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Kingsport Cultural Arts is pleased to announce its 2nd annual Kingsport Arts Festival – a day showcasing the talents of our region’s best artists and creatives.
The festival will take place from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on May 3 in the 100 block of Shelby Street and feature the following events and activities:
- Iron Pour with WNC Sculpture
- Glassblowing with Ryan Gothrup
- Ceramics Raku Firing with the Clay Gurus
- Tie Dye festival shirts with Engage Kingsport
- Chalk art and large canvas finger painting for kids
- Miniature painting with the Kingsport Library
The one-day festival will also feature more than a dozen vendors, a gallery crawl and scavenger hunt, a watercolor activity for adults and bucket drumming with the Symphony of the Mountains.
Finally, the festival will feature the debut of “The Carousel Horse Brigade” – six fiberglass carousel horses painted and decorated by local businesses and organizations, similar to the 10 fiberglass goats shown during the 2023 GOAT Festival.
“Our focus this year is still on creation and involvement,” said Program Leader Linore Huss. “Showcasing creative techniques is something not typically found at other festivals, so we believe people will come away excited and hopefully inspired by what they saw demonstrated.”
The Kingsport Arts Festival is a partnership between Kingsport Cultural Arts, Engage Kingsport, the Inventor Center, Clay Gurus and the Symphony of the Mountains.
The Kingsport Book Fair – the region’s largest book fair – returns next week with thousands and thousands of books, audiobooks, music CDs, movies and vinyl records to choose from.
The book fair will take place February 28 – March 2 at the Meadowview Conference Resort and Convention Center. The event is coordinated and sponsored by Friends of the Library, the Literacy Council of Kingsport and the Sullivan County Imagination Library Board.
As with previous years, the event will have a special preview sale on February 27 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. with an admission of $10. Returning this year is the special academic preview sale, also on February 29 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Admission is $5, and a valid faculty/staff/student ID is requested, but not required for entry.
Regular Book Fair hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 12:45 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. No admission fee is charged throughout the entire weekend. No pets allowed, please.
The Book Fair will offer thousands of books for sale, along with a good selection of audiobooks, music CDs, DVDs and vinyl record albums. All of the items in the book fair have been donated for the sale over the past year and were individually priced and sorted by volunteers into one of more than 30 categories.
Major credit cards will be accepted on purchases of at least $25. Sales under $25 are cash only. The half-price sale begins at 4 p.m. on Saturday, while the $10 bag sale begins at opening on Sunday. Most donated items are priced from 25 cents to $5, based on age, condition, and popularity.
With many families downsizing, donations have been plentiful and diverse for the 2025 Book Fair collection. Additionally, this year a significant number of donations have come from the Kingsport Public Library collection as it prepares to relocate to the Fort Henry Mall during the renovation of the downtown library building.
Inventory for this year’s fair includes fiction, non-fiction, history, biography, children’s, religion, music, cookbooks, DIY, gardening, textbooks, vinyl, and art/coffee table books. The Regional Interest category will have books from the FoxFire series, Ron Rash, Adriana Trigiani, to cookbooks from local churches and civic groups.
Classic and contemporary books on WWII will be in the History/Biography category. Readers of romance will be especially happy with the depth of the paperback fiction donations, both classic and ‘almost new’ tales of happily-ever-after.
A category for Sports and Transportation will contain books on professional athletes, sports, fitness, automobiles, trains, and airplanes, while birders and other nature lovers will find gems in the Nature and Outdoors category. Cookbooks, gardening, and various DIY categories will be abundant and priced to sell. New for 2025 is a category for fitness and wellness.
Profits from the book fair go to support local literacy programs. Last year, the book fair had sales of more than $32,000.
For more information or to volunteer your time call 423-967-7135 or email kingsportbookfair@gmail.com.
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The City of Kingsport issued more than 150 building permits for new single-family homes during 2024 with a total valuation of just over $52.7 million. On the commercial side, Kingsport issued 17 permits last year with a total construction cost of $18.1 million.
These are a few highlights from a Kingsport Building Division presentation recently given to the Home Builders Association. The presentation included information on building permits, housing and commercial starts and other construction activity performed within the city during the past year.
