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KPD e-News Release: Friendly Annual Reminder that Fireworks are Illegal in the City of Kingsport

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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: Friendly Annual Reminder that Fireworks are Illegal in the City of Kingsport
DATE: June 30, 2017
GENERAL NARRATIVE
With the 4th of July just around the corner, this is just a friendly reminder that, even on Independence Day, fireworks are illegal inside the city limits of Kingsport. The Kingsport Police Department recommends leaving fireworks to the professionals and encourages citizens to attend one of several officially sanctioned fireworks shows scheduled throughout the region. See below for the City of Kingsport Fireworks Ordinance. Violations of this Ordinance are subject to a $110 fine.

Sec. 42-112. Unlawful; exception.

(a) For the protection of the health, safety and welfare of the citizens and residents of the city, it is unlawful for any person to manufacture, use, discharge, possess with the intent to discharge, or offer for sale, expose for sale, sell at retail or keep with intent to sell at retail, fireworks in the city, except as authorized in section 42-113.

(b) There is a rebuttable presumption that a person possesses fireworks with the intent to discharge such fireworks if possession is:

(1) In a public place or outside a fully enclosed residential or commercial building, and fireworks have recently been discharged or reported discharged in the general vicinity of such possession; or

(2) In a public park or on public school property.

(Ord. No. 6102, § I(46-5(b)), 8-2-2011)

RELEASING OFFICER
Thomas M. Patton, Public Information Officer

Kingsport Police Department Professional Standards Unit

KPD e-News Release: Missing Kingsport Woman Located Safe and Sound

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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: Missing Kingsport Woman Located Safe and Sound
DATE: June 30, 2017
CASE #: 17-014548
GENERAL NARRATIVE
As of June 30, 2017, a woman previously reported missing to the Kingsport Police Department has now been found. Thanks in large part to information received as a result of yesterday’s news release, Tomorrow L. Statzer has been located safe and sound in a neighboring state. The Kingsport Police Department would like to thank everyone who provided information regarding her possible whereabouts.

As previously released:

On June 17, 2017, Tomorrow L. Statzer was reported missing to the Kingsport Police Department by an acquaintance who said that he had been out of touch with her for over a week and was worried about her. Further investigation by K.P.D. Detectives determined that she had moved out of her apartment in Maple Oak Apartments, located at 818 Oak Street in Kingsport, and had been living with a friend in another apartment in the same complex while between residences.

Detectives learned that on June 9, 2017, Ms. Statzer allegedly left to go look at another apartment on Fort Henry Drive and has not been seen or heard from since. She left all of her clothing and personal belongings behind and has yet to return for them.

Ms. Statzer is also believed to possibly go by the name of Tammy Statzer. She is a 59 year old white female adult, standing approximately 5 feet 6 inches in height and weighing roughly 185 pounds. She has brown hair and hazel eyes. Due to some significant health issues in her medical history, Detectives have a heightened cause to be concerned for her overall safety and welfare.

She has been entered into N.C.I.C. as a missing and endangered person. All leads have been exhausted in this missing person investigation and Detectives are turning to the public for assistance.

Anyone who may have any information which could possibly assist with locating her is asked to promptly contact Detectives in the K.P.D. Criminal Investigations Division at 423-229-9429 or call Kingsport Central Dispatch at 423-246-9111. Anyone who sees her is asked to make every possible effort to keep her in sight until police arrive and make contact with her.

Alternatively, if an individual who is able to supply information related to this or any other case wishes not to be identified, tips can be submitted anonymously via online “Citizen Feedback” forms available at the following link:

https://www.kingsporttn.gov/city-services/police-department/contact-us
RELEASING OFFICER
Thomas M. Patton, Public Information Officer

Kingsport Police Department Professional Standards Unit

KPD e-News Release: Friday Morning Lynn Garden Drive Motor Vehicle Collision Results in Death of Passenger

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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: Friday Morning Lynn Garden Drive Motor Vehicle Collision Results in Death of Passenger
DATE: June 30, 2017
CASE #: 17-015732
GENERAL NARRATIVE
On June 30, 2017 at approximately 10:00 AM, Kingsport Police Department personnel responded to a motor vehicle collision on Lynn Garden Drive near the intersection with Truxton Drive in Kingsport. The resultant investigation revealed that the following had occurred:

A silver 2003 Honda Accord 4-door sedan, driven by Melissa Faye Thompson, was traveling along Lynn Garden Drive in the left (inside) northbound lane approaching Truxton Drive. Meanwhile, a gold 1998 Acura RL 4-door sedan, driven by Beulah Faye Fansler, was preparing to exit the parking lot of Dairy Queen, located at 819 Lynn Garden Drive, adjacent to the Truxton Drive intersection.

