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Thunderstorms Leave Thousands of MLGW Customers Without Power

CREDIT: MLGW

Several waves of thunderstorms and high winds traveled through Shelby County yesterday evening, leaving more than 40,000 homes and businesses without power.

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  • MLGW

The thunderstorms lasted from 4 to 10 p.m., Monday, July 14th. As of Tuesday, July 15th, around 11,000 residents remain powerless.

Memphis Light, Gas, and Water (MLGW) president Jerry Collins said the bulk of power outages have been restored. But there are still some pockets of the county suffering outages and severe damage from downed power lines and tree limbs. Collins said 19 contractor crews are coming in town today to assist MLGW with its restoration process.

“More than 42,000 homes and businesses lost power as a result of these storms,” Collins said. “By 7 a.m. Tuesday morning, the number of homes and businesses without power had been reduced to about 9,000. These 9,000 include, however, some heavily damaged areas that will require a longer time to repair. We expect all power to be restored by midnight Thursday.”

Around 10 a.m. Tuesday morning, the power outage number increased to more than 11,000. Collins said this is attributed to MLGW crews having to turn circuits off so that they can make needed repairs. He said this causes the numbers to rise for periods of time while crews are working.

MLGW customers can contact (901) 544-6500 to report outages or check on restoration progress anytime of the day and night. Outage numbers can be tracked via MLGW’s outage map here.

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MLGW Installing Free Air-Conditioning Units For Senior Citizens

CREDIT: MLGW

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  • MLGW

The summer has finally approached, and citizens are burdened with the task of staying as cool as possible.

Memphis Light, Gas and Water (MLGW) in collaboration with the Neighborhood Christian Center will make that task a little easier for some with their “Play It Cool” initiative.

The partnership is donating 50 window air-conditioning units to disadvantaged senior citizens through the initiative, which they implement each year. On Tuesday, July 8th, the application process and screening for the free units will be held at Neighborhood Christian Center (785 Jackson Avenue) from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

According to a MLGW press release, to qualify, applicants must be Shelby County residents aged 60 or older, receive a low-income, and reside in a home that lacks operable air conditioning.

Applicants will need their Tennessee state ID or drivers license and their most recent pay stub or Social Security Income statement to apply. If an applicant has a physical disability but doesn’t meet the age requirement, they must bring the proper certification information.

After an individual is screened and pre-qualified, MLGW will conduct field inspections at their residence to verify that it meets installation requirements. Subsequently, a window air-conditioning unit will be installed at their house by a MLGW employee free of charge.

For more information on necessary qualifications and credentials for eligibility, Play It Cool applicants can contact the Neighborhood Christian Center’s hotline at (901) 881-6013.

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Study Shows Memphis Has State’s Highest Car Insurance Rates

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A new study reveals that Memphis isn’t the best place to get car insurance if you’re trying to save a few dollars.

Consumer finance company ValuePenguin analyzed car insurance rates in 44 cities across Tennessee. Results of the study revealed that Memphis has the highest rates. In Memphis, a person spends $1,212 a year on average for car insurance.

The ValuePenguin study discovered that the top five cities with the highest insurance rates in Tennessee were all in the Memphis metro area. Aside from Memphis, these areas are Bartlett ($1,049), Germantown ($1,038), Collierville ($1,032), and Dyersburg ($979).

To get quotes from car insurance companies for the study, the company assumed the identity of a 30-year-old male driver who is single. He imaginatively drove a 2010 Toyota Camry that he bought and used to commute to and from his place of employment, according to the study. The driver had no at-fault accidents or violations in the last five years.

ValuePenguin looked at insurance quotes from the 10 top auto insurers that operate throughout Tennessee, averaging rates across the companies to come up with a final number for each city. Those companies included GEICO, State Farm, Nationwide, Allstate, Liberty Mutual, and several others.

The top five cities with the cheapest insurance rates are Bristol ($810), Kingsport ($813), Johnson City ($830), Brentwood ($857), and Gallatin ($871), according to the study.

