"Steps to Glory:" With Good Gospel Music, Anything is Possible!

It's no secret that gospel music often provides the glue that holds a spiritual house together.

That's the case in Kingsport, where several gospel groups came together to perform at the first "Steps to Glory" gospel fest, held at the Kingsport Renaissance Center. The event was held on Saturday, May 10th.

Gospel playwright Helen Howard organized the gathering of well-known gospel groups.

"Every gospel song has a message in it," she says. "If you get the message and the Holy Spirit gets you, then you know what to do with your life, and what to live for. We want people to jump on their feet, we want them to shout, we want them to do whatever they can to praise the Lord."

She went on.. "The music has always been an extention of church.. it's the work of the Lord. People need to know that Jesus is coming back one day, and we need to be ready. We need to be prepared. Gospel music is a ministry, just like preaching. Today's ministry is getting the gospel out there, through music and plays."

CLICK HERE TO SEE AND HEAR THE SPECIAL VIDEO WELCOME FROM REV. DONNIE WADE


http://youtu.be/22CqZviNPOE

The gospel fest at the Renaissance Center was packed. Both New Beginnings pastor Billy Pearson and Rev. Donnie Wade of the Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Rotherwood welcomed the faithful.

"People here just like good, ole-fashioned gospel music," says Mrs. Howard. "It's one step closer to God. Anything we can do to bring Glory to God, and show who He is, and that He's Ruler over our lives, that's what we should do."

CLICK HERE TO SEE AND HEAR A VIDEO CLIP FROM THE NEW BEGINNINGS CHRISTIAN CHOIR


http://youtu.be/7opF7urWKk8


The groups that sang the praises of God were the New Beginnings Christian Fellowship Choir, from the New Beginnings Church in Kingsport... the New Vision Youth Dancers... the Devoted Gospel Group... the Mabry Singers... and Uncle Jesse Battle and the Sands of Time, the group that Mrs. Howard manages.

"The New Beginnings Church.. that's my home church," Mrs. Howard says. "What makes them special is that anybody who knows New Beginnings, they know it's loaded with love."

"When you come there, you're right at home, and you're loved."

Praise dancing was done by members of the New Vision Youth, headed by director Johnnie Mae Swagerty. The main group of more than 50 elementary, middle and high school students focuses on well-rounded, Christian fellowship, with an emphasis on friendship and community involvement. The praise dancers have performed all over the Tri-Cities in churches, schools, and community gatherings.

CLICK HERE TO SEE AND HEAR A VIDEO CLIP FROM THE NEW VISION YOUTH


http://youtu.be/_nzmGczdQj8

"Johnnie Mae does a wonderful job with these young people," Mrs. Howard says, whose 2 granddaughters are in the New Vision Youth group. "This group has got a message.. that you don't have to bow to peer pressure and do the wrong thing. They've got great attitudes and positive minds. When they dance, they put themselves into the struggles that all young people face."

Mrs. Howard says, soon, she'll be working with Swagerty and the group in performing plays that raise peoples' spirits and continue the blessings of the Lord.

She was particularly impressed by the talents of one New Vision Youth member.

"Javonte Lyons has an awesome voice," says Mrs. Howard. "Every time I see that gifted young man, he's singing the Lord's praises. He's not shy, and if you call on him, he's ready to give it his all."

CLICK HERE TO SEE AND HEAR A VIDEO CLIP OF JAVONTE SINGING

http://youtu.be/zpkykp9HlWw

"He's a good example of what happens when you encourage young people.. give them the opportunity to shine.. give them the chance to use the talents that God has given them. Giving them that chance, lets them shine."

Devoted is a gospel group that's familiar to audiences in upper East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. They're from Russell's Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church in Rogersville, TN.

CLICK HERE TO SEE AND HEAR A VIDEO CLIP FROM DEVOTED

http://youtu.be/yXklUZ2d6A8

"We did a program at the Lee Street Baptist Church in Bristol," says Mrs. Howard, "and that's where I met this talented group. I liked their voices and the way they blend together. What makes them unique is that the church pastor, Rev. Pamela Hoard, is a member of the singing group. That is always a plus when it comes to church singing.. when the pastor can sing, and puts their voice together with other great voices in the choir.. that's a special thing."

