re: Johansen: " I have been to the bottom, I have lost a career job and been down the road of financial hardship and have come out of it 10 fold with a clear vision that I can accomplish anything with the right effort and that nothing can hold me back and that one truly can make there own luck. ............ If more people would teach there children to go after things in life instead of holding out there hand, maybe more people would not let life control them but take control of there own lives. We need to teach Pride and Hard work not Pity and Self Entitlement.">>>>>>>Johansen, I have great respect for your comment back to myself and this forum. As I took the two or three minutes required and short-scanned through your posts yesterday, I realized then -that perhaps, you and I *did*, indeed hold same views on many topics. It doesn't take a scientific research group or a poll to learn that the posters who gather here are -for the most part- united in their concern for our city and truly want to see it prosper. Most hold red, white and blue American ideals and values, and good solid respect for our country. All have *something* to say and the city should be *listening*. I think I was struck most by the part of your post that begins with, " I have been at the bottom...." Johnasen, many of us have been right there with you. Some are at the end of their rope *now*. But as you point out -there is a way up and out. It begins with the *individual*. Not government, not handouts, not one thin rope after another -but with the core of the human being. That's where the strength is -it might be crammed full of "muscle" you never knew you had until it's needed. Times of crisis and fear bring it out. It's "do or die", "sink or swim", "prove your mettle". It's -as you say- a time to render yourself to the things that are most important and cling to them. Your mention of the need to teach the value of pride and hard work to our children is not lost on me. Neither lost is the wisdom in discouraging the sense of entitlement and self pity and frivolous materialism that currently corrupts our society. And you are correct: our "world", here, in Kingsport will *NOT* spin off it's axis if Eastman dwindles to a tiny trickle or even leaves us. We are dependant -but only to a point, then we individualize. Our roots go much deeper than Eastman Company. We were here *first* -and we have a much stronger stake in this town. The people who live here are not about to see our town fail. It's our home. And it will be our home without them, too. -Billie Dale, Kingsport

re: Gene Norris: " We need to revolt against the taxes that are being put on the American people, from the GRASSROOTS ON UP!!!!">>>
Taxes. And itchy fingers about to raise them. In Kingsport, Sullivan County. I have something to say about that. A question. And I hope everyone takes the time to mull the dynamics over. This: If property values are *down* (here and everywhere else) -where are these "leaders" basing the *need* for a tax hike *from*???? If property truly increases in value, then you can reasonably afford the tax hike. If property loses it's value, it's worth *less* and the tax should reflect that. But (Smile) no one (I'll bet) has ever heard of city leaders deciding to *lower* taxes -only raise them. The figures that are being presented to promote the people swallowing the current revised increase in value doesn't reflect what's really happened to the value, at all. C'mon, guys -we're *not* quiet little naive sheep! You simply need money, now, because somebody wasn't looking as far down the road as they should have been "way back when..."-Billie Dale, Kingsport

Sorry for the Gender misrepresentation there Ms. Dale. I think you and I are in some agreement on some of these issues just a different way of coming across. As for the comment pertaining to my welfare matters. No I have no welfare needs and feel that welfare should only be given to the truly needy and those should have to perform some sort of community service to earn their welfare. My statements are from the fact that I know what is important in life, not a job or a house or a car or any materialistic item. My Wife, My children and friends and family. I make my own life and make my own way, I work hard for a living and will continue to do what I need to do to provide for my family and my friends that need help. My point is people get so wound up over Rumors, and nothing more, Keep in mind TEC laid off 600 in 2003 and the world didn't spin off its axis then. I have been to the bottom, I have lost a career job and been down the road of financial hardship and have come out of it 10 fold with a clear vision that I can accomplish anything with the right effort and that nothing can hold me back and that one truly can make there own luck. There are jobs out there, not many that people want or had but they are out there, One of my friends recently laid off had a job 4 days after he was laid off, His new job is nothing near what he had and he makes a quarter of what he did but he has a job and he is trying to pay his own way. If more people would teach there children to go after things in life instead of holding out there hand, maybe more people would not let life control them but take control of there own lives. We need to teach Pride and Hard work not Pity and Self Entitlement.

Wal Mart sold the US to China.
Mr Johansen . I see you dont't have much to worry for. Are you on food stamps and Welfare??

Definition of Retard - idiot: a person of subnormal intelligence...lack of normal development of intellectual capacities.

