By Anna Marie Hartman - bio | email

MEMPHIS, TN (WMC-TV) - A series of arsons have Memphis firefighters taking a more-hands on approach to their investigation.

Memphis Chief Fire Investigator Bob Pollard has only been with the Memphis Fire Department for two months, but he's determined to find out who's been setting fires in vacant buildings in Midtown.

"We're targeting areas where we're having one fire after another," Pollard said Friday.

This month, at least four fires were set in the Midtown area around Washington, Jefferson and Cleveland. Pollard and a team of investigators spent Friday hanging reward posters and going door to door collecting clues in their search for an arsonist.

"No one wants to see anyone's property set on fire," Pollard said.

Especially Jamel Suleiman, who owns a neighborhood convenience store and takes a lot of pride in its location.  

The weather is getting a little cooler outside and that means MLGW’s moratorium on disconnecting utility service is over.

From MLGW’s blog:

Effective today, September 17, 2010, the High Heat Index period that MLGW customers have experienced will end. Customers will resume with the standard guidelines for Deferred Billing (DEFB) and the Net Pay Budget Billing as follows:

• The amount to qualify for a DEFB will return to $500 from $225.

 

• The minimum payment required to receive a DEFB will return to 25% of the outstanding balance from 25% of the outstanding balance owed or $225, whichever is less.

 

Playhouse on the Square needs some volunteers to help ensure its performances go off without a hitch.

The group says it’s looking for people to be ushers, work backstage, help create costumes and in the theater’s administrative offices.

If you’d like to volunteer, click here for an application.

Photo courtesy Flickr user Max Wolfe.