Brian Quinn, co-founder of ValuePenguin, said the company publishes unique analysis and creates user-friendly tools that help individuals make more informed financial decisions. The company is currently in the process of conducting auto insurance studies for every state in the country.

“We hope that Tennesseeans understand how much average auto insurances prices can vary depending on where they live within the state,” Quinn said. “The majority of the work we do at ValuePenguin is digging into big data related to consumer finance issues. Once we did a handful of the state breakdowns and got great feedback, we realized we needed to do the analysis nationwide.”

According to ValuePenguin’s Tennessee study, cities with expensive auto insurance rates were typically close to high crime areas and/or high population density areas. Cities with cheaper with auto insurance rates normally had a lower population density and lower crime rates.

The five most expensive cities had an average annual rate of $1,062 while the five cheapest areas had yearly annual premiums around $836. The average cost of car insurance in Tennessee was $916 per year, according to the study.

Other cities analyzed in the study include Smyrna, Murfreesboro, Chattanooga, Cleveland, Athens, Knoxville, Columbia, Nashville, Jackson, Union City, and various others.

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More Than 7,000 MLGW Customers Remain Powerless

CREDIT: MLGW

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  • MLGW

Nearly 43,000 Memphis Light, Gas, and Water (MLGW) customers lost power after a cluster of thunderstorms traveled through the Memphis area yesterday.

Between 1:30 and 4 p.m. Thursday (June 5th), 42,797 homes and businesses throughout Shelby County experienced power outages after harsh winds associated with the thunderstorms damaged utility poles and power lines.

By Friday afternoon, MLGW crews had restored power for more than 34,000 customers. But there are still more than 7,000 customers without electricity.

MLGW President Jerry Collins said the area’s biggest circuits serving the highest number of customers were restored first. Circuits serving a smaller amount of customers are next in line.

“What we’re down to now are hundreds of small outages that affect one, two, three, four, five customers,” Collins said. “That’s going to take longer, because it’s a much slower process. We should have everybody back in business by Sunday midnight.”

Customers without power today and into the weekend are encouraged to stay hydrated and to seek shelter temporarily elsewhere, if necessary. MLGW recommends customers to keep survival kits ready for power outages and other service disruptions. These kits can include things such as bottled water, canned food, prescription medicines, flashlights, a radio, batteries, and a first-aid kit.

Considering that thunderstorms are in the weather forecast for Friday as well as scattered showers this weekend, restoration efforts could be slowed. Collins, however, assures that MLGW will do its best to fully restore power expeditiously.

“We have all crews working, and we have eight crews in from out of town to help us,” Collins said. “We’re going to go as fast as we can and try to get power restored just as quickly as possible for all the remaining customers.”

To report an power outage, customers should call (901) 544-6500.
Outage numbers can be tracked via MLGW’s outage map at mlgw.com/outagemap.

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Man Indicted On Animal Cruelty Charges For Allegedly Setting Dog On Fire

Brian Gillum

  • Brian Gillum

Whitehaven resident Brian Gillum faces up to six years in prison for allegedly setting his girlfriend’s miniature Doberman Pinscher on fire.

The occurrence took place on September 5th, 2012 in the 4000 block of Webbway, according to the Shelby County District Attorney General’s office.

After Gillum, 31, and his girlfriend got into an argument over his car keys, he allegedly picked up her 2-year-old miniature Doberman Pinscher, Bentley, and walked outside onto the patio where he doused the dog with lighter fluid and set it on fire.

The dog sustained extensive burns on its legs, hindquarters, face and eyes. It had to be euthanized.

Gillum has been indicted on charges of aggravated cruelty to animals. The charge is a felony and carries a punishment of up to six years in prison.

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Dead Man’s Testimony Leads to Home Invasion Conviction

Ramone Hunter

  • Ramone Hunter

Thanks to a recorded testimony from his now-deceased victim, Memphian Ramone Hunter is facing more than a decade in prison for aggravated robbery and aggravated burglary.