Have you ever heard of a Multple Meaning Word Billie? You should have learned about them in the 4th grade...you are defending ignorance.

Don't try and justify the demeaning of an entire ethnicity and race just becasue there are RUMORS of Eastman's future.

LOL Billie...I wondered when the poster adressed you as "Mr. whether that was right because of the "ie" at the end of your name...annnnnywayyyyy....onward!

So -who *does* really care about a pool or water park or think Meadowview about to bring in the motherload of revenue? Not many. Who really *wants* taxes raised in the midst of these economic times to have roads fixed? Some. Who is campaigning *for* more intersection cameras and money for tree-lined streets and city beautification money? A handful. And *who* wants to see our town prosper and grow jobs and head in a very positive direction? Just *about* everybody I know. -Billie Dale, Kingsport

When I moved here, Eastman employeed roughly 13-14,000 workers. I'm pretty certain the numbers are about roughly half of that now.

The capital expenditures have pretty much ceased since the coal to gasification project. The lack of expansion has worried me ever since. The plant for the most part is getting very old. A dear friend of mine (and retired employee) told me several years ago that the moment might just come where there would be no such thing as "The Eastman". I sure hope that's not the case.

It doesn't matter to me who owns it as long as they continue to employee the thousands in our community.. It sure would be a large hit if we were to lose them altogether, but one thing is for certain and spoken by a prior poster: they (the city) are doing what they can to diversify our local economy. No, the jobs might not stack up in pay, benefits, etc, (I hope I'm wrong about that), but they are at least making an honest effort.

My hometown has/had a huge industrial base, and they paid dearly for it in the early 1980's and are still paying for it because their leaders didn't act fast enough. It's quite the opposite story here and I truly hope they're doing the right thing and accomplishing it fast enough.

And -P.S.- it's *Ms.* Dale.

And those in Elkhart? It appears they feel the *same* way as I do: they are voicing opinion, creating new vision and are *pro-active* in their effort to "bail" themselves out. -Billie Dale, Kingsport

Mr. Johansen -then please put into practice what you are preaching: the children of this town (the ones coming of age) may want to know what vision we have for our city -just in case they want to continue to live here. But -of course- that may be a little dramatic (what with all the great hopes and dreams of those concerned with such trivial things). And fear? I don't believe that can be denied. We all have *some* degree of fear stemming from not only the "little" things that bring heartbreak to our town -but from our nation's current crisis. If , among the people, no one cares -if no one communicates, then someone else will make the decisions without any input. And *we* will live with those decisions. -Billie Dale, Kingsport

Wow, Mr Dale. I must say I am impressed. But I must say it truly is sad that you have monitored not only this article but obviously all articles on times news on what looks to be a minute by minute basis. I truly wish I had that much free time in a day Imagine the productivity I could accomplish then. But as you have researched my post so well I stand in agreement with all of my posts, If you are going to post quotes from me you should truly post the entire article and post, instead of your few key words and each of those posts only backs up my comments of the drama in this town. If people would go out and live there lives instead of listening to all of the fear mongering that goes on in the world we would be far closer to a solution to our future than our demise. Example of one of your quotes sorry as I don't have the time in the day to list them all "There's always been this fear in Kingsport that -if Eastman left town- we'd become an empty industrial wasteland of sort" This is exactly what I mean Fear. What fear. Sorry not me, Let Eastman go they have done plenty for this town and this town has done plenty in return. If they decide to go then farewell. Would it create hardship definitely, It could very well be the economic demise of this town, but it is not the end of the world, life goes on. Ask those in Elkhart. So my point is who really cares what Eastman does, Who really cares about a pool, Who really cares about Meadowview. Their are things far more important and it concerns me to see people get carried away with this garbage instead of living the gift of life. These things that everyone discusses on here is all fine thats the great thing about freedom of speech, but its gets real old hearing it over and over. People want to talk, I am all for talking but how about talking about something that matters, Like how our children are going to be able to succeed with what we have done to them, there are countless topics that matter and when I see people spreading fear rhetoric or crying about a pool or a hotel or a rumor of a company closing key work rumor. It makes me a little scared to think is this truly what matters to people.

