You are here: / / / September

KPD e-News Release: I-26 Road Construction Traffic Safety Alert

,

Kingsport Police Department

David Quillin, Chief of Police

200 Shelby Street • Kingsport, TN 37660

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

NEWS RELEASE
SUBJECT: I-26 Road Construction Traffic Safety Alert
DATE: September 17, 2018
GENERAL NARRATIVE
All area motorists are encouraged to be aware of an ongoing road construction project affecting traffic on Interstate 26 in Kingsport. The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) is conducting bridge repair on the I-26 bridge over Rock Springs Road/State Route 347 (Exit 6).

This project is slated for approximately 3-6 weeks, so it could last until the end of October. Work is being conducted around the clock, 24 hours-a-day, 7 days-a-week. I-26 traffic has been reduced to one lane in both directions. As such, interstate traffic will be backing up and slowed or completely stopped at times. Just this morning alone, several crashes have already been reported at this location.

Motorists should plan ahead during this project and seek an alternate route whenever possible so as to avoid unnecessary traffic congestion and delays. Motorists needing to drive through this particular area should slow down way ahead of time, pay attention, exercise caution, patience, and courtesy, avoid distractions, and obey all traffic instructions.

Again, this road construction project is being overseen by TDOT. For more information, please contact Mark Nagi with TDOT at Mark.Nagi.
RELEASING OFFICER
Thomas M. Patton, Public Information Officer

Kingsport Police Department Professional Standards Unit

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

ThomasMPatton

KPD e-News Release: K.P.D. Receives Top Honors at Annual THSO Lifesavers Conference

,

Kingsport Police Department

David Quillin, Chief of Police

200 Shelby Street • Kingsport, TN 37660

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

NEWS RELEASE
SUBJECT: K.P.D. Receives Top Honors at Annual THSO Lifesavers Conference
DATE: September 17, 2018
GENERAL NARRATIVE
Representatives of the Kingsport Police Department recently traveled to Middle Tennessee to attend the Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO) 31st Annual Lifesavers Conference. At the conference, the winners of the 14th Annual Law Enforcement Challenge were announced. Once again, the Kingsport Police Department was awarded first place in the 101-200 officer department category. K.P.D. has earned the first place trophy 4 of the past 5 years (2014, 2015, 2016, and 2018).

The Law Enforcement Challenge entry consists of a statistical compilation of all aspects of traffic safety education and enforcement conducted by a law enforcement agency over the previous year. It includes all efforts to reduce crashes, discourage impaired and distracted driving, increase seatbelt and child passenger safety seat usage, and encourage safe and responsible driving habits. The entry also documents traffic citations, checkpoints, and strategic traffic enforcement.

The Kingsport Police Department is extremely proud to have received this highly esteemed recognition, which would not have been possible without the ongoing traffic safety focused work on a daily basis by the entire department, but specifically our Traffic Unit, Patrol Division, and Crime Analyst. For making and keeping the safety of the Kingsport motoring public a top priority, their efforts are commended.

For more information on the THSO Law Enforcement Challenge, please visit the following link:

https://tntrafficsafety.org/tennessee-highway-safety-office-announces-14th-annual-law-enforcement-challenge-award-recipients
RELEASING OFFICER
Thomas M. Patton, Public Information Officer

Kingsport Police Department Professional Standards Unit

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

ThomasMPatton

Dobyns-Bennett String Quartets To Perform Free Concert At Bays Mountain Park

Enjoy the natural beauty of Bays Mountain Park from the Pavilion at Lily Pad Cove while listening to music played by the Dobyns-Bennett String Quartets. Members of the Dobyns-Bennett Orchestra make up the two Dobyns-Bennett String Quartets who will be performing in the pavilion on Saturday, September 22, from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.

The first performance will be from 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. and the second performance from 7 p.m. – 8 p.m. Park guests will be able to hike around the habitats or take a peek at the Pavilion while enjoying the music from the quartets. If you have been wanting to check out the new Pavilion at Lilly Pad Cove or are interested in renting the pavilion, this is the perfect opportunity.

