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By Dalisia Ballinger TSD Contributing Writer
Speeding drivers in Memphis will now face a new layer of accountability. The City of Memphis and the Memphis Police Department activated a speed safety camera program Sept. 30 that will monitor high-risk roadways and school zones.
For the first 30 days, the city will issue warnings, but beginning Oct. 30, 2025, speeders will receive citations carrying a $50 fine.
Thirty cameras are in place at 15 locations across the city, targeting areas with heavy school traffic, reverse curves and intersections known for speeding issues.
Camera locations
• Union Avenue (Rembert to Morrison) – School Zone
• Whitney Avenue (Mountain Terrace to Wingate) – School Zone
• Tillman Street (McAdoo to Tillman Cove) – School Zone
• Kirby Parkway (Raines to Birchwalk) – School Zone
• Stratford Road (Bowen to Marcel)
– School Zone
• East Holmes Road (Tulane to Elvis Presley Blvd.) – School Zone
• Perkins Road (Wooddale to Scotts dale – School Zone / Reverse Curve)
• North White Station Road (Nor mandy to Heatherway) – School Zone
• Getwell Road (Mallory to Elliston)
– School Zone
of Chip to 100 feet North of Perkins Cove) – Reverse Curve
• Knight Arnold Road (600 feet East of Mendenhall to 200 feet of Spencer) –Reverse Curve
The city contracted with Verra Mobility, a national traffic safety company, to administer the program. Cameras will record license plates and transmit secure footage to law enforcement, where violations will be verified before fines are issued to vehicle owners. Officials say the program’s primary purpose is safety. “The goal is to slow drivers down and reduce crashes in areas where speeding poses the greatest danger,” the city’s announcement stated.
• New Allen Road (Hawkins Mill to Prince of Peace Church) – Reverse Curve
• Tchulahoma Road (Shannon Circle to 400 feet South of Christine) – Re verse Curve
• McLean Road (Forrest to Faxon) –School Zone
• Quince Road (Sulgrave to Solway)
– School Zone
• Perkins Road (100 feet South
President Calvin Anderson Editor Stephanie R. Jones
4 arrests made in connection with mass shooting that left 6 dead in Mississippi, FBI says
By Jeff Martin and Hallie Golden Associated Press
Three people have been arrested on murder charges and a fourth person on an attempted murder charge in a weekend shooting that left six dead and more than a dozen injured in Leland, Mississippi, the FBI announced Monday.
Teviyon L. Powell, 29, William Bryant, 29, and Morgan Lattimore, 25, have been charged with capital murder, while Latoya A. Powell, 44, has been charged with attempted murder in the mass shooting, a spokesperson for the FBI’s Jackson Field Office said. It was not immediately clear whether they have attorneys. The Associated Press left a voicemail with the Washington County Public Defender’s Office asking if its attorneys are representing the defendants.
The shooting, which came as people celebrated homecoming weekend in downtown Leland shortly after a high school football game, was the deadliest of several shootings across Mississippi over the weekend. Other shootings were reported at two Mississippi universities on Saturday, as those schools celebrated their homecoming weekends.
Authorities have not disclosed a possible motive for Friday night’s shooting in Leland, but the FBI said the gunfire appears to have been “sparked by a disagreement among several individuals.” The spokesperson said without elaborating in an email late Monday that “other arrests are pending” as the investigation con-
tinues into the shooting in the rural northwest Delta region.
Four of the victims died at the scene, where abandoned shoes were left and blood stained the pavement of a downtown street the following day.
Witness Camish Hopkins described seeing people wounded and bleeding and four people dead on the ground.
“It was the most horrific scene I’d ever seen,” Hopkins told the AP.
The shooting in Leland was the 14th mass killing in 2025, according to The Associated Press/USA TODAY/Northeastern University Mass Killing Database. The database tracks all homicides
in the U.S. since 2006 in which four or more people were killed intentionally within a 24-hour period, not including any offender.
Elsewhere, in the small town of Heidelberg on the east side of the state, the bodies of two people, including a pregnant woman, were found on a high school campus Friday night. That shooting happened the same evening Heidelberg High School played its homecoming football game, according to police and Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves. Police have not said exactly when the gunfire occurred or how close it was to the stadium.
The shooting in Leland was the 14th mass killing in 2025, according to The Associated Press/USA TODAY/ Northeastern University Mass Killing Database.
An 18-year-old man was arrested and charged with two counts of murder and illegally having a gun on a school campus in the Heidelberg shooting, Jasper County Jail records show.
Heidelberg, a town of about 640 residents, is about 85 miles (135 kilometers) southeast of the state capital of Jackson.
On Saturday evening, three people also were found with apparent gunshot wounds on the Alcorn State University campus in Claiborne County, the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation said. One of the victims died, the agency said. Police found the victims after a call reporting shots fired in the area of the industrial technology building. No arrests were announced.
