Firefighters go door-to-door in search of arsonist

Friday, September 17th, 2010, 7:11pm

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.

View Comments | Post a Comment

“Losers Take All” finishes filming in Memphis

Submitted by Jeramia Trotter, WMCTV.com

Friday, September 17th, 2010, 12:19pm

From “Walk the Line” to films like “Hustle and Flow,” for the past few Memphis’ star has been shining in Hollywood.

Another feature film recently wrapped up production in the Bluff City. Here’s a press release from the Memphis and Shelby County Film and Television Commission:

"Losers Take All" just wrapped filming and is beginning post-production in Memphis at Archer Records' Music and Arts Studio. Memphian Katherine Sage is post-production supervisor. The indie comedy tells the story of a fictional, 1980s punk rock band in Memphis that struggles to make it and then struggles to run from its success.

View Comments | Post a Comment

MLGW resumes utility cut offs

Submitted by Jeramia Trotter, WMCTV.com

Friday, September 17th, 2010, 11:40am

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.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Midtown zoning rules up for final vote

Submitted by Jeramia Trotter, WMCTV.com

Friday, September 17th, 2010, 11:16am

The Memphis City Council is looking at new zoning rules that are supposed to make Midtown more pedestrian friendly.

The plan is called the Midtown Overlay and in the past, Councilman Shea Flinn has said the zoning ordinance will attract the kind of businesses Midtown residents want.

The plan cleared its second reading earlier this week, but a final vote won’t be held until Tuesday, Sept. 28.

On its blog, Memphis Heritage is encouraging its members to turn out for the meeting and support the new zoning rules.

Photo courtesy Flickr user Victor Chapa.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Playhouse on the Square looking for volunteers

Submitted by Jeramia Trotter, WMCTV.com

Thursday, September 16th, 2010, 6:18pm

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.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Time to make the donuts in Midtown

Submitted by Jeramia Trotter, WMCTV.com

Wednesday, September 15th, 2010, 3:31pm

Midtowners who want to get their donut fix will have a new option soon according to the “Memphis Business Journal.”

A new Dunkin’ Donuts is scheduled to move into the old Wolf Camera building at 1540 Union.

Here are two things from the story that will make lots of Midtown residents happy:

"Parking will be behind the building, with entrances from Union and Monroe," according to the story. "The tenant also plans to have bike racks to make it more pedestrian and bike friendly."

Click here for the whole story.

Photo courtesy Flickr user Qfamily.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Civil War “battles” take over Brooks

Submitted by Jeramia Trotter, WMCTV.com

Wednesday, September 15th, 2010, 12:04pm

He’s taken photos of war torn countries across the globe, but its Robert King’s images of mock warfare that will be on display at the Brooks Museum of Art starting Sunday, Sept. 26.

The native Memphian has been published in “Rolling Stone,” “The New York Times” and “Vanity Fair.”

“King has turned his lens on Civil War reenactors, capturing men, women, and children as they participate in one of the fastest growing hobbies in the United States,” according to a release by the Brooks.

Using digital cameras, King spent four years taking photos of reenactments of some of the civil War’s most famous battles.

“I treated it the same way as I would any battle,” says King. “Because the bullets are fake, it’s a lot safer, but it’s also a lot more explosive because this is my backyard; this is where I’m from. This is what happened, and these are real people, who let me into their world.”

View Comments | Post a Comment