The concert is free and open to the public. There will be limited seating at the pavilion and it is first come, first-served. Although the concert is free, the entry fee to the park is $5 per vehicle.

For more information on Bays Mountain Park please call 423-229-9447 or visit http://www.baysmountain.com/.

KPD e-News Release: Applications Now Being Accepted for a Law Enforcement Career with the Kingsport Police Department

,

Kingsport Police Department

David Quillin, Chief of Police

200 Shelby Street • Kingsport, TN 37660

• www.KingsportPDBlog.com

NEWS RELEASE
SUBJECT: Applications Now Being Accepted for a Law Enforcement Career with the Kingsport Police Department
DATE: September 17, 2018
GENERAL NARRATIVE
The City of Kingsport Human Resources Department is currently accepting applications for the position of Police Officer. The Kingsport Police Department is hoping to hire several new officers out of this application process to fill any existing and upcoming vacancies. Applications are being accepted from September 15, 2018 until no later than October 14, 2018.

Individuals who are interested in a career in law enforcement are encouraged to apply. All applicants must be a United States citizen and either already be at least 21 years of age or be turning 21 by no later than May 1, 2019 (six months after the test date). Applicants are asked to only submit their application once, as weeding out duplicate applications hampers efficiency. All applications must be submitted online using the following link:

https://www.governmentjobs.com/Careers/Kingsport

Following the October 14th deadline, all applicants will receive a confirmation email, as well as a letter by traditional mail, containing further instructions regarding the upcoming Police Applicant Testing procedures. All applicants will undergo a series of assessments, beginning with a written examination on the morning of Thursday, November 1, 2018. The written examination will be administered at the Civic Auditorium, located at 1550 Fort Henry Drive in Kingsport.

While not an absolute requirement, applicants are strongly encouraged to invest in the Stanard and Associates National Police Officer Selection Test “Online POST Study Guide” and “Online POST Practice Test” to assist them in preparing for this examination. These online study aids are currently priced very reasonably at $5 and $15 respectively and are available for purchase at the following link:

https://www.ApplyToServe.com/Study

Applicants should take note that the current written examination used for Police Applicant Testing is obtained from a completely different vendor than the City of Kingsport used prior to 2018; therefore, other study guides that may have been recommended in the past and obtained and utilized by applicants to prepare for former tests taken prior to 2018 may not be applicable to the current examination.

Applicants who successfully pass the written examination will advance forward to a physical agility evaluation that same afternoon at 1:00 PM. The physical agility evaluation will consist of a timed one-mile run and a timed roughly one-quarter-mile obstacle course designed to measure fitness, strength, agility, and endurance as related to the duties of a Police Officer.

Applicants are also strongly encouraged to participate in a voluntary practice physical agility evaluation and question and answer session. This session will take place on Thursday, October 25, 2018 at 1:00 PM at Domtar Park, located at 1414 Riverport Road in Kingsport. Individuals must have an application on file and sign a waiver of liability in order to be eligible to participate in this practice session.

Those applicants with the highest combined scores on the written examination and physical agility evaluation will then move forward to a series of interviews, beginning with an interview panel and ultimately an interview with the Chief of Police, to further vet the candidates and determine the final selections. The final selections will also be subject to a medical examination, psychological evaluation, and a thorough background check prior to actual hiring.

The current starting salary for Police Officer Trainee is $15.92 per hour or $33,119 annually. Applicants who are already certified law enforcement officers may be eligible for a salary adjustment to compensate for prior experience if certain criteria are met. Academy training and all essential equipment including uniforms, firearms, body armor, and duty gear are provided by the department. K.P.D. also issues take-home police cruisers to officers meeting specific residency requirements.

City of Kingsport employee benefits include direct payroll deposit; paid vacation, holiday, and sick leave; employee life insurance; optional supplemental and dependent life insurance; long-term disability; health insurance; optional dental insurance; flexible spending accounts; ICMA RC 401 retirement; and optional ICMA RC 457 retirement.