The Mabry Singers are a family of excellent voices. Literally.

This talented group from Hansonville, VA is composed of father, mother, and their two daughters.

CLICK HERE TO SEE AND HEAR A VIDEO CLIP FROM THE MABRY FAMILY

http://youtu.be/ntWnYZNk1Rw

"I met them not long ago," says Mrs. Howard.' I went to their church and listened to them sing, and they were awesome, awesome, awesome. The father is a songwriter, and they've been around for a long, long time.. everybody knows them and the messages they spread in their music."

"Their familiar blend of gospel music is well-known, and that's a good thing. Sometimes, you need the familiar to understand the Word."

Uncle Jesse Battle and the Sands of Time brought the crowd to its feet.

And that's a good thing.

CLICK HERE TO SEE AND HEAR A VIDEO CLIP FROM UNCLE JESSE BATTLE & THE SANDS OF TIME

http://youtu.be/rC7YP_t7AeM

"Jesse Battle is indeed a man of God," Mrs. Howard says of the man from Atlanta that she also serves as manager. "He's a man that believes that whatever talent the Lord has given you, you need to use it. Use it or lose it. He knows how to sing to an audience of the faithful. He brings life to his songs, and every song has a message in it. Jesse's singing is easy to write plays to, because he just motivates the people.

This was the first in Mrs. Howard's Steps to Glory Production, which specializes in Christian plays and musical concerts.

"Not only do I write plays that God gives me, I also take Uncle Jesse Battle's music and turn the songs into plays. We have a play coming up here at the Renaissance Center at the end of July. We're also planning a Fun in the Sun day, when we'll sell food, finger painting for the kids. We'll also have something for the seniors, plenty of gospel music, just a little bit of everything.

"We plan on giving back to the community and working with the youth, especially the New Vision Youth, and we also plan on working with the seniors in the area. Anything and everything we can do, to bring Glory to God.. that's what it's all about."

The money raised from the admission is going for that good cause.

"The $5.00 admission will help produce our next play," Mrs. Howard says. "Our plays inspire people to go out and do the Lord's Work. We want them to know that you can have a good time in the Lord, just like you can in the clubs. The difference is, when you leave this earth, we want to spent eternity with Jesus Christ."

"That's our main goal with the plays, and the music."


CLICK ON THE LINKS BELOW TO HEAR MORE FROM THE GROUPS AT THE GOSPEL FEST:

http://youtu.be/_RX0hMye1ac  Uncle Jesse Battle & the Sands of Time

http://youtu.be/dhgjFEDSM8E  New Vision Youth

http://youtu.be/4ISXS1zVjK4   Devoted

http://youtu.be/Dmp1stgwMkA  Mabry Singers

http://youtu.be/NxMlB62D7m8  New Beginnings

http://youtu.be/IYGP73q46R0  Uncle Jesse Battle & the Sands of Time


CLICK BELOW TO SEE A SLIDE SHOW OF THE STEPS TO GLORY GOSPEL FEST

Created with flickr slideshow.

Mother's Day Dinner 2014: A "Central" Event

PHOTOS BY VICKI SMITH

"It was just a good day for the church."

The men of Central Baptist Church in Riverview stepped up, to show the women of Central how much they are appreciated.

On Mother's Day, May 11th, the women were first treated to a morning worship service put together and anchored by the men folk.

After that, the women were treated to a feast prepared by the men of the church.

On the menu was a huge Mother's Day cake honoring all the moms, and before that, beef brisket, 3 kinds of chicken (fried, lemon, and rotisserie), macaroni & cheese, vegetable trays with green and yellow peppers, onions, cucumbers, tomatoes.. green beans, glazed sweet potatoes, toss salad, rolls and iced tea and water.