Ms. Fansler failed to yield the right-of-way and pulled the Acura into the path of the Honda. Ms. Thompson attempted to swerve the Honda to the left, but was unable to avoid a collision. The fronts of each vehicle collided in an angular impact.

Both drivers were transported to Holston Valley Medical Center by Sullivan County E.M.S. for evaluation of possible injuries sustained in the crash. A front seat passenger in the Acura, Eula P. Rogan, sustained much more serious injuries than the other two women, and was also transported to Holston Valley Medical Center by Sullivan County E.M.S.

Ms. Rogan succumbed to her injuries and died after arrival at the hospital. This crash remains under investigation by the K.P.D. Traffic Unit with charges pending.
COLLISION VEHICLE #1 INFORMATION
Make Acura
Model RL
Year 1998
Type 4-Door Sedan
Color Gold
Damage Disabling Damage
Driver Name Beulah Faye Fansler
Age 70 Years of Age
Gender/Race Female/White
Residency Gate City, VA
Injuries Possible Injury
Passenger Name Eula P. Rogan
Age 86 Years of Age
Gender/Race Female/White
Residency Kingsport, TN
Injuries Fatal
COLLISION VEHICLE #2 INFORMATION
Make Honda
Model Accord
Year 2003
Type 4-Door Sedan
Color Silver
Damage Disabling Damage
Driver Name Melissa Faye Thompson
Age 42 Years of Age
Gender/Race Female/White
Residency Weber City, VA
Injuries Possible Injury
RELEASING OFFICER
Thomas M. Patton, Public Information Officer

Kingsport Police Department Professional Standards Unit

KPD e-News Release: Two Friday Morning Crashes Congest Lynn Garden Drive Traffic

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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: Two Friday Morning Crashes Congest Lynn Garden Drive Traffic
DATE: June 30, 2017
GENERAL NARRATIVE
As of approximately 10:15 AM, on the morning of Friday, June 30, 2017, two separate motor vehicle collisions have severely congested traffic along Lynn Garden Drive in Kingsport. One of these crashes occurred in front of Lynn Garden Restaurant near the intersection with Virgil Avenue, while the other crash occurred in front of Dairy Queen near the intersection with Truxton Drive.

Kingsport Police Patrol Officers are currently in the process of investigating these crashes and attempting to clear the roadway as soon as possible. For the time being, however, motorists are strongly encouraged to plan ahead, take an alternate route, and avoid Lynn Garden Drive if at all possible. Motorists already in the immediate area are encouraged to lower their speed, drive with a heightened sense of alertness, exercise caution and patience, and obey all traffic instructions.
RELEASING OFFICER
Thomas M. Patton, Public Information Officer

Kingsport Police Department Professional Standards Unit

KPD e-News Release: Kingsport Police Solicit Public Assistance in Locating Missing Endangered Woman

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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: Kingsport Police Solicit Public Assistance in Locating Missing Endangered Woman
DATE: June 29, 2017
CASE #: 17-014548
GENERAL NARRATIVE
On June 17, 2017, Tomorrow L. Statzer was reported missing to the Kingsport Police Department by an acquaintance who said that he had been out of touch with her for over a week and was worried about her. Further investigation by K.P.D. Detectives determined that she had moved out of her apartment in Maple Oak Apartments, located at 818 Oak Street in Kingsport, and had been living with a friend in another apartment in the same complex while between residences.

Detectives learned that on June 9, 2017, Ms. Statzer allegedly left to go look at another apartment on Fort Henry Drive and has not been seen or heard from since. She left all of her clothing and personal belongings behind and has yet to return for them.

Ms. Statzer is also believed to possibly go by the name of Tammy Statzer. She is a 59 year old white female adult, standing approximately 5 feet 6 inches in height and weighing roughly 185 pounds. She has brown hair and hazel eyes. Due to some significant health issues in her medical history, Detectives have a heightened cause to be concerned for her overall safety and welfare.

She has been entered into N.C.I.C. as a missing and endangered person. All leads have been exhausted in this missing person investigation and Detectives are turning to the public for assistance.

Anyone who may have any information which could possibly assist with locating her is asked to promptly contact Detectives in the K.P.D. Criminal Investigations Division at 423-229-9429 or call Kingsport Central Dispatch at 423-246-9111. Anyone who sees her is asked to make every possible effort to keep her in sight until police arrive and make contact with her.

