The Douglass High School Renovation Plans--They Are A-Changin'

NEW PLANS WILL CHANGE THE FORMER SCHOOL'S APPEARANCE, BUT ARCHITECT SAYS THE CHANGES WILL IMPROVE THE SCHOOL BUILDING ITSELF





FIRST OF TWO PARTS

The Douglass School renovations are going forward, but changes are afoot, according to architect and designer Dineen West of Cain, Rash and West Architects of Kingsport.

CALVIN SNEED AND ARCHITECT DINEEN WEST OF CAIN, RASH AND WEST ARCHITECTS







I sat down with Mrs. West for an exclusive, in-depth look at the changes, which are mandated by the City of Kingsport's goal of putting all of its non-profit agencies under one roof, yet preserve the historical significance of the largest African-American school in upper East Tennessee.

The renovations are still projected to cost around $7 million dollars, "and those are very fluid dollars," Mrs. West says. "Ultimately, there may be more or less dollars allocated to any one item we want to do. Don't get attached to any one idea, because it may change," she warns.

JUST INSIDE THE DOUGLASS FRONT DOOR, AND TO THE RIGHT TOWARDS THE AUDITORIUM.. THE WALL ON THE LEFT WOULD BE GONE, OPENED UP INTO AN ATRIUM THAT WOULD STRETCH TO THE SECOND FLOOR, DOWN TO THE AUDITORIUM

The first big change would be right at the entrance to the school building from the Louis Street side. "Whenever you come into the front door right now, it's claustrophobic," she says. "I want to try and punch out the walls to the right of the entrance, lose the four headstart classrooms between the old school office and the auditorium, and make that one big open lobby area. That would create a big, grand effect once you enter the building. That was an unusual design for a school building anyway, based on where the auditorium was located, and it never provided for much people flow. We would like to make it more people-friendly."


DOUGLASS TROPHY DISPLAYS WILL BE THE FOCAL POINT OF THE OPEN LOBBY

"Once the open-ness is created there," Mrs. West says, "it creates more of a community-oriented theme. The first person you will meet will be the receptionist for the Upper East Tennessee Human Development Agency. That agency insisted on having its receptionist at the entrance, because of security concerns. Once you go past her, there will be some Riverview Community displays, church items from the neighborhood, and also the Carver Resource Center, which will have computers, dividers and some out-sourcing space.

THE DOUGLASS TROPHIES WOULD BE DISPLAYED IN MODERN, LIGHTED, CUSTOM-MADE CASES, SIMILIAR TO THESE DOBYNS-BENNETT TROPHY CASES, BUT UPDATED

"We have big plans for the Douglass High School trophies.. they will be displayed prominently in several see-through glass cases in the open lobby, similar to the way the trophies at Dobyns-Bennett are displayed right now," she says. One of the entrances that will open up into the lobby will be the offices for the Douglass Alumni Association.

With the loss of the historic Carver Library, plans are to have an area called the Carver Resource Center within the open lobby area, with computers, books, magazines, and lots of self-help facilities for people looking to find a job, access a city or community program, in a comfortable, quiet environment.

"We're also looking at building a small addition to the back of the school, to make up for the classrooms that we would lose on the front side of the building," says Mrs. West. That will make that whole wing, including the cafeteria, just for Headstart. We thought about a separate entrance for parent drop-offs, but the agency felt another entrance would require a second staff member to man it, and Headstart-UETHDA wanted to have control of parent drop-offs for security reasons. The entrance for Headstart will continue to be at the front of the building where it is now."


NEW GYMNASIUM WILL BE IN NEW LOCATION

The Headstart classroom addition in the rear, will also require another change. The new gymnasium planned for the back side of the school where the tennis courts are now, will have to be moved.

THE PARKING LOT BETWEEN THE OLD DOUGLASS GYM AND LOUIS STREET. NEW RENOVATION PLANS CALL FOR THE NEW GYM TO BE BUILT HERE BETWEEN THE STREET AND THE OLD GYM

"With the new design, it doesn't make sense to keep it where we'd planned. We are kind of land-locked right now, with the baseball field coming right up to the building on that side. After talking to Parks and Recreation, it didn't seem wise to separate the old gymnasium from the planned new one, so the feeling is now, the new one needs to adjoin the old one. Because of the land-lock, the new gym would have to be build in the parking lot, between the old building and Louis Street. It just makes more sense to build them side by side. We could punch through, interconnect the two for tournaments, without having spectators walking from one side of the building to the other."

THE STAIRWELL LEADING DOWN TO THE OLD HALF-LEVEL DOUGLASS GYM LOCKERS UNDER THE BLEACHERS

"We are still struggling with locker room space, but one thing that will be the first to go, will be that half-level locker space underneath the bleachers in the old gym. It has always smelled bad, there are leaks down there, and it's always had a moisture problem. The only solution after the interconnect, would be to concrete that in, make it one level, and put in a small locker room area down along the wall between the inter-connected gyms. It doesn't need to be big like high school lockers, but just enough for tournaments."

IN WEDNESDAY'S REPORT.. WHERE WILL THE NON-PROFITS GO IN THE DOUGLASS RENOVATION? AND WHAT IS TO BECOME OF THE DOUGLASS AUDITORIUM, ONCE ONE OF THE MOST ACCOUSTICALLY PERFECT AUDITORIUMS OF ANY SCHOOL IN UPPER EAST TENNESSEE. THE ANSWER MAY SURPRISE YOU!

The Douglass High School Renovation Plans--All of Kingsport's Non-Profits Under One Douglass Roof

CALVIN SNEED AND ARCHITECT DINEEN WEST DISCUSSING RENOVATION PLANS FOR DOUGLASS HIGH SCHOOL, KINGSPORT

SECOND OF TWO PARTS



It's no secret that most people in Riverview and South Central Kingsport are eagerly anticipating the proposed $7 million dollar renovation of the former Douglass School building.

They are not the only ones.

Several of Kingsport's non-profit agencies are also anxiously waiting on the renovation, because they plan to move into the re-designed building. It's a proposal that City Manager John Campbell says, "will make the Model City one of the few (if not the first) municipality that will have all of its non-profit agencies under one roof."

RIGHT NOW, THE KINGSPORT UNITED WAY IS LOCATED ON EASTMAN ROAD

"Right now, I've got about 10 players that I am trying to find homes for," says architect Dineen West of Cain Rash West Architects, one of the designers of the Douglass School renovation. "Among the largest agencies are the American Red Cross and the United Way, then there are some smaller ones like the Adult Literacy Program, a seniors program, a volunteer program, Meals-on-Wheels. We are also looking for duplication among the programs, because maybe some activities can be combined into similar agencies. The Kingsport Police Department will also lose its small substation in the Riverview Apartments, and we are trying to plan for a small room with a restroom in the Douglass building for officers on duty."



