEEK on any fixed route bus will be 25 cents each way.- *** A free change holder will be provided to passengers riding transit or visiting the transit station while supplies last.

Tuesday, May 6th

Two (2) Bag Limit Tuesday- KATS has a 2 bag limit policy for our riders. We would like to support this policy by giving out 2 free bags to each passenger while supplies last.

Wednesday, May 7th

Winning Wednesday– For those individuals that purchased a $15 unlimited pass in April, their name will be put in a drawing. On Wednesday, May 7th, KATS will randomly draw 2 names every hour beginning at 8:27 a.m., ending at 4:27 p.m. to give out free passes for the month of June. That is 18 FREE passes!

Thursday, May 8th

Thankful for our Customers Thursday — We want to express our appreciation to our loyal riders! Those of you that ride KATS on this day or visit our transit station will receive a free gift while supplies last.

Friday, May 9th

Friendship Friday – If you are a current Dial-A-Ride ADA or 65 passenger and you bring a new guest with you, you will both ride for Free on this day! We will be spinning our own Wheel of Fortune and Fun and giving out gifts!

Glass Products Manufacturer to Invest $15.8 Million, Create 237 New Jobs

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NASHVILLE ‚¬ Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bill Hagerty along with Heritage Glass officials today announced the company will invest $15.8 million to begin new manufacturing in Kingsport, Tenn. Through this investment, Heritage Glass will create 237 new jobs in Sullivan County.

I want to thank Heritage Glass for investing in our state and Sullivan County, and I appreciate the high quality jobs this will create for Tennesseans, Haslam said. The manufacturing sector is a critical part of the states strong economy, and this announcement helps us toward our goal of becoming the No. 1 location in the Southeast for high quality jobs.

In Tennessee, we pride ourselves on creating the kind of business-friendly environment where companies like Heritage Glass feel confident in investing capital and beginning a new business venture, Hagerty said. Heritage Glass is joining the distinguished ranks of other Tennessee companies with a world renowned reputation for manufacturing high quality goods. I welcome Heritage Glass to our state and wish them continued success as they work toward further expansions.

Heritage Glass appreciates the encouragement and support the state of Tennessee, the city of Kingsport, and NETWORKS Sullivan Partnership are providing for this project, Heritage Glass President Eric Kerney said. It will quickly bring 120 jobs to the area, and even more jobs after future expansions. The business-friendly approach of Tennessee makes us proud to establish operations here.

Heritage Glass plans to service, repair and modify existing equipment at the facility to manufacture patterned glass to be shipped worldwide. Patterned glass is used for shower doors, solar panels, dividers and privacy applications such as bathrooms, doors, sidelights, conference rooms and churches.

“This is great news for Kingsport. I’m proud to see Tennessee’s pro-growth economic policies attract these kinds of high-quality jobs to Sullivan County, Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey said. This investment by Heritage Glass will be great for Northeast Tennessee and our outstanding workforce. We appreciate their decision.”

We are extremely glad to be a part of the re-opening of an old industry that had closed and is now being renamed and opening under new ownership, Sullivan County Mayor Steve Godsey said. I very much appreciate the faith they have displayed in Sullivan County with this endeavor to add more jobs to the surrounding community.

I want to express my appreciation, on behalf of the citizens of Kingsport, to everyone who had a hand in making this venture become reality, Kingsport Mayor Dennis Phillips said. The state of Tennessee, Kingsport Economic Development Board, State of Franklin Savings Bank, Kingsport Chamber of Commerce, Board of Mayor and Aldermen and others who worked tirelessly to put this together. To see the trend in manufacturing jobs return to this great nation can only be beneficial to our city that depends so much on this industry. My appreciation to everyone.

On behalf of the Kingsport Economic Development Board, we are excited to play a part in this industrial development opportunity, Kingsport Economic Development Board Chairman Bob Feathers said. Not only is Heritage Glass creating new manufacturing jobs, Heritage Glass is re-commissioning an existing industrial property that has been sitting idle for some time. This exciting announcement will make a significant economic impact on our community and we greatly appreciate the team at Heritage Glass for its investment in Kingsport. The continued cooperation and partnership with the state of Tennessee continues to yield high quality private investment affirming the Governors strategy to make Tennessee the best place for new business.

Heritage Glass plans to hire 120 employees within ten weeks of opening and reach 237 employees at the facility within three years. The company anticipates production at their Kingsport facility will begin in early July 2014.

About the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development

Tennessee was named 2013 State of the Year for economic development by Business Facilities magazine. The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Developments mission is to develop strategies which help make Tennessee the No. 1 location in the Southeast for high quality jobs. The department seeks to attract new corporate investment in Tennessee and works with Tennessee companies to facilitate expansion and economic growth.