Look, Eastman has been slowly leaving us for at least two decades, now. Like one of our nations leaders said recently, "Never let a good crisis go to waste" -whenever a reason arose, Eastman "let a few more go". Many, permanently. It's always been like pulling off a great big hang nail that's gone deep into the quick: just pull hard and fast and it's suddenly over. But it's *not* over for the ones being "let go". They still have to find a way to live -if not here, then somewhere else. You see, it strikes in the news for a short time -an we say "it's painful" and we go on. For the ones who actually lost their jobs, they're forgotten about and we move on to the next local "Big Thing" in news, while the unfortunate struggle to make car and house payments and try to feed their kids. There just aren't many jobs here that can replace an Eastman job for someone with a family to support. And *that's* the whole point. How do these folks survive, *here*? -Billie Dale, Kingsport

Never forget, the revenues from red light cameras are re-vitalizing the local economy, which is offsetting the current economic problems. Nobody has anything to worry about, at all.

Again, people are missing the point of this forum. This is a place for us to learn, expand out horizions, and maybe, see optons/opinions that others point out we may not normally see. The thought of it! You may learn something, or God forbid, even change your opinion on a matter. By reading these, and I mean the ones that don't name call or put others down, we can all learn from each other. This is NOT a place to put down the other posters, or to call others names, that applies to using name labels on other "groups" also.

Mr. Johansen, I should feel so lucky to have been let off rather lightly after reading a few of your more colorful recently filed comments shown as follows:>>> April 2, ’09 – “This is pretty pathetic….>>> March 27, ’09 - “This is Ludicrous….”>>> March 27, ’09 – “What a joke…”>>> March 27, ’09 – “On your mark, get set, Gouge.”>>> March 6, ’09 – “Again Times News is bored as this is not news…”>>> March 3, ’09 – “WINE AND CRY, B***CH And Moan that is all people are good for on this site. Its rediculous that there is talk of growth and people still have nothing positive to say, Eastman and Domtar help this town more than anyone here, If you cant handle living in a Town of this size with jobs, Then you should consider some of the one horse towns to our north, or go farther north for towns that don't have jobs. You should be thankful they are here.”>>> March 2, ’09 – “And this is news Why exactly???”>>> March 2, ’09 - “Some of you people are the most depressing people I have ever heard, luckily I don't have to say met if I had to hang around this amount of negativity everyday I would either be dead or committed.”>>> >>>>And we wonder why more people do not voice their opinions online in this forum? They are certainly for those with tougher skin. Signed, Your "Cheerleader"–Billie Dale, Kingsport

Error: " ...to the areas that are going to experience the greatest long-term economical support, ..."

Correction: "....to the areas that are going to experience the greatest long-term growth and provide long-term economical support,..

LOL, The drama of this town, Its like a giant high school. It should read, Times News key supporter of the town that is Kingsport High with the official mascot being the Drama Queen look at her shine.

Targeting health-care jobs as our "saviour" has proven fruitless. Wel-mont controls the ball on that. They'll continue to expand and grow themselves whenever the mood strikes them (or rather, the financial appeal). But keep in mind that a large part of the coming growth with the education building downtown will be health-care focused learning. Still, we can't keep looking at health-care as the "whole enchilada" when it comes to future growth. Education offered needs to be *diverse* and *targeted* to the areas that are going to experience the greatest long-term economical support, in addition to producing a better educated workforce that attracts big businesses, now and future. -Billie Dale, Kingsport

re: Bobby Boback: " Do you insensitive retards not realize there are several Chinese AMERICAN citizens living in this area. They pay their taxes like the rest of us should get as much respect as you would expect. " >>>>>>>>>>Dear Mr. Boback, likewise -you just offended every mentally disabled American in the country with the word "retard". How insensitive is *that*, my friend? -Billie Dale, Kingsport

An afterthought: GM's average employee makes around $65 an hour with benefits included. Keep in mind that a very large number of these workers barely have a high school education, yet, they rake in nearly as much as the salary of any of our local executives with a Bachelor's Degree -or even (in some cases) a Master's. While the union has cultivated an environment where the worker may be treated "more fairly" they've also, done just as much to run the company down, financially (not to mention increasing he cost of the vehicles they produce) by getting these higher hourly pay rates and salaries and some of the best benefits of anyone in America. The point I want to make is, that pay based on education *combined* with ability (and good common horse sense) are the most preferred tools an employee can possess. Companies don't want to pay high salaries for those who don't have those basic tools, already, because they realize there's too much potential for unions to step in and rally on their behalf, whether they are worth the extra pay or not. >>>Focusing in on growing an education center that takes in the whole spectrum of what's needed *now* and what will be needed in the future is a smart move. Technical, industrial, corporate jobs -they all tie in to job readiness and preparation through education. -Billie Dale, Kingsport

