Bruno Nesci perfroms in the 2021 Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest at Graceland. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)

Good morning, Memphis. How many of us are tired from attending the vigil at Graceland last night? Today is Monday, Aug. 16, and Elvis Week continues with A Tribute to Sun Studio featuring John Paul Keith as well as Priscilla Presley appearing at the Elvis in Concert event. (The 2021 Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist — or “Miss America with sideburns” — has already been announced.) 

Also, the private security guard who allegedly shot a Black man to death at a Kroger fuel center is expected to be in court today. 

THE NEED TO KNOW

William Buchanan, Christopher Payne and Mary Warford take a moment to pose for a portrait before heading out into the field from the Memphis Fire Department headquarters on Aug. 13, 2021. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)

Fire chief asks us to slow down: Memphis Fire Chief Gina Sweat seemed dead serious when she spoke at last Thursday’s COVID-19 briefing about 911 wait times. And she knows it. “I think normally when you see me, I am usually very positive unless the situation dictates otherwise,” she said later. Memphis already had one of the busiest EMS systems in the country before the pandemic hit, and the local average has increased from about 380 911 calls a day to 450 a day, with some days hitting as many as 100 more than that. But it’s not just COVID putting a strain on first responders; the number of car crashes, especially high-speed crashes, has increased. 

Consolidation chances: Shelby County Commissioners Tami Sawyer and Amber Mills aren’t generally on the same side of issues, but when it comes to a renewed effort to consolidate Memphis and Shelby County, they’ve got common ground. “Each is skeptical about the true value of merging the city and county governments,” writes Don Wade, “and they’re pretty sure a consolidation would not benefit their constituents.” But there are also prominent people on the other side, making the case for consolidation and believing it has a chance of being approved even after being voted down in 2010. 

Demonstrators including Barbara Buress (right) and LJ Abraham (left) shout at customers of the Kroger gas station at 6660 Poplar Ave. (Rob Moore/Daily Memphian)

Protesters urge boycott: Protesters gathered over the weekend at the East Memphis Kroger fuel center where a man was recently shot and killed; a few drove in circles around the gas station, playing loud music — reportedly, how the fatal altercation began — as they drove. Others spoke to the gas station’s customers via megaphone, urging them not to fill their tanks or shop at the store.

Bridge math: As locals (and not-so-locals) discuss the possibility of a third bridge across the Mississippi River, the state’s transportation commissioner recently pointed out how old the area’s two vehicular bridges are. Specifically, the “old bridge” is 70 years old while the “new bridge” is 48 years old. (Should we maybe be calling it the middle-aged bridge???) His comments suggest that state officials in both Arkansas and Tennessee should be pushing the federal government to fund a new bridge directly — and that the most likely scenario is for it to replace, not augment, one of our two current bridges.

QUOTED

“We’d get around the dinner table and talk about what we could do to help out this population. We are home to so many homeless facilities and homeless support facilities.”

— Scott Blake, Victorian Village Community Development Corp. executive director 
Alongside EcoPro Services and armed with CARES Act funding, Victorian Village has helped build a business that cleans and sanitizes facilities and agencies that serve those without homes … while also providing some of those agencies’ clients with work.

THE NICE TO KNOW

John Currence plans to open his first Memphis restaurant, Big Bad Breakfast, at 6450 Poplar Ave. in East Memphis. (Jennifer Biggs/Daily Memphian)

Big bad supply chain problems: If you’re waiting for John Currence’s Big Bad Breakfast to open in Memphis, you’re going to be waiting a little bit longer. Today’s update on the future East Memphis restaurant is a fascinating one; the supply chain on critical pieces of kitchen equipment is the main problem, but that’s exacerbating another issue: hiring. Plus, Jennifer Biggs also drops some news on Biscuits and Jams, Sakura, Bounty and Saucy Chicken.

Grizzlies’ newest trade: Right from the beginning, the assumption was that the NBA’s Eric Bledsoe wouldn’t stay in Memphis after being traded to the Grizzlies from the New Orleans Pelicans in July. The veteran point guard is now headed to the Los Angeles Clippers as part of another trade, which gives your Memphis Grizz Patrick Beverley, Rajon Rondo and Daniel Oturu.

A lone pickup truck waits on Scott Street to merge onto a busy Poplar Avenue Dec. 22, 2020. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)

Getting our viaducts in a row: Binghampton residents and business owners are celebrating a change of heart by the Tennessee Department of Transportation and the City of Memphis. Though there are no firm plans in place, the two entities are now saying they are committed to keeping Scott Street’s connection to Poplar Avenue open and active, something community leaders have been fighting for since they learned about a proposed change to the viaduct. And now the conversation isn’t about closing the intersection but enhancing it.

Vacation vibes: Sheriff’s deputies in Lakeland are cracking down on golf carts and ATVs — often with children at the wheel — on the town’s streets and walking trails. “It’s time that we start enforcing this,” Lakeland commissioner Richard Gonzalez said at last week’s Board of Commissioners meeting, “or I’m at the point where I’ll bring a resolution up in September and we’ll just take this stuff off the books.” One resident said she recently stopped a golf cart on the street with six children riding in it and the oldest was 8 years old. Deputies will be issuing misdemeanor citations but there is also talk of possibly increasing fines or impounding vehicles.

THIS WEEK’S WEATHER

At least it’s consistent. We can expect to see highs near 90 throughout the entire week as well as chances for thunderstorms increasing as the days go on. 

You may not be able to stay dry but try to stay safe out there, and we’ll see you back here tomorrow! Have a great one! 

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