Notice of Alumni Board Meeting

Ths Sons and Daughters of Douglass Alumni Board will meet on Saturday, Dec. 6.2014. in the Eastman Board Room at 1:00 P.M., at the V. O. Dobbins, Sr. Complex. 

The meeting is very important.  Please bring someone with you.


Doug Releford
Alumni Board President

2014 Thanks for Giving: An Early Countdown to Christmas for Many Kingsport Families

Kingsport's Christmas cheer just got kickstarted with the annual Thanks for Giving event.

Saturday, November 15th, was the one day when love and compassion take action for area families.  Born from the Kingsport Junior League's former 'Bargain Bonanza, the Thanks for Giving event has a wonderful holiday twist.

Every item is free of charge.

"I just got the idea one day ''why don't we just do something different and give the items away?'" says director Tammy Street.  "I had done many volunteer hours with the 'Bargain Bonanza' and it bothered me that there was still a need in the community for families who may be struggling to provide Christmas gifts for their families.  With help and encouragement from friends, we put the first one together 9 years ago, and we had more than 300 people stop by."

"Every year, it just grows and grows."

Although the event is held once a year and the doors open at 8 AM, visitors were lined up at the Kingsport Civic Auditorium at 5:30 before sunrise.  A wonderful selection of gift items and ideas awaited them.

"There's kids clothing, adult clothing, books, music, furniture, even household items," Street says.  "All of our items are donated, either new or gently used.  We go through everything, and it's all put to good use.  A lot of people just need a pair of shoes, but they can't afford them.  Their kids need a nice, warm coat, but they can't afford them.  Mama or Daddy needs a warm, comfortable sweater or a pair of slacks, but the store prices keep them from being able to get them.  We don't forget shoes.. some folks just can't afford new shoes right now, because they're trying to budget around buying other gifts.  We try to help them, because what they don't have to buy here, they can maybe purchase something for somebody else, closer to Christmas."

"They are why we're here," she says.  "They are why we do this."

Visitors are not limited.  Street says, any person in the area who has a need, comes by and the group does whatever it can to meet that need.  "It could be parents, single parents, or grandparents raising their grand-kids on a fixed income.  The need is there.  They can't afford to buy extra coats or extra shoes or themselves, or even toys for the kids for Christmas."

"That's where we try to help."

The Thanks for Giving event could not be accomplished without the help of a dedicated set of volunteers.

"We put the entire program together in the week before the big day," she says, "and I'd dare say we spend about 2,000 volunteer hours gathering items, sorting them, organizing, and also lining the clothing into sizes.
An example of the volunteer giving spirit, happened the day before the event this year.  Some of our volunteers helping us organize, noticed that we were low on kids' winter coats.  They went away and came back with a van-load of brand new coats that they purchased for us to give away.  That says a lot about the love that our volunteers have for the people of the community."

The volunteer list gets bigger every year, too.

"Folks will hear about 'Thanks for Giving' and once they volunteer, many people come back year after year," Street says.  "They tell us that this event is their Christmas.  This is their way of giving back to the community.  It feels good knowing that you can do that, to help a family enjoy a nice holiday season, just makes it worth it.  I can't say enough about how great our volunteers are."

"We just couldn't do it without them."

A stroll through the Thanks for Giving aisles is like department store shopping.. except for one thing.

There's no checkout line.

"We have volunteers that we call 'runners' who will escort each family into the shopping areas," says Street. "They talk to them, find out their needs, their sizes, and what they're looking for.  The runners get to know the families, and that helps match up the right items to the right person.  If they're not sure, the runners offer suggestions that the families appreciate.  Everybody just takes their time, and it becomes a memorable moment at a wonderful time of the year."

The kids are not left out of the festivities.  That's where Jolly Ole St. Nick comes in.

"The kids get to tell Santa how good they've been this year," Street says.  "None of Santa's kids have been naughty, so everybody gets a nice toy.  We've got a big selection, and nobody is disappointed.  To see the joy on the children's faces with a new toy or a new book, sitting on Santa's lap.. it means a lot.  Some of the kids will tell us 'we've never had a Christmas tree' and they 're jumping up and down seeing the ones here.  Some parents tell us trees are a luxury that sometimes they can't afford, but the kids get to experience it here, and that's important."

"We also have a gift shop that only the kids can go into.. no parents allowed," says Street.  "Inside, the kids can shop for their parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, or other relatives.  We gift-wrap the items and everything's ready to go.  The children come out amazed and their faces are just lit up."

Those happy faces extended to their parents, too.

None of the items are wasted.  "We donate to several organizations around the area," says Street. "Everything is put to good use."

And as the doors close, efforts begin for next year's event.  "We start collecting items for next year almost immediately," she says. "One of our volunteers has a storage building, and he graciously lets us keep things there for the next year.  It's a lot of work, but just knowing that people look forward to it, that this one event might make Christmas a little easier, makes it all worth it."

Street says, it's a blessing to be able to bring Christmas to families that need a little cheer.  Being able to share their own blessings, keeps volunteers coming back, year after year.

