Top o’ the mornin’ to ya, Memphis! Today is March 17, and it’s St. Patrick’s Day. Here is your reminder to wear green; don’t be one of those people who gets pinched.

Celtic Crossing is on day four of an eight-day St. Patrick’s Day party, so get over to Cooper-Young for all the bagpipes, green beer and corned beef and cabbage you can handle. The Daily Memphian’s Jennifer Biggs has the scoop on that hooley (that’s Irish slang for “party”) in Table Talk.

Also today, the Memphis Tigers play Boise State in their first NCAA Tournament match-up, and you might want to get in on our men’s basketball tournament bracket for a chance to win some prizes.

THE NEED TO KNOW

Lawyers Aaron Neglia (left) and Murray Wells talk to the media on Oct. 11, 2018, at the Shelby County Courthouse. Neglia pleaded guilty in a scheme in which he paid former Shelby County Assistant District Attorney Glenda Adams for confidential information on traffic accident reports. (Jim Weber/Daily Memphian file)

Memphis attorney pleads guilty: Memphis attorney Aaron Neglia has pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges for paying a former Shelby County Assistant District Attorney for accident report information. Between February 2017 and October 2020, former Assistant District Attorney Glenda Adams — who was fired from the D.A’s office last October and pleaded guilty on Feb. 23 — sold Neglia traffic accident report information, which Neglia then used to solicit accident victims and offer them legal representation. Both Neglia and Adams face up to five years in prison along with three years supervised release.

Legislation affecting the ownership and operations of three namesake Germantown schools passed the Tennessee Senate’s education committee Wednesday. (Daily Memphian file)

Who will rule the schools? Legislation affecting the ownership and operations of three namesake Germantown schools (Germantown Elementary, Middle and High Schools) passed the Tennessee Senate’s education committee Wednesday. The schools, though located inside the boundaries of Germantown, are currently operated by Memphis-Shelby County Schools, and Germantown wants that control. An amendment filed by Sen. Brian Kelsey, R-Germantown, says that county and municipal school boards should work together and enter a written agreement if a county school is going to operate within a municipal district’s boundaries. If they don’t have that agreement, the municipal board would gain control of the schools, but they would have to pay the county district. The bill would also affect Lucy Elementary in Millington.

Memphis-based Terminix’s acquisition by U.K.-based Rentokil has cleared the waiting period. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian file)

A bug deal: U.K.-based Rentokil is one step closer to purchasing Memphis-based Terminix. On Tuesday, Rentokil announced the antitrust process for its acquisition of Terminix had been completed. Terminix announced in December 2021 that it had agreed to be bought by the British company for $6.7 billion in stock and cash. The deal is expected to be completed by the end of this year.

QUOTED

“The musicians featured in the Memphis Music Hall of Fame have made this city a household name in almost every country on the planet. Their music made Memphis a global destination. It cemented a permanent foundation for our musicians today and for the next 60 years to stand on, regardless of genre.”

— Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Executive Director John Doyle
The Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum, along with Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris and the new Shelby County Music Advisory Commission, will host an advance screening of the Memphis Music Hall of Fame 10th anniversary television broadcast Tuesday, March 22 at 5:30 p.m. at the Halloran Centre. 

THE NICE TO KNOW

The EDGE board approved an amendment extending financing circumstances for Parkside at Shelby Farms on Wednesday. (Credit: Chasm Architecture)

From Parkside to Presidents Island: The Economic Development Growth Engine (EDGE) board approved an amendment that would extend the financing circumstances for the Parkside at Shelby Farms development, a 60-acre project with a boutique hotel, apartments and parking at Mullins Station and Whitten Roads. Construction on the Parkside development, which was granted a $96.4 million TIF in 2018, has been delayed due in part to the pandemic. The EDGE board also approved a closing extension on a 15-year PILOT on the Thrive at the Park residential development at East Parkway and Sam Cooper Boulevard. And they approved a demolition on the 9,000-square-foot former Navy administration building on Presidents Island. Need a quick primer on economic development terms like TIFs and PILOTs? The Daily Memphian’s Neil Strebig offers this handy guide.

Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) reacts in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks Friday, March 11, 2022, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)

Must-see TV: ESPN’s “NBA Countdown” show and the network’s most-followed sports personality Stephen A. Smith are headed to Memphis next week, ahead of the March 23 Memphis Grizzlies game against the Brooklyn Nets. A couple months ago, star point guard Ja Morant offered a sarcastic thanks to ESPN when they failed to broadcast the Grizzlies’ winning game over the San Antonio Spurs, and in March, Morant said the Grizzlies were “must-see TV” when a Grizz video earned the NBA’s most Instagram views. Who’s right now, ESPN?

Andre Jones of Jones Urban Development stands inside a doorway of a soon-to-be fourplex at Malone Park Commons. (Neil Strebig/Daily Memphian)

Uptown guy: Seems appropriate to share some news about a development called Malone Park Commons on St. Patrick’s Day, no? Very Irish-sounding name. Anyway, this Uptown development is moving along with 11 new cottages completed last June and construction on four fourplexes underway. Construction is expected to wrap this September with a total of 35 residential units. Developer Andre Jones says the idea behind the residential development is to offer modest single-family homes, duplexes and triplexes within walking distance of local businesses. Jones himself lives in Malone Park Commons and sold his car last year. “I needed to take the plunge,” he said.

In this 2010 file photo, guests attend an event at the Whispering Woods Hotel and Conference Center in Olive Branch. On Tuesday night, Olive Branch’s Board of Aldermen approved a plan to build a new conference center, as well as new retail, office and apartment space. (Daily Memphian file)

Live, work, play in Maywood: The Maywood community in Olive Branch — former home of a water park known as the “beach within reach” — may be getting a new conference center, hotels and apartments as part of a live-work-play development plan approved on Tuesday night. The Olive Branch Board of Aldermen voted 4-3 in favor of the development slated for property near U.S. 78 and Craft Road. The Maywood Homeowners Association Inc. opposed the development, mostly due to the potential for increased traffic along already busy routes.

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

After the Memphis Grizzlies’ embarrassing wardrobe slip-up last weekend, we’re happy to see how these guys dress when they’re not on the court. The @memgrizz Twitter account shared images of Dillon Brooks looking dapper ...

... and Steven Adams looking like he’s about to board a flight home from Disney World. Or as one commenter said, “like he’s about to clock in and clean windows on top of a skyscraper.” 

Seriously though, no shade for dressing comfortably — as long as you’re wearing green. See you back here bright and early!

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