"John Hardy was the chief chef," recalls deacon John Harrison, "and 12 to 15 other men of the church were involved in cooking the food in the Fellowship Hall kitchen and coordinating the event itself. Some of them ushered during the morning worship service, others cleaned up the dining area after the dinner."

"The men just stepped up that day."

Harrison says, the Mother's Day dinner was a way to pamper the women, whether they were moms or not, especially with the keepsake of the event -- a huge heartshaped box filled with Dove chocolates.

"We celebrated between 50 and 60 women on that day," he says. "There are moms whose children couldn't get back home, and there are those of us whose moms have passed away. As you know, there are moms who are moms to everybody in the community, not just their own children. They seemed to enjoy the attention."

"Moms are special, you know," Harrison says. "Here was a way that we as a church, could show the women how special they are, and how much we love them."

A special moment that Harrison noted, was the way the men who served the meal were dressed.

"The men in the choir, of course had on dark suits, but they also had red neckties," he said.  "When the women went into the Fellowship Hall to eat, there were all the men lined up ready to serve them, with maroon aprons on.  To see them lined up like that ready and waiting to serve the dinner to the women was a sight to behold.  It was very impressive and professional."

Sunday's dinner was actually revived from an old tradition at the Central Baptist Church, that sort of went away for a while.

"We got away from it around 2010," says Harrison, "but we sit down to do the church calendar for next year, this event will probably be something that we'll consider, because it was so well received. The women are already planning for how they'll take charge of even the upcoming Father's Day."

"Two days later, they were still talking about their Mother's Day."

Celebrating the Women of Bethel for Mother's Day

Sometimes, we just cannot thank the women in our lives enough.

One local church showed its appreciation, the way women might show their appreciation to others.

By making them breakfast.

At the Bethel A.M.E. Zion Church in Kingsport, the men of the church did all the cooking to honor the women of the church.

The event was held on Saturday, May 10, 2014, the day before Mother's Day.

"It's our Mother's Day present to the special women in our lives, in our church and in our community," says Reverend Charles Hawkins. "The women are invited to come out and eat a delicious breakfast, prepared by some of the best-cooking men around."

In fact, the cooks for this event are the brotherhood of Bethel.. more than 12 men and counting, led by Dale Arnett.

"The men who cooked the breakfast are Tim Kyle, Richard Hicks, Dale Arnett, Doug Releford, and other men, doing other needed things besides cooking," says Reverend Hawkins. "Frank Shepherd is out of town today, but he's a valuable member of the brotherhood.

Among the foods the men prepared were scrambled eggs, potatos, bacon, sausage, and bread with various jellies, along with orange juice and coffee.

The breakfast was free of charge, and is not a fundraiser, says Reverend Hawkins. The event has been held for several years.

"It's just an expression of love to the ladies of the church," he says. "They deserve it.. they are instrumental in the life of the church, and in every family, mothers are often the backbone of the family unit itself. They're the ones who oftentimes, are helping their children with things. Unfortunately, we have a lot of homes headed by single mothers. This is an opportunity for the men of the church to say 'thank you' to all these wonderful women in the Bethel A.M.E. Zion Church."


A SLIDESHOW OF THE BREAKFAST AT BETHEL FOR THE WOMEN OF THE CHURCH ON MOTHER'S DAY

Created with flickr slideshow.

Sons and Daughters of Douglass Board Meeting Scheduled

Please don't forget our regular scheduled meeting of the Sons and Daughters of Douglass Board, this Saturday, May 10th, at 1 PM.

The meeting will be in the Eastman Board Room, 2nd Floor, in the V.O. Dobbins, Sr. Complex tower.


Pres. Douglas S. Releford

Passings in Riverview

We are saddened to report two passings in the Riverview Community.

Mrs. Marie Thompson passed away in Kingsport on Sunday, May 4, 2014.

Also, Reverend Frederick Gordon, former pastor of the Central Baptist Church, passed away also on Sunday, May 4, 2014, at his home in Brevard, North Carolina.

