Kingsport | featured news

SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Wofford, Furman and East Tennessee State tied for the 2018 Southern Conference football championship.
Those teams are ranked 1-2-3 heading into the 2019 season according to coaches’ and media polls. Below is a list of team previews as the coaches at the recent Southern Conference football media day touted the strength of the league from top to bottom.
WOFFORD (2018 record: 9-4, 6-2)
The Terriers, who were eliminated in the second round of the FCS playoffs by No. 2 Kennesaw State, bring back eight starters on offense and seven on defense.

COEBURN — Eastside set the pace early and never let up on the way to a 3-0 nondistrict volleyball sweep over Lee High on Wednesday.
The win was the second in as many nights for the Lady Spartans (2-0). Eastside took a five-set win over Holston on Tuesday.
The loss was the second in a row for Lee High (0-2) which dropped a decision to Rye Cove on Tuesday.
EARLY CONTROL
Eastside jumped ahead in the first set and never trailed in the first two sets on the way to a 25-12, 25-20, 25-13 win over the Lady Generals.
Power on the front line helped Eastside take control from the start.

Does it seem like it’s always snack time at your house? Snacking is common for adults and kids alike and can be a healthy bridge to fuel the metabolism between meals. Unplanned grazing, however, can contribute to hunger and satiety issues and eating too many calories overall. Avoid a never-ending snack time and focus on planned snacks at home and at after-school events with the following tips.
Snacking is a great way to help kids stay focused and energized throughout the school day and extracurricular activities.

KINGSPORT — Solar panel  arrays at 10 Kingsport City Schools buildings and energy-saving LED lighting throughout the school system could be in place by this time next year, according to a tentative timeline Ameresco account executive Steve Seifried presented to the Board of Education at a Tuesday night work session.
However, that would require the school system’s approval by late this year.

With the “D-Day 75th Anniversary” event hosted by A Walk in Their Boots taking place Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park, I’ve been thinking about movies based on D-Day.
Of course, today everyone thinks of “Saving Private Ryan.” But how many of you remember “The Longest Day?”
The 1962 epic featured a stellar cast including John Wayne, Richard Burton, Henry Fonda, Robert Mitchum and Sean Connery — just before he appeared as James Bond for the first time.

ROGERSVILLE — The Tennessee Department of Education will release its new statewide strategic plan within the next week or two, but Commissioner Penny Schwinn gave Hawkins County principals a sneak preview Tuesday.
Schwinn said the new plan will be about “the most important thing: high quality public education.”
Director of Schools Matt Hixson surprised his top administrators Tuesday morning in Rogersville with an unannounced visit by Schwinn during the first countywide principals meeting of the new school year.
Schwinn took over as education commission on Feb.

KINGSPORT - James H. Wagner, 63, passed away suddenly on August 26, 2019.  He was born in Kingsport on January 28, 1956, where he was a lifelong resident.
He was a dedicated Alabama fan and had worked for TPI in Gray, TN for 16 years.
James is preceded in death by his mother Mary Wagner; sisters, Judy Wagner, Sue Baker, Phyllis Wagner-Carter, and Nancy Wagner; brothers, Don Wagner and Norman Wagner; niece, Patricia Grayson; and mother-in-law, Ann Moss.

KINGSPORT - Glen Cecil Skeens 84, of Kingsport went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, August 27, 2019. Cecil was a loving husband, father, and friend who will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Wesley and Lillie Skeens; sons, Ronnie and Willie Skeens; 13 siblings; daughter-in-law, Sheila Skeens.
Survivors include his loving wife of 62 years, Gracie Skeens; daughters, Nancy Burchell and Violetta McNutt; sons, Kyle Skeens and Kenneth Skeens and wife Jennifer; 10 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; along with several nieces and nephews.

WEBER CITY, VA - Thelma Jeanette White , 93, Weber City, VA passed away, Wednesday , August 28, 2019 at the Nova Health and Rehab, Weber City, VA.
Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by Gate City Funeral Home,www.gatecityfunerals.com.

GATE CITY — A Scott County man has been arrested after allegedly pistol-whipping a 65-year-old woman and snatching her purse.
According to a press release from the Scott County Sheriff’s Office, the incident occurred shortly before noon on Tuesday. The victim told police that as she exited a friend’s home at 321 Spring Valley Circle, a man wearing a mask and armed with a gun grabbed a purse that was over her shoulder.
Police report that during the ensuing struggle, the man used the firearm to strike the woman in the side of the face and neck.