Tearing down the old

Construction crews are demolishing the old Jack’s Restaurant on Main Street in downtown Kingsport. The restaurant property, along with the adjacent old Kingsport Foundry land, was acquired by the Kingsport Economic Development Board. The property is being cleared to make way for future development.

The old Kingsport Foundry was one of three industries located in the Riverview Community; the other two were General Shale and Eastman Chemical.

Suspect in racist graffiti case will learn fate in September

This story courtesy the Kingsport Times-News

By KACIE DINGUS BREEDING
kdingus@timesnews.net


BLOUNTVILLE — A Kingsport man is expected to learn in September whether he will get pretrial diversion on a vandalism charge alleging he spray-painted graffiti that police have described as “racist, obscene and threatening to President Obama” on an Interstate 26 overpass.



Andy B. Frye, 20, 1608 Seaver Road, Kingsport, had asked for pretrial diversion following his arraignment on a charge of vandalism over $500 in a Blountville court in January. His case has since been reset more than once due to his probation eligibility report not yet being filed.

Sullivan County Assistant District Attorney Gene Perrin said Frye’s probation eligibility report was filed prior to Frye’s court appearance on Thursday, but not in time for him to review it.

The judge subsequently reset the case for Perrin to announce his decision on Sept. 10.

According to a Kingsport Police Department news release issued after Frye’s arrest, the vandalism on the Meadowview Parkway I-26 overpass was reported on April 19, 2009. Some of the graffiti referred to Obama as “the modern Hitler,” while other beams on the underpass read “all blacks must die” and “KKK.”

Photos of the graffiti are posted on the Web site of the Douglass Alumni Association, a community group based in the Riverview section of Kingsport.

To see the graffiti that was found spray-painted on the I-26 underpass at Meadowview a year ago, click here.

KPD Detective Chris Tincher said Frye was developed as a suspect following a report on the vandalism that was aired by WCYB-TV. Anonymous tipsters contacted Kingsport police and implicated Frye.

Tipsters said Frye had also posted racist and anti-Obama comments on the Internet, but authorities were unable to verify those claims, Tincher said.

Rockin' in Riv-view! 2010 Rhythm N' Riverview

Riverview's annual neighborhood get-together beat the rainy skies this past Monday afternoon and night.

After heavy rains on Sunday and well into Sunday night, the clouds threatened until about 8 A-M Monday morning, and after the cool front moved through, the temperatures retreated from the mid 90's into the upper 70's--perfect weather for outdoor activities during the 2010 edition of Rhythm N' Riverview, a concert event of Fun Fest, Kingsport's annual community funtime. The event, as always, was held in the Douglass Ballfield in the Riverview neighborhood. This year's featured performer was the old-style rock-funk band Project 7ven.

Click here to see a slide show of the 2010 edition of Rhythm N' Riverview.

Click here to see downloadable pictures of the 2010 edition of Rhythm N' Riverview.



Project 7ven, which claims two of the world's most musically talented cities-- Detroit and Memphis-- as its home, rocked the crowd with many old-time hits. Fresh from a concert in Philadelphia the night before, Project 7ven got intimate with the Kingsport crowd, pressing the crowd involvement, even enticing several of the ladies up on stage. All in all, a good time was had by all.



The crowd was also treated to a "mini-concert" by the New Vision Youth Kids, featuring Michael Jackson's "Thriller." The kids performed a dance skit to the tune of one of the late M-J's most famous hits, complete with scary make-up and dance routines from the grave. The kids kept their cool while performing the various stunts and movements in unison, and were rewarded wtih a rousing standing ovation from the enthusiastic crowd. They capped their appearance with a rendition of "We Are The World," also met with an enthusiastic response.



And as always, there was the food.

This year, more vendors than ever before, waited on the crowd with fried whiting, barbeque ribs and chicken, the ice slushees, the hot dogs and hamburgers. Other vendors included a booth featuring many of the early Kingsport Fun Fest tee-shirts for sale, another featured necklaces and pins. But it was the smell of barbeque, that kept people coming back for more. There were even lines at some tables.

If you came to Rhythm N'Riverview Monday night... you got full.



Rhythm N' Riverview, a Kingsport Fun Fest event, was sponsored by Eastman Chemical Company, the South Central Kingsport Community Development Corporation, the Kingsport Housing and Redevelopment Authority, Nathan Vaughn-State Farm Insurance and WKPT Radio.

Getting the Beat - Drum Line

COURTESY THE KINGSPORT TIMES-NEWS


AT RIGHT: Chaka Dorcean and Andy Rogers dance to the beat of the drums while participating in the weekly Friday drum circle in downtown Kingsport; BOTTOM LEFT: Robin Kerkhoff helps her son Mason stay with the beat on the cowbell; BOTTOM RIGHT:
A watchful young participant adds maracas.




