No WhiteWash!

I searched on “Kingsport Tennessee Unemployment” and the new search engine gave me the correct answer as below.  The search engine line is http://www79.wolframalpha.com/

A revolutionary new search engine that computes answers rather than pointing to websites will be launched officially today amid heated talk that it could challenge the might of Google. 

Read more via Google challenged by new rival with all the answers – WolframAlpha – Times Online.

Domtar Corporation (NYSE/TSX: UFS) today reported a net loss of $45 million ($0.09 per share) for the first quarter of 2009 compared to a net loss of $676 million ($1.31 per share) for the fourth quarter of 2008 and net earnings of $36 million ($0.07 per share) for the first quarter of 2008. Sales for the first quarter of 2009 amounted to $1.3 billion. Excluding items(1) listed below, the Company lost $38 million ($0.07 per share(1)) for the first quarter of 2009 compared to a loss of $20 million ($0.04 per share(1)) for the fourth quarter of 2008 and earnings of $25 million ($0.05 per share(1)) for the first quarter of 2008.

Read more via Domtar.

It appears that Kingsport, TN Alderman Ben Mallicote, who is running for re-election, is trying to defend his vote to not give back the regional sales tax back to the property owners in Kingsport. 

The gang of five (Phillips, Mallicote, Joh, Munsey, and Shupe) voted to use the 1/4 percent regional sales tax for a new Convention Center Expansion.   Kingsport citizens back in mid 1990’s voted for the 1/4 percent regional sales tax to build the Meadowview Convention Center.

This became apparent in the Rotary Club debate yesterday when Alderman Shull stated that he voted to give the regional sales tax back to the citizens.  Since the Convention Center debt was paid off, Alderman Shull as well as Alderman Marsh were attempting to return the money back to the citizens via a property tax reduction.

I am not surprised at Ben Mallicote’s position.  He made the following statement in 2008, “I do not believe all of the doom and gloom about the economy”. 

Listen to the April 20 WJCW radio interview with Tom Parham who is seeking a seat on the Kingsport Board of Mayor and Alderman

Click here for interview

Tom Parham’s website

A recent Kingsport Times-News article below gives additional information on Tom Parham.

Parham also worked for Eastman for more than three decades, overseeing community relations and working in the polymers business organization and in administration. Parham is probably best known for his community and civic service, including playing a pivotal role on the Kingsport Beverage Board, with the Kingsport Greenbelt and Kingsport Riverwalk project.

“I’ve been involved and am knowledgeable on most major issues and decisions in the city of Kingsport over the last 15 years,” Parham said. “My platform is to support affordable growth, higher education and work force development issues. I bring knowledge, experience, a passion for improvement, and I’m committed.”

Parham said the allocation of resources is Kingsport’s greatest challenge and added he would like to see the Kingsport Riverwalk project fully developed within the next four years.

“We are certainly blessed we have some growth funds available — the bond roll-off funds and the quarter-cent sales tax. The challenge is what do we do and how do we best use them?” Parham said. “Do we use them for operating funds or invest in the future. I feel we should invest in the future.”

When was the last time you heard someone complain that Kingsport should stop messing around with attracting retailers and restaurants and attract some high-paying manufacturing jobs?

If you haven’t heard it you haven’t been listening. But there’s a problem with that lament.

The sad fact of life is the national, regional and local manufacturing base is decreasing.

During the past decade the United States has lost 5 million manufacturing jobs. And since the current recession began in 2007 1.5 million manufacturing jobs have been slashed.

Many will never return.

Read more via Kingsport, Tri-Cities jobs market reality check – Kingsport Times-News Online.

BRISTOL, Tenn. — Empty seats at a Bristol spring Cup race? It could happen. In ordinary economic times, that is unheard of. Unfortunately, these are not ordinary economic times.

Just days before the Food City 500, there are thousands of tickets still available for purchase at online ticket brokers, shopping websites, and even the Bristol Motor Speedway ticket office itself.
Nearly two weeks ago at Atlanta, an estimated 30,000 seats were vacant during the running of the Kobalt Tools 500.

Faced with the prospect of not having a capacity crowd and as a result of these trying economic times for consumers, the Bristol track and its corporate partners are doing what they can to help alleviate some of the financial burden borne by the race fans who will attend arguably the most popular NASCAR race on the circuit.

In February, a speedway press release announced that Ford is making tickets available to the general public on Ford Fan Friday, which features practice for both the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide cars, as well as qualifying for the Food City 500, for only $5.

Read more via Bluefield Daily Telegraph, Bluefield, WV – Bristol, NASCAR dealing with economic woes.

Wade McClellan is seeking to be elected as an Alderman on the Kingsport, TN Board of Mayor and Alderman.  See the link below for the entire article on Wade McClellan.

KINGSPORT — Wade Mcclellan, the owner of Livewire Communications in Kingsport, has decided to jump into politics for the first time and run for alderman in the upcoming city election.

The mayor’s position and three alderman seats are up for grabs in the May 19 city election. The three incumbents — Vice Mayor Ben Mallicote, Alderwoman Valerie Joh and Alderman Pat Shull — are facing three challengers — Mike McIntyre, Tom Parham and Mcclellan.

“I’m at a time in my life where I can well-afford to donate some time to the city,” Mcclellan said, noting that he is a nervous public speaker and not a well-oiled politician. “I have a high school education, but I have a lot of experience and a strong conviction to this area. I certainly want Kingsport to progress and thrive, and I’ve always been good at anything I’ve wanted to do.”