Media Report 04/29/14

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media report 042914

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KPD e-News Release: K.P.D. Detectives Arrest Two Individuals in Drug Related Conspiracy to Commit Murder

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Kingsport Police Department

200 Shelby Street • Kingsport, TN 37660

ThomasMPatton • 423-229-9433 (Desk) • 423-224-2786 (FAX)

http://Police.KingsportTN.gov • www.KingsportPDBlog.com

NEWS RELEASE
SUBJECT: K.P.D. Detectives Arrest Two Individuals in Drug Related Conspiracy to Commit Murder
DATE: April 28, 2014
GENERAL NARRATIVE
On April 28, 2014, Kingsport Police Detectives arrested Raymond B. Mims and Bradley J. Hirst after learning of their involvement in a drug related conspiracy to commit murder.

Mr. Mims had entrusted Mr. Hirst and another individual (name will not be released) with $20,000, with instructions to travel to Houston, Texas and purchase 50 pounds of marijuana to be brought back to Kingsport for distribution. At some point during the trip, Mr. Hirst and the other individual became separated while the other individual was solely in possession of the money. The other individual claimed that he was robbed of the money and returned to Kingsport empty handed.

Mr. Hirst told Mr. Mims that the other individual had stolen the money, so Mr. Hirst and Mr. Mims conspired to kill the other individual, his wife, and their 8 year old daughter. K.P.D. Detectives intervened before their plans could be carried out. They were both charged with Conspiracy to Commit 1st Degree Murder and Criminal Conspiracy to Possess over 10 lbs. of Marijuana for Resale. They were confined in the Kingsport City Jail pending arraignment.
SUSPECT INFORMATION
Name Raymond B. Mims
Age Date of Birth 7/2/1962

51 Years of Age
Race/Gender White/Male
Residency 980 Gottland Shoals Road

Blountville, TN
Charge(s) 1) Conspiracy to Commit 1st Degree Murder

2) Criminal Conspiracy to Possess over 10 lbs. of Marijuana for Resale

SUSPECT INFORMATION
Name Bradley J. Hirst
Age Date of Birth 9/24/1983

30 Years of Age
Race/Gender White/Male
Residency 1325 Ebenezer Road

Newberry, SC
Charge(s) 1) Conspiracy to Commit 1st Degree Murder

2) Criminal Conspiracy to Possess over 10 lbs. of Marijuana for Resale

RELEASING OFFICER
Thomas M. Patton, Public Information Officer

Kingsport Police Department Professional Standards Unit

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KPD e-News Release: K.P.D. Detectives Arrest Two Individuals in Drug Related Conspiracy to Commit Murder

 Kingsport Police Department

200 Shelby Street • Kingsport, TN 37660

ThomasMPatton • 423-229-9433 (Desk) • 423-224-2786 (FAX)

http://Police.KingsportTN.gov • www.KingsportPDBlog.com

NEWS RELEASE
SUBJECT: K.P.D. Detectives Arrest Two Individuals in Drug Related Conspiracy to Commit Murder
DATE: April 28, 2014
GENERAL NARRATIVE
On April 28, 2014, Kingsport Police Detectives arrested Raymond B. Mims and Bradley J. Hirst after learning of their involvement in a drug related conspiracy to commit murder.

Mr. Mims had entrusted Mr. Hirst and another individual (name will not be released) with $20,000, with instructions to travel to Houston, Texas and purchase 50 pounds of marijuana to be brought back to Kingsport for distribution. At some point during the trip, Mr. Hirst and the other individual became separated while the other individual was solely in possession of the money. The other individual claimed that he was robbed of the money and returned to Kingsport empty handed.

Mr. Hirst told Mr. Mims that the other individual had stolen the money, so Mr. Hirst and Mr. Mims conspired to kill the other individual, his wife, and their 8 year old daughter. K.P.D. Detectives intervened before their plans could be carried out. They were both charged with Conspiracy to Commit 1st Degree Murder and Criminal Conspiracy to Possess over 10 lbs. of Marijuana for Resale. They were confined in the Kingsport City Jail pending arraignment.
SUSPECT INFORMATION
Name Raymond B. Mims
Age Date of Birth 7/2/1962

51 Years of Age
Race/Gender White/Male
Residency 980 Gottland Shoals Road

Blountville, TN
Charge(s) 1) Conspiracy to Commit 1st Degree Murder

2) Criminal Conspiracy to Possess over 10 lbs. of Marijuana for Resale

SUSPECT INFORMATION
Name Bradley J. Hirst
Age Date of Birth 9/24/1983

30 Years of Age
Race/Gender White/Male
Residency 1325 Ebenezer Road

Newberry, SC
Charge(s) 1) Conspiracy to Commit 1st Degree Murder

2) Criminal Conspiracy to Possess over 10 lbs. of Marijuana for Resale

RELEASING OFFICER
Thomas M. Patton, Public Information Officer

Kingsport Police Department Professional Standards Unit

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Link to: City of Kingsport
City of Kingsport, Tennessee