RIGHT NOW, THE AMERICAN RED CROSS OFFICE IS AT THE CORNER OF WILCOX AND INDUSTRY DRIVES

"Right now if there is a disaster, the Red Cross has to sometimes call up local churches to set up relief programs and mobilize its contributors," she says. "In the new office space, we are trying to make sure they can do that in their own office space, perhaps with a small kitchen for emergency on-the-spot situations."

"The United Way is not only looking for office space, but also a large meeting room," says Mrs. West. "Frequently, they have a need for gathering the various agencies that are served by the agency, and office space with an adequate banquet room will serve that need."

Right now, all of Kingsport's non-profit organizations are scattered all around town, requiring people who need to access their services to travel to several locations. Mr. Campbell had said that takes time, gas, energy, and tries the patience of many people.



DOUGLASS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT DOUGLASS RELEFORD LEADING A BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING

The Douglass High School Alumni Association is one of the non-profit agencies that Mrs. West says, will have a prominent presence in the renovated building. "The city realizes that the Alumni Association is a very important agency in the community, and that the building holds a sense of reverence to former students and residents of the neighborhood. Along with the Douglass athletic trophy displays we feel are important to remember the heritage of this historic school, the Alumni Association will be easily accessible in the renovated building, not only to its members, but to the community it serves."


RIP UP THE ASPHALT

"I would really like to tear up all that asphalt in the courtyard between the auditorium and the cafeteria," says Mrs. West, "and return it to grass, the way it used to be when the Douglass High School Marching Band used to practice there. This time, there would be landscaping done, and that ugly chain-link fence would be gone. That's a green space that would benefit the new look of the building. The parking that is there now, would be shifted to the other side of the building into a new parking lot that would be where James Street is now. Eastman has already promised that they will let us park in their parking lot across Wheatley Street, and remove part of their chainlink fence there. That will help us handle any overflow of parking in our lot."


TWO- OR THREE-STORY NON-PROFIT TOWER

"To keep the non-profit agencies separate from the community-oriented side of the renovated building," says Mrs. West, "we would propose building a new addition where the bandroom is right now, perhaps a two-story, even a three-story, depending on how many dollars are available. That will essentially give the front of the school building a community-oriented look, with the backside having a corporate-office type look. We're also considering having the one big banquet room, and having all of the non-profit agencies open up into it, and they would all share the room for meetings and other events."



AUDITORIUM FUTURE UNCERTAIN

Although plans for most of the Douglass School building seem certain, Mrs. West says the future of the former auditorium is much LESS certain.

"Over the last few months, we have gone through the auditorium with structural engineers and electrical experts," Mrs. West says. "We even brought in a state codes person from Nashville, and looked at sprinkler, air conditioning, roofing and fire code issues. The ceiling in the auditorium is totally asbestos, which helped make the room soundproof, but now that asbestos will have to be removed to meet the state code. Also, the auditorium has serious roof leaks that will require new roofing, a new sprinkler system, an air conditioning system, sewer system makeover and asbestos removal."

"With just so many dollars available, you have to stand back and look at the room carefully..we could drop a million dollars into the auditorium JUST to bring it up to code," she says, "and it not change the overall appearance of the room at all. There are some renovations to the auditorium that may not be able to be made, but the decision on that is far from being made."


A BIG CHALLENGE TO BRING EVERYTHING TOGETHER


"As I've said before, any proposals we are looking at, are subject to change.. nothing is set in stone, says Mrs. West. "We want to spend money economically to renovate the building, but the biggest challenge is, what can we do to make it LOOK like a renovation, and still put in enough infrastructure to make it work. What can we do to get the most BANG for the city's BUCK?"




"That," she says, "is what will shape one of Kingsport's most historic buildings, into one of Tennessee's most innovative facilities."

George W. Foster Passing & Services

KINGSPORT — Mr. George W. Foster, Jr. (Butch), 57, departed this life on Friday, (Jan. 25, 2008) at James H. Quillen Medical Center, Mt. Home, Tenn. after a lengthy battle with cancer.
Mr. Foster was born in Kingsport on Aug. 24, 1959 to George and Georgia Foster, both of whom preceded him in death.
Butch graduated from Dobyns Bennett High School. He served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam Conflict and was the recipient of a Purple Heart.
Loving memories of Butch will be cherished by his children; Jaquetta Hale, Kingsport,
Tia Etter, Houston, Tex. and Raschad Simpson,
Kingsport;
three grandchildren, Tyrik Hale, TA-Tiona White and Jayla Brooks, Kingsport; beloved sisters, Mrs. Barbara Bristol, Kingsport, Mrs. Rowena (Richard) Cherry, Louisville, Ky.; nieces, Linda (William) Kincaid, Kingsport, Cecilia (William) Trammell, Kingsport, Tracy Cherry, Nashville, Tenn.; nephews, Richard Bristol, Nashville, Tenn., Richard Cherry, Louisville, Ky.; and many extended family and friends.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to Shiloh Baptist Church Youth Department.
Mr. Foster and family are in the care of R.A.Clark Funeral Service, Inc. 423-245-4971 www. raclarkfuneralservice.com.

MLK Jr. Drive extension could connect Riverview to downtown

(The new MLK Jr. Drive is the old Lincoln Street in Riverview)

Road through Riverview currently dead-ends near the back of the General Shale property.