For additional information regarding the application process, please call the City of Kingsport Human Resources Department at 423-229-9401. For additional information regarding a law enforcement career at the Kingsport Police Department, please call Lieutenant Chris Tincher with the K.P.D. Professional Standards Unit at 423-343-9805.
RELEASING OFFICER
Thomas M. Patton, Public Information Officer

Kingsport Police Department Professional Standards Unit

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

ThomasMPatton

Pink Ribbon Tennis Tournament

Join us for a fun weekend of tennis and help support the women and men fighting breast cancer in the Tri-Cities on October 5-7.

Hosted by Susan G. Komen East TN Tri-Cities and Kingsport Park and Recreation, individuals ages 14 and up are invited to register. The proceeds from this tennis tournament will benefit Komen East TN.

Registration is open now until September 28 online at www.KomenEastTN.org. The cost is $25 per player. Players can register in one of these divisions offered:

  1. Men’s & Women’s Singles – 3.0, 3.5, 4.0 and Open
  2. Men’s and Women’s Double – 6.0, 7.0, 8.0, and Open
  1. Mixed Doubles – 6.0, 7.0, 8.0, and Open

“Kingsport Parks and Recreation are proud to be hosting this event along with Susan G. Komen of East TN,” said Renee Ensor, parks and recreation program administrator. “This event will help promote wellness and awareness in the Tri-Cities. Players will enjoy playing on our new resurfaced courts at Borden Park and playing for a good cause were all of the proceeds will benefit Susan G. Komen.”

For more information, please visit www.kingsportparksandrecreation.org.

Volunteer for National Public Lands Day at Bays Mountain Park

On Saturday, September 22, volunteers at Bays Mountain will join hundreds of thousands of fellow Americans at public land sites across the country to give back to the lands where we play, learn, exercise and relax in celebration of the 25th annual National Public Lands Day (NPLD) – the nation’s largest, single-day volunteer effort for public lands.

NPLD, coordinated each year by the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) with support from national sponsor Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc., brings together volunteers from across the country to improve and restore the lands and facilities that Americans use and enjoy every day. Each year, NPLD volunteers provide tens of millions of dollars’ worth of services in one day that would otherwise take limited park staff months to accomplish. Last year, more than 200,000 people participated in events at more than 2,500 sites in all 50 states plus Washington, D.C.

Bays Mountain Park will be hosting a National Public Lands Workday on Saturday, September 22, from 8:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. Volunteers will meet in front of the Farmstead Museum at 8:30 a.m., and will spend a few hours with a park naturalist and other park trail volunteers helping maintain a few trails. The project will focus on hiking roughly four miles around Lake Road Trail removing branches and overgrowth along with picking up trash.

“Your work will help ensure that Bays Mountain Park and Planetarium continues to be a beautiful place for all to enjoy,” said Megan Krager senior naturalist at Bays Mountain Park.

Volunteers are highly encouraged to wear closed toed shoes. Water bottles, hats, work gloves and bug repellent are highly recommended. This is a great program for students needing volunteer hours for school or scholarships. No experience is required. Pre-registration is required by calling the Nature Center at 423-229-9447. This is a free program.

For more information on Bays Mountain Park please call 423-229-9447 or visit http://www.baysmountain.com/.

Adventure into the new world of resin and alcohol ink with Elena Corradino

Students will learn about resin and create their own unique, hand-crafted gifts! The Kingsport Office of Cultural Arts is offering two opportunities to participate in the resin workshop on September 15th and/or October 27th.

Instructor, Elena Corradino will be teaching a hands-on class about how to create this exciting style of abstract art. Participants will make two acrylic pour bisque coasters, four porcelain alcohol ink coasters and three silicone mold coasters, all of which will be resined. Participants will also be allowed to keep their respiratory mask and silicone mold. The instructor will go over safe mixing techniques and mistakes that can cost resin – all while creating 9 beautiful and functional pieces of art!

The cost of the class is $98 per person and includes all materials. The class will be held on the 2nd level studio space at the Kingsport Carousel, 350 Clinchfield St. Both classes will be from 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., with a 30 minute break for lunch, allowing for 4 hours of instruction/creative time.