Chrishyra Bunche, left, and Jaden Covington, right, play a djembe together as Jasmyn Miller, Ashlei Bunche and Tia Covington keep up with maracas and a tambourine

Now is the Time to Get Ready for Little Miss Vision 2011

PLEASE CLICK ON THE APPLICATION FORM TO MAKE IT BIG ENOUGH TO PRINT OFF


Now is the time to register your daughter, granddaughter, or niece for the Little Miss Vision program for 2011.

The first get-together "Meet and Greet" for the 2011 session will be Saturday, July 24, 2010 at 6 PM, at the Hollis Hills Community Center, Watterson Street in Kingsport. Please register for the get-together by printing the application on the right, fill it out and bring it to the event with the 25-dollar application fee.

"Some of these girls have never been recognized for their achievements," says Mrs. Lillian Leeper, director of the program. "Many girls would love to get up on stage and tell you who they are, their accomplishments, their goals and their aspirations. As we follow them, with their parents' help and the community, and God's with them, they do make it. Along the way, you've got to show them some love, some attention, and show them that they can indeed do it. As President Obama says, "Yes.. we CAN."

Get ready for Rhythm in Riverview 2010!

Fun Fest's annual neighborhood street party in the Douglass Ballfield is this coming Monday, July 19th, beginning at 3 PM and lasting until 9 PM or so.

The guest band this year is Project 7ven, and be sure to bring your dancin' shoes!

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CLICK ON PLAY TO HEAR SAMPLE MUSIC CLIPS FROM PROJECT 7VEN

Project 7ven is one of the best bands in the country. Known for their Ol' Skool style of funk music mixed with synthesized bass and bad ass melodic tones over the top, it is no wonder this is THE BAND.

Project 7ven is now embarking on their own venture away from being the ultimate touring band for many artists and are now on their way to do their own thing.

The story began in 1994 when Project 7ven became the band for famed musical group, "The Bar-Kays". The Bar-Kays had topped the charts with 25 gold, 5 platinum and a ton of top 10 singles. From there the band has toured with such artist as , Glenn Jones, Howard Hewitt, Phil Perry, Waymon Tisdale, The United We Funk Allstars which featured, The Bar-Kays, The S.O.S Band, Con-Funk-Shun, Grammy Award winning Dazz Band, George Clinton and Charlie Wilson.

Project 7ven has played several Grammy after Parties as the band for The Bar-Kays.

Your Douglass website will carry the concert LIVE on the website's main page when the concert begins, which may be around 6 or 7 o'clock on Monday.

Also at Rhythm in Riverview, there will be activities for the kids and youth like train rides, a rock wall and of course, the Riverview Splash Pad.

Rhythem in Riverview is free of charge.

It is sponsored by Eastman Chemical Company, South Central Kingsport Community Development, Inc., Nathan Vaughn - State Farm Insurance, the Kingsport Housing and Redevelopment Authority, and WKPT Radio.

2010 Bethel AME Zion Church Picnic

It was a time of good food, good fun, music, games and great fellowship.

The Bethel A.M.E. Zion church picnic was held on Saturday, July 10, 2010 at the Eastman Cabins at Bays Mountain.

Click here to see a slideshow of the Bethel Church Picnic, taken by church members Virginia Hankins and Charlene Hodge.

Click here to see downloadable pictures of the Bethel Church Picnic.

Jenny reports that some church members were on vacation, but they missed out on Good weather and a good time!

2010 Kingsport 4th of July Parade

CLICK ON THE PICTURE TO MAKE IT BIGGER

Folks were literally FLIPPING over the 2010 Kingsport Fourth of July Parade along East Center Street on Monday, July 5th!

This is probably the most colorful parade ever, and certainly the most patriotic. 212 pictures of July 4th celebration!

Please click here to see a slideshow of the 2010 Kingsport Fourth of July Parade, beginning with the Douglass Alumni Association getting their cars ready for their spot in the event.

Click here for downloadable pictures of the 2010 Kingsport Fourth of July Parade.

Douglass-Slater and Langston Reunion Articles & Pictures

A QUICK NOTE:

If you're looking for the articles and pictures of the 2010 Douglass-Slater Alumni Reunion, and also the story and pictures from the 2010 Langston Alumni Reunion in Johnson City, please go back to the Douglass Website main page, and click on the NEWS OF OUR DOUGLASS FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS link.

Shiloh's Church Picnic 2010

Food and fellowship.

And some crawdads for the kids.

Those were on the menu at the 2010 Shiloh annual picnic, although the crawdads probably could have better spent the visit in the creek they came from.

Although that event was handled exclusively by the kids, the adults enjoyed many events, but the fellowship was the most important thing.

It's the annual church picnic held by the Shiloh Baptist Church. This year's event was held at the Eastman Cabin complex at Bays Mountain.

Click here to see a slideshow of the 2010 Shiloh Baptist Church picnic.