THIS ARTICLE COURTESY THE KINGSPORT TIMES-NEWS

By MATTHEW LANE
mlane@timesnews.net

KINGSPORT — Connecting the Riverview community to downtown Kingsport by extending Martin Luther King Jr. Drive to Main Street is in the preliminary talking stages, Mayor Dennis Phillips said last week.
Earlier this month, the Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted unanimously to rename a portion of Lincoln Street to Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. The Rev. Ronnie Collins with the Tennessee & Virginia Fellowship Against Racism helped push the renaming forward, saying this has been one of the goals of the organization for nearly a decade.
An offshoot of this goal is to also see the Riverview community connected with downtown, Collins said.
“Since I’ve been here for the past 26 years, I’ve always wondered why isn’t Riverview connected to downtown?” Collins said. “People have gone through the tunnel (near the old Kingsport Foundry property), which hasn’t always been safe. It’s safe now, but it’s still inconvenient.”
The road through Riverview currently dead-ends near the back of the General Shale property. If the road were to be extended, it would have to cross that property and the CSX railroad line and come out beside the Kingsport Chamber of Commerce at Cherokee Street.
“With this, it brings it back downtown and gives those who are leaving Eastman an ability to go downtown, to Netherland Inn or wherever they’re trying to go,” Collins said. “Our approach to everything we’ve done in the past is we have to give it time, and we believe it’s the right thing to do.
“This is a progressive time for Kingsport and is a time we can really get some of these things that people have been talking about for years, actually done.”
Phillips said the idea is in the preliminary talking stages at this point and added if Martin Luther King Jr. Drive can be connected to downtown, he thinks the city should do it.
“I think we need to look and see if it can be done. I have been up there, me and the city manager, and there’s certainly some obstacles to overcome when you’re going through an industrial area like General Shale,” Phillips said. “We have not had the opportunity to talk to them, to get their reaction, before we really get going on the possibilities of opening this street.
“I do plan to talk to General Shale and see what the pros and cons are of doing this.”
Before moving forward on the project, Phillips said the city would have to consider the safety factor, the impact on General Shale, and deal with CSX about crossing the railroad line.
“It’s been talked about for a long time ... and I would certainly be in favor of another avenue (out of Riverview), if we could possibly do it,” Phillips said. “They want to be reconnected to downtown. I don’t think we need any disconnected communities, regardless of where they are.”
Collins said he spoke with several residents of the Riverview community, including one lady in her 70s who had lived there her whole life, and no one remembers Martin Luther King Jr. Drive ever being connected to Main Street, though General Shale would let residents walk through their property to the downtown area.
Kingsport Public Library officials consulted maps of Kingsport from 1919 and the 1930s and found no evidence of a road stretching from the Riverview community to downtown.

Living in HOPE

Kingsport project to mark two milestones


David Grace —dgrace@timesnews.net Demolition of the Riverview Apartments likely will begin during the first or second week of February and take up to 120 days.


Demolition work on Riverview Apartments likely will begin during the first or second week of February, and a groundbreaking for new homes in the Sherwood/Hiwassee area is scheduled for Feb. 12.

THIS ARTICLE COURTESY THE KINGSPORT TIMES-NEWS

By MATTHEW LANE
mlane@timesnews.net

KINGSPORT — Two major milestones in the HOPE VI project are soon to begin — the demolition of the old Riverview apartments and the beginning of house construction in the Sherwood/Hiwassee area of town.
In October 2006, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded the Kingsport Housing and Redevelopment Authority an $11.9 million HOPE VI Revitalization Grant.
The money will go toward building new public housing homes in the Riverview community and single-family houses in the Sherwood/Hiwassee area of town.
Kingsport plans to demolish Riverview Apartments and replace the 92 units with 32 homes (16 single-family houses and eight duplex units). Six other houses will also be built on scattered sites in the Riverview area.
Doris Ladd, director of the HOPE VI project, said four residents have yet to be relocated from Riverview Apartments, but everyone should be out by the end of the month.
“All of those (residents) have places identified they are moving to with one exception, and we’re still working with that family. Most of them are going to a Section 8 voucher home or apartment,” Ladd said. “Considering you’re dealing with people’s lives, I think (relocation) has gone well.”
Since most of the residents have moved out of Riverview Apartments, Kingsport’s police and fire departments have been conducting training exercises within the complex. Ladd said demolition work on the apartments likely will begin during the first or second week of February and take up to 120 days to complete.
Construction on new homes in the Riverview community will begin in early 2009, Ladd said.
People who return to the new houses in Riverview will have to agree to certain qualifications, Ladd said, such as being a part of the family self-sufficiency program at the Kingsport Housing and Redevelopment Authority and be employed. Residents in other public housing units within the city do not have to be in the self-sufficiency program.
The second phase of the project calls for the construction of 24 affordable home ownership units in the Sherwood/Hiwassee area. In September, the city demolished 29 homes along the two streets where the new houses will be built.
A groundbreaking for this phase of the project is scheduled for Feb. 12, and Ladd said all of the houses should be built by September.
“Walker Construction is who we have an agreement with. They’re out of Chattanooga, and they did a HOPE VI project there,” Ladd said. “They’re hoping to turn three or four houses a month; one per week.”
Ladd said these houses would cost about $130,000, and the KHRA has 15 applicants lined up for these houses.
“They’re being reviewed, and two are really good candidates, and we hope to have one at our groundbreaking,” she said.
The entire HOPE VI project — both construction projects, the opening of the HOPE VI/Fresh Start office and the purchase of property along Martin Luther King Jr. Drive — is estimated to cost at least $30 million. The $11.9 million grant is just part of the funding needed to complete the project, Ladd said.
“We still have to do the application for the low-income housing tax credits, which will be submitted in the middle of March. We’ll receive notice if we’re in consideration in June, and if awarded, it would be in September. Then we’ll go out and market those credits,” Ladd said.

RIVERVIEW DEMOLITION START DATE HAS BEEN POSTPONED!

The start date for tearing down the Historic Riverview Apartments has been postponed. It will not be on February 2nd.

The Kingsport Housing and Redevelopment Authority is working out some issues with the demolition, and has asked to move the demolition date start to a later time to be announced.

We will let you know, when we know, the new demolition start date.

Meanshile, if you would like to have a souvenir brick from your particular apartment once demolition starts, please contact either Calvin Sneed at 423-421-7784 (csneed@newschannel9.com) or Johnnie Mae Swaggerty at 423-246-6623 (newvision_kpt@yahoo.com). The Douglass Alumni Association has also discussed selling engraved bricks with residents' names, and at the commemoration program, we can update you on this.

Also, please plan to attend the 5th Annual Black History Program, at the Kingsport Renaissance Center, 1200 East Center Street.

The theme for the 2008 program is "2008-Mis-Education of the Negro." The presenter will be Carter G. Woodson.

AUTHOR JEFF FAULKERSON

Guest Speaker is our very own well-known author Jeff Faulkerson, Kingsport native and author of "V.O.I.C.E.S."



Dr. Ivy McQuirter with Blue Ridge Internal Medicine of Kingsport, will entertain with a Black History skit.

Other entertainment will include the New Vision Youth-Joyous of Joy Praise Angels of Kingsport.. the Little Miss Vision and her Pageant Court.. the For His Glory Praise Dancers of Kingsport.. The New Beginning Gospel Quartet of Pennington Gap, Virginia,.. the Hales Gospel Methodist Church Praise Dancers of Gate City, Virginia.. Livi Turner and the Gang Gospel Choir of Marion, Virginia.. and the Anointed Praise Team of Kingsport.

Everyone is welcome at both these events.. Please come out and support our young people, friends and neighbors.

For more information on both events, please contact Johnnie Mae or Calvin.

WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

Historic Riverview Apartments Countdown

Time is almost up for the Historic Riverview Apartments.