Alternatively, if an individual who is able to supply information related to this or any other case wishes not to be identified, tips can be submitted anonymously via online “Citizen Feedback” forms available at the following link:

https://www.kingsporttn.gov/city-services/police-department/contact-us
MISSING ENDANGERED PERSON INFORMATION
Name Tomorrow L. Statzer

a.k.a. Tammy Statzer
Age 59 Years of Age
Gender/Race Female/White
Height/

Weight

 5 feet 6 inches

185 pounds
Hair/

Eyes

 Brown hair

Hazel Eyes
Last Known Address Maple Oak Apartments

818 Oak Street

Kingsport, TN

RELEASING OFFICER
Thomas M. Patton, Public Information Officer

Kingsport Police Department Professional Standards Unit

City Priorities: A Budget Refresher

Budgeting is a year-round process for Kingsport. The city accomplished a balanced budget with no increase to taxes, user fees or utility rates.

budget infographics

Kingsport Mayor Clark elected to Tennessee Municipal League Board of Directors

John Clark, mayor of Kingsport, was elected to the board of directors of the Tennessee Municipal League (TML) during the League’s annual conference recently held in Murfreesboro. Bo Perkinson, Athens councilman, was elected President.

Clark was nominated as a director at large by a five-member nominating committee composed of municipal officials statewide. He was then elected for a one-year term by a majority vote of the membership.

“I am honored to sit on the TML board and work towards progress in our state,” said Mayor Clark. “It is important that East Tennessee has a seat at that table, especially with some of the recent growth momentum in the area, and I am grateful for this opportunity to serve in this capacity.”

Founded in 1940 and based in Nashville, TML is a nonprofit organization founded by cities and towns for mutual assistance and improvement. Representing 99 percent of Tennessee’s municipal citizens, the organization advocates for needed legislative action by the General Assembly, represents municipal interests before state departments and agencies, and – working through the National League of Cities in Washington – seeks to influence federal legislation and policies affecting municipal governments.

As a member of the TML board of directors, Mayor Clark will propose and help determine legislation municipalities need passed into law and will establish policy priorities for the League.

The eight at-large directors were nominated by a five-member nominating committee composed of municipal officials statewide. They were then elected for a one-year term by a majority vote of the entire membership. Those directors are: Jimmy Alexander, Nolensville mayor; John Clark, Kingsport mayor; Vance Coleman, Medina mayor; Avery Johnson, Cleveland vice mayor; Bobby King, Henderson mayor; Christina Martin, Columbia vice mayor; Lonnie Norman, Manchester mayor; and Mary Ann Tremblay, Three Way vice mayor.

KPD e-News Release: Suspect Indicted and Arrested in 2016 Orebank Road Crash that Seriously Injured Pedestrian

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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: Suspect Indicted and Arrested in 2016 Orebank Road Crash that Seriously Injured Pedestrian
DATE: June 22, 2017
CASE #: 16-018910 (Crash)

17-014994 (Arrest)
GENERAL NARRATIVE
A suspect has recently been indicted and arrested in a 2016 Orebank Road crash that seriously injured a pedestrian. The details of the investigation are as follows:

On September 2, 2016 at approximately 7:00 PM, Kingsport Central Dispatch was notified of a crash involving a pedestrian in the 5000 block of Orebank Road in Kingsport. Officers of the Kingsport Police Department Patrol Division responded. Due to the serious nature of the injuries to those involved, Crash Reconstructionists from the K.P.D. Traffic Unit were called to the scene, with their resultant investigation rendering the following:

Shari K. Rajoo was walking along a sidewalk that runs parallel to the roadway in the 5000 block of Orebank Road. She was accompanied by several family members; however, she was walking slightly behind the rest of the group.

Meanwhile, a 1995 Ford Ranger pickup, driven by James Richard Smith, was westbound in the same block of Orebank Road, negotiating a curve to the right. Mr. Smith failed to keep the truck in the proper lane, allowing it to cross the center line and the oncoming lane, and run off the left side of the roadway. He swerved back onto the road surface, but in doing so overcorrected, putting the truck into an unrecoverable spin.

Now completely out of control, the truck ran off the left side of the road a second time and crossed the sidewalk, striking Ms. Rajoo. The pickup then crashed through a wooden fence and finally came to a rest in an adjacent grassy field.

Both Ms. Rajoo and Mr. Smith sustained serious incapacitating injuries in the crash and were rushed to Holston Valley Medical Center by Sullivan County E.M.S. for emergency treatment.

A blood sample was taken from Mr. Smith at the time of the crash and was sent to the T.B.I. Crime Lab for analysis. This crash has remained under active investigation by the K.P.D. Traffic Unit since that time with charges pending.

