I hope you find some time for self-care this weekend, Memphis. The trauma from two tragic events in one week feels like too much to handle right now. 

Today is Friday, Sept. 9, and by the time you read this, a run in memory of slain Memphis runner Eliza Fletcher will have probably wrapped up. But if you couldn’t make the in-person event, you can still sign up to run in her honor virtually any time in September. A friend and I will be running 3.4 miles for Eliza on Saturday. 

The Museum of Science and History will be hosting their “Science of Wine” event tonight. If you’re anything like me, a glass of wine (or two) may be just the thing right now. Some other ways to take a little time for yourself this weekend: the Backstreet Boys are back (alright!) at FedExForum tonight, the Memphis Rox Yoga Festival is happening Saturday at Memphis Botanic Garden and the Germantown Festival (with its adorable weenie dog race) is back on Saturday as well. You’ll find even more ways to unwind in this week’s To-Do List.

THE NEED TO KNOW

Dozens of mourners gather on Sept. 8 in the parking lot of the AutoZone at 4011 Jackson Ave., which was one of several crime scenes in a citywide shooting spree on Sept. 7. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)

Three shooting spree victims identified: Ezekiel Kelly, the man allegedly responsible for a shooting spree on Wednesday that left three dead and three wounded, was at a house in Highland Heights with mutual friends when he allegedly shot Dewayne Tunstall in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Another victim, Allison Parker, a medical assistant in West Memphis, was shot and killed in a carjacking at Poplar Avenue and Evergreen Street at 7:23 p.m. in front of her daughter. The City of West Memphis will hold a prayer service for Parker tonight. Rodolfo Berger, who was shot in an AutoZone store on Jackson Avenue, survived the shooting and has undergone surgery to repair the wounds to his intestines. Casa Church hosted a prayer service to remember Wednesday night’s shooting victims in that AutoZone store lot last night. Since the shooting spree, the Memphis Police Department have gotten several false alarm calls, including one Thursday afternoon at the IRS office on Getwell Road.

Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland gave an angry statement during the midnight press conference about the shooting spree on Thursday, Sept. 8. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)

Our collective trauma: Wednesday’s deadly shooting spree and the Labor Day weekend abduction and death of runner Eliza Fletcher in less than one week (the same week that we professed our love for the city on 901 Day) have left Memphians reeling. On “Behind the Headlines,” leaders of the local Justice and Safety Alliance talked about the week of violence. And Memphis Tigers coach Penny Hardaway addressed the week’s tragic events at the Southern Heritage Classic golf tournament reception on Thursday. In his column, The Daily Memphian’s Geoff Calkins talks to a few Memphis advocates who aren’t giving up on our city. One of them, Choose901 founder John Carroll, had to give a talk on why Memphis is a great place to live on Thursday (the day after that deadly shooting spree). Carroll said he got choked up at that event, but he reminded the crowd that, “There is darkness everywhere. Memphis needs people of light.” Similarly, our own Chris Herrington reminds us that we’ve collectively felt this way before and that terrible things can and do happen everywhere. “The world is a wonderful and troubled place, and Memphis is a place in that world,” said Herrington. 

Defendant Cleotha Abston (middle) appears in Judge Louis Montesi’s courtroom for his arraignment on Tuesday, Sept. 6. Abston has been charged with kidnapping and murdering runner Eliza Fletcher. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)

Public defender ordered to represent Abston: The court-appointed public defender for murder suspect Cleotha Abston will not be recused and must continue to represent him, according to an order from General Sessions Criminal Court Judge Louis Montesi on Thursday. Abston is facing murder and kidnapping charges in the death of runner Eliza Fletcher, who was abducted and slain over Labor Day weekend. Fletcher’s funeral is set for Saturday at Second Presbyterian Church.

Andre Mathis

Andre Mathis confirmed: Memphis attorney Andre Mathis of Memphis was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as a federal appeals court judge on Thursday. Mathis will be the first Black man from Tennessee to serve as a judge on the court that hears appeals from federal district trial courts in Tennessee, Kentucky, Michigan and Ohio.

MEET MEMPHIS

Teri Dockery

Former director of the YMCA’s Memphis district and consultant Teri Dockery is the newest member of the Memphis City Council — for a couple of months anyway. Dockery was appointed to the District 4 seat vacated by Jamita Swearengen on an interim basis until a replacement is elected in November. And Dockery has big plans during her short time on the council. She wants to work on blight issues, including demolitions, in the district, and to help connect seniors with resources. Dockery also plans to run for the District 4 seat in the 2023 election.

THE NICE TO KNOW

Plans for the patio expansion for Slider Inn in the South Main Arts District include an outdoor bar and covered canopy area. (Courtesy Aerc Architecture)

Antiques and live music: Developer Bill Townsend’s plans for an antique shop and shared office space in the historic Pillow-McIntyre House at 707 Adams Ave. in Victorian Village were approved by the Memphis and Shelby County Land Use Control Board on Thursday. The LUCB also approved the Downtown Slider Inn’s patio expansion, which includes a covered canopy area along with a stage area and video wall, among other changes.

Silo Academy in Silo Square will be a daycare for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years old. (Courtesy Lifestyle Homes)

‘First truly walkable community’: Grocery store design plans for Southaven’s Silo Square mixed-use development were approved by Southaven elected officials this week. Silo Square design plans were also recently approved for former Memphis Grizzlies player Mike Miller’s Let It Fly sports bar, a childcare facility, a high-end ramen restaurant and several other new businesses. “It’s the first truly walkable community in the city of Southaven’s history. This is the vision we talked about years ago,” said Mayor Darren Musselwhite.

Memphis defensive back Ladarian Paulk (23) and the Tigers know that tackling will be important in Saturday’s game at Navy. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Tigers try again: The Memphis Tigers football team will have a chance at redemption this Saturday (after its 43-29 loss at Mississippi State last weekend) as it takes on Navy in Annapolis, Maryland. The last time they played there, in 2020, they beat Navy, 10-7, in a “good defensive game,” according to defensive lineman Wardalis Ducksworth. And the Tigers beat Navy in a home game last season, too. 

Sambar vada features doughtnut-shaped fritters in a flavorful soup. (Jordan Arellano/Special to The Daily Memphian)

Indian breakfast served all day: In this week’s $10 Deal, food writer Jordan Arellano shares a tip on where to get a South Indian breakfast on the cheap. Hyderabad Biriyani and More serves idly (fermented steamed rice flour dumplings) and vada (doughnut-shaped savory fritters) for $10. If you’re not familiar with South Indian food, these are two delicious items (both my faves) that are commonly served for breakfast but can be eaten all day (and, thus, can be ordered any time). Yes, please.

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

It’s okay to feel tired right now. Let’s take time to grieve as a city. We’ll get through this. 

Take care of yourselves and each other. And I’ll see you again on Monday.

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