And judging from the smiles from the parents and the happy faces on the children, the Christmas giving spirit has arrived in Kingsport.

Last stop.... Christmas Day.

"I can't explain it.. it's the best feeling in the world," says Street.  "Nobody ever wants to miss it."

Water project will close Dunbar Street through Friday

• KINGSPORT — Dunbar Street will be closed from Douglass Street to Carver Street today through Friday for the installation of a water line.

The nature of the work will require a complete road closure throughout the project.

Work will take place from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, with Dunbar completely closed between 317 and 327 Dunbar.

Residents will be required to enter from either end of the closure for the duration of the project.

Please take every possible precaution when driving near the work zone.

D-B Playoff Tickets Are On Sale

 • KINGSPORT — Dobyns-Bennett football playoff tickets are now on sale today in the DB Athletic Office.

They will be sold from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Thursday and from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday.

Reserved season ticket holders may purchase their seats today and Tuesday, and on Wednesday, all tickets are open to the general public.

Walk for the Oasis

PLEASE COME OUT AND SUPPORT THIS WORTHWHILE AGENCY IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD!

Gents to Gentlemen Pageant Moved

The annual Gents to Gentlemen Pageant, sponsored by the New Vision Youth and Kingsport Parks and Recreation, has been moved to May of 2015.

Please watch for further information.

Douglass Alumni Fundraiser: "Winging" It with Something Deliciously "Fishy!"

Friends, neighbors and Douglass alumni, all of them hungry, stopped by the Douglass ballfield on Saturday, October 19,2014, to fill their tummies and help a good cause at the same time.

It was a late summer fundraiser for the Sons and Daughters of Douglass Alumni Association.

Folks feasted on delicious whiting fish, fried to a gentle, tender, delicate condition by master chef Andrew Watterson, and served either as a sandwhich, or with baked beans, potato salad and cole slaw as a dinner.

So many people asked for chicken wings at the last fundraiser, that fresh wings were also fried up and served as either a sandwich or dinner.

Soft drinks and cool water were also offered on the side, along with cupcakes baked by alumnus Judy Blye.

The kick of a breezy wind did not cool down spirits of folks, who just put on something extra to block out any chill, but everybody left happy....

And FULL.

We had previously warned folks to come early and come often, and as predicted, the food ran out about 4 PM (after an 11 AM start).  As things were being packed up, folks were still walking up, needing those fish and chicken wings.

A big, hearty THANKS to everybody who stopped by.  The fellowship was wonderful!

Proceeds from the fundraiser go to further programs, scholarships and day-to-day activities of the Sons and Daughters of Douglass Alumni Association of Kingsport, a non-profit charitable corporation chartered by the Tennessee Secretary of State's office and designated a 501 (c) 3 charity by the Internal Revenue Service.

MORE PICTURES FROM THE FUNDRAISER BELOW!

Alumni 2014 Fall Fish-Wings Fundraiser - Video Maker

Community Cleanup in South Central

• KINGSPORT — South Central Kingsport Community Development Inc. will host a neighborhood cleanup Saturday beginning at 9 a.m.

The cleanup area includes Riverview, Oak/Myrtle streets, Sullivan Street, Dale/Maple streets, East Sevier Avenue, and the Borden Park and Cloud Apartments areas. 

Volunteers should meet at the Splash Pad on Martin Luther King Drive at 9 a.m. 

This volunteer project can provide students with the community service volunteer hours they need for graduation. 

Residents of the area should have all the items they want to discard on the curb by 9 a.m. Do not put out garbage cans. 

For more information, contact Johnnie Mae Swagerty at (423) 429-7553.  

Tennessee's Least Racial Diverse Cities

Among almost 100 Tennessee cities, those with the biggest share of white residents and the least racial diversity are:

• 1. Mount Carmel, in upper east Tennessee, 97.8 percent white

• 2. Signal Mountain, a suburb of Chattanooga, 97.5 percent white

• 3. Lafollette, in upper east Tennessee, 97 percent white

• 4. Church Hill, in upper east Tennessee, 96.6 percent white

• 5. Greenbrier, a Nashville suburb, 96 percent white


Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2010 census and American Community Survey

The Oasis of Kingsport: An Island in the Sea of Confusion for Women

Many women face difficult times in our economic society.

Problems with money.. problems with raising kids.. problems with men.

Being single, trying to get back (and stay on) their feet is even more difficult.

That's where the Oasis of Kingsport comes in.

"We provide items that women can use, both physically, mentally and spiritually, that can help women to become self-sufficient," says Oasis director Kermit Addington. "Empowering women through love, laughter and laundry.. that's how we do it."

That's the motto of the Oasis of Kingsport, and it comes with a very good role model.

"Our services are patterned after the ones offered by 'The River' in Johnson City," Addington says. "They are an outreach of the First Presbyterian Church there. They've been in operation for 10 years, and I called the lady over there up and said 'I'd like to come over and see what you all are doing..we'd like to start something like that up here in Kingsport. She said 'well you can come over, but you can't come in. Men are not allowed in during regular organization hours.' She did let me come by later though, and I liked what I saw.  The women can't stay overnight, but the ministry is there for most of the day."