The results of the aforementioned blood test were received on December 5, 2016, and indicated that at the time of the crash, Mr. Smith had a significant level of Diazepam (Valium) in his system. He did not have a prescription for Valium and indicated that he had unlawfully purchased the drug from a friend, because he had run out of his other regularly prescribed medications.

On June 13, 2017 the facts of the case were presented to a Sullivan County Grand Jury. On June 19, 2017 a sealed indictment was returned, charging Mr. Smith with 1) Felony Reckless Aggravated Assault, 2) Felony Vehicular Assault, 3) Felony Reckless Endangerment, and 4) Driving Under the Influence.

On June 22, 2017 at 9:30 AM, Mr. Smith was arrested without incident at his place of employment on Bloomingdale Road. He was transported to the Kingsport City Jail where he remains confined, pending arraignment, in lieu of a $10,000 bond as specified by the presiding judge.
SUSPECT INFORMATION
Name James Richard Smith
Age Date of Birth 11/13/1984

32 Years of Age
Gender/Race Male/White
Residency 2145 Happy Hill Road, Lot #9

Kingsport, TN
Charge(s) 1) Felony Reckless Aggravated Assault

2) Felony Vehicular Assault

3) Felony Reckless Endangerment

4) Driving Under the Influence

COLLISION VEHICLE INFORMATION
Make Ford
Model Ranger
Year 1995
Type Compact Pickup
Color Red
Damage Disabling Damage
Driver Name James Richard Smith
Age 32 Years of Age
Gender/Race Male/White
Residency Kingsport, TN
Injuries Serious Incapacitating Injuries
PEDESTRIAN/VICTIM INFORMATION
Name Shari K. Rajoo
Age 45 Years of Age
Gender/Race Female/Indian
Residency Kingsport, TN
Injuries Serious Incapacitating Injuries
RELEASING OFFICER
Thomas M. Patton, Public Information Officer

Kingsport Police Department Professional Standards Unit

kingsport 100 logo

Kingsport POPS!

Join us for Kingsport POPS!, a centennial July 4th celebration that will be one for the history books! Food trucks, local restaurants and music will kick off the evening with a special concert by Symphony of the Mountains. Symphony of the Mountains will play current and past big hit pop songs to keep the expanded Independence Day celebration going!

The winner of the 2017 Honda Civic will be announced and given the keys to their new car! The celebration will close with a spectacular fireworks display behind the clock tower.

We hope to see everyone out for the next city signature centennial event!

4th of July Poster
Kingsport Mets logo

Opening Day for the Kingsport Mets will be a Homerun for the Centennial

K-Mets and City of Kingsport Team Up for a Celebration of a new season and 100 years for the city

The City of Kingsport and the Kingsport Mets are joining forces on Sunday, June 25th in the celebration of both opening day at Hunter Wright Stadium and the city’s centennial. With an action-packed Sunday afternoon designed around nine innings of baseball, all ages are surely to enjoy.

Celebrating in true centennial fashion, this special home opener includes a single-game name change in which the club will be known as the ‘Kingsport Spirit’ in all references throughout the game.

Players and coaches will sport special, one-time-only jerseys that showcase various images of Kingsport through the years. Starting at the third inning of the game, fans will have an opportunity to buy a game-worn jersey for $100, while supplies last.

Proceeds from the jerseys will go to the Kingsport Archives. This department has been instrumental in the celebration of 2017 as well as providing photographs for the centennial jerseys. Other centennial merchandise will also be available and even giveaways will occur between innings.

Pregame festivities include Kingsport Mayor John Clark throwing out the ceremonial first pitch, and he, on behalf of the city, will receive a ceremonial bat signed by the Kingsport Mets. Also, Carla Karst, a Kingsport native, will sing the national anthem.

Appropriately so, this game is also the City of Kingsport Employee Appreciation Night, recognizing and showing appreciation for all the hardworking and dedicated individuals that serve our city.

Opening day is Sunday, June 25th against the Johnson City Cardinals. The first pitch is slated for 4:00 p.m. with gates opening at 3:00 p.m. Hunter Wright Stadium is located at 800 Granby Rd, just off Stone Drive.

For more information regarding promotions, ticket sales or the 2017 Kingsport Mets, visit the club online at www.kmets.com or follow on Twitter at @Kingsport_Mets.

For more information regarding Kingsport’s Centennial and other upcoming events, please visit www.kingsport100.org.

Link to: City of Kingsport
City of Kingsport, Tennessee