The shooting happened after a crowd of more than 7,000 watched Alcorn State defeat Lincoln University of Oakland, California, in the Mississippi school’s homecoming game Saturday afternoon.
In Jackson, police responded around 7 p.m. Saturday to the tailgating area of Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium, where Jackson State University hosted Alabama State University. A juvenile had been shot in the abdomen and was taken to a hospital, police said. The shooting occurred a few streets over from the tailgating area. No arrests were announced, and few other details about that shooting were immediately available.
Associated Press freelance photographer Katie Adkins in Leland and AP writer Mead Gruver in Fort Collins, Colorado, contributed.
Four people were arrested in connection with a mass shooting Friday night , Oct. 6, in Leland, Mississippi.
■■ NEWS
Pearson brings fire and faith to bid against Cohen for Congress
Fiery oratory, youthful energy, and a call for “justice rooted in love” mark the 30-year-old lawmaker’s challenge to Memphis’ long-serving congressman.
By Lee Eric Smith TSD Contributing Writer
At Alonzo Weaver Park in South Memphis, just blocks from his grandmother’s old house, State Rep. Justin J. Pearson stepped to the microphone Wednesday morning, Oct. 8, and confirmed what many had expected: He’s running for Congress.
And not just for any seat. Pearson, 30, announced his challenge to U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, the 76-year-old Democrat who has represented Tennessee’s 9th Congressional District since 2007.
“This campaign isn’t about me,” Pearson told supporters under the park’s picnic pavilion. “It’s about us. It’s about our dreams, our hopes, our future. It’s not about one individual who’s been holding positions in offices for too long. It’s about our ability to create and craft a future that we want to live into.”
That refrain — “It’s about us” — became the through-line of a speech that mixed church-house cadence with policy substance. Pearson’s oratorical skill, honed since his days as a student activist at Mitchell High School, charged the humid Memphis air with echoes of a civil-rights revival.
‘Turning status quo into good’
Pearson framed his candidacy as a moral and generational response to what he called the “status quo trying to kill us.”
“We’re in a moment of crisis,” he said. “People in positions of power are more comfortable pontificating in letters than standing up with the people. But when there are moments of crisis, there are also moments of opportunity — what I call Kairos. And I think right here in District 9, we’re living in a Kairos kind of moment.” Kairos moments
refer to opportune, decisive times for critical action.
From there, Pearson built a sweeping indictment of inequality, touching on wages, housing, health and environmental pollution and linking each to moral duty.
“We have an affordability and economic strangulation of the poorest people,” he said. “Rent for houses that used to be $400 are now $1,200. We’ve got a gun violence epidemic that’s taking the lives of our loved ones. If people want to do something about crime, pass some gun safety laws. Don’t occupy us. Eradicate poverty.”
Throughout the nearly 35-minute address and subsequent press conference, Pearson invoked both his family’s faith and Memphis’ legacy of protest. He credited “the prayers of my great-great-granddaddy, who prayed before he picked cotton that his descendants would one day read and write.”
“Because of those prayers,” he thundered, “his great-great-grandson is running for the United States Congress.”
Platform of justice and renewal
If his speech previewed his campaign platform, Pearson is staking out ground on the progressive left.
He pledged to fight for affordable housing, a higher minimum wage and environmental justice, citing battles he’s already waged, such as helping to stop the Byhalia Pipeline and pressing for cleanup of polluted sites in Boxtown and Westwood.
He vowed to reject corporate political action committee (PAC) money, saying his campaign would be powered by “people, not corporations.”
“One job should be enough,” he said. “You shouldn’t work 60 or 70 hours a
week and still be in poverty. I’ll give every breath I’ve got to this district because it’s about us.”
Pearson’s campaign website, VoteJustinJ.com, urges volunteers to “join the movement” ahead of what he called “the largest political rally in recent Memphis history.” The event is set for Saturday, Oct. 11, at 1 p.m. at 629 Monroe Ave., with doors opening at noon.
Cohen: ‘Experience and institutional knowledge’
Congressman Cohen, who has faced periodic primary challenges over the years, struck a confident tone even before Pearson’s announcement.
“Tomorrow morning, an ambitious young candidate has said he plans to announce he is running for the House of Representatives in Tennessee’s 9th Congressional District,” Cohen wrote in a Facebook post on the eve of Pearson’s event. “With your continued support, we will turn back this challenge in the Democratic Primary … This is a time for the experience and institutional knowledge that I bring to the table.”
Cohen closed his note with his trademark slogan: “KEEP GOIN’ WITH COHEN! HE DELIVERS!”