On Nov. 9, 2012, Hunter, 28, invaded the home of Jerry Wolfe, Jr., who lived in the 1100 block of Central. In February 2013, Wolfe testified in a preliminary hearing that Hunter, who he knew as “Rome,” forced his way at gunpoint into his apartment with another man. Wolfe was pistol-whipped and robbed of a cell phone and $65, according to the Shelby County District Attorney General’s office.

Wolfe described Hunter as the setup man in the holdup. The second assailant was never identified or captured.

Last December, before the case could be prosecuted, Wolfe died of causes unrelated to the crime. He was 48 years old. However, his recorded testimony from the February 2013 hearing was played for the Criminal Court jury last week. After hearing the testimony, the jury convicted Hunter of home invasion robbery and burglary.

Hunter faces eight to 12 years in prison for aggravated robbery and three to six years for aggravated burglary. He will be sentenced May 19th.

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Man Robs Pregnant Woman, Receives Life Without Parole

Michael Bailey

  • Michael Bailey

A man responsible for robbing a woman, who was nine months pregnant, at gunpoint will serve life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Following a one-day trial, a Criminal Court jury took less than 30 minutes to convict Michael Bailey, 44, of aggravated robbery, Wednesday, May 7th, according to a press release from the Shelby County District Attorney General’s Office.

On Oct. 14, 2008, Bailey robbed a 24-year-old woman at gunpoint as she was getting out of her car in the 100 block of North Belvedere. The woman, who happened to be one day past her due date, had her 5-year-old son with her when the incident occurred. After taking her purse and car keys, Bailey hopped into the woman’s Ford Taurus and drove off. He was arrested later and identified in a photo lineup.

Neither the woman nor her 5-year-old son suffered any injuries during the robbery. She gave birth to a son less than a week later.

Bailey is a repeat violent offender with a criminal record that dates back to 1990. He has more than 15 prior felony convictions, which include thefts, assaults, and aggravated robberies.

Bailey robbed the pregnant women just six days after he was released from prison on parole. Originally, he plead guilty to the robbery and was sentenced to a 30-year sentence without parole. However, a technical error on the judgment sheet incorrectly indicated parole was possible, motivating Bailey to withdraw his plea and ask for a trial.

Due to his extensive criminal record, Bailey will automatically be sentenced to life in prison without parole as a three-strikes offender when he returns to court on June 16th.

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U of M Selects Provost David Rudd As New President

CREDIT: University of Memphis

Dr. M. David Rudd

  • Dr. M. David Rudd

Beginning May 16th, the University of Memphis will be led by a new president.

After sifting through more than 70 applicants from across the nation, the Tennessee Board of Regents selected Dr. M. David Rudd as the U of M’s 12th president Thursday, May 1st. Rudd currently serves as the university’s provost, a position he’s held since March 2013.

The decision came relatively shy of a year since Brad Martin took on the role as interim president for the school in July 2013. The school’s past president was Shirley Raines. She served in the position for more than a decade and retired June 2013.

According to a U of M press release, Rudd holds administrative and teaching experience that spans nearly 30 years. Over that time, he held such titles as dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Science at the University of Utah; professor and chair of the Department of Psychology at Texas Tech; professor and chair of the Department of Psychology at Baylor University; and professor and director of Baylor’s doctoral program in Clinical Psychology.

Rudd earned his Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin in psychology and holds a master’s degree in psychology from there as well. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Princeton University.

His wife, Dr. Loretta Rudd, also works at the U of M as an associate professor.

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U of M Receives $10,000 NCAA Grant For Student-Athlete Program

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It’s no guarantee that student-athletes will go to the pros after graduating from college.

For athletes at the University of Memphis who don’t make it to the big leagues upon graduation, chances of securing a decent job may now be greater thanks to a $10,000 NCAA grant recently awarded to the school. The grant will be used to develop a career readiness program.

The U of M was one of six universities selected out of a pool of nearly 140 applicants to create a program that helps more of its student-athletes obtain employment once their college career is over. The grant is a part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA) 2014 Innovations in Research and Practice Grant Program.

