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Betty Alvis -'For the Love of Kingsport' Memorial
Betty Lou Alvis, 59, Kingsport, died Sunday afternoon (September 12, 2004) at Indian Path Medical Center after a period of declining health.
Born in Kingsport where she resided most of her life, Betty attended Winthrop College in Rock Hill, SC and graduated from East Tennessee State University in 1990. She was a mortgage broker, co-founder of Restore Our Voice, founer of the "Voice of Kingsport" newspaper, and was very involved in local politics. Betty was a member and volunteer at the Kingsport Senior Center.
Preceding her in death were her parents, George S. Hite and Mabel Chase Hite, infant sister, Brenda Hite and stepmother, Elizabeth Blankenbeckler Hite.
She was also prededed in death by her uncle Jitney Blankenbeckler, who inspired her lifelong love of Kingsport politics. Her dream was to follow in his footsteps as mayor of Kingsport, an office which she sought twice.
Surviving are her daughter and son-in-law, Amye Lane and husband, Jonathan, Kingsport; three grandchildren, Joshua, Dustin, and Melanie; one sister, Mary McNabb, Kingsport; several aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Calling hours are from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Homes, Kingsport.
Services will be conducted at 8 p.m. Wednesday in the funeral home chapel with Pastor Bob Cloud officiating.
Graveside services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday at East Lawn Memorial Park.
Family members and friends will serve as pallbearers.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Friends of the Senior Center, 1200 East Center Street, Kingsport, TN 37660.
E-mail condolences may be sent to:hamlettdobson@charter.net
Ms. Alvis' death will not affect the publication of the paper or the operation of "Restore Our Voice", as it was her desire that her volunteers carry on with them.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Restore Our Voice and Voice of Kingsport Offices will continue at: 2016 Sand St, Kingsport, Tennessee 37660
Phone: 423-361-8158
Fax: 309-423-7912
E-mail: voiceofkingsport@webspawner.com for both organizations
GOALS OF RESTORE OUR VOICE:
1) restore the right of Kingsport's citizens to fully participate in city government (see link at bottom of page for more information and for our plan of action as to how to accomplish this goal)
2) recruit industry to our area with the goal of bringing back the number of high-paying jobs our community has lost over the past 10 years (10,000) within 4 years+ the 2,500 we've lost since September 2003 - We believe in City recruitment, as opposed to areawide recruitment !
3) KEEP and fully implement the city pay plan for employees and get our employees fairly compensated for the great work they do for us(see link at bottom of page for more detail)
4) start the process of rebuilding Kingsport's ailing infrastructure (see link at bottom of page for more detail)
5) support downtown merchants with a small business grant-writing assistance program, cooperative advertising assitance and other programs
6) redevelop Kingsport's redevelopment plan, taking it away from it's focus on redevelopment of high end commercial properties to creating ways to bring more and better housing to our lower income families (Kingsport's present KHRA led redevelopment plan does not provide a single better housing opportunity for a single Kingsport resident.)
We pledge to work to end the use of eminent domain as a vehicle for redeveloping commercial properties in Kingsport. The practice of allowing the city to take private property from a developer unwilling to sell his/her property and to allow another private developer to buy that property, whether or not the sale is at a fair price, violates all the standards of freedom and fairness our ancestors fought for in founding and defending our country.
7) seek grants to help finance city functions whenever possible and look into the possibility of hiring a full-time grant finder/
writer to facilitate this goal (Our present administration has -finally - taken up the call to get a full-time grantwriter in place, that's one step in the right direction, if it is actually implemented. You and I will be watching !)
and 8) promote competition in utility service in our area
POSITIONS ON ISSUES OF INTEREST:
Employee Pay and Benefits Position
Our city employees are our greatest asset and I am committed to finding a way to KEEP AND FULLY fund the pay plan so they may be fairly compensated for their hard work and dedication.
(see link below for more details)
Infrastructure Repairs
Our city infrastructure has been neglected for many years and has become not only inconvenient for citizens to use, but, in some cases, actually dangerous. This problem also deters both new businesses and new residents from considering our area to live or invest in. (see link below for details)
Restoring the Voice of Individual Citizens of Kingsport
Citizens in Kingsport have become progressively more disenfranchised from our local political system over the past few years. One of our goals will be to re-involve our citizens in the political process.
We have a plan to help citizens be able to get more involved (see the link concerning this at the bottom of the page)and I welcome suggestions of citizens as to other possible avenues to citizen involvement.
E-mail - for problems you wish to get help with but not have displayed on the site.
This is the people's way to be able to address city government issues until the time when they are finally free to do so at city hall ! Feel free to e-mail us (or visit our guestbook and make a comment or start a line of discussion - see below)- just hit the contact button and type away ! We will respond if you have a question, whether or not we know the answer, and will be glad to look into any problem or issue you would like to bring to our attention.
Guestbook - a place to let the community know about problems that we all need to address.
The guestbook is your place to comment on any issue related to city government and/or invite comment from other citizens on the issues.
We would love to see it used as a lively forum for debate. How better can givernment learn what the citizens of Kingsport REALLY think than by listening in to a spirited discussion of the issues !
Our only requests are that you refrain from personal attacks and keep it clean !
With that in mind, have at it Kingsport !!
This website is far from complete. Keep checking back and be sure to e-mail or stop by the guestbook to let me know what you are interested to see here !!!!!!!!
Mary McNabb, acting on the request of Betty Alvis to continue her work.
Pay Plan Position Details (see Public Safety Department link on this page)
Betty's Health
Infrastructure Repair Position
Citizens Voice Page
Mayor's Record Page
Send E-Mail to: b4mayor@webspawner.com
Copyright © 2007 Mary McNabb for Betty Alvis. All Rights Reserved