Later, responding to Pearson’s launch, Cohen told Roll Call:
“I’ve been challenged by a mayor who served for 18 years and several bright up-and-comers who were predicted to be the next big thing. None of my primary challengers has ever won a single precinct. I have earned and received broad support in our community that transcends race, age and neighborhood. I look forward to doing so again.”
Cohen’s long tenure in Congress has indeed brought federal dollars home, from infrastructure and transporta-
tion grants to the rebuilding of the I-40 bridge after the 2021 closure. His argument is that Memphis can’t afford to lose that leverage.
Before the announcement, Pearson said he called Cohen personally out of respect — a call that, by his account, didn’t go well.
“He talked to me just like I get talked to by Republicans in the Statehouse,” Pearson told reporters. “He was very condescending, very arrogant. And he spoke to me in a way that was unbecoming of any leader, but especially our United States Congressman, but that’s all right. He won’t be back for long.”
Cohen’s office did not immediately respond to that characterization, but the exchange underscored the generational tension animating the race: Pearson’s direct, activist style versus Cohen’s institutional composure.
A generational and stylistic showdown
Still, the contrast between the two Democrats is stark — not just in policy emphasis, but in tone, style and age.
Cohen, a 76-year-old white lawmaker from Midtown, is a seasoned legislator with seniority on key congressional committees. Pearson, a young Black activist-turned-lawmaker from South Memphis, rose to national prominence after being expelled then reinstated for
State Rep. Justin J. Pearson announces his candidacy for Congress, launching a campaign to succeed U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen and continue advocating for social justice, economic equity, and community empowerment in Memphis and beyond.
(Photo: Gary S. Whitlow/GSW Enterprises/Tri-State Defender)
“We’re in a moment of crisis. People in positions of power are more comfortable pontificating in letters than standing up with the people. But when there are moments of crisis, there are also moments of opportunity — what I call Kairos. And I think right here in District 9, we’re living in a Kairos kind of moment.”
— Justin J. Pearson
leading a gun-control protest on the Tennessee House floor in 2023.
In many ways, their matchup mirrors a larger conversation in American politics: experience versus energy, continuity versus change.
While Pearson did not mention Cohen by name during his announcement, his critique of “people in office for too long” landed unmistakably.
Political observers note that Memphis’ 9th District is heavily Democratic and majority Black. It’s a demographic mix that could favor Pearson if he can mobilize younger and disengaged voters who have rarely felt inspired by establishment politics.
‘The bottom rail gonna make it to the top’
Pearson closed his announcement by recalling a saying from his great-grandmother, whose home stood near the park: “One day, before the end of time, the bottom rail gonna make it to the top.”
“Great-grandmama, we on our way, baby,” he shouted to cheers.
Whether that prophecy comes true in the 2026 Democratic primary remains to be seen. But Pearson’s entry into the race has already transformed what was expected to be another routine reelection for Cohen into one of the most watched Democratic matchups in the South — a test of message, movement and momentum in the heart of Memphis.
Floyd Bonner Sr.,
longtime Memphis law enforcement officer and inspiration to Shelby
County’s
first elected Black sheriff, dies at 91
His example of service set the course for his son’s historic path to leadership
By Judith Black Moore TSD Contributing Writer
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Floyd Bonner Sr., a pioneering Memphis police officer whose quiet perseverance through the Civil Rights era inspired his son to become Shelby County’s first elected African American sheriff, died Oct. 13, 2025. He was 91.
Bonner began his law enforcement career with the Memphis Police Department in 1963, walking the beat at a time when few Black officers wore the uniform. He was on duty when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968, a moment that tested both the city and those who had sworn to protect it.
In a 2018 interview with Action News
5 following his son’s election, Bonner Sr. reflected on those early years:
“At that time Black officers weren’t treated fairly, so I had to walk a thin line because they wanted to get rid of me, but they didn’t.”
Determined to widen opportunity, he twice sought the office of Fayette County sheriff, paving the way for others even before the region was ready to elect a Black law enforcement leader. When his son, Floyd Bonner Jr., was sworn in as Shelby County’s 47th sheriff in 2018, it was a proud moment that fulfilled a dream that started a generation earlier.
Sheriff Bonner Jr. told Action News 5 that year:
“By me being a junior, certainly I looked up to my dad. Seeing him be a police officer influenced me ... maybe I’d like to do that for a living.”
Beyond the badge, Bonner Sr. was known for his easy smile, his love of football, fishing and family and his daily conversations with his son. In recent years, as his health declined, the two spoke nearly every day — still an inspiration and a constant presence in his son’s life until the end.
He is survived by his son, Sheriff Floyd Bonner Jr. and a host of relatives and friends who will remember his humility, humor and unshakable example of service.
Arrangements will be announced by the family and Serenity Funeral Home.