Due to demanding schedules, student-athletes may be at a disadvantage in developing experiential learning opportunities, according to a U of M press release. Students are required to attend numerous practice and conditioning sessions, team meetings, and travel regularly to away games; all of these factors cause them to miss classes, limits their study time, and reduces their chances for securing internships.

With the grant, a U of M research team has created a four-stage program for student-athletes that includes entrepreneurship training, project-based learning, workplace readiness training, and a practicum with a community partner, according to the press release. The research team plans to develop and pilot the program this summer.

The $10,000 grant was awarded to a U of M collective comprised of Dr. Tim Ryan, associate professor of sport and leisure management in the Department of Health and Sport Sciences; Bob Baker, director of the Center for Athletic Academic Services; Kelly Penwell, director of the Experiential Learning Lab; and Dr. Richard Irwin, associate dean of the University College and overseer of the Experiential Learning Lab.

To measure effectiveness of the U of M’s program, participants’ career readiness will be measured before and after program participation, according to a U of M press release.

Aside from the U of M, researchers at The University of Michigan, Stanford University, Springfield College, Utah State, and Purdue University. Each entity will conduct a different form of research with their grants. Other aspects include the study of parental involvement in athletes’ collegiate careers, improving student-athlete mental health, athlete imagery, and support groups for injured athletes.

Grant recipients will present their research at the NCAA convention in Washington, D.C., in January 2015.

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SCS Superintendent Requests That Board Adopt New Academic Goals

Dorsey Hopson

  • Dorsey Hopson

Tonight at the Shelby County Schools (SCS) board work session, Superintendent Dorsey Hopson will propose that the school board commit to a goal of having 80 percent of the 2013-14 school year’s first-graders ready for college and careers by the time they graduate in 2025. The goal is part of a strategic plan SCS hopes to have completed by December 1st.

This morning (Tuesday, April 22nd), Bradley Leon, chief innovation officer for SCS, met with members of the media to discuss several of the goals that have been established for the plan.

Leon said other key goals are raising the district graduation rate to 90 percent and assuring that 100 percent of the kids who graduate in 2025 enroll in post-secondary education, such as an university or trade school.

“This year’s first-graders, we’re committing that 80 percent of them will be college- or career-ready by the time they graduate in 2025,” Leon said. “When you have a goal that’s longer term in nature, there can be an expression created that maybe you’re putting off the day of accountability. Because those first-graders are in our system, we’re going to have aggressive goals along the way for every child throughout the system. We’re going to have some ambitious goals for third-grade reading, seventh-grade math, for those kids and all the kids in our system. That will tie into performance measures and accountability that the district will have for itself.”

Leon said currently, “only about five percent” of SCS students are college-ready. He said although the district doesn’t assess career-readiness yet, if measures used by other communities are applied to determine whether or not students are workforce-ready, there are about 25 percent of SCS students who are ready for a career.

The 2025 plan is primarily targeting the current school year’s first-graders but will encompass all grades. The plan will create concrete pathways for as many SCS students as possible to graduate college- and career-ready.

Leon said the district cannot accomplish the goals set forth in the plan single-handedly and will be seeking assistance from internal and external community stakeholders to leverage all possible resources to help improve the outcomes of SCS students.

Leon said there would be community meetings held on May 13th and May 15th for Memphians to learn more about the plan’s goals and to provide input on how they think SCS could achieve its goals.

Achieving the goals set forth in the plan is anticipated to benefit the community by helping reduce unemployment, increase civic engagement, lower crime, among several other positive effects.

Superintendent Hopson will propose that the school board adopts the goals during its board meeting tonight. The meeting will take place in the school board’s COE auditorium (2597 Avery). It starts at 5:30 p.m.

Leon said he’s unsure if the board will vote on the proposition tonight. He said tonight will only involve Hopson proposing a goal. He said they hope to have a strategic planning process completed and ready to implement by December 1st.