Months turned into weeks, and now the weeks have turned into only days, before the demolition crews come in, to tear down the apartments, to begin the $12 million HOPE VI Revitilization Project, that will resulted in new single and multi-family homes to be built on the site.

"Right now, we have three families remaining," says Doris Ladd, HOPE VI director. "All of the families have houses identified that they are working to move into, and their applications are in the final stages of completion.





"They should all be out of the apartments and into their new housing by January 31st," she says.

"We are waiting on a final environmental report for the land underneath the apartments," says Mrs. Ladd. "The company that did the soil samples found no major issues, but we still need their final official report, and then clearance through the Housing and Urban Development Field Office in Atlanta."







"The demolition site will then be fenced in, as per regulations, and we are also considering cost quotes for the fencing, so that we can select the vendor for that. The start of demolition will also depend on when they can get the area fenced in."

"There are so many faucets to the process," she says.

"We also know that many, many former residents have requested bricks from their particular apartments, once the demolition starts," Mrs. Ladd says, "and we do want to accomodate everybody. So not to interfere with the construction work, we'll need to have a cutoff date for names by January 28th."






Requests for bricks can be made by calling Johnnie Mae Swaggerty in Kingsport at 423-246-6623, or Calvin Sneed at 423-421-7784. So far, Johnnie Mae reports about 210 requests.

In Remembrance

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Continues

PHOTOS COURTESY THE KINGSPORT TIMES-NEWS

Erica Yoon —eyoon@timesnews.net

At left: Julia, Gina, William and Samantha Dessauer, Louetta Hall and Ozine Bly hold candles during the New Vision Youth’s Candlelight Vigil at Riverview Apartments Monday.



At right: Hall talks about memories at Riverview Apartments as they commemorate the community and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.



At left: Xena Huff, 10, watches former residents of Riverview Apartments light candles.

‘Celebrating the Dream’

Kingsport parade marchers brave the cold to honor MLK

An unveiling ceremony was held Monday to announce the renaming of a portion of Lincoln Street to Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.

THIS ARTICLE COURTESY THE KINGSPORT TIMES-NEWS


Photo by Erica Yoon —eyoon@timesnews.net
Jack Pierce Sr. unveils the new Martin Luther King Jr. Drive street sign during a ceremony Monday at the corner of Lincoln Street and Wheatley Street. The BMA voted last week to rename a portion Lincoln, which stretches through the Riverview community.




By MATTHEW LANE
mlane@timesnews.net




KINGSPORT — In spite of belowfreezing temperatures, about 50 Model City residents took to the streets on Monday and participated in the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Parade in downtown Kingsport.


The parade began shortly before noon at the intersection of East Sevier and Center Street with participants walking and driving to the City Hall parking lot downtown. The small but dedicated congregation included about a dozen or more kids from the New Vision for Youth program, more than 30 adults and a handful of vehicles.
Overseer Ronnie Collins with the Tennessee & Virginia Fellowship Against Racism said he was excited about everybody who attended Monday’s parade.
“If we can get 50 people or so, we’ve done well. When it’s cold like this, that’s what we hope to get,” Collins said, adding he thinks America is at a pivotal point to change. “Based on what we’ve seen, with (Barack) Obama. We know it’s a change. I’m not going to say racism is gone. It’s not. But as far as how things are being done, people are putting forth more effort, trying to do right, trying to talk instead of fight.



Photo by David Grace —dgrace@timesnews.net
Holding a sign reading ‘Peace,’ Terrell Leeper walks down Center Street in Monday’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Parade, right, in Kingsport.



“The nonviolent attitude Dr. King taught us is still alive and well.”
Ten-year-old Xena Huff, with New Vision, said her parents have educated her about King to better help her understand who she is and what is happening around her.
“The reason why I’m marching is to show people that today is a really important day, and without Dr. King, I think we’d still be back segregated, still be apart and be treated differently,” Huff said.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day became an official U.S. holiday in 1986 and is held on the third Monday in January to commemorate the birthday of King. The holiday was officially observed in all 50 states for the first time in 2000.
Stella Robinette said she felt great about the event and thought it appropriate for Charles Maxwell to enter one of his charter buses into the parade with the words “Celebrating the Dream of Dr. Martin Luther King” on the side.

“I wish more people were out here. I think our younger generation, they don’t know the struggle, the trials and tribulations we’ve had as an older group,” Robinette said. “(Education) should start at home. Maybe their parents don’t know what the struggle is all about. They don’t know the true struggle. They only know bits and pieces.”



Photo by David Grace —dgrace@timesnews.net
At left, Parade participants hold hands during the closing prayer at City Hall


Still, she thinks race relations in the United States are better.
“I still think there’s work to be done. There still needs to be education throughout the whole world. It’s not just a black-andwhite issue. It’s minorities total. We all need to be educated.”
The Rev. Anthony Daniels, former pastor of Central Baptist Church and current pastor of First Baptist in Barberville, Ky., said recognizing King’s dream has been an asset for the country.
“I think it’s phenomenal. I think it’s good for the country. It’s done more to bring us together,” Daniels said. “In some locations I guess we’re polarized. For the most part race relations, the progress we’ve made, couldn’t be better.”
Monday afternoon the city held an unveiling ceremony at the corner of Lincoln Street and Wheatley Street to announce the renaming of a portion of Lincoln Street to Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. The BMA voted unanimously last week to rename that portion of the street, which stretches through the Riverview comm u n i t y.
This renaming is one of the goals that has been nearly 10 years in the making for TVFAR, Collins said.
“Today makes me feel wonderful. After all the time we spent back in 1997, our first march in 1998, our main objective was to have a street renamed for Dr. King, and that has finally manifested,” Collins said. “We are excited and are looking forward to the next phase, which we want to go from where (the street) is now, to reconnect it to Main Street."

Message From The President

The President of the Douglass Alumni Association, that is:

I want to thank everyone that was able to come out for our first meeting of the New Year. The meeting was well attended.

I am asking each one of you to try and bring a person that was not at our last meeting, to bring a new person with you. Let us try and make our alumni meetings a great success.

All each one of us need to do, is get the word out that everyone is welcome.
See you at the next meeting.

SEE YOU AT THE NEXT MEETING!

Douglas S. Releford

CALLING ALL PHOTOGRAPHERS!

If you've taken any photos at events occuring during the celebration of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Junior's Birthday, please send them to me, so that we can post them for everybody.

Sometimes, it's not possible for everybody to attend every event in the community, and it would be a blessing to share any photos that you have taken at the events, with your friends and neighbors, who want to be there, but cannot.

That's what your Douglass Alumni website is here for.. to make sure everybody stays connected.

Please take the time to email your pictures and photos with a short description of the event to me at:

csneed@newschannel9.com

Thanks and happy holiday!