Floyd Bonner Sr. and his son, Sheriff Floyd Bonner Jr., share a bond rooted in service and family. Bonner Sr.’s pioneering law enforcement career helped inspire his son’s rise as Shelby County’s first elected Black sheriff.
By Judith Black Moore TSD Contributing Writer
As questions grow about the National Guard and federal agents now operating in Memphis as part of the Memphis Safe Task Force, Mayor Paul Young and Police Chief Cerelyn “C.J.” Davis joined the NAACP Memphis Branch Wednesday, Oct. 8, for a virtual forum aimed at separating fact from rumor.
The webinar, “A Safer Memphis for All,” was hosted by the Defending Democracy Together coalition and moderated by Deidre Malone, first vice president of the NAACP Memphis Branch and president of the National Women’s Political Caucus, along with Vickie Terry, executive director of the NAACP Memphis Branch.
The session was designed for citizens to hear directly from city leadership about what the state-mandated deployment means for Memphis, how it differs from similar federal operations in other cities and what residents can expect in the coming weeks.
A key clarification made early in the discussion was that the current deployment in Memphis is a state-mandated operation ordered by Gov. Bill Lee, not a federal occupation directed by Washington.
In Washington, D.C., federal law enforcement operates under direct U.S. authority, allowing national agencies to take the lead in local enforcement. In Memphis, however, the state called in National Guard personnel and authorized federal support through interagency partnerships. This means local and state officials remain in command, and the National Guard’s role is limited by Tennessee’s public-safety framework, not federal policing powers.
That distinction defines who sets priorities, how personnel interact with citizens and how accountability is maintained. It also ensures Memphis
■■ NEWS
City leaders clarify roles of state and federal forces in Memphis during webinar
retains control of policy and procedures through city and state oversight rather than a federal chain of command.
Young acknowledged that opinions across the community are divided.
“There are people who support it and people who don’t,” he said. “My goal as mayor is to take the resources and find a way to get people the safety they deserve. We’ve done a good job reducing crime, but the reality is, it’s still too high.”
Young said the trauma families continue to face underscores why safety must be defined broadly.
“As we grapple with what’s happening, we have to think long term. How do we address mental health and trauma for people who have lived with violence too long?” he said.
He added that lasting safety will come from deeper investment in housing, mental health and youth opportunity.
Davis reiterated that MPD did not request the deployment but intends to use the added personnel strategically.
“Now that it’s here, we’re using it to our benefit,” she said. “More than 30 federal analysts are helping us with homicide warrants and cold cases so we can bring justice to families.”
She said the National Guard will not be conducting patrols or checkpoints.
“Their duties will include directing traffic and assisting in retail corridors,” Davis said. “We want to make sure this doesn’t feel like over-militarization in our neighborhoods.”
Addressing questions about increased traffic activity, Davis said residents will see more Tennessee Highway Patrol officers, a request Memphis has made for years.
“Any time a city leads the state in traffic fatalities, it’s appropriate,” she said. “They’re helping us slow reckless driving and reduce fatalities while other teams focus on violent crime and nuisance properties.”
Memphis has one of the highest
“If someone can’t reach a federal representative directly, they can still call MPD,” Davis said. “We’ll make sure their report is logged and routed appropriately.”
Responding to fears within Hispanic communities about immigration arrests, Young said those actions fall under separate federal authority.
The mayor noted that immigration officials have jurisdiction and the authority to detain individuals who lack proper documentation.
(Brian Ramoly/The Tri-State Defender)
traffic fatality rates among major U.S. cities, and Shelby County consistently leads Tennessee in traffic deaths.
Davis also spoke directly to concerns about officer conduct, transparency and the department’s adherence to existing procedures.
“Our officers still abide by all our policies and procedures. We have special briefings with our officers so they understand that we will not deviate from the work we have continuously done by policy and procedure,” Davis said. “Not only will we continue to do that work but it is up to them to also be a part of documenting anything they see and intercepting anything they see so that we can notify federal officials.”
She emphasized: “We want to build trust. It is a goal that we have always had and will continue to work towards.”
She added that any questionable incidents involving federal agents will be reported to a Joint Operations Center led by U.S. Marshal Tyreece Miller, ensuring that citizens’ complaints are tracked and investigated.
In closing, Young said, “I do understand that there is significant fear in the community. The most important thing is ensuring your family and friends — everyone — is doing the right things and not committing crimes, because anybody that does engage in criminal activity, the likelihood of getting caught is very high,” he said. “We want to make sure that we are getting those who are committing crimes off our streets, and our goal is to do everything we can to keep the task force focused on that specific goal.”
Davis thanked the NAACP for helping provide accurate information.
“We know there are concerns,” she said. “Our commitment to reducing violent crime and following our policies hasn’t changed, and it won’t.”