 "At the time, Kingsport didn't have anything like it."

It took three years to get the idea off the ground in the Model City.

"Because of timing, I wasn't able to start the concept here in 2011," Addington remembers, "so in the meantime, I started the "Friends and Neighbors" program, the transitional housing problem. That kept me busy non-stop, but I always had a soft spot for the Oasis idea, and kept it in the back of my head. My daughter passed away a year ago, and I needed time to grieve. Right around the first of the year, I reminded myself that 'I'm getting old and I've still got one more thing to do."

"First one donation, then another," he added. "All of a sudden, we're off and running and moving along. On the first of April, we got the first stick of furniture, and on June 16th, we opened the doors. We quickly found out that this was the right time to start this ministry. Three years ago, it just wasn't a good time."

"We're not asking the women for anything," says Addington. "For a load of clothes to be washed at a very reasonable price, we can help them make the decision to help themselves. We only charge a quarter for everything. Think about it.. on the open market, a load of clothes will wash and dry for about five dollars. By the time you add detergent and the fabric softener, you're looking at at least 10 dollars or more. Here, it's 25 cents for everything, and while it's happening, you get the chance to better yourself from whatever condition your life is in.

"For what we offer," Addington says, "we could be the best deal in town."

The building on E. Sullivan Street housing "The Oasis of Kingsport" was nothing but bare walls, when Addington first found it back in the late spring-early summer of 2014.

"There's an interesting story to this building," he says. "I'd looked all over downtown for a building, because this is a downtown ministry, I thought," he says. "Anything you could find was about 900 dollars a month and I didn't have much money. I happened to drive by here and saw the "for lease" sign, and thought 'well, I'll drop in.' The owner showed me around, and it was just bare walls. The more I looked around, the more I liked it, and I told him what I wanted to put in the building, the ministry and the mission work, and I asked him what the rent would be.. I'm thinking it's probably 900 dollars just like everywhere else. He says, 'well, let me think about it and call me in the morning."

"The next morning, I called and he says, 'well what do you think?,' recalls Addington. "I said 'I'd really like to have it.. what rent did you come up with?' I was still thinking it was going to be way out of any price range I had. He says, 'how about if you have it for free until the first of the year?' I said, 'oh my, thank you very much, that would be great!"

"Come to find out later in talking with his wife, they had been praying for 3 months what they could do to serve God better," Addington says. "They'd had some rough times in life and he accepted Christ and it turned his life around. He told me what a good feeling it is, to see the women in need of Christ, coming in and knowing that they're leaving with the Spirit of God in them, 'empowering' them to do better with their lives. That's a powerful message. "He's part of that, in a way that he could never have imagined."

"That's how we got the building. God sent us this building."

TAKE A TOUR OF THE OASIS OF KINGSPORT BY CLICKING THE PLAY BUTTON BELOW:

Days at the Oasis of Kingsport are full of inspiration, joy, laughter, and of course.. lots of laundry.

"This is a place to come and experience Christian fellowship," says Addington. "It's a positive atmosphere. We'll sit down and we'll listen and we'll counsel you, and we will not judge you. You can help us by just following the rules and making a positive attempt to better yourself. That's our goal and our mission. We want you to become somebody."

So far in the short life of the Oasis, 75 women have come through the doors to experience the fellowship while the wash gets done.

"Out of that 75, we have a 90 per cent retention rate," Addington says proudly. "They have come back at least once, and then maybe a couple of times since their first time, and each time they're more positive about their outlook."

Success stories? The Oasis of Kingsport has plenty of those, too.

"So far, three women have been able to get jobs by working on the computer while doing laundry and hearing the ministry, which keeps their spirits and their confidence up," he says. "We've also had women coming in who live in cars because they could not afford housing when they first came to us. They were able to get more secure housing once they came in and became more stable. In terms of health care, we're partnering with the Providence Clinic at the First Baptist Church here in Kingsport, and we steer our ladies down there if they have a medical need. They can also take the Crossroads bus once a month to First Broad Street (United Methodist Church). Although we don't know of any abusive situation among our visitors, we do have women who have been in jail, and some with addiction problems. We do not drug screen, because again, we do not judge people."

Addington says the Oasis rules are not unreasonable.

"Rule number one.. respect your fellow person that's here.. do not take advantage of them. Number two, participate. Don't just wash your clothes and sit there. Of course, we don't allow alcohol or drugs or anything like that, and we don't have overnight facilities.. Also, no men are allowed inside during the hours of operation. When you come through the door and you agree to the rules, you can stay."

Not all the women coming through the door are in need of the spiritual help and encouragement. Many women volunteer their time to see to the needs of not only the clients, but also the needs of the ministry as well.

"17 churches in the Kingsport area are represented among our volunteers," Addington says. "The opportunity is there for anybody from any church to be here, if they'll just take the time to see how rewarding it is, how much the women appreciate it and what a blessing it is. Word of mouth helps us, and there is a certain degree of trust that gets built up between the clients and the volunteers. 90 per cent of the people who come through the doors for the very first time, have said 'I'd like to come back, if it's all right."