Pre-registration is required to participate. To register for the class or for more information, please visit EngageKingsport.com or call 423-392-8414.

Find Your Adventure With Fall Activities At Bays Mountain Park

Fall is here and that means guided hikes, twilight zip line rides, geocaching, map and compass classes, twilight barge rides and canoe/kayak tours at Bays Mountain Park! Starting this month, guests can enjoy a range of activities at the park.

Fall is the perfect time to get outdoors! Enjoy the cooler weather and the beautiful colors of fall with a guided hike to points of interest within the park. The guided day hikes will begin at 10 a.m. and will go to the fire tower and along the lake side. These hikes are limited to 15 participants. Tickets are $3/person and free for park members.

Visitors can also experience the thrill of a twilight zip line ride on The Flying Squirrel. With only a headlamp and the soft glow of lights strung along the platform, you can let your imagination run wild while you soar through the twilight on this unique, fall adventure. Soar through the forest canopy, listen to nocturnal critters and view the night sky while on the zip line. The cost is $25/person for non-members and $15/person for park members. Program times are 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. Participants can zip the whole three hours. A waiver form is required to be filled out by all participants. Visit www.baysmountain.com to download a waiver form.

Learn what geocaching is and how you do it with the two part geocaching class. In session 1, participants will learn what geocaching is, terminology used and other interesting aspects of the geocaching world. In session 2, participants will learn to use a GPS device in order to find hidden “caches.” During this session, the group will have the opportunity to use their mobile device to find a variety of “caches” in the park. The cost is $3/person per session. Both sessions will take place from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. in the Discovery Theater.

A map is a crucial tool for accurate navigation, especially where trail signs, blazes and markers are absent. In the first session of the Map and Compass class, participants will learn how to find their way with just a compass, how to orient a map with a compass and how to back track. The second session will focus on two parts, how to navigate using specific coordinates and how to take specific coordinates and pair it with a map to find hidden flags in a specific area. The cost for each program is $3/person per session and free for park members. Space is limited to 20 guests. The program will take place in the Discovery Theater from 6 p.m.  – 8 p.m. for both sessions.

Specialty programs including the twilight barge ride and the canoe/kayak tour are back this fall. Spend a relaxing evening on the lake enjoying the beautiful lakeside scenery from the comfort of the barge or your personal canoe or kayak. The twilight barge rides are $5/person and free for park members. The canoe/kayak tour is $10/person and free for park members. The canoe/kayak tour is limited to 20 watercrafts, and participants must provide their own canoe/kayak and a coast guard approved personal flotation device. Twilight barge rides start at 7 p.m. and canoe/kayak tours start at 6 p.m.

The dates for these activities are as follows:

  • Guided Hikes – September 12 (Lakeside) and October 10 (Fire tower)
  • Twilight Zip Line – September 29 and October 27
  • Geocaching – Session 1: October 9 and Session 2:October 16
  • Map and Compass – Session 1: September 13 and Session 2: September 27
  • Twilight Barge Rides – September 26 and October 24
  • Canoe/Kayak Tour  –  September 19 & 25 and October 17 & 23

To reserve a spot for the twilight zip line ride, geocaching class, map and compass class, canoe/kayak tour or twilight barge rides, please call the Nature Center at 423-229-9447. To reserve your spot for a guided hike, please visit the Nature Center on the day of the scheduled hike to purchase a ticket.

For more information on Bays Mountain Park please call 423-229-9447 or visit http://www.baysmountain.com/.

Fall Planetarium Shows And Astronomy Programs At Bays Mountain

Travel back to the beginning of time and experience the birth of the Sun with Bays Mountain’s new planetarium show for fall! Bays Mountain Planetarium’s main feature, Sunstruck, starts this month.

The main planetarium feature for September – December will be Sunstruck. Discover how the sun came to support life, how it threatens life as we know it and how its energy will one day fade away. The show is followed by a brief tour of our current night sky. The show runs 40 min.