--Calvin

Part of Lincoln Street Renamed In Honor Of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.

David Grace —dgrace@timesnews.net
The Rev. Ronnie Collins and state Rep. Nathan Vaughn stand along a part of Lincoln Street that was renamed Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.

THIS STORY COURTESY THE KINGSPORT TIMES-NEWS, SUNDAY, JANUARY 20, 2008

An unveiling ceremony for the new street name is scheduled for 5 p.m. Monday.

By MATTHEW LANE
mlane@timesnews.net


KINGSPORT — The city of Kingsport has renamed a portion of Lincoln Street in honor of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted unanimously last week to rename a portion of Lincoln Street to Martin Luther King Jr. Drive — the portion that stretches through the Riverview community, from Wilcox Drive to where the street dead ends.
An unveiling ceremony for the new street name is scheduled for 5 p.m. Monday (Martin Luther King Jr. Day) at the corner of Lincoln Street and Wheatley Street.
• Government offices will be closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Page 2B.

• The MLK Holiday Parade will be held Monday at noon in downtown Kingsport. Page 2B.
The Rev. Ronnie Collins, with the Tennessee & Virginia Fellowship Against Racism, was one of the people involved in getting a street in Kingsport renamed after King. Collins said that back in 1998, when this idea first came up, he thought it would be unreachable.
“We are ecstatic about it. Everybody I’ve talked to so far has been excited about it,” Collins said, adding it has taken about a year to get the street renamed. “There are not many cities in the U.S. where there’s not something named after Dr. King, because not in how he impacted African Americans, but how he affected African Americans, whites, the poor, the underprivileged. (King) crossed all boundaries and all ethnic groups to bring the idea that while there may be some problems, the only way to solve them is to first recognize them and then work together.”
Initially, some residents wanted Center Street renamed in honor of King.
“We talked about it for a while — the pros and cons — and when you’re renaming a heavily populated street, it creates all kinds of turmoil for people,” said Mayor Dennis Phillips, who was also involved in the renaming process. “So we came up with something that would not affect as many people. This one was just a situation with the least amount of inconvenience and met the goal of what the citizens wanted.”
Phillips said the name change also times well with the HOPE VI project taking place in the Riverview community. Kingsport received an $11.9 million HOPE VI grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to help replace the 92 public housing units at Riverview Apartments with 32 homes.
“I feel that it was a request that the city should be willing to do, and I feel good about it,” Phillips said. “Many cities have a Martin Luther King Jr. Drive like we have a George Washington and John Adams. I’m proud of the way the city has rallied behind and been able to do this.”
Soon after the BMA voted to change the name of Lincoln Street, a systematic process kicked into gear within the city in order for everything to flow with little disruption, said Chris McCartt, assistant to the city manager.
“What we’ll do is first identify all of the addresses that would be affected. Then (Kingsport) GIS department notifies the post office. Then we’ll notify central dispatch so all 911 services go without any interruption,” McCartt said.
As soon as central dispatch is notified (last Friday), McCartt said the street name change would technically be in place. The signs have been made in-house, and transportation crews will prepare and install the new signs along the old stretch of Lincoln Street.

Results of Special Meeting of the Douglass Alumni Association Board of Directors

The Douglass Alumni Association Board of Directors met in formal session at the Golden Corral on Saturday, January 20, 2008. It will be the first of several meetings, in a new format of meeting in fellowship whenever there are community and alumni items to be discussed.




Our old business consisted of discussing the postponing of the proposed Black History Concert by the Sevier Middle School Band at the School in observance of Black History Month in February. We were informed shortly after the proposal was made, that time constraints would necessitate a postponement of the concert, due to the availability of the band and the lack of practicing time for black gospel songs by bandmembers. It is hoped that the concert can be rescheduled next year, as it will provide a chance to continue bridging race relations in Kingsport, and a chance to hear a wonderful band from a school that all of our black children ultimately attend.
New business brought up discussion of the proposed renovation of Douglass High School by the City of Kingsport. The City has pledged that any renovation of the school building will be done under the consultation of the Douglass Alumni Association, but a change in renovation plans because of money constraints appeared to catch board members by surprise. The City has proposed spending $7.2 million dollars to both renovate the building, and bring existing sections of it up to state code. Renovating the auditorium brought a lively discussion, when it was revealed that the auditorium's future is very much in doubt, depending on how much it will cost to upgrade it to code, yet bring it to the same asthetic qualities of the rest of Douglass after it is renovated.
Charlotte Maxwell is the new director of marketing for the Choice Hotel, 1900 American Way off Stone Drive in Kingsport, formerly the Americourt Inn (the site of many of our birthday parties, celebrations and commemorations). Charlotte is asking for help in finding five (5) young black men to join the staff as servers for banquets, etc. There is a required dress code from the hotel chain the young men will have to comply with, but the opportunity to have gainful employment, plus some management experience will be beneficial to those involved. For more information, call Charlotte at the hotel 423) 245-0271.

Martin Luther King Jr. 3rd Annual Candlelight Vigil

New Vision Youth Presents:

The 3rd Annual Candlelight Vigil
"A Last Dedication to the Riverview Apartments"

WHEN: Monday, January 21, 2008
TIME: 6:00 PM
WHERE: Booker Street Parking lot, in front of the Riverview Boys and Girls Club

Bring a candle.. if bad weather permits, the vigil iwll be held in the V.O. Dobbins Gym.
Everybody is welcome.. this Candlelight Vigil is very important.

"Unity Makes a Community"

In partnership with:
Riverview Residents Association
Riverview Boys & Girls Club
Kingsport Parks & Recreation
Kingsport Police Department

PLEASE COME AND SUPPORT THE RIVERVIEW APARTMENTS CANDLELIGHT VIGIL

Riverview Flooding From the 60's

The intersections in Riverview were frequent targets of flooding after a heavy rain. Those storm sewers would sometimes back up the next day after a heavy rain. The city once said the storm sewers backed up so easily, because the underground lines were not big enough, and this problem was not corrected until well into the 70's.


I took these pictures one day in either 1967 or 68 after a heavy rain in Kingsport. The view is from Carver Street, between Douglass and Dunbar, looking down towards Lincoln. The grassy yard on the left, is the little hill that the old Central Baptist Church still sits on.



It was rare that the storm drains would flood this bad. But the brown, murky water did not deter our kids from getting out and playing in it, splashing water everywhere.







Did the back-up water ever get into the homes and the Riverview Apartments? I never heard of the apartments themselves getting flooded because the foundations were too high, but occasionally homes nearby did get a little water in the crawlspaces. Central's basement was also rather flood-prone, sometimes without a whole lot of rain.









