How’s it going, Memphis? Today is Tuesday, Aug. 30 — National Beach Day. Though we may be a far drive from the coast, there’s always Wolf River Beach. After 20 years of living in Memphis, I finally discovered this hidden gem this summer. Who needs Pensacola?

Oh, one more thing: Have you registered for The Daily Memphian’s Small Business Seminar yet? Three local small business owners will share their secrets of success at this in-person seminar at Memphis Botanic Garden on Thursday, Sept. 8. Daily Memphian subscribers can save $20 off their ticket with code SBS2022.

THE NEED TO KNOW

Shelby County Clerk Wanda Halbert speaks to the media while surrounded by her staff on Monday, August 29, 2022. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)

No ouster for Wanda Halbert: Just hours after Shelby County Clerk Wanda Halbert held a press conference to address her recent Jamaica trip, the Shelby County Commission voted down appointing a special counsel to investigate her office. That move would have set up a potential ouster of Halbert, but it was one vote short of approval. Commissioners Mark Billingsley and Brandon Morrison proposed the move after Tennessee Comptroller Jason Mumpower suggested a possible Halbert ouster when he announced the state could not take over the clerk’s office. Also on Monday, commissioners approved the formation of a committee to come up with a plan for funding a new Regional One Health facility. The meeting was the last one for chairman Willie Brooks, Eddie Jones, Reginald Milton, Van Turner, Mark Billingsley and Tami Sawyer (who wasn’t in attendance), as all of them have reached their term limits.

Any involvement by former Memphis-Shelby County Schools Superintendent Joris Ray in picking his successor would be “inappropriate,” says the head of Professional Educators of Tennessee. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian file)

Ray’s involvement (or not) in picking replacement: Former Memphis-Shelby County Schools Superintendent Joris Ray’s severance of duties agreement states that Ray is to assist the board of education in “succession planning” with a requirement to help with the transition for up to one year (with an hourly rate pay). That’s following Ray’s resignation last week amidst an investigation into allegations of affairs with district employees. But school board chair Michelle McKissack said Ray will not be involved in picking a new leader. “That was a part of the negotiation process but the board does not expect at all to involve the former superintendent in that,” McKissack said.

Stefanie Bolton (Courtesy Halloran Centre)

Local singer charged with attempted murder: Stefanie Bolton, who is scheduled to perform at the Halloran Centre this weekend, was arrested on Saturday and charged with the attempted first-degree murder of a woman who is dating her husband. Bolton allegedly followed the victim in her car as she pulled away from Hotworx gym in Cordova and fired shots into the victim’s rear driver’s side window.

NAACP Memphis branch executive director Vickie Terry (middle) led a press conference discussing opposition to Memphis City Council redistricting plans on Monday, Aug. 29, 2022. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)

Drawing new lines: Memphis City Council member Michalyn Easter-Thomas announced on Monday that she’ll propose a committee on redrawing city council district lines at the Sept. 13 council meeting. That could affect the new lines that were recently approved for District 4 ahead of the Nov. 8 special election, when that seat will be up for a vote. Easter-Thomas was the lone no vote on those new lines. “Establishing a committee not only signals to the public that the council as a whole values transparency but that we also want to ensure due diligence for the process from start to finish,” Easter-Thomas said.

MLGW crews repair power lines on Feb. 18, 2022. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian file)

Suburbs take power stance: The county’s suburbs want a voice in Memphis Light, Gas & Water decisions, and they’re making that stance official this week with matching resolutions. Arlington, Collierville and Millington all adopted mirror resolutions Monday expressing frustration with suburban citizens’ lack of representation on the MLGW board. The municipalities also noted their opposition to MLGW possibly leaving the Tennessee Valley Authority ahead of a Thursday meeting on the future of the utility’s power supplier. Bartlett, Germantown and Lakeland are scheduled to consider the same resolution in special meetings today.

QUOTED

“It’s no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic decimated tourism and hospitality around the world, but we’re happy to report that in Greater Memphis, our hospitality and leisure industry jobs have made a complete recovery.”

