This week is kind of a tough one for writing Suburban Spotlight.

Short week by most people’s standards. Even though there is only one official holiday, it seems like people find ways to make it two days, three days or a four-day weekend.

So that means little news.

Oh, Collierville did recognize the contributions of two aldermen — Billy Patton and John Worley — who will soon step off the town’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen. And Bartlett is promoting this weekend as a good time for shopping locally in the suburb.

My colleague John Varlas is keeping up with high school playoffs and regional teams as football season winds down. The Sports folks seem pretty busy with a run of Tiger sports and a Grizzlies winning streak.

But, for this week, there is not an issue on which to focus. So, I’ll use Thanksgiving week to recognize the work of the people behind me who help get the suburban news to readers throughout the year.

Any of you who read the suburban section of The Daily Memphian recognize the reporters’ names — Abigail Warren in Germantown and Collierville, along with Michael Waddell in the north part of the county. Rob Moore handles DeSoto County providing some interesting and intriguing crime stories from that area.

Julia Baker has joined our team recently, covering neighborhoods, feature stories and general assignments. She’s already touched on everything from fire service in Cordova to a tour of the new Children’s Museum displays. There was her preview of the Pompeii exhibit and a venture into Collierville court to check on the status of the suspect in the shooting of a Campbell Clinic doctor.

Oh, and she told everyone that the Pink Palace was going back to its name — the Pink Palace — as if anyone really ever stopped calling it that.

The design desk keeps this copy flowing and makes sure the old editor didn’t read over some typo, mistake or style snafu. A special recognition to Natalie Pilgrim who makes sure to awaken me on Friday morning if I oversleep or forget to send over Suburban Spotlight in time for its 9 a.m. publication.

Look, folks, I’m not one to boast about the work we do covering the outlying cities. I leave that to the promotion folks. I tend to hope that readers and potential readers subscribe to us, realize that we are giving you more news from the suburbs than any other media outlet in the city and look at The Daily Memphian for that information.

And that’s not just the suburbs. That’s across the board from Sports to Business to Metro to Arts and Food. And some pretty darn good columnists.

Take a look if you will. We are working hard to tell you what is going on.

—Suburbs Editor Clay Bailey

We hope you enjoy reading the latest news from our suburban reporters. If you’re a Daily Memphian subscriber, we appreciate your support. If not, please sign up for unlimited access to all of our local news coverage.

Mayor Stan Joyner will retire next month at age 74. He’s called Collierville home for all but four years and spent half his life serving the suburb.

As the holiday season dawns, Bartlett Chamber officials are taking advantage of Small Business Saturday by spotlighting local artists at the Bartlett Holiday Market. By Michael Waddell

Two aldermen were celebrated for their years dedicated to Collierville. Their final meeting as part of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen is scheduled for Dec. 9. By Abigail Warren

Jashawn Jefferson was scheduled to appear in court Monday, Nov. 18, for a second attempt to seat a jury, following a delay from April that resulted in the court ordering DeSoto County District Attorney’s Office to pay more than $2,000 in court costs.  By Rob Moore

DeSoto County District Attorney Matthew Barton announced “Operation Final Departure” to help the incoming Trump administration with its vow to deport immigrants. Barton’s effort will focus on inmates in the DeSoto County jail. By Rob Moore

For the fifth year, the Christmas in Bartlett Market and Festivities will welcome the holidays in the suburb’s A. Keith McDonald Pavilion.  By Michael Waddell

Lakeland continues to work with Tax Increment Financing in hopes of generating revenue for other projects, such as roads and infrastructure. By Michael Waddell

John Mark Sharpe is a jack of many home-and-garden trades and master of all of them: He decorates homes, he arranges flowers and he sells most of what you need to try these endeavors yourself. By Nick Lingerfelt

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