Here's a photo of flooding in front of Douglass High School, at the corner of Douglass and Louis Streets. Any flooding was never deep enough to flood out cars, after all, we did need to get to work, to the store, 'cross town or over on the highway.

Bethel AME Zion Church Sets Fund-Raiser

• KINGSPORT — Bethel AME Zion Church, 812 Maple Oak Lane, will hold a fund-raiser Friday and Saturday beginning at 8 a.m. There will be a rummage sale and a hot dog sale Friday, and on Saturday there will be a rummage sale and a breakfast sale. The public is invited.

Special Called Meeting Of The Douglass Alumni Association Board of Directors

FROM DOUGLASS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT DOUG RELEFORD:

There will be a meeting of the Douglass Alumni Association Board of Directors this coming Saturday at 1 PM.

I have checked with the people at the Golden Corral off of Eastman Road and they informed me that we could meet there and the cost of the meal will be $6.58 plus tax.

I think for our first meeting of the year that this might not be a bad idea. This way nobody will be burdened with preparing anything to bring to the meeting. All who desire are welcome to attend.

I hope this will be okay with everyone!!!!!!!!!!

Douglas S. Releford

Brick Mementos from the Historic Riverview Apartments

Many of the screen doors to the historic Riverview Apartments are now off, and the appliances that once held and cooked pork chops, fried chicken, turnip greens, chitlins' and pan-fried corn to nourish the families of our neighbors, are all long gone.

The apartments are mostly empty now.. cold and silent monuments to the wonderful, warm, joyous atmospheres that once spread from unit to unit. The Historic Riverview Apartments have withstood the test of time, like old friends that have long worn out their welcome, but have nowhere to go.

Alas.. the units wait but for the wrecking ball to crush down and finally extinguish the spirit of friendship and brotherhood that made them part of everyones' lives for the past 70 years.

Many former residents have humbly requested a brick from the apartment that they have called home, as a memento of good family times and neighborly memories long gone. Although the demolition site will probably be roped or fenced off, the Kingsport Housing and Redevelopment Authority realizes the sentimental feeling that we all have for the apartments. As a result, those commemorative brick requests have been graciously granted, once demolition starts.

Everyone who would like to have a brick from their particular apartment can get one, when the tear-down crews get to their particular apartment. If you are unable to get one, call Johnnie Mae Swaggerty at 423-246-6623 with your apartment number, so bricks can be gotten for you.

We are still waiting for the exact date for demolition to start, so that we can have another Riverview Apartments Reunion on the Douglass Ball Field (inside the Elks Lodge or the Douglass Gym, if the weather is bad).

Please watch the Douglass Alumni website closely for notification.

Where Is Support For Highland?

LETTER TO THE EDITOR OF THE KINGSPORT TIMES-NEWS, jANUARY 15, 2007..
It seems the drug problem that left Riverview, is still plaguing our neighbors..

PLEASE SEE THE PREVIOUS ARTICLE ON HIGHLAND WHERE I SAW FIRST-HAND THE DRUG PROBLEM NOW THERE..


(TO THE EDITOR):
I am curious at where all our support went. We had a meeting in November with the police department at the Civic Auditorium. We had about 15 to 18 police officers there telling us that we were going to get the support for us to clean up Highland and to have community meetings to keep a handle on things. We left the meeting thinking things would get better and that we be having more meetings. We have tried to contact the police department and others that were involved. We found out that everyone quit the system except two officers.
The system went really hard a couple of days after the meeting, but then it dwindled out. So how are we supposed to have faith in our justice system when we are told things were going to happen and they didn’t? The code enforcer has to keep his word. So please give us what we were promised.
Amy Hartsock
Kingsport

Ray S. Leeper Passing

FORGIVE ME FOR BEING LATE WITH THIS.. HAVE HAD COMPUTER PROBLEMS OF LATE


RAY S. LEEPER

Church Hill- Ray Scover Leeper, 80, of Church Hill went home to be with his heavenly father on Thursday evening (January 10, 2008) following a lengthy illness.

He was a lifelong resident of Church Hill. He was a member of Lyons Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church where he served on the trustee board & the steward along with being an affiliate of Saint Mark’s United Methodist Church in Kingsport. Ray shared his culinary talents for 41 years as the Executive Chef at Tennessee Eastman Company. He continued to bless churches, friends and family with his gifts from the kitchen & his heart his entire life. His love of cooking lives on through his children, grandchildren & friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John Edward Leeper & Kate Leeper; the mother of his children, Mary B. Leeper; his brothers, James Carter (J.C.) Leeper, William (Bill) Leeper, John Edward (Junior) Leeper; his sisters, Mary Alice Leeper Carroll, Fannie Lou Leeper Horton and Ethel Mae Leeper Bond.

Ray Scover Leeper is survived by his daughters, Debbie M. Gray & her husband, Bruce (Clinton Maryland), Donna Charles (Raleigh, NC), Dia Smith & her husband, D C (Johnson City, TN) & Deanna Maxwell (Knoxville, TN); his sons, Rev. William Rayburn Leeper & his wife, Jessie (Greeneville, SC) & Ray (Ray Ray) S. Leeper II (Gray, TN); his devoted companion & friend, Ethel Ruth Russell (Kingsport, TN) along with her children, Sherry, Robin, Teresa & Scottie; his grandchildren, Pierre, Ramon, Michelle, Tia, Christopher, Cristin, Mia, Melissa & Amber; 6 great grandchildren; a very special brother-in-law, Dana Carroll (Frisco, Texas); his special cousins, Zeola Leeper & Barbara Hoskins; he is also survived by several more cousins, a host of nieces, nephews & many dear friends.

A visitation will be held on Friday (January 18, 2008) from 12 noon to 2 p.m. at Carter-Trent Funeral Home of Church Hill or friends may also call anytime at the residence.

A homegoing service will be conducted on Friday (January 18, 2008) at 2 p.m. in the funeral home chapel with Rev. James A. Snapp being the officiant.

A graveside service will follow the funeral at Lyons Chapel Cemetery Annex with Ozine Bly, William Carpenter, Richard Ford, James W. Leeper, Gregory Manis & Dion Russell serving as pallbearers. Honorary Pallbearers will be Clifford Leeper, James A. Leeper & Billy Lyons.

Memorial contributions may be made to Lyons Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 1117, Church Hill, TN 37642.

Carter-Trent Funeral Home of Church Hill is serving the Leeper family.

Activities In The Riverview Apartments Today!

If you see the Kingsport Police Department K-9 Corps in the Riverview Apartments between 1 - 4 PM TODAY, January 9th, not to worry.

