Howdy, Memphis. It’s Monday, Sept. 28: Memphis Grizzlies media day! That means the start of preseason is literally right around the corner (next Monday). Stay tuned for news later today about what Zach Kleiman and crew had to say.

The Shelby County Commission meets today for a shorter-than-normal agenda that includes picking new committtee chairs. 

Over in Collierville, new e-bike rules are back on the Board of Mayor and Aldermen agenda. Will the “spandex gang” show up again? We’ll see. And in Germantown, the BMA will consider a resolution asking the state General Assembly to consider more protection for domestic-violence victims.

For more on what’s coming up in the coming days, check out This Week in Memphis. And if you’re planning ahead for Halloween, be sure to sign up for our Holidays in Memphis newsletter series. The first edition drops later this morning with info on local pumpkin patches, corn mazes and more.

THE NEED TO KNOW

The Memphis Metropolitan Land Bank Authority Board of Directors fired Michael O. Harris on Wednesday, Sept. 23. (Houston Cofield/The Daily Memphian file)

Land Bank CEO fired: Michael O. Harris was fired from his position as head of the city-funded Memphis Land Bank for allegedly using the nonprofit’s credit card for personal expenses. The Land Bank holds properties that passed through tax sales unsold and remain publicly owned. Memphis Metropolitan Land Bank Authority board chair Justin Gillis said he noticed things seemed suspicious when he saw $10,000 in credit card charges, which “didn’t make a lot of sense to me because we haven’t been real active.” Harris’ firing comes amid several other instances of public officials allegedly misusing public funds.

In a file photo from April 23, construction continues at 2875 Stanton Road in DeSoto County. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)

SpaceXAI tries to buy out critics: Elon Musk’s AI company has offered to buy real estate from Southaven residents who pledge not to join a class-action lawsuit over noise from its power plant. Three DeSoto County residents filed a class-action lawsuit against SpaceXAI back in June. The company then sent a letter to nearby residents asking to buy their property if they agree not to sue. Meanwhile, SpaceXAI announced Friday that it plans to add even more computing power. 

Molly Mehner left her job as Collierville town administrator last week after less than four years in the position. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian file)

Molly Mehner’s payout: The Town of Collierville’s decision to part ways with former Collierville Town Administrator Molly Mehner won’t be cheap. Collierville now owes Mehner more than $184,700, which covers her salary for the next nine months and some unused vacation and personal days. Mehner agreed to leave her position earlier this month, after being embroiled in controversy surrounding the suspension and eventual retirement of Fire Chief John Selberg. 

Lindsey Whiteside saga almost over: Former DeSoto County youth pastor Lindsey Whiteside pleaded guilty Friday to transporting a minor across state lines to engage in sexual activity. That’s one of the three federal charges against Whiteside in the case surrounding her alleged relationship with a teenage member of the church where she worked. Whiteside faces anywhere from 10 years to life in federal prison, and she’s set to be sentenced in January.

MEET MEMPHIS

Adam Queen stood by one of his tunnels growing native plants at Queen Nursery. He sells his plants at the Cooper-Young Farmers Market. (Greg Campbell/Special to The Daily Memphian)

If you’re a regular at the Cooper-Young Farmers Market, you’ve probably seen Adam Queen. The cutting-gardens manager at Dixon Gallery & Gardens has a booth there, where he sells native plants through his side hustle, Queen Nursery. His offerings include milkweed (his best seller), sunflowers and mountain mint, among many others. Gardening is in Queen’s bones; he grew up working on his family farm and his boss at the Dixon says he’s so “green-fingered” that “he could coax roots out of a telephone pole.”

THE NICE TO KNOW

Boxcar facades will be used for the food businesses that will be set up inside Brunswick Rail Yard. (Michael Waddell/The Daily Memphian)

On track: A new restaurant incubator is opening in a historic building on the border of Bartlett and Lakeland. Brunswick Rail Yard, which sits just north of the CSX railroad tracks, will have three rail-car themed food stalls where aspiring restaurant or food-truck operators can serve their food. (Think Global Cafe.) “If we’re a springboard for them having their own brick-and-mortar or their own food truck, that’s great,” said co-owner Norris Ann Griffin. The owner of the now-closed Slice Midtown will operate a pizza and pasta stall there, and two more concepts are being worked out.

The Creole Omelet at Big Bad Breakfast is stuffed with shrimp and andouille sausage and topped with tomato gravy. (Jennifer Chandler/Special to The Daily Memphian)

Big bad omelet: Chef John Currence’s Big Bad Breakfast opens in the former Mulan space in Cooper-Young Tuesday. And food writer Jennifer Chandler recommends you start by ordering the Creole omelet. It’s loaded with shrimp and andouille sausage and topped with a tomato gravy. It was inspired by something Currence’s dad used to cook when they took family vacations to the beach. In more food news, we’ve got the recipe for The Farmer’s (totally vegan!) mushroom sloppy joe. That sandwich, which was offered with both mushroom and meat fillings, put Chef Mac Edward’s now-closed restaurant on the map when Guy Fieri tried it in 2012. 

Country Club will open at the former Rooster’s Blues House at 535 S. Highland St. (Sophia Surrett/The Daily Memphian)

Yee-haw: A new high-end honky tonk is opening on the Highland Strip. The cleverly named Country Club, which will open in the former Rooster’s Blues Club, will host line-dancing nights and live music, and the owners are adding a mechanical bull. Co-owner Tim Quinn described the vibe like this: “Take a honky-tonk, sweep up all the sawdust, replace a couple of shots with a couple of glasses of wine, with some cool Memphis music and Western memorabilia.” Regulars will be able to buy a membership to skip drink lines and get free access to shows.

Memphis Grizzlies Coach Tuomas Iisalo will lead the team through its first season under the rebuild. (Wes Hale/The Daily Memphian file)

Nine Grizz storylines: Basketball season is here! Memphis Grizzlies media day is today, training camp starts tomorrow, there’s an open practice on Sunday and the first preseason game is Monday, Oct. 5. And though our Grizz writers have managed to find stories all summer, The Daily Memphian’s Chris Herrington isn’t out of ideas yet. He’s got nine storylines for training camp and preseason, including questions around when we’ll see Zach Edey play again and what the starting lineup may look like. 

Tommy Dunlap grew up in Love, Mississippi, and serves as unofficial community historian. “It has grown a lot,” said Dunlap. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)

Where is the Love? It’s in DeSoto County, apparently. Love, Mississippi, is a rural, unincorporated community just south of Hernando. It’s got a couple of churches, a volunteer fire department and it’s home to Cedar Hill Farms, which runs a bustling pumpkin patch during the fall. Love is also the birthplace of one of the tallest players in professional baseball. But despite the fact that Love lacks water and sewer infrastructure, the community continues to grow. And some residents don’t love that one bit.

THIS WEEK’S WEATHER

Summer makes a brief comeback mid-week, but the weekend is looking nice and cool again. 

Enjoy this very fall-like Monday before the heat returns.

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