— Ted Townsend, Memphis Chamber chief economic development officer
On Monday, the Chamber reported that Memphis’ hospitality industry has finally recovered from its record job loss during the COVID-19 pandemic. The industry now boasts a record of more than 67,800 jobs, a significant increase from April 2020 when the pandemic shutdown cut 36% of the sector’s jobs. 

THE NICE TO KNOW

Catherine Harrison hits a backhand shot during her qualifying match for the Braidy Industries $60,000 Women’s Tennis Classic on July 23, 2018, in Ashland, Kentucky. The Germantown native will face Aryna Sabalenka in the U.S. Open on Tuesday, Aug. 30. (Kevin Goldy/The Daily Independent via Associated Press file)

Serving up Shelby County: Catherine Harrison, a Germantown native who lives in Texas, will play in the U.S. Open today against Aryna Sabalenka, a Belarusian player ranked sixth in the world. Harrison got her tennis start in Germantown’s Riverdale Park as a kid after watching her parents play. Harrison’s father, Kent Harrison, still lives in Germantown and says he’s proud of his daughter’s determination and fighting spirit. “She will never give up in a match. She wants to be her best. She’s been going for it,” said dad Kent Harrison.

Shelby County District Attorney Amy Weirich speaks to the media after failing in her bid for reelection on Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022. This Thursday, Weirich will join the 25th Judicial District Attorney General’s Office as its special counsel. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)

Weirich’s new gig: Outgoing Shelby County District Attorney Amy Weirich will be sworn in as the 25th Judicial District Attorney General’s Office’s special counsel this Thursday. In her new role, Weirich will work in areas including litigation support and training, victim/witness services, legislative affairs and media relations, among other duties. Steve Mulroy, who was elected to be the new Shelby County DA, will also take office on Sept. 1.

Geoff Calkins says the challenge for Memphis head football coach Ryan Silverfield (shown here) is to restore the program’s lost momentum. (Ziggy Mack/Special to The Daily Memphian file)

Glory days gone? The Memphis Tigers football team is preparing for its season opener against Mississippi State this Saturday, and Coach Ryan Silverfield is tasked with restoring the football program’s lost momentum after a disappointing last season. The Tigers have one of the youngest teams in the country this year with 42 percent of the players on the team’s two-deep depth chart being freshmen or sophomores. It’s a fact that Silverfield has brought up more than once, and The Daily Memphian’s Geoff Calkins said that’s disconcerting: “Is it because he doesn’t expect the team to do well? Is he laying the groundwork for a disappointing season?” 

Fogelman Properties purchased Appling Lakes, located at 1392 Equestrian Drive in Cordova. The 312-unit complex was built in 1997. (Courtesy Fogelman Properties)

Fogelman acquires two Cordova properties: Memphis-based Fogelman Properties has closed on nearly a quarter of a billion dollars worth of real estate acquisitions in five cities so far this year. Two of the six apartment complexes Fogelman has acquired are in Cordova: Lincoln at Wolfchase and Appling Lakes. Company president Mark Fogelman said Appling Lakes residents can expect significant renovations soon.

University of Memphis guard Alex Lomax (2) brings the ball up the court while defended by Southern Methodist University guard Kendric Davis (3) on Jan. 26, 2021. This season they’re on the same team. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian file)

Stick a fork in it: Memphis Tigers basketball coach Penny Hardaway has finally completed the team’s roster, following Monday’s addition of University of Illinois Chicago guard Damaria Franklin from the transfer portal. It took longer than anyone would’ve imagined, but the work is done, and The Daily Memphian’s John Martin has some thoughts on the rotation. 

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

The city’s annual civic pride holiday — 901 Day (Sept. 1) — is fast-approaching, and we’ve got a guide to the day’s festivities. You’ll also want to be sure and check out Mighty Lights that day. They’ll be running Memphis-themed light shows all evening.

If you need me, I’ll be on the beach. Okay, kidding! I’ll be at work all day, prepping The Early Word for Wednesday morning. If only Wolf River Beach had free WiFi ...

.....