Their funeral arrangements are posted on the PASSINGS AND OBITUARIES page.

Please pray for the families.

Congratulations to Douglass Descendant Michael Releford!

2013-14 Lynchburg College Athletic Awards Banquet Major Award Winners

Soccer standout Michael Releford, son of Andre Releford, took home top honors as the Lynchburg College athletic department honored its top-student-athletes at the annual athletic banquet.

Michael Releford earned the Male Senior Award.

He had a storied career in goal for the LC men's soccer team.

As a freshman in 2010, he led the Hornets all the way to the NCAA Division III Tournament's title game, and earned the tournament's Defensive Most Valuable Player for his efforts.

In six games against the best opponents in the nation, he allowed just five goals.

An All-ODAC and All-State first-team honoree in each of his three seasons, Releford was named the ODAC Player of the Year in 2012.

He also garnered first-team All-Atlantic Region accolades as a junior.

Quilting for a Cause

This is from Regina Bond Gray -- felt it important to our history in Riverview, to see a Civil Rights link

Quilters of Gee's Bend


Click here to read the history of Gee's Bend, Alabama (also known as Boykin, Alabama)

Easter EGG-travaganza!

Hunting Easter eggs.. a mainstay for any community.

The Riverview neighborhood in Kingsport was no different on Easter weekend, as more than 80 people, most of them children, hunted for Easter eggs in the Douglass ballfield.

The event was held on Saturday, April 19th and was sponsored by the Riverview Residents Association, South Central Community Development Corporation and the New Vision Youth.

To make the hunt more exciting, prizes were given away and awards presented in a couple of categories.

Cordae` Moore collected the most eggs.. he's the grandson of Terry and Jeanne Moore. He collected 49 eggs, and won a brand new bicycle.

Malachi Smith holds the honor of eating the very first egg that he found. He won a food gift card from Mama's House Restaurant, a free dessert from Shoney's, a free meal from Applebee's, and a huge chocolate chip cookie from Subway.


See pictures of the event taken by Jaquetta Hale below

Created with flickr slideshow.

Douglass Alumni: 2014-2015 Dues are Due

Reminder to all Douglass Alumni and Descendants of Douglass Alumni:


2014-2015 alumni membership payments are due.

The dues are only $25.00 a year, and help to fund the upkeep of the Sons and Daughters of Douglass office in the V.O. Dobbins, Sr. Complex.

A portion of the dues, also funds programs of your Sons and Daughters of Douglass non-profit organization in the Riverview community and the city of Kingsport.

Please don't forget your alumni association. Send your dues for the upcoming year to:


Sons and Daughters of Douglass, Inc.
Ste. 104
301 Louis Street
Kingsport, TN 37660


Thank you for your alumni support!

New Vision Youth Car Wash

• KINGSPORT — New Vision Youth will hold a car wash and bake sale today, from 9
AM to 1 PM at Title Max, 1112 E. Stone Drive, in front of Burlington Coat Factory.

The event is also a kickoff to “Celebrate My Drive” with State Farm Agent Nathan Vaughn. New Vision members encourage students to go by and get their cars washed before the prom, and to get a Promise to Drive Safely ribbon.

Car washes are provided for a donation to New Vision Youth.

All proceeds will go to New Vision’s educational trip to Atlanta in July. For more information, call Johnnie Mae Swagerty, at (423) 429-7553 or Jaquetta Hale at (423) 579-4651.

Gospel Explosion on May 10th!

CLICK ON THE POSTER TO MAKE IT LARGER

 

 

Notice of Sons and Daughters of Douglass Meeting - Covered Dish

The Sons and Daughters of Douglass, Inc., will have their next meeting on Saturday, April 26, 2014.

The meeting will be at 1:00 p.m. in the Eastman Board Room, located at 301 Louis Street, 2nd Floor.

This is the V. O. Dobbins, Sr. Complex.

Those interested parties with business before the Board, please attend the meeting and be heard.