"Of course it is," Addington notes.

One area that is being targeted for the Oasis, is the very area that it is surrounded by. Many women in the Riverview community may not know the Oasis outreach ministry is right in their own backyard.

"We're not doing a very good job of letting African-American women know that we are here to help," says Addington. "We did get a visit from three women who found out about us they said while visiting the the food pantry at the First Christian Church in Colonial Heights. After they came by to visit, two of them sounded very interested in coming back. The third decided the "Oasis" wasn't for her, and that's going to be true sometimes. The program is not for everyone.. it can help you make positive choices in your life, but it doesn't force you to make those choices."

"That's why we reached out to the Douglass-Riverview neighborhood website," says Addington. "We want to let our next-door neighbors know that we are here, and that we can help. We really think that once they come in and will trust us, they'll benefit from it, and then they'll tell somebody else."

Addington says, the welcome mat is out to all women who are missing something in their lives.

"We want to help them find the confidence they need in this world. We'd love to have them 'graduate,' and then tell us 'see you around..you did a good job.'"

"That's really our goal," Addington says, "to not be here 10 years from now, and see all these empowered women with their heads held high, and self-sufficient."

"Here, you'll find love, laughter and laundry," he says. "We'll give you that and more, if you'll just trust us."

Blighted Areas of Kingsport

Will you help us clean up Kingsport?

Have you seen mattresses, old furniture or junk on the side of the road? Is there a house in your neighborhood that is deteriorating beyond normal wear and tear? Are there businesses you frequent with an over abundance of signs?

The Board of Mayor and Aldermen has asked for stepped-up code enforcement.

Are you aware of a tall grass violation?

You can (anonymously) report potential code violations 24 hours a day by calling 423-224-2633 (that's 423-224-CODE).

----Kingsport City Manager Jeff Fleming

Congratulations, New Vision Youth!

New Vision Youth with Blake Leeper at the Eastman Youth Runs.

The group received a check for having the most participants!

New Vision Youth volunteering at Susan G Komen Race on October 5, 2014

Douglass Alumni Board Meeting Saturday!

Douglass alumni.. don't forget board meeting Saturday afternoon at 1 PM, in the Eastman Board Room in the V.O. Dobbins Sr. Complex non-profit tower.

We'll discuss the upcoming reunion next, plus a special surprise at the end of the meeting!

Sons and Daughters of Douglass Board Meeting Saturday

Please don't forget the Sons and Daughters of Douglass, Inc. Board of Directors and all interested alumni will meet on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014 at 1:00 p.m., in the Eastman Board Room on the 2nd floor of the V.O. Dobbins Sr. Complex on Louis Street in Riverview.

The meeting is very important, we will be discussing details for the up coming Reunion for 2015.

All members are needed we will need imput and ideas from every one. Please try to attend and bring someone with you.


Douglas S. Releford

Questions Arise about "17 Most Dangerous Cities in Tennessee"

THE FOLLOWING STORY IS MAKING THE ROUNDS OF THE NEWS OUTLETS ACROSS TENNESSEE..  IT INCLUDES THE ORIGINAL PICTURES EMAILED TO RADIO AND TV STATIONS, AND NEWSPAPERS IN THE STATE.  PLEASE SEE THE REBUTTAL BELOW IT, AND THE ANALYSIS FROM YOUR DOUGLASS WEBSITE EDITOR BELOW THAT:


Home Security Shield News Report: 17 MOST DANGEROUS CITIES IN TENNESSEE
SEPTEMBER 17, 2014


What are the most dangerous cities in Tennessee? To get the lowdown on the cities in Tennessee that are the most dangerous with the highest crime rates, we consulted the most recent FBI Uniform Crime Report. Our rankings are based solely on the data publicly released each year by the FBI. A crime is a crime, so we took both violent and property crimes into account when compiling our list of Tennessee’s most dangerous cities.*

We realize that this topic is inherently controversial in nature and hits close to home. We are aware that there are many different ways to present this data, but when compiling this list we chose to consider not just murder rate, but both violent and property crimes. Check each city listing to get a general idea of the city’s ranking in terms of just violent criminal offenses. Only cities with violent crime rates over 7.0 were included.

1. Crossville, TN: Tennessee’s Most Dangerous City
Dangerous Cities in Tennessee: Crossville, TN

Population: 10,993
Annual Crimes Per 1,000 Residents

Violent Crimes: 14.83 per 1,000 residents
Property Crimes: 101.79 per 1,000 residents
Total Reported Crimes: 116.62 per 1,000 residents
Crossville has a crime rate of about 117 per one thousand residents.

Your chance of becoming a victim of a crime in Crossville? One in 9.

Crossville’s ranking when considering only violent crimes? #2

These statistics make Crossville the most dangerous city in Tennessee.