Mcclellan, 58, hails from Gate City and has lived in Kingsport and the Church Hill area for 40 years. Mcclellan enjoys boating, is an avid Harley motorcycle rider and has grandchildren in the Kingsport public school system. Before founding Livewire Communications 18 years ago, Mcclellan worked for a telephone contractor for 20 years, doing cabling and networking.

Read more via Mcclellan seeking seat on Kingsport BMA in May election – Kingsport Times-News Online.

Knoxville, held a Career Transition Fair to assist those looking for career advice.

Kingsport unemployment rate is now at 10.5 percent and  I am sure that there are many that could use some assistance in future job planning.

Why not have job fair in Kingsport?  What is the leadership doing to help those in need?  I am amazed at the propaganda coming from the city, chamber, and the Kingsport Times-News on how great things are in Kingsport.  I have yet to hear any discussions concerning unemployment….I guess they don’t want to talk about something negative because it would look bad for the city and plus it is an election year.

Tuesday, hundreds of people once again walked its floors looking for today’s version of the perfect find – a steady well-paying job.

The Career Transition Assistance Fair was not an actual job fair, but it was a concentration of agencies, companies and organizations ready to guide job seekers who are trying to remake themselves to fit into the current job market.

…. The seven-hour event was sponsored by Innovation Valley Inc., Knox County, the City of Knoxville and the Knoxville Chamber. Several hours into the event, Rhonda Rice, Knoxville Chamber executive vice president, said she was pleased with the turnout.

Read more via Job seekers flock to fair for career advice : Business : Knoxville News Sentinel.

VOLuntarilyConservative blog has got a good point concerning the local economy.  I will have a post soon that will provide some interesting data about the local economy.

There have been several major events related to the local economy here in Knoxville – Goody’s and IPIX going belly-up being at the top of the charts. Blount County has also been hit hard, with Alcoa experiencing lay-offs, the boat manufacturing plants and Denso cutting back hours, and a recent report (along with confirmation to me from anonymous sources familiar with the situation) that Clayton Homes may be in serious trouble.

And while massive lay-offs at The University of Tennessee may create more problems, Knox and Blount Counties are fortunate to have multiple large employers in their municipal boundaries. Other places close to home are not so lucky.

Read more via VOLuntarilyConservative: More Signs of Trouble for the East Tennessee Economy.

Jeff Fleming, Assistant City Manager for Economic Development for the City of Kingsport, TN just posted a post on his blog concerning the January unemployment rates.  Jeff Fleming is paid  $91,898 per year by the taxpayers of Kingsport and he finds time to point out how well other areas are doing or not doing so well in the unemployment area.  Jeff Fleming fails to mention anything about how Kingsport is doing and changes the State data to suit him. 

Below in Red, I have corrected Jeff Flemings post to reflect the State’s report and added data left out by Jeff Fleming for Kingsport, Bristol, and Johnson City. 

See link:  Tennessee – January 2009 Kingsport and Sullivan County Unemployment Rate, and Kingsport Times-News article; Kingsport’s January unemployment rate hits 10.5%, Morristown at 15.2%; Sullivan County has 4th lowest rate in state

Sullivan County has 3rd (4th) lowest unemployment rate in Tennessee

While the unemployment rate rose in all 95 of Tennessee’s counties, Sullivan County has the 3RD (4th) lowest unemployment rate and Washington County is 5th.
8.5% (7.6%) = U.S.
9.3% (8.6%) = State of Tennessee
6.9% = Sullivan County

Counties with lowest unemployment rates (out of 95 counties):

1.  (2.) Knox County (6.6%) – Knoxville
1. (1.) Lincoln County (6.6%) – Fayetteville
2. (3.) Williamson County (6.8%) – Franklin-Brentwood
3. (4.) Sullivan County (6.9%) – Kingsport-Bristol
4. (5.)Davidson County (7.0%) – Nashville
5. (6.) Washington County (7.4%) – Johnson City
5. (7.) Hamilton County (7.4%) – Chattanooga
6. (8.) Montgomery County (7.6%) – Clarksville

Other Cities of interest in the Tri-Cites area
10.5%  Kingsport
7.1%  Bristol
7.0%  Johnson City

Other counties of regional interest:

14.1% = Greene County (Greeneville)
13.8% = Cocke County (Newport)
12.6% = Sevier County (Sevierville-Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge)
12.6% = Hancock County (Sneedville)
12.4% = Johnson County (Mountain City)
12.4% = Grainger County (Rutledge)
11.8% = Jefferson County (Jefferson City-Dandridge)
11.6% = Claiborne County (Tazewell)
11.3% = Campbell County (LaFollette-Jacksboro)
10.8% = Hawkins County (Church Hill-Mount Carmel-Rogersville)
10.4% = Hamblen County (Morristown)
9.5% = Unicoi County (Erwin)
9.5% = Union County (Maynardville)
9.2% = Blount County (Maryville-Alcoa)
9.1% = Carter County (Elizabethton)
8.4% = Anderson County (Oak Ridge-Clinton)

For additional reading, see the following link: Jeff Fleming

What do you think about this type of reporting?  Is it ok to put the political spin on to help the city?  Is this the ethical way of reporting?