Kingsport issued 156 residential permits in 2024, with an estimated construction cost of $52.7 million. In 2023, the number of permits was 221 with a value of $72.1 million. Over the past five years, Kingsport has issued 1,270 permits for new single-family homes.
Notable neighborhoods seeing the most activity during the previous year include Magnolia Ridge, Hunt’s Crossing, Caymus Court and Harmony Ridge.
According to the presentation, Kingsport also has nearly 2,500 residential units currently in development, including Shipp Springs, Brickyard, Fieldcrest, Kendrick Creed Road and Bradley Hills. These units are expected to come online within the next five years.
On the commercial front, Kingsport issued 17 permits for new construction in 2024 with a total valuation of $18.1 million. The city also issued 73 permits for commercial additions, repairs and remodels, with a total construction cost of $61.5 million.
By comparison, the Model City issued 11 permits for new commercial development in 2023 with a total valuation of $18.5 million.
Overall construction activity in Kingsport (residential and commercial, new construction, additions, repairs and remodels) came to $133.5 million in 2024. In 2023, the amount was $160.7 million.
NOTABLE COMMERCIAL PROJECTS
- Southern Tire Mart (2040 Tri Cities Crossing) – $7.3 million
- Valvoline (108 W. Stone Drive) – $1.45 million
- Valvoline (1789 N. Eastman Road) – $1.45 million
- Starbucks (430 W. Stone Drive) – $1.6 million
- Black Diamond Market (5135 Highway 126) – $1.35 million
NOTABLE ADDITION/REMODEL PERMITS
- Buck Van Huss Down – $20.4 million
- Justice Center – $14.3 million
- Academy Sports – $3 million
- Ballad Health Child Care Center – $1.55 million
- Rural King – $1.2 million
TOP RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS IN PROGRESS
- Shipp Springs – 582 apartments/single family/townhomes
- Brickyard – 486 apartments/single family/townhomes
- Granby & Williams – 274 apartments
- Fieldcrest – 243 single family/townhomes
- Bradley Hills – 196 apartments
The City of Kingsport is in need of two volunteers for the Kingsport Public Library Commission, to serve out the remaining time of two unexpired terms.
The seven-member commission serves in an advisory capacity and is responsible for drafting rules and regulations for the operation of the library. The commission is also responsible for helping craft an annual budget for the library, approving and accepting grants and gifts and offering advice and recommendations on a variety of issues that arise during the year.
And now would be the perfect opportunity for a Kingsport resident to volunteer and be part of a transformational project as the library moves to the Fort Henry Mall and prepares for the renovation of the downtown library building.
The Kingsport Public Library Commission meets on the second Monday of each month at the library. Members must be a Kingsport resident and typically serve a three-year term. Residents may serve two consecutive terms and may be reappointed after a three-year break in service.
Appointments for the City of Kingsport volunteer boards and commissions take place semi-annually in April and October, with applications being accepted in February for April appointments, and August for October appointments. Applications received late or for boards without vacancies will be held on file for one calendar year in case of unexpected vacancies.
If you are interested in serving on a board or commission, please visit ServeKingsport (www.servekingsport.com) and answer the short questionnaire. Here you will be asked why you wish to volunteer, your previous volunteering experience and what boards and commissions interest you.
Completing the survey does not guarantee an appointment. However, the city loves hearing from citizens and strives to help them find a board or commission that matches their skills and interests.
To take the ServeKingsport survey, visit www.servekingsport.com.
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The Kingsport Farmers Market is now accepting vendor applications for its 2025 season.
The application will be available online by going to kingsportfarmersmarket.org and clicking on “Become a Vendor.” Every vendor must reapply to the market each new season.
Paper applications will be available if needed. Vendors can pick up and drop off completed paper applications at Kingsport City Hall (415 Broad Street) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.
Before applying, vendors should take time to review the Vendor Handbook on the Kingsport Farmers Market website, linked on the “Become a Vendor” page. A paper copy will accompany a paper application. This handbook lists the market’s policies regarding what types of vendors are eligible to sell at the market, as well as what kind of documentation you might need.
The 2025 season will begin on Saturday, April 26. Stay tuned for more details.