The Kingsport Police Department is training its K-9 Corp this Wednesday Jan 9th. They will be using the building that units 9 thru 16 are located which is on the corner of Carver & Lincoln St.. The exercise also involves the Bristol, Tennessee Police Department, the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Department, and possibly the Johnson City Police Department K-9 Corp will be joining them for their training. They are scheduled to be there from 1 – 4 P.M..

Just a heads up.. Please call our neighbors, so they will not be alarmed by all the police presence in Riverview today. THIS IS ONLY A DRILL!

MLK Day Notes & Black History Month Events in the Kingsport Area

AS WE HEAR OF OTHER EVENTS AND/OR ADDITIONS, WE WILL ADD TO THIS LIST AND ADVANCE IT DOWN



There will be a Memorial Program to the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King Junior's memory at the Bethel A.M.E. Zion Church on Sunday, January 20th. Details to follow.

There will be a Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Junior march in Rogersville on Monday, January 21st. Participants are asked to meet in the Hawkins County Courthouse yard at 11 AM on that day. The march will begin at 11:30 AM from the Courthouse to Russells Chapel Church, where the Memorial Service will begin at 12:30PM. Rev. James Snapp of the Lyons Chapel Church in New Canton was the first to start a Freedom March in Hawkins County, and this one will be the 5th one.

KINGSPORT — The eighth annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Parade will be held Monday from noon to 1 p.m. in downtown Kingsport.
The Tennessee & Virginia Fellowship Against Racism and the East Tennessee Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship are sponsoring the parade with the theme being “Remember! Celebrate! Act! — A Day On, Not a Day Off.”
The parade will begin at the intersection of East Sevier and Center Street (the Allstate Insurance parking lot) and end on Shelby Street (the city parking lot between City Hall and the Justice Center).
Overseer Ron Collins, with TVFAR, said he hopes marching bands from area schools, organizations, businesses and individuals will enter a car, float, church or business van, bus or truck, or other exhibit or simply walk in the parade on Monday.
“A parade is more inclusive. We’re continuing to put forth every effort for diversity and unity,” Collins said.


ETSU to host King Birthday Celebration

• JOHNSON CITY — A Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration and Unity Walk will be held at East Tennessee State University Tuesday at 1 p.m. in the D.P. Culp University Center ballroom. Sponsored by ETSU’s Office of Multicultural Affairs and Black Affairs Association, this annual event will feature “Celebrating the Legacy,” a lecture by former Radford University President Dr. Douglas Covington, and a reading of King’s “I Have a Dream” speech by Tracy Haynes. For more information contact the Office of Multicultural Affairs at 439-6635 or mcstaff@etsu.edu. Because of ongoing renovation work in the Culp Center, those with disabilities who need assistance should call the building’s main office at 439-4286.


MLK Candlelight Vigil to be held

• KINGSPORT — New Vision Youth will present the Martin Luther King Jr. third annual Candlelight Vigil Jan. 21 at 6 p.m. in the Booker Street parking lot in front of the Riverview Boys and Girls Club. The theme will be “A Last Dedication to the Riverview Apartments.” The public is invited to attend, and participants are asked to bring a candle. In the event of bad weather, the event will be held in the V.O. Dobbins gym. The event is being held in partnership with the Riverview Resident Association, Riverview Boys and Girls Club, and Kingsport Parks and Recreation. New Vision Youth will also hold a Black History program Feb. 2 at 5 p.m. in the Renaissance Center. The speakers will include Jeff Fulkerson and Ivy McQuirter. For more information contact Johnnie Mae Swagerty at 246-6623.










Community Unity Day in Kingsport is Sunday, February 24th. The event will be held at the Eastman Toy F. Reid Employee Center. More details to follow.

Notice to Subscribers to the Douglass Email List

NOTICE TO DOUGLASS WEBSITE EMAIL LIST SUBSCRIBERS USING CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS:

Based on your spam settings with Charter, your cable company is now blocking all email messages from your Douglass Website, identifying them as SPAM. Please contact Charter and tell them not to block messages from this address:

csneed@eserver.newschannel9.com

I know Comcast allows customers to change their spam settings online, by copying and pasting the above email at its website. If Charter does not do this, a call to the company will straighten everything out.



NOTICE TO ALL SUBSCRIBERS ON THE DOUGLASS MAILING LIST:

If you did not receive the latest email message sent today, January 1, 2008 and you notice that you haven't been getting any Douglass website emails for a while, please validate and verify your correct email address, by sending me your current address. Emails from several folks are being marked as undeliverable, and are being returned back to me, the sender, and it's been occuring for several months. The return messages I have been getting are: the email address is no longer valid, the email box is full, the email user is unknown, the recipient is invalid, or the recipient is not recognized. Please send your updated information to:

csneed@eserver.newschannel9.com

so that we can get you back on the Douglass Website mailing list.

Thanks for taking care of these little problems!


---Calvin

Happy Anniversary to the Douglass Alumni Webpage

When we envisioned this webpage more than a year ago, we were seeking a way to celebrate the history and tradition of the former Douglass High School of Kingsport, the Riverview neighborhood, and the heritage of South Central Kingsport. A year later, this website has far exceeded our wildest dreams. It isn’t just about Douglass Alumni. It has grown into a vehicle for conveying ideas and information about the entire community.

As we begin our second year, let’s pause to offer a special “thank you” to our webmaster, Calvin Sneed. God blessed Calvin with the gift of communications. He is using that gift to benefit us in a very special way. He has given his time freely and worked on our webpage for the simple joy of achievement. The news he has passed along about our hometown, our families and friends—both real and extended—has been “priceless.”

Speaking on behalf of “out of towners” across the country, we appreciate how the website has masterfully documented activities and changes occurring back home. Everybody hate the word “change,” but yet, it is the only thing that has brought progress.

Working together, we can make this webpage even better than it already is. As you make your New Year’s resolutions, do three things. First, reach out for Calvin and thank him for his brilliant work. Second, reach out for others and tell them about our webpage. (We still have friends and “sons and daughters” who don’t know the webpage exists. Let’s touch them this year). Finally, let’s continue to share our news, photographs, and memorabilia. Pass it along to Calvin. He’s committed to publishing “all the news that is the news.”

Finally, while some of us graduated from D-B (or from other schools), this website validates that we were first educated at Douglass. Long live the spirit of the Tigers!