2. Athens, TN
Dangerous Cities in Tennessee: Athens, TN

Population: 13,632
Annual Crimes Per 1,000 Residents
Violent Crimes: 12.47 per 1,000 residents
Property Crimes: 86.41 per 1,000 residents
Total Reported Crimes: 98.88 per 1,000 residents
Athens has a crime rate of about 99 per one thousand residents.

Your chance of becoming a victim of a crime in Athens? One in 10.

Athens’ ranking when considering only violent crimes?

#3. Memphis, TN

Dangerous Cities in Tennessee: Memphis, TN

Population: 657,436
Annual Crimes Per 1,000 Residents

Violent Crimes: 17.50 per 1,000 residents
Property Crimes: 63.13 per 1,000 residents
Total Reported Crimes: 80.63 per 1,000 residents
Memphis has a crime rate of about 81 per one thousand residents.

Your chance of becoming a victim of a crime in Memphis? One in 12.

Memphis’ ranking when considering only violent crimes? #1

4. Dyersburg, TN
Dangerous Cities in Tennessee: Dyersburg, TN

Population: 17,223
Annual Crimes Per 1,000 Residents

Violent Crimes: 10.68 per 1,000 residents
Property Crimes: 66.77 per 1,000 residents
Total Reported Crimes: 77.45 per 1,000 residents
Dyersburg has a crime rate of about 77 per one thousand residents.

Your chance of becoming a victim of a crime in Dyersburg? One in 13.

Dyersburg’s ranking when considering only violent crimes? #7

5. Knoxville, TN
Dangerous Cities in Tennessee: Knoxville, TN

Population: 182,254
Annual Crimes Per 1,000 Residents

Violent Crimes: 9.73 per 1,000 residents
Property Crimes: 66.77 per 1,000 residents
Total Reported Crimes: 76.50 per 1,000 residents
Knoxville has a crime rate of about 77 per one thousand residents.

Your chance of becoming a victim of a crime in Knoxville? One in 13.

Knoxville’s ranking when considering only violent crimes? #9 (correction)

6. Greeneville, TN
Dangerous Cities in Tennessee: Greeneville, TN

Population: 15,295
Annual Crimes Per 1,000 Residents

Violent Crimes: 7.58 per 1,000 residents
Property Crimes: 66.17 per 1,000 residents
Total Reported Crimes: 73.75 per 1,000 residents
Greeneville has a crime rate of about 74 per one thousand residents.

Your chance of becoming a victim of a crime in Greeneville? One in 14.

Greeneville’s ranking when considering only violent crimes? #14

7. Manchester, TN
Dangerous Cities in Tennessee: Manchester, TN

Population: 10,226
Annual Crimes Per 1,000 Residents

Violent Crimes: 8.02 per 1,000 residents
Property Crimes: 59.46 per 1,000 residents
Total Reported Crimes: 67.48 per 1,000 residents
Manchester has a crime rate of about 67 per one thousand residents.

Your chance of becoming a victim of a crime in Manchester? One in 15.

Manchester’s ranking when considering only violent crimes? #12

8. Kingsport, TN
Dangerous Cities in Tennessee: Kingsport, TN

Population: 49,639
Annual Crimes Per 1,000 Residents

Violent Crimes: 7.39 per 1,000 residents
Property Crimes: 59.43 per 1,000 residents
Total Reported Crimes: 66.82 per 1,000 residents
Kingsport has a crime rate of about 67 per one thousand residents.

Your chance of becoming a victim of a crime in Kingsport? One in 15.

Kingsport’s ranking when considering only violent crimes? #15

9. Jackson, TN
Dangerous Cities in Tennessee: Jackson, TN

Population: 65,725
Annual Crimes Per 1,000 Residents

Violent Crimes: 14.79 per 1,000 residents
Property Crimes: 49.39 per 1,000 residents
Total Reported Crimes: 64.18 per 1,000 residents
Jackson has a crime rate of about 64 per one thousand residents.

Your chance of becoming a victim of a crime in Jackson? One in 16.

Jackson’s ranking when considering only violent crimes? #3

10. Cleveland, TN
Dangerous Cities in Tennessee: Cleveland, TN

Population: 42,068
Annual Crimes Per 1,000 Residents

Violent Crimes: 8.82 per 1,000 residents
Property Crimes: 52.89 per 1,000 residents
Total Reported Crimes: 61.71 per 1,000 residents
Cleveland has a crime rate of about 62 per one thousand residents.

Your chance of becoming a victim of a crime in Cleveland? One in 16.

Cleveland’s ranking when considering only violent crimes? #10

11. Springfield, TN
Dangerous Cities in Tennessee: Springfield, TN

Population: 16,776
Annual Crimes Per 1,000 Residents

Violent Crimes: 10.49 per 1,000 residents
Property Crimes: 46.67 per 1,000 residents
Total Reported Crimes: 57.16 per 1,000 residents
Springfield has a crime rate of about 57 per one thousand residents.

Your chance of becoming a victim of a crime in Springfield? One in 17.

