☀️ Today’s Weather
Mainly clear skies over the Model City today. High of 74°F, low of 53°F, with a 0% chance of rain — a perfect fall day.
😄 Only in Kingsport
Kingsport has a city app for reporting potholes, a planetarium for stargazing, and a park with wolves. Most places would consider any one of those a selling point. Here, they’re just the Tuesday morning checklist.
🧠 Trivia Q&A
Question: Where are many of Kingsport’s historic photographs, documents, and local records preserved?
Answer at the bottom of today’s newsletter.
🔝 Top Stories
All Four First Responders Released from Hospital After I-26 Crash
All four first responders who were struck by a vehicle while working a crash on Interstate 26 have been released from the hospital. Three Kingsport firefighters and a Sullivan County EMS paramedic were injured after a passing vehicle struck them while they were loading a patient into an ambulance on I-26 westbound. Charges are now pending against the driver involved in the collision.
Sponsored by
Two Downtown Kingsport Office Suites, $515 a Month
Starting a business or ready to move out of the spare bedroom? 57 Investments has two 300 sq. ft. suites open at 117 Broad Street, ready for you to move in now. Each one rents for $515 a month with flexible lease terms, and if you need more room, lease both together at a discounted rate. The building dates to 1916, and the suites keep its original wood floors and exposed brick. There’s no elevator, but a chairlift carries you and your clients to the second floor.
You’ll be working alongside nine other businesses upstairs, from attorneys to a barbershop to a music school, all of them small and all of them looking out for each other. Start small, stay as long as you like, and when it’s time to expand, there’s room to grow without leaving the building.
Kingsport Declares “Carolyn Gudger Day”
The City of Kingsport formally recognized the bravery of former Sullivan Central School Resource Officer Carolyn Gudger by declaring September 23, 2026, as “Carolyn Gudger Day.” Back in 2010, an armed gunman entered Sullivan Central High School and drew a gun at the school’s principal — Gudger intervened, standing between the gunman and the principal, keeping the school, staff, and all students safe. Families, community members, first responders, and former students gathered to honor Gudger at the celebration.
Kingsport Seeks $10 Million Grant to Expand Dental Clinic
The City of Kingsport is pursuing a major grant to expand access to dental care for the region. The City of Kingsport has announced it is applying for a $10 million state grant to expand the Kingsport Dental Clinic of the Appalachian Highlands. If awarded, the funding could significantly boost dental services available to area residents.
Kingsport City Schools Hosts Inclusive “Tribe Sports Day”
Kingsport City Schools recently held a “Tribe Sports Day” event as part of an inclusive athletics program. The event is designed to bring students together through athletic activities in an inclusive setting, reflecting the school system’s ongoing commitment to accessible programming for all students. For full details, visit the link below.
Slater Community Center Receives $50,000 Grant
State Rep. John Crawford announced that $50,000 in funding has been awarded to the Slater Community Center in Bristol, with the Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging administering the grant, which the Tennessee General Assembly approved in the 2026-27 state budget. The Slater Community Center will use the funds to update group fitness equipment and purchase new strength-training and cardio machines. The grant is part of a broader $5 million DDA investment in 122 senior centers across 71 Tennessee counties.
📅 Upcoming Events
Event details are pulled from public listings and can change. Please confirm dates and times on the official event page before making plans.
Exchange Place Fall Folk Arts Festival
Date/Time: Saturday, September 26, 2026, starting at 10:00 AM
Location: Exchange Place, Kingsport, TN (1850s Farm)
A fall folk arts festival at the historic Exchange Place living history farm, celebrating local heritage and traditional arts.
Folkfest Fall Shindig
Date/Time: Saturday, September 26, 2026, starting at 10:00 AM
Location: 140 Broad Street, Kingsport, TN
A fall folk music and community gathering in downtown Kingsport.
Smokin’ Bones CJ’s Debut (Live Concert)
Date/Time: Saturday, September 26, 2026, starting at 9:00 PM
Location: 516 G Morelock St, Kingsport, TN
A live music performance at a local Kingsport venue.
Mercantile Vendor Market – Fall Market
Date/Time: Saturday, October 3, 2026, starting at 4:00 AM
Location: Kingsport Farmers Market
A fall vendor market at the Kingsport Farmers Market featuring local merchants and goods.
Motivating Magic Show — Kingsport, TN
Date/Time: Thursday, October 8, 2026, at 6:30 PM
Location: Temple Baptist Church, Kingsport
A live magic show with a motivating theme, hosted at a local Kingsport church.
Stryper – Live Concert
Date/Time: Saturday, October 17, 2026, at 6:00 PM
Location: MeadowView Conference Resort & Convention Center, Kingsport
A live performance by the rock band Stryper at MeadowView.
TOKs 2nd Annual Car and Bike Show
Date/Time: Saturday, October 24, 2026, at 4:00 PM
Location: Highland Park, Kingsport
The second annual car and bike show hosted at Highland Park in Kingsport.
Candlelight: A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics
Date/Time: Friday, October 30, 2026, at 8:45 PM
Location: MeadowView Conference Resort & Convention Center, Kingsport
A candlelit evening concert featuring Halloween classics at MeadowView.
2nd Annual Hearth & Holiday: A Christmas Market
Date/Time: Saturday, December 19, 2026, starting at 11:00 AM
Location: Kingsport Farmers Market
A holiday Christmas market at the Kingsport Farmers Market, featuring local vendors and seasonal goods.
🤝 Community Partners
🧠 Trivia Answer
Kingsport Archives, which serves as the repository for the city’s historical photographs, documents, and records and supports research into Kingsport’s past.