Also starting this month is the alternate planetarium show for September and October, Appalachian Skies – Fall. This live presentation is about the current spring night sky. Learn what fascinating constellations and planets will be easily visible. This program highlights the spectacular Carl Zeiss ZKP-4 star projector instrument. Its fiber-optic generated star field is stunning and a pleasure to see. Bring your binoculars for deep-sky exploration.

Bays Mountain Planetarium’s alternative features are shown on Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. The main features are shown at 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. on the weekends and at 4:00 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. Tickets for planetarium shows are $5 per person. Children ages 5 and younger receive free admission with a paying adult.

Continuing through October, is the solar viewing program, SunWatch. Solar Viewing is a great way to learn about the Sun, our nearest star. SunWatch observing programs are held each clear Saturday and Sunday from 3 – 3:30 p.m. at the dam. Witness the Sun up close and in detail. If you get to see a sunspot, you’ll see a dark patch on the Sun’s photosphere that will probably be at least the size of the Earth.

The fall evening observing sessions, known as StarWatch, will start up in October. StarWatch is an outdoor program that allows the public to enjoy the splendor of the night sky at the observatories. Gaze at the Moon’s craters and imagine yourself flying over in a spacecraft. Witness celestial places of star birth and star death. If the weather does not cooperate, we’ll hold an alternate activity in the planetarium theater. These programs are free to the public. The observing sessions are held each Saturday night in October & November. They start at 7:30 p.m. on October 6 & 13; 7 p.m. on October 20, 27 & November 3; 6 p.m. on November 10, 17 & 24.

For more information on Bays Mountain’s planetarium shows, please visit baysmountain.com or call 423-229-9447.

KPD e-News Release: Kingsport Police Investigating Fatal Motor Vehicle Collision on Lynn Garden Drive

,

Kingsport Police Department

David Quillin, Chief of Police

200 Shelby Street • Kingsport, TN 37660

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

NEWS RELEASE
SUBJECT: Kingsport Police Investigating Fatal Motor Vehicle Collision on Lynn Garden Drive
DATE: September 2, 2018
CASE #: 18-025050
GENERAL NARRATIVE
On August 31, 2018 at approximately 10:45 PM, Kingsport Police Patrol Officers responded to a motor vehicle collision on Lynn Garden Drive at Truxton Drive in Kingsport. The resultant investigation revealed the following:

A 1994 red Ford F-150 pickup, driven by Michael K. Marcum, was southbound on Lynn Garden Drive preparing to make a left turn to Truxton Drive. A 1998 green Honda Civic 4-door compact sedan, driven by Betty A. Davis, was northbound on Lynn Garden Drive approaching Truxton Drive.

Mr. Marcum failed to yield the right-of-way and turned his Ford into the path of the Honda resulting in an angular front-end impact.

Mr. Marcum was not injured in the crash. Ms. Davis and her passenger, Phyllis J. Long, both sustained incapacitating injuries necessitating E.M.S. transport to a local hospital for treatment. Unfortunately, Ms. Long succumbed to her injuries and died after her arrival at the hospital.

This crash remains under open and active investigation with charges pending. As such, no further information can or will be released at this time.
COLLISION VEHICLE #1 INFORMATION
Make Ford
Model F-150
Year 1994
Type Full-size Pickup
Color Red
Damage Disabling Damage
Driver Name Michael K. Marcum
Age 26 Years of Age
Gender/Race Male/White
Residency Kingsport, TN
Injuries No Injury
COLLISION VEHICLE #2 INFORMATION
Make Honda
Model Civic
Year 1998
Type 4-door Compact Sedan
Color Green
Damage Disabling Damage
Driver Name Betty A. Davis
Age 62 Years of Age
Gender/Race Female/Black
Residency Kingsport, TN
Injuries Incapacitating Injuries
Passenger Name Phyllis J. Long
Age 75 Years of Age
Gender/Race Female/White
Residency Kingsport, TN
Injuries Fatal
RELEASING OFFICER
Thomas M. Patton, Public Information Officer

Kingsport Police Department Professional Standards Unit

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

ThomasMPatton
Link to: City of Kingsport
City of Kingsport, Tennessee