KINGSPORT – There will be a water outage on Friday, May 9, 2016 to repair a waterline on Oakmont Drive, Heatherview Court, Deerwood Lane, Deer Ridge Court and Belle Forest Court. Customers in the area will be without water service between 8:00 am and 2:00 pm. The affected customers will be receiving a call-out notification.
KINGSPORT – In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation which designated May 15th as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which that date falls as National Police Week. Traditionally, the local Fraternal Order of Police (F.O.P.) Burgess-Mills Lodge #11 conducts a Law Enforcement Memorial Service at the Kingsport Justice Center during National Police Week.
The service this year will be held this coming Monday, May 9, 2016 at 4:00 PM at the new Law Enforcement Memorial and Eternal Flame at the Kingsport Police Department on the corner of West Market and Clay Streets in Downtown Kingsport. The department extends an open invitation to anyone who would like to join us as we remember and honor our local fallen officers, as well as all fallen officers throughout the nation.
The Honorable Ray Conkin, Sullivan County General Sessions Court Judge, will deliver the keynote address with the Kingsport Police Department Honor Guard conducting the ceremonial honors. The newly constructed Law Enforcement Memorial and Eternal Flame will be officially unveiled and dedicated during the service.
A brief video preview of the new Law Enforcement Memorial and Eternal Flame at the Kingsport Police Department has been made available for viewing on the K.P.D. YouTube channel by visiting the link below:
The following excerpt is shared from the website of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund:
Today, in the United States, some 900,000 law enforcement officers put their lives on the line for the safety and protection of others. They serve with valor and distinction – and with great success. ‚ Federal statistics show that violent and property crime rates in the United States are at historic lows, thanks in large measure to the dedicated service of the men and women of law enforcement.
That protection comes at a price, however. Each year, there are approximately 60,000 assaults on law enforcement officers, resulting in nearly 16,000 injuries. Sadly, over the last decade, an average of 150 officers a year have been killed in the line of duty. And throughout U.S. history, more than 20,000 law enforcement officers have made the ultimate sacrifice.
The following two inscriptions are found on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington D.C.
This Memorial is dedicated to all Law Enforcement Officers in the United States of America. Inscribed on these walls are the names of those men and women who died in the line of duty.
It is not how these officers died that made them heroes. It is how they lived.
Links to the National Police Week website, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund website, and the Officer Down Memorial Page are provided below:
KINGSPORT – There will be a water outage on Friday, May 6, 2016 to repair a water line on Belle Forest Court. Customers in the area will be without water service between 8:00 am and 2:00 pm. The affected customers will be receiving a call-out notification.
The Lynn View Advisory Committee meeting will be held from 5:00 p.m. at Lynn View. For additional information please contact Kenny Lawson (765-0134).
The Bays Mountain Park Commission will meet at 4:00 p.m. in the Council Room, City Hall. For more information contact Ken Childress (229-9447).
KINGSPORT – The City of Kingsport will continue water, sewer, stormwater, and road improvements in the Colonial Heights area for the next 17 months.‚ Sanitary sewer installation work will continue over the next several weeks in the Buchelew Drive, Beechwood Drive, and Foothills Road areas.
Fire hydrant installation will also continue throughout various areas in Colonial Heights.‚ Merkel Brothers Construction will be the contractor performing the work for the City.‚ The construction zone will be marked by signs and directed by flaggers ‚¬ when required.‚ Drivers are asked to use caution in the area during this time.
If you have any questions, please contact Hank Clabaugh with the City of Kingsport Engineering Division at 229-9324 or hankclabaugh@kingsporttn.gov. Thanks for your cooperation during this improvement process.
KINGSPORT – The Kingsport Police Department will be honoring Kingsport City Jail personnel this week, May 1‚¬â€7, 2016 in recognition of National Correctional Officers and Employees Week.
On May 5, 1984, under Proclamation 5187, President Ronald Reagan designated the first full week of May as National Correctional Officers Week.‚ It is designed to provide correctional employees, particularly direct contact line staff, the respect and recognition that they deserve.‚ In 1986, the name of the week was officially modified by Congress, becoming National Correctional Officers and Employees Week, to include other vital members of correctional staff.
The text of Proclamation 5187 is as follows:
Historically, correctional officers have been viewed as ‚¬guards, occupying isolated and misunderstood positions in prisons and jails. ‚ In recent years, the duties of these officers have become increasingly complex and demanding. ‚ They are called upon to fill, simultaneously, custodial, supervisory and counseling roles. ‚ The professionalism, dedication and courage exhibited by these officers throughout the performance of these demanding and often conflicting roles deserve our utmost respect. ‚ The important work of correctional officers often does not receive the recognition from the public it deserves. ‚ It is appropriate that we honor the many contributions and accomplishments of these men and women who are a vital component of the field of corrections.
-President Ronald Reagan, Proclamation 5187, May 5, 1984
The Kingsport City Jail is a Division of the Kingsport Police Department.‚ It is a temporary holding facility, meaning that prisoners are not housed there long-term to serve an actual sentence.‚ They are merely incarcerated in the City Jail immediately following arrest, until they are arraigned, post bond, or are transferred to another more long-term facility.
Both the City Jail and its personnel are currently certified by the Tennessee Corrections Institute (T.C.I.) and are recertified annually. ‚ The City Jail employees 8 Correctional Officers, 4 of whom are male and 4 of whom are female, and 1 Jail Administrator.‚ The current Jail Administrator is Lieutenant Justin Quillin.
City Correctional Officers are in constant coordination with the Sullivan County Jail and other law enforcement agencies and correctional facilities arranging for prisoner transportation and court holding.‚ The City Jail has a nurse on contract through an outside provider to oversee all health and medical issues involving the facility.