The NAACP and Defending Democracy Together coalition plan additional town halls to keep residents informed as the deployment continues. The NAACP, in partnership with local organizations through Defending Democracy Together, has established a community hotline at (901) 206-2947 for residents to report issues related to the presence of federal personnel.
Young encouraged residents seeking accurate, updated information about the deployment to visit the city’s and NAACP’s online resources:
Safe & Clean - The City of Memphis naacp.org/resources/did-you-know-deploying-national-guard
A Tennessee Bureau of Investigation mobile command unit stands ready in Memphis, Tenn. as part of the ongoing Memphis Safe Task Force operation. City officials say the state-led deployment, which includes TBI, federal agents, and the National Guard, is focused on supporting local efforts to reduce violent crime and process backlogged cases — not conducting patrols or checkpoints.
■■ COMMUNITY
Seminar helps empower professionals and job seekers
By Pam Crittendon Johnson Special to The Tri-State Defender
Improving job interviewing skills, using artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance communication skills and developing a growth mindset were among the topics covered during the recent Doris S. Lewis Professional Development Seminar. The interactive event was sponsored by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.® Beta Epsilon Omega Chapter.
“The Doris S. Lewis Professional Development Seminar is more than a workshop — it’s an opportunity to invest in yourself, your career and your future,” said Judy Martin, president of Beta Epsilon Omega Chapter.
“I’m looking to learn more about leadership,” said Tiffany Tenork, a new entrepreneur who recently opened her own health care clinic. “It’s always great to network with other professional women.” Tenork was among the 100plus registered seminar attendees.
Valeria Saulsberry Edmonds, CEO of Masterful You Coaching Inc., was the keynote speaker. Edmonds has published several books that reflect her passion for uplifting women striving to thrive in their life and work. She discussed various tools needed to advance in a corporate environment — tools such as acquiring mentors and sponsors.
Tiffany Brown, a corporate human resources professional, was encouraged by Edmonds’ presentation. “I currently have a mentor who is providing excellent guidance for me, and he’s a potential sponsor. I feel like I’m already doing the things the speaker talked about, so it’s very reaffirming.”
Speaker Sherri Brooks, chief learning officer at Baptist Memorial Health Care, discussed “Decoding Unwritten Rules in the Corporate Environment.”
The seminar also included workshops on resume writing, enhancing your LinkedIn presence and how to use generative AI. Individual coaching was
also available.
“We wanted to provide as much information as possible to help anyone advance professionally, no matter
what level they are in their career,” said Veronica Jackson-Ratliff, chairman of the Doris S. Lewis Professional Development Seminar Committee.
The planning committee for the Doris S. Lewis Professional Development Seminar came together for a group photo during the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.® Beta Epsilon Omega Chapter event in Memphis.
■■ NEWS
Shelby County mayor vetoes resolution to align MSCS board elections with commission
By James Coleman TSD Contributing Writer
Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris vetoed a resolution that would align Memphis-Shelby County Schools board elections with those of the Shelby County Commission Tuesday, Oct. 7.
On Sept. 22, commissioners approved the resolution 7-5 to move up the election calendar of the nine-member board to 2026. In that scenario, five members of the board would have their four-year terms reduced by two years.
All 13 seats on the County Commission will be on the ballot in the next election.
“Absent an emergency or in the case of criminal misconduct, I do not believe the terms of elected officials should be shortened. As such, I hereby veto,” Harris wrote to commissioners in a memo on Monday, Oct. 6.
The Memphis Commercial Appeal was the first to report on the memo.
Commissioners have 30 days to attempt an override. The county charter requires a majority plus one — or eight votes — to do so.
The resolution came in response to the board’s 6-3 decision to terminate former Superintendent Marie Feagins’ employment. The former Detroit school administrator was fired on Jan.
“Absent an emergency or in the case of criminal misconduct, I do not believe the terms of elected officials should be shortened. As such, I hereby veto.”
— Lee Harris
21, following allegations of contract violations and professional misconduct. She was hired in April 2024.
Four of the members who voted in favor of Feagins’ removal were elected in 2024.
In September, Commissioners David Bradford, Edmund Ford Jr., Amber Mills, Brandon Morrison, Britney Thornton, Michael Whaley and Mick Wright agreed to the new election plan.
Chairwoman Shante Avant and Commissioners Henri Brooks, Charlie Caswell Jr., Miska Clay Bibbs and Erika Sugarmon opposed the move.
That leaves Mickell Lowery as the deciding vote. At the time, he was absent due to a family medical emergency. Currently, the swing vote is holding his cards close to the vest.
PUBLIC NOTICES / CLASSIFIEDS
In compliance with federal regulations 23 CFR 450 and the Memphis MPO’s Public Participation Plan (PPP), the Memphis Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) will hold public engagement events to provide the public with the opportunity to comment on the development of the Moving Together: 2055 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP).