Springfield’s ranking when considering only violent crimes? #8

12. East Ridge, TN
Dangerous Cities in Tennessee: East Ridge, TN

Population: 21,435
Annual Crimes Per 1,000 Residents

Violent Crimes: 7.04 per 1,000 residents
Property Crimes: 49.31 per 1,000 residents
Total Reported Crimes: 56.36 per 1,000 residents
East Ridge has a crime rate of about 56 per one thousand residents.

Your chance of becoming a victim of a crime in East Ridge? One in 18.

East Ridge’s ranking when considering only violent crimes? #17

13. McMinnville, TN
Dangerous Cities in Tennessee: McMinnville, TN

Population: 13,746
Annual Crimes Per 1,000 Residents

Violent Crimes: 8.08 per 1,000 residents
Property Crimes: 46.85 per 1,000 residents
Total Reported Crimes: 54.93 per 1,000 residents
McMinnville has a crime rate of about 55 per one thousand residents.

Your chance of becoming a victim of a crime in McMinnville? One in 18.

McMinnville’s ranking when considering only violent crimes? #11

14. Nashville, TN
Dangerous Cities in Tennessee: Nashville, TN

Population: 620,886
Annual Crimes Per 1,000 Residents

Violent Crimes: 12.16 per 1,000 residents
Property Crimes: 41.96 per 1,000 residents
Total Reported Crimes: 54.12 per 1,000 residents
Nashville has a crime rate of about 54 per one thousand residents.

Your chance of becoming a victim of a crime in Nashville? One in 18.

Nashville’s ranking when considering only violent crimes? #5

15. Brownsville, TN
Dangerous Cities in Tennessee: Brownsville, TN

Population: 10,201
Annual Crimes Per 1,000 Residents

Violent Crimes: 10.88 per 1,000 residents
Property Crimes: 41.47 per 1,000 residents
Total Reported Crimes: 52.35 per 1,000 residents
Brownsville has a crime rate of about 52 per one thousand residents.

Your chance of becoming a victim of a crime in Brownsville? One in 19.

Brownsville’s ranking when considering only violent crimes? #6

16. Lebanon, TN
Dangerous Cities in Tennessee: Lebanon, TN

Population: 26,991
Annual Crimes Per 1,000 Residents

Violent Crimes: 7.30 per 1,000 residents
Property Crimes: 42.13 per 1,000 residents
Total Reported Crimes: 49.42 per 1,000 residents
Lebanon has a crime rate of about 49 per one thousand residents.

Your chance of becoming a victim of a crime in Lebanon? One in 20.

Lebanon’s ranking when considering only violent crimes? #16

17. Columbia, TN
Dangerous Cities in Tennessee: Columbia, TN

Population: 35,203
Annual Crimes Per 1,000 Residents

Violent Crimes: 8.01 per 1,000 residents
Property Crimes: 38.69 per 1,000 residents
Total Reported Crimes: 46.70 per 1,000 residents
Columbia has a crime rate of about 48 per one thousand residents.

Your chance of becoming a victim of a crime in Columbia? One in 21.

Columbia’s ranking when considering only violent crimes? #13


Other cities of interest: Chattanooga, TN was not included in the 2012 FBI Crime Report. Older crime statistics indicate that if it had it most likely would have been included in our rankings.

Note: We use a standard computational formula to calculate our crime rates. This same formula is used by various state government criminal justice departments to calculate crime rate.

VIOLENT CRIMES + PROPERTY CRIMES = TOTAL REPORTED CRIMES

TOTAL REPORTED CRIMES / POPULATION * 1000 = CRIME RATE

*Only cities included in the 2012 FBI UCR with populations of 10,000 or higher and violent crime rates over 7.00 were considered for our rankings.

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THIS POST WAS RECEIVED BY YOUR DOUGLASS WEBSITE FROM THE KINGSPORT POLICE DEPARTMENT, IN RESPONSE TO KINGSPORT'S ALLEGED "NUMBER 8" RANKING FROM HOME SECURITY SHIELD IN THE ABOVE ARTICLE.  THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BELOW ARE THOSE OF THE KINGSPORT POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND IT PROMPTED OUR OWN REVIEW, SEPARATE FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AT THE VERY BOTTOM:

SUBJECT:The City of Kingsport: A Safe Place to Live, Work, and Play

DATE:September 19, 2014

Earlier this week, the Kingsport Police Department became aware of an Internet link that has been circulating across the State of Tennessee via e-mail and various social media applications. This link (the article above -- Editor) directs the user to an article entitled “17 Most Dangerous Cities in Tennessee.” In the article, the City of Kingsport is purported to be the eighth most dangerous city in the State of Tennessee. The same article also claims that Crossville, known as the “Golf Capital of Tennessee,” is the most dangerous city in the State of Tennessee, ranking even higher than Knoxville, Nashville, and Memphis which is of course preposterous.

Anyone who receives this link can easily navigate back to the originating website’s homepage and learn that the article is actually nothing more than a shameless sales pitch by a private company with the goal of selling home security systems. The obvious intent of the article is to deliberately frighten citizens across the state of Tennessee into a false belief that they live in a dangerous community, and in turn drive them to purchase an alarm system. It is a marketing ploy, plain and simple.