REMEMBER THIS IS A COVERED DISH MEETING. BRING A FRIEND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Opening day: Kingsport officials hope to have sports complex built by spring 2015

SPORTS COMPLEX WILL BE ON THE SITE OF CLAY HILL IN RIVERVIEW, BEHIND DUNBAR STREET


THIS STORY COURTESY THE KINGSPORT TIMES-NEWS, PHOTOS BY THE DOUGLASS WEBSITE - CLICK ON THE PICTURES TO MAKE THEM LARGER

By MATTHEW LANE
mlane@timesnews.net

KINGSPORT — Kingsport’s new softball/baseball complex could cost as much as $6.4 million to build, and if an optional, fifth field is added to the project, the total price could be bumped up another $1 million.

The Board of Mayor and Aldermen got an update on the project last week, including these estimated costs, along with conceptual drawings of the site. The BMA also awarded the bid for the site work and approved a lease agreement with the Kingsport Economic Development Board for a portion of the property where the complex will be built.

Kingsport plans to build a new softball/baseball complex on a portion of the old General Shale property along Industry Drive to replace Eastman Chemical Co.’s ballfields on Wilcox Drive. When Eastman announced its $1.6 billion “Project Inspire” reinvestment plan last year, the plan called for a new corporate office building on the site of the company’s ballfields.

Eastman has demolished the old field house and construction has started on its $74 million office building. The building is scheduled to be completed next year.

According to the conceptual plan, the sports complex will have four ballfields, in a wagonwheel design with a centrally located two-story building for scoring, concessions and restrooms. Two of the fields will be 325 feet, one 350-foot championship field with terrace seating and a fourth field at 300 feet.

Assistant to the City Manager Chris McCartt said all of the fields would be skinned (no grass) with various locations to place the bases to provide for greater diversity. The two-story scoring tower was included to help the Kingsport Convention and Visitors Bureau with tournament recruitment, McCartt said.

Earlier plans show a 300-space parking lot and an adjacent playground. These latest drawings have removed the playground and the parking lot now stands at 250 spaces.

The KEDB purchased the 98-acre General Shale property for $2.77 million. Kingsport plans to lease 38 of the acres for the sports complex with the remaining land envisioned as a potential site for an industrial park.

Last week, the BMA approved the lease with the KEDB and at any time over the next 20 years Kingsport can purchase the property for $10,000 an acre or $380,000.

The other action taken by the BMA last week in relation to the project was awarding a contract to Thomas Construction for site work (mass grading, detention pond, retaining wall). The 120-day contract is for approximately $1.25 million.

City leaders have discussed adding a fifth field (at 325 feet) to the complex, which would bump up the site work cost by $245,000 and the overall cost of the project by $1.1 million. The BMA discussed the option of building the fifth field now as opposed to later when the cost would obviously be more.

McCartt said the city would love to see the fifth field added and once construction bids come in (likely in June), then staff would re-evaluate the possibility of adding the field to the project.

“That would put us in a good position for the foreseeable future,” McCartt said.

“What’s the difference in cost from building it now or in five to 10 years?” Vice-Mayor Mike McIntire asked. “I think it’s substantial.”

As it stands, the project is estimated to cost around $6.4 million, not including the $380,000 for the land. A fifth field would increase the final cost by $1.1 million. Potentially $8 million could easily be spent on the project in the long run.

“On average that’s what you’re paying to build a four-plex similar to what we’re proposing,” Mc-Cartt said.

Kingsport bonded $2.9 million last year for the project, the KEDB has committed $1.3 million and to date the city has spent $375,000 on design work. McCartt said for the city to complete the base package (four-field design), an additional $2.3 million needs to be secured, likely from a future bond anticipation note or bond issuance.

When the idea of a sports complex was first discussed back in June, city officials threw out a $3.5 million price tag for the facility and even included that figure in the 2014 capital improvement plan. In September, when the land purchase price was announced, the $3.5 million was still the target number.

But in December, $2.9 million of bond funds was secured for the project and since then city officials have admitted that additional funds would be necessary to complete the project.