The following event dates, times, and locations to participate are listed below:
Date: Saturday, October 25, 2025
Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: Hernando Farmers Market 2535 Highway 51 South Hernando, MS 38632
Date: Saturday, October 25, 2025
Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: Memphis Farmers Market 566 South Front Street Memphis, TN 38103
Date: Tuesday, October 28, 2025
Time: 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: B.J. Chain Public Library 6619 MS-305 Olive Branch, MS 38654
Date: Tuesday, October 28, 2025
Time: 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Location: Bartlett Public Library 5884 Stage Road Bartlett, TN 38134
Date: Tuesday, October 28, 2025
Time: 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM
Location: Oakland City Hall 170 Doss Circle Oakland, TN 38060
TSD CLASSIFIEDS
1509 Madison Ave. Memphis, TN 38104
PH (901) 523-1818
HOURS: Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m. - 5
Date: Wednesday,October 29, 2025
Time: 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: MATA Airways Transit Center 3033 Airways Boulevard
Memphis, TN 38131
Date: Wednesday,October 29, 2025
Time: 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM
Location: Germantown Community
Library 1925 Exeter Road
Germantown, TN 38138
Date: Thursday, October 30, 2025
Time: 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Location: Baker Community Center
7942 Church Street
Millington, TN 38053
Date: Thursday, October 30, 2025
Time: 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
“I have every intention to be there when this item comes up and will consider all points before making a decision,” Lowery told The Daily Memphian.
Location: Gaisman Community Center 4221 Macon Road Memphis, TN 38122
memphiscashsaver.ideal.sale
Lee Harris
Attendees will be afforded the opportunity to comment on the information presented at the events. Any comments provided at the events should be applicable to the information presented and should be provided in a respectable manner. Please note that additional engagement opportunities may be considered. In the case of an emergency or other unforeseen circumstances, the public engagement opportunities listed above could change with limited or no notice and will be shared on the MPO’s website: memphismpo.org.
It is the policy of the Memphis MPO not to exclude, deny, or discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal or state law in its practices, or in its admission to, access to, or operations of its programs, services, or activities.
For any and all inquiries regarding the application of this accessibility statement and related policies, or for persons that require aids or services to participate either in the review of these documents or during the hearing, please contact Kate Horton, at 901-636-7218 or Kate. Horton@memphistn.gov.
If you need assistance participating in these events, please contact the MPO Office at 901636-7190 and provide at least seven (7) days notice.
This notice is funded (in part) under an agreement with the State of TN and MS, Departments of Transportation.
IN THE CHANCERY COURT OF TENNESSEE FOR THE THIRTIETH JUDICIAL DISTRICT AT MEMPHIS, SHELBY COUNTY TENNESSEE, In its own behalf and for the use and benefit if applicable, THE STATE OF TENNESSEE and, THE MUNICIPALITIES OF ARLINGTON, BARTLETT, COLLIERVILLE, GERMANTOWN, LAKELAND, MEMPHIS AND MILLINGTON TENNESSEE Plaintiffs, vs. DELINQUENT TAXPAYERS as shown on the 2022 Real Property Tax Records of the Shelby County Trustee and the United States of America, Defendant(s)
TX-2024-2
Tax Sale 2202
Order of Publication:
In this cause, it appearing from the Affidavit of Service of Process and Request for Service of Publication filed in this cause on September 16, 2025, that all of the named Defendants listed below as ‘Exhibit A’ are Not To Be Found. Further the Plaintiffs conducted a diligent search and inquiry and were unable to locate any of the Defendants in ‘Exhibit A’ that were not to be found. Therefore, such persons should be notified by publication that they are required to appear on December 04, 2025 before Chancellor James R. Newsom, Part II of Chancery Court in the Shelby County Courthouse, 140 Adams Avenue 3rd Floor, Memphis, Tennessee. Such persons should also be notified of the need to file on or before December 04, 2025, an answer making defense to the bill filed against them in said Court by Shelby County, or otherwise a default judgment will be taken against each defendant herein named. The purpose for which the defendants are to appear is to defend against certainconsolidated suits filed to enforce real estate tax liens for delinquent real estate taxes due and owing on real estate in Shelby County and if applicable the City of Memphis and the Incorporated Municipalities of Arlington, Bartlett, Collierville, Germantown, Lakeland, Memphis, and Millington Tennessee. If any of the defendants named herein do not file an answer, on or before Friday December 04, 2025 a Motion for Default Judgement will be heard at 9:00 a.m. in Part II of Chancery Court, 140 Adams Avenue, 3rd Floor, Memphis, TN. If
PUBLIC NOTICES / CLASSIFIEDS
you wish to discuss alternatives, if any, to the sale of your property, currently have an active bankruptcy, or if you have any questions, please call (901) 222-0200. The properties of the Defendants named herein are scheduled for Tax Sale 2202; TX-2024-2. The sale is scheduled for April 07, 2026 via online auction beginning at 8:00 a.m. at ZeusAuction.com.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that this notice be published once each week for four (4) consecutive weeks on October 03, 2025; October 10, 2025; October 17, 2025; and October 24, 2025 In the Daily News.