SUBJECT: Amber Alert Issued – KPD Searching for Juvenile (Update: Found Safe, Suspect Apprehended)
DATE: February 17th, 2025
CASE #: 25-002182
GENERAL NARRATIVE
Update: Maria Linebaugh has been found safe, and Matthew Linebaugh is in police custody. The Kingsport Police Department would like to thank all the surrounding agencies, both local, state, and federal, who assisted in this matter and all the assistance/information from the public at large.
An Amber Alert has been issued by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) on behalf of the Kingsport Police Department regarding the kidnapping of two (2) year-old juvenile Maria Linebaugh. Maria was last seen with thirty-five (35) year-old Matthew Linebaugh, a non-custodial parent, around 1921 Bowater Drive in a silver 2010 Crown Victoria sedan bearing license plate BRF 4966. The vehicle was last observed to have damage on the passenger side, missing the passenger side mirror and a white hood that did not match the original silver color of the vehicle. Maria was wearing a blue long-sleeve shirt with a heart, beige pants, and pink shoes.
The Kingsport Police Department has obtained an arrest warrant charging Matthew with Especially Aggravated Kidnapping. Anyone with any information regarding the whereabouts of Matthew, Maria, or the suspect vehicle is asked to please contact the Kingsport Police Department at 423-229-2429 (KPD Criminal Investigations Division) 423-246-9111 (Kingsport Central Dispatch) or the TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND.
SUSPECT INFORMATION
Name – Matthew Linebaugh
Age – 35
Gender/Race – Male/White
Residency – Kingsport TN
Charges – Especially Aggravated Kidnapping
VICTIM INFORMATION
Name – Maria Linebaugh
Age – 2
Gender/Race – Female/White
Residency – Kingsport TN
SUSPECT VEHICLE INFORMATION
Make – Ford
Model – Crown Victoria
Year – 2010
Type – Sedan
Color – Silver
License – # BRF4966
Other – Vehicle has a white hood, damage on the passenger side, missing the passenger side mirror, engine makes a knocking sound
RELEASING OFFICER
Corporal Brandon Arnold
Kingsport Police Department Professional Standards Unit
Office (423) 229-9559, Fax (423) 343-9749
SUBJECT: Amber Alert Issued – KPD Searching for Juvenile
DATE: February 17th, 2025
CASE #: 25-002182
GENERAL NARRATIVE
An Amber Alert has been issued by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) on behalf of the Kingsport Police Department regarding the kidnapping of two (2) year-old juvenile Maria Linebaugh. Maria was last seen with thirty-five (35) year-old Matthew Linebaugh, a non-custodial parent, around 1921 Bowater Drive in a silver 2010 Crown Victoria sedan bearing license plate BRF 4966. The vehicle was last observed to have damage on the passenger side, missing the passenger side mirror and a white hood that did not match the original silver color of the vehicle. Maria was wearing a blue long-sleeve shirt with a heart, beige pants, and pink shoes.
The Kingsport Police Department has obtained an arrest warrant charging Matthew with Especially Aggravated Kidnapping. Anyone with any information regarding the whereabouts of Matthew, Maria, or the suspect vehicle is asked to please contact the Kingsport Police Department at 423-229-2429 (KPD Criminal Investigations Division) 423-246-9111 (Kingsport Central Dispatch) or the TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND.
SUSPECT INFORMATION
Name – Matthew Linebaugh
Age – 35
Gender/Race – Male/White
Residency – Kingsport TN
Charges – Especially Aggravated Kidnapping
VICTIM INFORMATION
Name – Maria Linebaugh
Age – 2
Gender/Race – Female/White
Residency – Kingsport TN
SUSPECT VEHICLE INFORMATION
Make – Ford
Model – Crown Victoria
Year – 2010
Type – Sedan
Color – Silver
License – # BRF4966
Other – Vehicle has a white hood, damage on the passenger side, missing the passenger side mirror, engine makes a knocking sound
RELEASING OFFICER
Corporal Brandon Arnold
Kingsport Police Department Professional Standards Unit
Office (423) 229-9559, Fax (423) 343-9749
BrandonArnold@KingsportTN.gov