Have A Blessed New Year
Don Hickman
Roberta Webb Lanauze

Huphelia Lollar Russell Passing

OCEANSIDE, Calif. — Z. Huphelia Lollar Russell, 60, Oceanside, Calif., died Jan. 2, 2008, at Tri-Cities Medical.
She was born in Kingsport on Oct. 8, 1947. She was a 1965 graduate of Douglass High School in Kingsport.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Grace Lollar; brother, Charles Alfred Lollar; and two sisters, Freda Carnes and Helen Lynch.
Surviving are one daughter, Rosalyn Russell; grandchildren, Nyazuia, Kimberly and Cassandra Russell; brother, George W. Lollar (Betty), Marietta, Ga.; sisters, Elizabeth Weaver (George), Oceanside, Calif., Shirley Patterson, Norwalk, Conn., Evelyn Lollar, Kingsport, Margaret Crutchfield (David), Suitland, Md., Patricia Wood (George), Clinton, Md., and Vanessa Overton (Greg), Jacksonville, Fla.; a host of nieces, nephews and cousins. Also a close companion, Eddie Foy.
Accu-Care Cremation Center, Carlsbad, Calif., served the Russell family.

Man Urges Drivers to be Safe, Patient After Brother's Death

His brother died in accident; other motorist facing arrest, police say

RHONDA NOLLY SENT US THIS NEW STORY FROM THE DALLAS (TEXAS) MORNING NEWS

12:00 AM CST on Tuesday, January 1, 2008
By TIARA M. ELLIS / The Dallas Morning News
tellis@dallasnews.com

This new year, Anthony Bond will still be grieving the loss of his brother. But he hopes that by talking about his death, others might make patience one of their resolutions today.

Mr. Bond said that if a truck driver had been a little more patient while driving south on the Dallas North Tollway, then the man might not have crashed into the median, causing a slab of concrete to go through Mr. Bond's windshield and kill his brother.

William M. Bond, called Billy by family and friends, died at the scene Dec. 20. He was 57.

Texas Department of Public Safety troopers plan to arrest Christopher Spicer, the driver of that truck, on criminal charges this week, Sgt. Robert Bernard Jr. said Monday.

Mr. Spicer could not be reached for comment Monday.

Witnesses told police Mr. Spicer was driving aggressively and following the car in front of him closely when he switched lanes, lost control and ran into the median.

News of the pending arrest has Anthony Bond feeling mixed emotions, he said.

"I believe that any time you cause the death of another person by driving in a careless manner, you have to pay for it," Mr. Bond said. "At the same time, I'm a Christian; I have to forgive this."

Billy Bond was on the way home from cancer treatment just five days before Christmas when the wreck happened. William Bond Sr., the men's father, died on the same date in 1984 from a heart attack, Anthony Bond said.

Mr. Bond finds comfort in the fact that the deaths happened on the same date but is still looking for a way to understand and cope. So he said he turned to God.

"In the new year, I look forward to the rededication of my life to Christ," Mr. Bond said.

He's also asking drivers to take their time and care for their cars. First, people should make sure their vehicles are well cared for, Mr. Bond said. Then, when they get on the road, they need to slow down and drive safely, he said.

Doing so might make the difference for someone else, Mr. Bond said.

He said, "I am without my brother, a 17-year-old is without her father, and one of the most caring people I know is without her husband, because of ... [the driver's] reckless actions."

Notice To Email Subscribers

NOTICE TO DOUGLASS WEBSITE EMAIL LIST SUBSCRIBERS USING CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS:

Based on your spam settings with Charter, your cable company is now blocking all email messages from your Douglass Website, identifying them as SPAM. Please contact Charter and tell them not to block messages from this address:

csneed@eserver.newschannel9.com

I know Comcast allows customers to change their spam settings online, by copying and pasting the above email at its website. If Charter does not do this, a call to the company will straighten everything out.



NOTICE TO ALL SUBSCRIBERS ON THE DOUGLASS MAILING LIST:

If you did not receive the latest email message sent today, January 1, 2008 and you notice that you haven't been getting any Douglass website emails for a while, please validate and verify your correct email address, by sending me your current address. Emails from several folks are being marked as undeliverable, and are being returned back to me, the sender, and it's been occuring for several months. The return messages I have been getting are: the email address is no longer valid, the email box is full, the email user is unknown, the recipient is invalid, or the recipient is not recognized. Please send your updated information to:

csneed@eserver.newschannel9.com

so that we can get you back on the Douglass Website mailing list.

Thanks for taking care of these little problems!


---Calvin

Hello 2008! We Have Much To Consider!

From all of the Douglass Alumni Association, your neighbors in Riverview-South Central Kingsport, and our relatives and friends living in faraway lands:

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

We have a lot to be thankful for, going into this New Year. With the Grace of God, many of us have our health, our families, our friendships, and the heritage of growing up together in our EXTENDED families. Through our compassion for our people, many of our sick and shut-in also know they are loved. Through many years, we have weathered storms many communities and neighborhoods around us are still trying to get a handle on.. Our folks were never afraid to give out advice, and above all, discipline other folks' children when they needed it, because our mothers, fathers, grandmothers and grandfathers realized that ALL children need to be kept focused on the things that will make them prosperous adults. Several folks in our community have not afraid to speak out and stand up for the advancement of the neighborhood. Their taking a stand borrowed a line from the movie "Network": WE'RE MAD AS HELL.. AND WE ARE NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE! WE weathered many storms because we are proud of our history in Kingsport, and despite our constructive differences, we are always able to sit down and talk out various opinions, to reach one that reflects the betterment of our community.

WHEN WE COOPERATE, WE SUCCEED!

This year promises to be the Year of Change in Riverview-South Central.. The Historic Riverview Apartments are about to be torn down to make way for the HOPE VI Redevelopment.. our historic Douglass High School is scheduled for a renovation that will, once again, make it The People's Building.. the old historic Central Baptist Church sanctuary has been proposed as an expansion of the Kingsport Boys and Girls Club.. these are among many other renovations and developments planned for our community.

Our corporate neighbors and the City of Kingsport are now taking notice of us, and the pride we have in Riverview-South Central. No longer are folks afraid to invest time, money and energy in our desires and goals, no.. they are now WELCOMING discussion on them. That is a huge step, some say, not seen since the beginnings of the neighborhood.

From the ashes of the chemical dumpsite it was built over, Riverview-South Central is rapidly becoming a source of renewed interest in the future of Kingsport, not to mention the African-American populations of East Tennessee and even Eastern Kentucky, Southwest Virginia, and Western North Carolina.

We will always look back to remember the values that spawned the community integrity for which we are proud. Let us resolve this New Year to continue presenting ideas that will benefit our neighborhood, inspire spirited brotherly-sisterly discussion, and then benefit our people.

For many, many years, our people could only see ahead weeks and months in advance.. our vision was cloudy. Now with a renaissance and rebirth going on in our community, and a rejuvenated interest from the surrounding area in what we are doing in Riverview-South Central, the skies have cleared and we can now look ahead YEARS in advance.

It is now a source of pride in the area to tell people that we are from Riverview-South Central.

THAT is a wonderful feeling, my friends!


---Calvin