                  Kingsport Mayor Dennis Phillips (left) and the Board of Mayor & Aldermen

During last week’s meeting, members of the BMA did not raise a fuss about the projected cost of the project, but in subsequent telephone conversations, they did express their concerns about the estimated cost.

“We are committed to build the ballfields and one of the bigger problems that we seem to have is that we are never able to do a project for the amount that we are initially estimating,” said Mayor Dennis Phillips. “It’s a bad thing to do over and over and I think we need to do a much better job in the future of realizing we have more accurate numbers that reflect the true cost.

“That should be a goal of the (BMA) to make sure it happens.”

At this time, Phillips said he is leaning toward building the fifth field if economically possible.

McIntire offered a similar sentiment, but said he is not comfortable with the dollar amount.

“It’s one of those projects that we really don’t have options with. It’s something Eastman has asked us to do and I think we’re committed to doing it,” McIntire said. “I’d like to wait and see the numbers, but I think if there’s a way to do it now I’d support going ahead, getting it done and doing it right.”

When Eastman asked Kingsport to build a sports complex to replace the one going away at Wilcox Drive, the city also incorporated Eastman’s leagues into its Parks and Recreation Department. In all, the department now oversees 750 youth baseball and softball games and 650 adult softball games within the city. Potentially, 1,800 tournament games, such as AAU and USSSA, could also be played on city fields.

"Good Friday" Fish Fry

NEW VISION YOUTH
"GOOD FRIDAY FISH FRY FUNDRAISER"
Sponsored by the New Vision Youth.


April 18, 2014

12 NOON until sold out
Please join the group at the Riverview Splash Pad Shelter

CHIPS $0.50.... DRINKS $1.00


SANDWICH SANDWICH
$3.00 W/COLESLAW $4.00

All proceeds go toward the group's education trip to Atlanta in July.

CALL IN ORDERS FOR PICK-UP

JOHNNIE MAE SWAGERTY (423)429-7553
JAQUETTA HALE (423)579-4651

Your Invitation to the Mayor's Prayer Breakfast in Kingsport

CLICK ON THE ILLUSTRATION TO MAKE IT LARGER

College Looms Large for D-B Students: Tours Help the Decision-Making Process

Those who have been through it, say it's never too late for high school students to start thinking about college.

With that in mind, senior members of Kingsport's New Vision Youth from Dobyns-Bennett, paid the first of 6 visits to college campuses.

Maryville College was first on the list. The picturesque university, its stately buildings and rolling acres, are on the east side of Maryville in Blount County, Tennessee, gateway to the western end of the Great Smoky Mountains.

That was impressive enough for some of the high school students.

"It's a good experience so far," says D-B junior Rashad Hunter, making his first college visit. He plans to major in film, directing and producing.

"I want to know what their majors are, what programs I can do afterwards and how the school can benefit me later on," he says.

Those feelings are echoed by the folks on the other end of the scruntiny.. the administrators being eyeballed by the prospective students. At Maryville College, the school holds an annual "Meet Maryville" where potential students can tour the school, talk with instructors and see what higher education the college has to offer.

 
"It's vital for students to find a college that's the right fit for them," says Dr. Tom Bogart, Maryville College president. "It's important for students to get a flavor of what life is like here, or any college. We have instructors in our classrooms ready to answer questions about the courses of study.. we also have current students who can tell of campus life and activities. I'm hoping that potential students understand that college is not just some big, abstract idea, but that it's really part of living a rich and fulfilling life."

The Kingsport group was welcomed with open arms.

"In some ways, Kingsport is just the right distance from Maryville," Dr. Bogart says. "Close enough to go home occasionally, but yet far enough to not need to, if necessary. We like the hometown feel of our campus, where everybody gets to see and hear different things while they're visiting. Maryville is a lot like Kingsport, a nice friendly city. Visiting here is a chance for prospective students to compare notes and talk about what they've seen and heard. They get to go through all of that together. Peer support and encouragement is important."