Signed, James R. Newsom, Part II
NOTICE TO BIDDERS
Shelby County Government has issued Request for Qualifications number 26-00954, On-Call Transit Planning Services for the Division of Planning & Development (DPD), Memphis Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). Information regarding this Bid is located on the County’s website at www. shelbycountytn.gov . At the top of the home page, click on the dropdown box under “Business”, Click on “Purchasing Office” and “Formal Bid Listing” to locate the name of the above-described Sealed Bid.
RFQ 26-009-54 DUE DATE FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2025 @ 4:00 PM (CDT) (RFQ 26-009-54) ON-CALL TRANSIT PLANNING SERVICES
Shelby County is an equal opportunity affirmative action employer, drug-free with policies of non-discrimination on the basis of race, sex, religion, color, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or military service.
By order of LEE HARRIS, MAYOR SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT
NOTICE TO BIDDERS
Shelby County Government has issued Sealed Bid number I000936 Generators for the Division of Corrections. Information regarding this Bid is located on the County’s website at www.shelbycountytn.gov . At the top of the home page, click on the dropdown box under “Business”, Click on “Purchasing” and “Bids” to locate the name of the above-described Sealed Bid.
SEALED BID I000936 DUE DATE THURSDAY NOVEMBER 13, 2025 AT 2:00 PM CST
(SB-I000936) GENERATORS for the DIVISION OF CORRECTIONS
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A mandatory pre-bid meeting to address questions will be held on, Tuesday, October 28, 2025 at 9:30 am CST at the Shelby County Correction Center (front entrance), 1045 Mullins Station Rd., Memphis, TN 38134. No electronic devices will be allowed.
Shelby County is an equal opportunity affirmative action employer, drug-free with policies of non-discrimination on the basis of race, sex, religion, color, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or military service.
By order of LEE HARRIS, MAYOR SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT
NOTICE OF INTENT TO TAXING AUTHORITIES
You are hereby notified that the City Council of the City of Memphis and the Shelby County Board of Commissioners are each planning a public hearing to hear and take action on an amendment to the existing Community Redevelopment Plan and Redevelopment Trust Fund for the Cleveland Street Corridor TIF District, to capture the expanded redevelopment area (Please see the included map). The Memphis City Council will likely hear the same on November 4, 2025 and The Shelby County Board of Commissioners will likely hear the same on November 17, 2025.. Subsequent or alternate meetings will be published in the Daily News and New Tri-State Defender newspapers.
A Finding of Conditions Necessary for Community Redevelopment in a Cleveland Street Corridor and amendment of the Community Redevelopment Plan for the Cleveland Street Corridor by joint resolution of The Board of County Commissioners of Shelby County, Tennessee and Council of the City of Memphis are prerequisite to amending the Cleveland Street Redevelopment Trust Fund for the Area. The Cleveland Street Community Redevelopment Plan for the Area, specifies how community redevelopment activities can facilitate the rehabilitation, conservation, or redevelopment, or a combination thereof, of this area, including economic development funded by tax increment revenue calculated at a property tax baseline established by a certain date in order to implement tax increment financing; and fund the redevelopment trust fund to finance improvements in the Area.
For additional information contact Andrew Z. Murray, President, City of Memphis and Shelby County Community Redevelopment Agency, 850 N. Manassas St., Memphis, TN 38107; Mailing Address: P.O. Box 70386, Memphis, TN 38107, Telephone: (901) 304-7921.
NOTICE TO BIDDER(S)
Sealed bids will be received by the Shelby County Government in the Department of Housing online until 9:30 a.m. on Friday, October 31, 2025, as shown below:
MULTIPLE AND ENTIRELY DIFFERENT LEAD HAZARD REDUCTION AND REHABILITATION JOBS ARE CONTAINED IN THIS BID NOTICE. BIDDER(S) MAY ELECT TO BID ON ANY OR ALL OF THE JOBS IN THE NOTICE.
SEALED BID I000954 DUE ONLINE AT 9:30 a.m. Friday, October 31, 2025
1. Rehabilitation of Owner-Occupied Housing Units throughout Shelby County some of which may require the use of lead-safe work practices and techniques, and
Detailed specifications for the items above may be obtained through the Neighborly Portal beginning Friday, October 17, 2025 All bids will be opened and publicly read by the Shelby County Government at the time mentioned above at the Department of Housing, 6465 Mullins Station Road Memphis, TN 38134, (901) 222-7600; TTY Number (901) 222-2301; or for information in Spanish 901-222-7601. Award recommendations will be posted at the follow-
ing website https://www.develop901.com/ housing upon review of the bid opening results.