The City Jail is a 20 bed facility.‚ During 2015 alone, approximately 2,700 prisoners were booked into the City Jail for an average of over 7 prisoners each day.‚ Prisoners booked into the City Jail last year accumulated roughly 5,300 criminal charges.‚ Jail personnel are responsible for booking, searching, processing, and ensuring that every prisoner is safe, secure, and medically maintained during their incarceration.‚ Nearly 3,000 meals were served to prisoners in the City Jail during 2015.
In another famous quote, President Reagan stated: We must reject the idea that every time a laws broken, society is guilty rather than the lawbreaker.‚ It is time to restore the American precept that each individual is accountable for his actions.
Please join us in honoring our Kingsport City Jail Correctional Officers and Employees this week and take a moment to thank them for a job well done!
KATS will be hosting their My Driver in May promotion in the month of May, offering gratitude and appreciation for the dedication and loyal service of the drivers in the month of May.
Bus and van passengers may come into KATS at 109 Clay Street during the month of May and fill out an appreciation form or they may request one from their driver. All positive comments will be shared with the drivers.
People just dont realize how difficult it is being a bus driver, said Transit Director Gary Taylor. There is so much more that goes into driving a bus. The importance of safety, customer service, required skills, focus and attention to detail are demonstrated daily by each driver and I am proud of them. Without them, KATS could not exist.
In a continued effort to highlight the many benefits of public transportation, KATS has been offering a series of monthly specials for the 2016 year. Many people enjoyed our April promotion where 25 KATS lime green totes and umbrellas were given away to lucky winners.
Stay tuned each month to see what will be offered! Make sure you take advantage of these deals, and tell your friends and family members. You can learn more about KATS at www.kingsporttransit.org.
WHAT: My Driver in May Promotion
WHERE: Route buses and Dial-A-Ride van service
WHEN: May 1, 2016 to May 31, 2016
KINGSPORT – April has been Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and while distracted driving awareness, prevention, and enforcement has most certainly been a priority this month, it really needs to a priority every single day.‚ Kingsport Police Officers have seen crashes that resulted from people driving down the road while texting, talking on the phone, eating, adjusting the climate control, tuning the radio, programming the G.P.S., putting on makeup, watching a movie, shaving, reading, and even just engrossed in a conversation with a fellow passenger.
And while many things can distract a driver, texting is arguably one of the worst.‚ Texting takes our eyes, hands, and mind completely off the task of driving.‚ There is a new epidemic these days.‚ Our world has become even more connected than ever before.‚ Communication is instantaneous.‚ Multi-tasking is second-nature.‚ The fear of missing out and missing messages has us on the edge of our seats and the edge of our keyboard, constantly checking, texting, tweeting, posting, and snapping.
Communication is not necessarily a bad thing, but when we are so attracted to our phones that we seem unable to put them down to pay attention when life demands it the most – behind the wheel ‚¬ there is a serious problem.‚ It is an extremely dangerous habit that has become so ingrained in our minds, we rationalize it as a necessary routine.‚ But in reality, not only is it illegal, it is extremely reckless and careless as well.‚ It is inconsiderate to other motorists, and even yourself and anyone who cares about you.
So what are we supposed to do about it?‚ It all starts with a movement, and all movements start with a choice and an action. ‚ Our choice is to not be distracted by our phones while behind the wheel, and our action is giving a thumbs down to those who do. ‚ There has never been an easier way to say it, and now that we can, we want to say it loud and clear.
Keep your thumbs down, citizens of Kingsport, and your chances of having a crash will go down also.‚ Join the movement in saying Thumbs Down to Texting and Driving!
Pictured left to right in the above photo: Major Jason Bellamy, P.I.O. Tom Patton, Lt. Joe Valentine, Chamber of Commerce President Miles Burdine, City Manager Jeff Fleming, Officer Quinn Shelton, Alderman Tommy Olterman, Captain Mike Roark, Alderman Tom Parham, Chief David Quillin, Officer Matt McGuire, Vice Mayor Mike McIntire, Alderwoman Michele Mitchell, Officer Joey Moody, Sgt. Steve Summey, Officer Nathan Elliott, Sgt. Micah Johnston, Officer Mike Slater
KINGSPORT – This coming Saturday, April 30, 2016 is National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day.‚ National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day is sponsored by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).‚ It aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications.
In reality, at the Kingsport Police Department, every day is Prescription Drug Take-Back Day.‚ K.P.D. held their first prescription drug take-back event in 2010, collecting 179 pounds of medications in just a few hours.‚ In 2012 a permanent drop box, dubbed Project Drug Drop Zone, was installed in the lobby of the Justice Center, conveniently located at 200 Shelby Street in Downtown Kingsport.
This box is accessible to the public 24 hours-a-day, 365 days-a-year.‚ To date, the Kingsport Police Department has collected and incinerated over 6,546 pounds (over 3 ‚¼ tons) of leftover, unwanted, or expired medications.‚ The goals of this initiative are to keep drugs off of the street, prevent overdoses and accidental poisonings, and avoid environmental contamination.
Items that can be placed in the box include non-narcotics, narcotics, over-the-counter (OTC) medications, herbals and vitamins, and veterinary medications.‚ Items that should not be placed in the box include needles or sharps, biohazard materials, and illegal drugs.
A map has been included with this release showing the locations of every prescription drug collection site across the State of Tennessee.
For additional information on the various prescription drug take-back programs at the City, County, State, and National level, please visit the following links:
http://police.kingsporttn.gov/Drug_Drop_Box
http://www.scadcoalition.org/medicine-cabinet-inventory
http://www.tn.gov/behavioral-health/article/Prescription-Drug-Take-Back-Boxes