THE AMERICAN RED CROSS HAS DECIDED NOT TO BE A PART OF KINGSPORT’S NEW NON-PROFIT CENTER. KINGSPORT OFFICIALS SAID THE PROPOSED 8.7 MILLION DOLLAR RENOVATION OF THE V.O. DOBBINS CENTER WILL LIKELY BE SCALED BACK IN SIZE DUE TO THAT DECISION. LUKE BELL, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE AMERICAN RED CROSS OF NORTHEAST TENNESSEE, SAID THE RED CROSS DRAFTED A LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR THE CONCEPT, BUT NEVER GAVE THE CITY AN OFFICIAL COMMITMENT TO RELOCATE TO THE CENTER. HE WENT ON TO SAY THAT DONATIONS ARE NOT AS STRONG AS THEY WOULD LIKE THEM TO BE TO MAKE SUCH A COMMITMENT. CONCEPTUAL PLANS HAD THE AGENCY TAKING UP THE ENTIRE FIRST FLOOR OF THE THREE STORY NON-PROFIT CENTER.