Many more factors than just crime statistics play a role in the overall safety of any given city. Under the leadership of the Kingsport Area Safety Council and its member agencies, hospitals, businesses, and industries, the City of Kingsport and Sullivan County, TN hold the designation of being an internationally recognized “Safe Community” by the National Safety Council and the World Health Organization. Had Kingsport been the eighth most dangerous city in the state, it would not have been considered for this esteemed award.

The Kingsport Police Department wishes to assert that Kingsport has always been, is now, and will continue to be a safe place to live, work, and play. Make no mistake…Kingsport is not the fictitious “Mayberry” of the Andy Griffith Show fame. Crime does happen in Kingsport; however, the Kingsport Police Department makes every effort to predict it, prevent it, and when it does happen, swiftly bring those criminals who commit it to justice. Citizens are encouraged to refer to legitimate sources of information, such as the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s annual Crimes in Tennessee Report, for crime statistics rather than believing urban legends circulated by e-mail and social media.

Does the Kingsport Police Department recommend home security systems to its residents? Absolutely! However, a home security system is only one element of a much larger plan. Good lighting, deadbolts, keeping valuables out of plain sight, Neighborhood Watch, and many other factors all play into an overall crime prevention strategy. And these are techniques that any law enforcement officer in any city in the world, regardless of the crime rate, would recommend. While the Kingsport Police Department cannot endorse any one particular home security company, we certainly would not recommend one that attempts to dupe citizens into buying from their company by using sensationalism to instill them with a false sense of fear.

The Kingsport Police Department makes every effort to maintain a transparent relationship with the Citizens of Kingsport. As such, the following narrative was issued in an official K.P.D. news release this past May and deserves repeating:

On May 6, 2014 the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation released the 2013 Crimes in Tennessee Report. This annual report highlights reported crimes, arrests, and overall clearance rates of individual jurisdictions as well as the State of Tennessee as a whole. The 2013 analysis indicates that when it comes to crime and criminal investigations, the City of Kingsport is headed in a positive direction.

When comparing the 2013 data to that of the previous year, the Kingsport Police Department saw a 17.45% decrease in the more serious crimes known as Group A Offenses, which include some of the most violent crimes such as Murder, Rape, Aggravated Assault, and Robbery. There was also a 26.4% decrease in domestic violence incidents and a 27.96% decrease in simple assaults. The vast majority of property crimes, such as Arson, Burglary, Motor Vehicle Theft, and Vandalism, showed significant reductions as well.

Two additional improvements pertaining to violent crime are noteworthy. Regarding the crime of murder, there were zero incidents reported in the City of Kingsport during 2013 as opposed to a total of two in 2012. And, there was a 30.43% reduction in weapon law violations from 2012 to 2013.

Not only are less crimes being reported to the Kingsport Police Department, the department is also doing an even better job at solving these crimes. The Kingsport Police Department’s 2013 overall clearance rate was 41.49% which is not only an improvement over K.P.D.’s 2012 clearance rate of 37.04% but also exceeds the 2013 State of Tennessee overall clearance rate of 39.92%.

One likely contributing factor in this recent crime downtrend is K.P.D.’s participation in the State of Tennessee’s Targeted Community Crime Reduction (TCCR) Grant. This grant has funded hundreds of additional law enforcement man-hours strategically placed in the traditionally higher crime areas of the city. There can be little doubt that increased police visibility is a significant deterrent to criminal activity.

To view the 2013 Crimes in Tennessee Report, visit the following link:

http://www.tbi.state.tn.us/tn_crime_stats/publications/2013%20Crime%20in%20Tennessee%20%28SECURE%29.pdf

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DOUGLASS WEBSITE EDITOR'S NOTE ON THE HOME SECURITY SHIELD REPORT:

UPON FURTHER REVIEW BY THE DOUGLASS WEBSITE EDITOR, the 2013 Crime Figures quoted from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation in the Kingsport PD's story, are the latest figures, and therefore more accurate than the FBI's 2012 figures quoted in the Home Security Shield story.  Those figures are two years old.
  
ALSO, the pictures for Manchester, TN and East Ridge, TN ARE INCORRECT.. Manchester, TN does not have buildings that tall;  and the East Ridge picture is actually downtown Chattanooga, TN.  Note, too, that in the picture of downtown Brownsville, TN, downtown Brownsville only consists of 2 buildings;  and Dyersburg, TN has no identifying landmarks in its picture.

FURTHER... Home Security Shield apparently does not have a readily-accessible report history, either under its own name or a dba (doing business as), from the Better Business Bureau.

AS A RESULT OF THESE FINDINGS, please consider the recent figures from the TBI, and the advice above from the Kingsport Police Department, when making your home security decisions.  Do not be impressed by statements, figures and pictures that could be designed to scare you into making quick decisions about protecting your home, without investigating the claims FIRST.  Do not be pressured into signing a home security contract, without checking out the company FIRST.