This is DB freshman Cadijah Williams' third college visit, in her quest to either be a kindergarten teacher or go into the Navy.

"It's fun visiting colleges," she says, having been to Austin Peay State University for the 2009 Governor's Highway Safety Initiative for Teens, and Tennessee Tech, host to last year's Tennessee Teen Institute. "Maryville College has a very pretty campus, with lots of outdoor stuff to do. That's important to me because you don't stay in the dorm room all the time. You get to be outside and meet new people, hang out and do different things."

Other colleges and universities on the visit list for the New Vision Youth upper classmen are ETSU, Milligan College, UT-Knoxville, Northeast State and Tusculum College in Greeneville, TN.

"We've done college tours three times now over the past few years," says New Vision Youth Director Johnnie Mae Swagerty. "It teaches them preparations for college, knowing what things to take, due dates for college scholarship applications, things like that. They can also find out if what they're interested in doing, can be a major or minor while they're studying. They also learn the rules and regulations for going to college."

Swagerty credits Maryville College alumnus Don Hickman for helping arrange the New Vision Youth visit to Blount County. Hickman, a former Kingsport resident, DB and Douglass School graduate, was on the alumni selection committee that chose Dr. Bogard as Maryville College's 11th president 4 years ago.

Dr. Bogart says, it's a small world when it comes to picking the right school for higher education.. often a game of "shop around."

"If we're not the right place, that's perfectly all right too," he says. "Picking a school can be difficult. Our job is to help them understand the characteristics they're looking for in their search for the right place. All we ask is that potential students give us an opportunity to show them what we've got, the atmosphere and the rich culture we have."

"If we're the right place for them, we will welcome them with open arms," says Dr. Bogart. "If we're not the right fit, they're still welcome here any time, because we see ourselves as a community asset for the region. We want them to know things about Maryville College, and perhaps they can tells someone else about something they liked here."

Created with flickr slideshow.

New Vision Youth Trip Fundraiser

Please help support the New Vision Youth's trip to Atlanta in July.

Sports basket to be given away on Father's Day, June 15, 2014.  Items in the basket represent the Tennessee Vols, the Kentucky Wildcats, the East Tennessee State Buccaneers and the Tennessee Titans.

Tickets are on sale for one dollar apiece.

All proceeds go towards the group's trip to the historical sites in Atlanta, GA in July.

For tickets and more information, call Johnnie Mae Swagerty (423) 429-7553 or Jaquetta Hale (423) 579-4651.

Eastman's Stuckey among top 100 influential blacks

Eastman Chemical Co. Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer Perry Stuckey was recently named by Savoy Magazine as one of the top 100 influential blacks in corporate America.

The Savoy Top 100 is the definitive listing of African American executives, influencers and achievers impacting corporate America. Selection factors for the list include corporate sector influence, scholastic achievement, career growth, community outreach and recognition.

Stuckey, whose 25-year career spans various business and human resources roles, joined Eastman in 2011. He is responsible for Eastman’s human resources strategy and services worldwide. Stuckey is a member of several human resources organizations including the Executive Network Human Resources Round Table and the Conference Board’s Council for Chief Human Resources Officers.

Stuckey also serves on the board of directors for Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam’s “Healthier Tennessee” initiative and for the Kingsport YMCA.

The 2014 Savoy Top 100 list is available online at: www.savoynetwork.com 

Easter egg hunt at V.O. Dobbins

• KINGSPORT — Easter Egg Hunt and a Movie will be held Friday, April 4th, 2014 at the V.O. Dobbins Sr. Complex.

The cost is $1 per participant.

There will be three age division hunts for children who will search for eggs filled with treats, toys and prizes.

Inside the family can enjoy the movie “Here Comes Peter Cottontail.”

The doors open at 11:30 a.m. and the movie will start at 12:15 p.m.

The Dobbins Complex is located at 301 Louis St.