As a condition precedent to bidding, each bidder must apply and qualify for a Vendor Number and Business Registration Number (BRN) prior to submitting your response.
We have now transitioned to conducting bids online through Neighborly. If you have not already signed up, you can do so at https://portal. neighborlysoftware.com/SHELBYCOUNTYTN/ contractor. All documents submitted must be current and uploaded into your Neighborly account. Bids submitted without all required documentation will be unacceptable. Paisley Pogue (Paisley.Pogue@shelbycountytn.gov or 901-222-7611) will be assisting with any questions you may have regarding uploading the documents.
All new contractors will need to register with the Neighborly portal in order for their bids to be accepted on projects. Interested contractors not currently on the contractor list should contact the Department of Housing in order to schedule a meeting with the Housing Site Inspector.
Paper copies of bids are no longer available. The Department of Housing encourages participation from WBE, MBE, LOSB, and Section 3 Contractors under these rehabilitation programs.
The Shelby County Government reserves the right to reject any or all bids and to waive any informalities therein.
By order of LEE HARRIS, MAYOR SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT
Scott Walkup, Administrator
NOTICE TO BIDDERS
Shelby County Government has issued Sealed Bid number I000941 Janitorial SuppliesCountywide. Information regarding this Bid is located on the County’s website at www. shelbycountytn.gov . At the top of the home page, click on the dropdown box under “Business”, Click on “Purchasing” and “Bids” to locate the name of the above-described Sealed Bid.
SEALED BID I000941 DUE DATE TUESDAY NOVEMBER 18, 2025 AT 2:00 PM CST (SB-I000941) JANITORIAL SUPPLIESCOUNTYWIDE
All bids will be opened and read via teleconference by Shelby County Government at the time mentioned above. Please use the following information to join the bid opening.
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Shelby County is an equal opportunity affirmative action employer, drug-free with policies of non-discrimination on the basis of race, sex, religion, color, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or military service.
By order of
LEE HARRIS, MAYOR SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT
Destruction and resilience: A fictional look at a historic event through the eyes of a young girl
Book review
By Terri Schlichenmeyer
You remember how the sun streamed through the window.
It lit up a dance of dust as you lay on a scratchy rug to watch the show. You recall it: Every chink in the countertops, each squeaky floorboard, and the perfect-for-reading spot on the front step. The house you grew up in still stands in your memories, and that’s a good thing. In the new book “The House on Rondo” by Debra J. Stone, memories are all that’s left.
Thirteen-year-old Zenobia understood why Mama and Daddy were sending her and her brother and sister to St. Paul, Minnesota, for the summer. Still, she begged to stay home and promised she’d help Mama heal from her stroke. But Daddy was firm: Zenobia, Fannie and Mookie would spend the summer with Grandma Essie and Grandpa Joe across the river from Minneapolis.
It was for the best.
And it was good. Every Sunday as long as she could remember, Zenobia’s family had made the long drive to St. Paul so she knew the neighborhood. She even had friends in her grandparents’ neighborhood, and one of them loved Wonder Woman comics as much as Zenobia did. There was a library nearby and a great big backyard to play in.
A summer was a long time to be away from Minneapolis, but she’d be home soon. In the meantime, Zenobia read lots of books and spent time
in Grandma Essie’s kitchen, learning about her family and hearing stories from a long time ago. And she didn’t mean to, exactly, but she listened in on grown-up conversations.
It was 1963, and the interstate was coming through the neighborhood, taking up house after paid-for house. The residents along Rondo Avenue were angry and upset. So was Zenobia. Where would everyone live? Where would they go? Would life be the same without Rondo Avenue?
Set in real-life cities with real-life events, “The House on Rondo” even offers photos of people and houses from the heyday of the Rondo Neighborhood in St. Paul. Yes, this book is fiction, but it’s also deeply based in fact.
While author Debra J. Stone gives lots of joy to her story, there’s also a keen mournfulness to what you’ll read, along with fear and uncertainty from a child’s viewpoint. Anger is a suitable emotion, too, especially when you know the background here. Even fictionalized, reading about the racism and loss of heritage in 1963 is like tasting something metallic and sour.
Curiously, you’ll likely find this book in the kids’ section of the library or bookstore, even though there are some pretty grown-up concepts here — things that are authentic to life six decades ago that may also nudge the appropriate age up a notch. Just beware. At the very least, they make the book equally good for adults, too. So don’t just leave this book out for your child. Pick it up yourself and read it. “The House on Rondo” opens a great window for discussion.