 -- DOUGLASS WEBSITE EDITOR

"Lost in Riverview" - Traffic Jam Has Visitors Looking for a Bypass

On the warm late summer morning of Saturday, September 6th, Levi Abernathy was northbound on Wilcox Boulevard in Kingsport. He was headed to the Stone Drive area.

As he crossed the Holston River at Eastman, he saw that the road was blocked ahead at the Industry Drive stop light.

"It was kinda like, a surprise stop," he says. "I saw the cop standing outside his car there, and he was like 'you gotta get off this road."

As Abernathy turned left onto Industry Drive, he did not see a lot of traffic down Wilcox, so, figuring he could just bypass whatever was ahead, Abernathy took the first right he came to, hoping to go around whatever was on Wilcox and get back to the Sullivan Street intersection.

The first road he came to and turned right on, was Wheatley Street. "Everybody else was turning onto Wheatley, so I just followed them."

"It seemed like the best option."

At that moment, Abernathy became "lost in Riverview." The event he wanted to bypass was the annual Eastman Road Race that started and ended at Wilcox and MLK/Lincoln Street.

And he wasn't the only one lost that Saturday.

"Look there," Riverview resident Jack Pierce pointing to a blue car driving by on Louis Street. "That car has never been to Riverview before. I don't recognize the car or the driver. It's never been here before. I've seen dozens of cars coming through here this morning, and none of the people live here. (The) V.O. Dobbins (Complex) is closed today.. nothing going on except the Eastman run. People not wanting to go to the race are getting trapped in Riverview."

We found a Kingsport city police car with flashing lights blocking off MLK at Wheatley, forcing cars hoping to get around the blocked Wilcox Drive, to turn around and go back to the only way out of Riverview at that point.

They all had to come back through and exit the neighborhood at the same place they came into it....

....and that was right back to Wheatley and Industry, where others 'following the leader' were also coming into the neighborhood.  They also met traffic going TO the road race coming in on Wheatley to park in Eastman's parking lot.

"I know they're mad and frustrated," Pierce says. "You watch them come in, and then they're mad and flying back out. This is Saturday, the kids are out of school. What if they were out here playing in the street? One of them might get hurt. What if there was an emergency here in Riverview? What if somebody needed the life-saving crew? Industry's the only way out and it's crowded with cars."

That sentiment was echoed by Jeannie Hodges, who sat on her porch and counted the number of strange cars in the neighborhood.

"So far, I've counted about 300 cars, running up and down Louis Street, and also going on down Dunbar," she said. "Pretty soon, here they come right back out, when they can't get out on MLK."

"I'd been sorta laughing at 'em, but then you feel sorry for 'em," Hodges said. "I know how I would feel if I was stuck driving around in a strange place. They don't want to be here, but they're stuck and the only way out is the way you came in, that's now bogged down in traffic."

"They don't know what we know," she says. "Riverview only has two ways in and out, and one of those is blocked."

"There 'ya go."

"The first we heard about the traffic problem was you telling us about it, Calvin," says Kingsport Traffic Engineering manager Tim Elsea. "Some people were probably thinking well, 'just follow the leader' coming north on Wilcox and coming down Industry Drive. If everybody was turning onto Wheatley, they probably thought that was the detour route. Instead, they got caught in the circle of traffic."

Would more 'detour' signs have helped? Everybody the Douglass website reporter talked to, responded with a resounding 'yes.' "Maybe even a 'no through traffic' sign would help," says Hodges. Abernathy says the only signs he saw, was one 'detour' sign on Wilcox pointing which way to go. "There was no sign at Industry and Wheatley at all," he noted.

"Signage would be an option to curb the confusion in the future," says Elsea, "as long as people read and follow them. Sometimes people don't pay attention to any signs that are out there. It might be best to put more detour signs for the Wilcox through-traffic out there, and 'event parking' signs for the folks who wanted to park in the Eastman lot. You don't want to close Dunbar, Louis and Carver with 'no through-traffic' signs, because folks who actually need to get into the neighborhood, might misunderstand what the signs really mean."

Elsea promised to look into the situation.

"It is definitely something that we'll sit down and look at," he says. "We'll look at this race and other events to make sure that the folks in Riverview don't get boxed in, because it can be an inconvenience."

By the time Levi Abernathy came through, more than 400 vehicles, both private and business, had been counted coming into, and going right back out of, Riverview. As he was headed back the way he came, he paused to ponder.

"400 cars? Through this neighborhood? You gotta be kidding me," he said. "This is preventable with three or four more signs. Keep the one 'detour' sign at Wilcox/Industry, that leads right down to another one at Industry/Wheatley, and still more signs further down Industry. That way, folks like me wanted to get around everything can go on down Industry to Netherland Inn and come in the back way."

"Don't get me wrong," he says. "I've been to Riverview before. My wife comes over quite a bit to the Splash Pad, but I never get past there. This is a beautiful area than I've heard about in the past."

"If  I visit, I don't want it to be the result of a detour."

"Nobody ever talks to us whenever they plan these things," lamented Jack Pierce.

"I don't know of a funeral that would have this many cars up and down the street like this," noted Jeannie Hodges.