Message to MBMouse (Johnson City, Kingsport, Franklin: apartment complex, loft, house)

[BuzzCam]

I was wondering if you felt the earth move yesterday?

I believe you told me once you are on the Gray area. The explosion in the Boones Creek area yesterday was on the street behind my folks house. I am up in this area on vacation, but was at my sister and brother in law's house in Colonial Heights when the explosion happened. My Mother called us and said there were four explosion which shook their house. We were traveling to the Gray Fossil Museum and were able to see the smoke from I-26 and the road that goes to the museum. Shows you how long I have been away. I can't remember the name of that road.

The explosions occurred in a garage where a man was restoring classic cars. The fire charred several tree limbs that were above garage. When I came home and saw the police tape around the house, I first thought "meth lab". But, it turned out the explosions were due to paint and gasoline being stored in the garage. The man is lucky the fire did not damage his house more than it did or cause his propane tank to explode.

Fortunately, no one was hurt seriously. A fireman did suffer minor injuries.

Not much happens in this neighborhood, but when it does look out. Several years ago a landlady, at a five apartment complex on the same street the explosion was on yesterday, tried to burn her building down.

We, accidentally, set a TVA High Voltage Power Pole on fire burning off weeds. The tar on the pole caught on fire. I kept imagining Johnson City going totally dark when the pole burnt through and fell down. However, we got it out and TVA checked the pole and said there was no damage. I think the JC Power Board owns those lines now and uses them only in an emergency. There is no power going through them at this time.

Some kids set a field on fire and the wind blew the fire towards the same building the landlady tried to torch years earlier. All us neighbors were able to stop it before it caught the building on fire.

My parent's house is on a sharp curb and they have had several cars miss the curve and end up in their front yard.

But, this all happened since 1971 so as I said, it is usually quiet here.

It is great to be in Johnson City. The place sure has changed in the year I have been away. I have to head back to Nashville Monday.

Hope you and yours and everyone else on this board have a very happy and safe holiday!!!

Buzz

[mbmouse]

Hi Buzz, no I did not see or hear anything! I guess I was "in the zone" yesterday and in my own little world. I live on the same side of 26 as the fossil museum and a bit further north of it which is on Hwy 75, Sunset Drive and Bobby Hicks Hwy (same Rd but with 3 names, no wonder you couldn't remember hahaha) So I don't know if I would have heard or seen anything from here even if I was paying attention. I know Boones Creek is really part of Gray, but I am closer to Sulpher Springs than Boones Creek, totaly other end of Gray.
Glad everyone was ok though. You are right, not much happens here that you hear sirens except for car accidents once in a while.
If you think JC has changed, take a quick trip out to downtown Kingsport, Board and Center St areas before you head home.
Have a safe trip and enjoy the family.
Merry Christmas!

[BuzzCam]

Funny you mention downtown Kingsport.

We ate at a restaurant downtown yesterday. Kingsport is really looking good these days. Love the sculptures throughout the downtown area.

It also looks like they have WiFi throughout downtown judging by the number of WiFi antennas I saw on some of the downtown buildings.

Is Johnson City revitalizing their downtown area?

My wife and I are venturing out this afternoon to North Johnson City to do some Christmas shopping. I am probably in for a big surprise!

[mbmouse]

Yes, Kingsport offers free WiFi through out downtown, which is really cool seeing as there are now 18 loft apartments there and more coming ready. I just came back from shopping in N.JC, State of Franklin area, yea, you will be surprised LOL!
Love to hear what you think.

[jabogitlu]

If JC has any plans to revitalize its downtown, they are buried somewhere deep in a file cabinet. That is one of my major gripes with the city. The old town looks awful, and vast swathes of it are virtually useless and empty. Thank God for Russo's and the like!

[MarandaStephenson]

Actually I have been reading in the newspaper this week, plans for Johnson City to adapt the same building codes that Kingsport did which will allow more revitalizing to the area. Almost every day the newspaper has published an article about plans for a new building or re-building of an existing one.

[mbmouse]

Originally Posted by MarandaStephenson

Actually I have been reading in the newspaper this week, plans for Johnson City to adapt the same building codes that Kingsport did which will allow more revitalizing to the area. Almost every day the newspaper has published an article about plans for a new building or re-building of an existing one.

That is good news that they are doing SOMETHING, however, unless they do something about parking in downtown, it won't matter how many buildings get sold and revitalized. If people can't park, they won't go.

[BuzzCam]

Originally Posted by mbmouse

That is good news that they are doing SOMETHING, however, unless they do something about parking in downtown, it won't matter how many buildings get sold and revitalized. If people can't park, they won't go.

Downtown Johnson City looked better to me this time around than it did last year. Maybe it was the Christmas decorations. I drove through downtown Sunday morning on the way to church at the Methodist Church on Spring and Maple.

MBMouse, Channel 39 restored the web camera at their transmitter on Viking Mountain near Greeneville. I have it on my Tri-Cities Web Camera page, but it looks to have a big icecycle (sp?) blocking some of its view. Check it out if you have time.
http://buzzrawls.home.att.net/Tri-Cities.html

I am back in Nashville at work. I wanted to come home over Christmas, but my company produces the game day activities and video coverage for The Tennessee Titans Jumbotrons at the stadium and I have to edit quite a few videos for it. The Titans are at home this week.

Have a great day!
Buzz