re: Karen: "But, where will the new jobs be? If we try to make this an educational center, the jobs will be restaurant and bar jobs, or retail jobs. None of those will pay enough for people to live, never the less buy houses, or pay the taxes that our local govt leaders want us to pay. Does anyone really think that the new retail centers have provided good quality jobs? I don't know the answer, but, low paying jobs are not going to help.">>>>>>Karen, I *do* realize that most jobs in education aren't high salary jobs that will support the backbone of Kingsport's economy. But I believe it will *enhance* our growth significantly. So often we hear others say (when they glance at our region looking for potential "quality" employees) -that we just don't make the grade when it comes to the education. Seems they find us always lacking. If we can produce employees that big business and corporations are looking to hire then our chances are far better in getting them to come here. Just look around us: we are steadily approaching the point where we might be called an "industrial rust belt" as businesses locate elsewhere, leaving behind acres of property we can't fill up. It's not just ugly to look at -it's painful to think of all the jobs lost. It might sound ridiculous to focus on education to "save" us -I agree that it won't produce the higher paying jobs (for most) that we need to support a strong and viable economy base, here, but it *will* produce greater and more favorable reason to look here (first) for employees -employees who are educated -trained- and ready for jobs in the range (or higher bracket) of those we are now losing. We *have* to start somewhere. And *soon*. -Billie Dale, Kingsport

Do you insensitive retards not realize there are several Chinese AMERICAN citizens living in this area. They pay their taxes like the rest of us should get as much respect as you would expect.

Everyday I want to believe we as individuals, community, and nation are progressing to something better.....then I read the online TimesNews and comments.....everyday my hopes are dashed after reading the abundant ignorance these comments represent.

Well, we all knew this was coming, just the latest in the avalanche of local job losses.

Obviously with no jobs, that means people not earning an income, not paying taxes, but instead most will have to do either of two things:

1. Living off public assistance.
2. Turning to a life of crime.

There are those who will say "Well, the lazy bums should just get a job, blah blah blah." Well, that's the problem. The jobs. It's not like everyone can just get a job that pays enough to live on and meet commitments, or we wouldn't even be concerned about these layoffs.

So what is the solution? According to our local cities, the answer is to build water parks, and raise taxes.

But, where will the new jobs be? If we try to make this an educational center, the jobs will be restaurant and bar jobs, or retail jobs. None of those will pay enough for people to live, never the less buy houses, or pay the taxes that our local govt leaders want us to pay. Does anyone really think that the new retail centers have provided good quality jobs? I don't know the answer, but, low paying jobs are not going to help.

I, for one, welcome our new Chinese overlords.

Attentioin - China HAS taken over. They now own us.

Gene, China is taking over *everything*. (Smile) And *that's* not a rumor. -Billie Dale, Kingsport

Gene, Chine is taking over *everything*. (Smile) -Billie Dale, Kingsport

I guess I'm left practically speechless. Almost. There's always been this fear in Kingsport that -if Eastman left town- we'd become an empty industrial wasteland of sorts. Eastman was the "Boom" in our little "Boomtown". We've depended on it much to much to under-gird our core economy, here. Only recently, have we even courted the thoughts of how to strengthen our workforce base by beginning construction on the downtown education buildings. Downtown Kingsport could easily transition into a significant education hot-spot. Imagine that -the people here who can barely speak the English language well or without including a peculiar accent could be well on their way (if we all stay focused) to spurring our own economy! Upper stories of downtown buildings are begging to be turned into apartments for students and professors and other education-related people who would find their employment in a small city that has yet to realize its potential -if it only ramps up the support. If it only expands the vision. If it *acts*. Years ago, when work on the train station was going on I remarked to a friend who was riding along with me in the car, "Too bad this is as far as it'll go. They don't see how far they could take this -or how far they could go with it". I imagined the shops that could exist there, the restaurants, and nightlife. There was big talk of "downtown revitalization" but only mere face-lifts were done. No one had the vision then. My hopes are with the new education center. It may not replace Eastman one day (how could it?) but it just may give us the seedlings we need to grow a new local economy. It only starts with the new building. Eastman is a corporation that has given us much -but we have relied on it far too much. We need to get off the teet and "do for ourselves" for a change. We have the time, the building space, the ability -but are we up for the challenge? The rewards are well worth it. Something to think about. -Billie Dale, Kingsport