Commemorating the 46th anniversary of Kingsport's March for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Upon his Assassination

MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR DR. KING: AT 6:05 EASTERN TIME (5:05 CENTRAL) ON APRIL 4TH, 1968, THE REVEREND DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. WAS SHOT TO DEATH ON THE SECOND-FLOOR BALCONY OF THE LORRAINE MOTEL IN MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE. EVERYONE IS ASKED TO PAUSE FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE AT THAT TIME TO HONOR THIS FALLEN LEADER - Pastor Kenneth Calvert

Below is a reprint of a story on the Douglass website from April 1, 2008, that commemorated the 40th anniversary of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s assassination in Memphis on April 4th, 1968, Kingsport's black community joined with the white community the following Sunday, April 7th, to march for peace in his honor. The picture and the text of the article below was published in the Kingsport Times-News the next day, April 8, 1968

Be sure to watch WKPT-TV NewsChannel 19 on Friday, April 4th for a story on this march. The story airs on the station's 6 & 11 PM news on Channel 19

CLICK ON THIS PICTURE TAKEN AT FIVE POINTS FOR A CLOSER VIEW (SEE WHO YOU RECOGNIZE--THE FIRST THREE PEOPLE FROM THE RIGHT TO LEFT ON THE FRONT ROW ARE BOB WEBB, CALVIN SNEED AND REV. WILLIAM H. STOKLEY..HORACE CURRY IS FIFTH FROM THE RIGHT ON THE FRONT ROW, AND REV. JOHN PRICE IS SEVENTH FROM THE RIGHT)

400 March in King Memorial

NO INCIDENTS

by Joan Roesgen

Times-News Staff Writer

Down the center of East Sulivan Street they came, as naturally as they would have taken a walk on any sunny Sunday afternoon.

They marched five and six abreast, falling into step easily and their number filled the length of the entire block.

There were about 400 participants in Kingsport's first demonstration march, Safety Director Jim Eisenbise estimated, and about 50 of them were white.

No grimness, no shoving, no shouting marred the memorial program for Dr. Martin Luther King. They didn't speak much along the route, perhaps because of the occasion, but more likely because a mile is a hefty hike on a warm day, and it was easier to do it silently.

But there was no need for words or placards anyway--black crepe paper arm bands clearly announced the purpose of their journey to Church Circle.

The Negroes gathered first in Riverview for a prayer service and were joined there by several whites, among them two Catholic nuns and Rev. Douglas Berndt, pastor of St. Paul's Episcopal Church.

Rev. Brandt fell in step with Rev. John Price, pastor of St. Mark's Methodist Church; and Horace Curry, president of the local NAACP chapter; and the three of them led the way through the railroad underpass to Market Street.

They were met there by police cruisers which escorted and followed them the length of the march--up Maple to Center and East Sevier, on past the Safety Building, where the flag flew above their heads at half-mast.

City policemen and sheriff's deputies were stationed all along the way. They stopped traffic at the intersections, patrolled back and forth in motorcycles, and paced the sidewalks in an impressive display of preparedness.

However, not a single incident, not even a sour look was reported during the hour-long march, Eisenbise said.

At Church Circle, the marchers gathered around the center traffic island for a brief program. They offered prayer, paid tribute to Dr. King, and sang "My Country 'Tis of Thee" and "Battle Hymn of the Republic" before marching back to Shiloh Baptist Church on East Sevier.

It was for this last quarter mile lap that their ranks swelled to about 400, as Church Circle spectators stepped off the curb to join them.

Among the group was E. L. Scrantom, Kingsport county court magistrate, whose district includes Riverview.

Scrantom didn't want to walk, he said, "because I'm opposed to all marches on general principle. I had to wrestle with my conscience to come today, but I decided it was my responsibility to the people I represent."

There were young people and old people in the march, but most of them were married couples with children running at their heels to keep up.

One Negro teenager with a broken leg hobbled along determined to make it to the finish. He did.

When a little Negro boy whimpered with tired legs, a white man hoisted him over his shoulder and carried him to the church where, with much hand-shakinging all around, the marchers dispersed.