Ride for Life rolls from East Memphis to Midtown

Submitted by Joe Birch, Anchor

Friday, June 7th, 2013, 8:55am

Ride for Life rolls from East Memphis to Midtown

A place where thousands of Memphis families visit to remember loved ones will serve as the start and finish line on Sunday, June 9th for the 2013 "Ride for Life".

Memorial Park Cemetery and Funeral Home located on Poplar Avenue at Yates will welcome all riders in the 25 mile benefit bicycle ride for the Mid-South Transplant Foundation.

The event starts at 2 p.m. You can learn more, watch a video of last year's inaugural event and register here: http://midsouthtransplantrfl.racesonline.com/

Riders will find refreshments, some fun for children, live music as well as information about the importance of signing materials that would allow your organs to be donated in the event of your untimely departure from this life.

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Grizzlies coaching search continues

Submitted by Sam Korotkin on Thursday, June 6th, 10:30 pm

In the case of Hollins, the local support mixed with a lot speculation makes for a long waiting game for Grizzlies fans.

(WMC-TV) - The Memphis Grizzlies head coaching search took another turn on Thursday, as the Denver Nuggets parted ways with the 2012-2013 NBA Coach of the Year, George Karl.

According to multiple media outlets, the Grizzlies spoke with Karl almost immediately after he was let go by the Nuggets. Grizzlies Vice President of Operations, Stu Lash, worked with Karl in Denver. According to USA Today's Sam Amick, Lash has nothing but great things to say about Karl.

Meanwhile, current Grizzlies Head Coach, Lionel Hollins, is still waiting for a second interview with the Grizzlies front office to discuss their reported philosophical differences. Hollins' contract with the team expires on June 30, and it appears he likely will not be brought back.

Also in the running for the Grizzlies head job is Grizzlies assistant coach Dave Joerger.

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Bass Pro delays grand opening for 'extra improvements'

Submitted by Kontji Anthony, Action News 5 Anchor/Reporter

Wednesday, June 5th, 2013, 6:13pm

Bass Pro said extra improvements caused another delay.

(WMC-TV) - Bass Pro delayed their grand opening in The Pyramid, again, for another year.

Initially, many across Memphians and Pinch District community members did not believe Bass Pro would come to The Pyramid Arena after it sat empty since 2004.

At that time, there were delays because the building sits on a fault line.

Now, Bass Pro said extra improvements caused another delay.

"I love the Pinch District. We frequent this area a lot," said visitor Porsha Bonds.

Porsha and her family know about the Bass Pro opening delay.

"If they're going to do it, they should definitely get along with it," said Cameron Bonds.

As some Pinch District patrons want Bass Pro to get things going, others expect delays.

"I was kind of figuring on a delay anyway because that's a pretty big project," said carriage operator Phillip Osborn.

Osborn said he can wait, but hopes the improvements are better than the original plan.

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Mud Island dog park would cost $100K

Submitted by Andrew Douglas on Wednesday, June 5th, 5:19 pm

MEMPHIS, TN- (WMC-TV) - A dog park could be coming to Mud Island.

Memphis councilman Lee Harris thinks the GreenBelt park on Mud Island needs a dog park like Overton Park.

"It will come out of last year's budget. It's already approved it's already there. Doesn't impact the tax rate at all because it was already put in the budget last year," said Harris.

A Mud Island dog park would cost a little more than $100,000 to build with fencing and signage, according to Harris. He said last year's Parks budget, with $850,000 unused, would fund the project.

Other council members said that unused money needs to go to fixing existing city parks.

"That money was put together for the purposes, I expressed, that was the repair of the older parks," said councilman Bill Boyd.

Boyd said current Memphis parks need maintenance upkeep and repairs instead of the money going to the dogs.

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Thousands gather for concert benefiting St. Jude

Submitted by Anna Marie Hartman, Anchor/Reporter

Wednesday, June 5th, 2013, 2:15pm

MEMPHIS, TN- (WMC-TV) - A fundraiser held for St. Jude Children's Research hospital at the Canon Center drew many stars Tuesday.

For the second year in a row, singer songwriter John Rich brought his friends to Memphis to raise money for St. Jude Children's Research hospital.

"Being a big supporter of St. Jude I thought, 'Man, I bet we could put something together every year that was just really unique,' " sad Rich.

The audience of 2,500 people filled the Cannon Center for the sold out intimate evening with a group of artists that rarely share the same stage.

"Larry the Cable Guy, Wynonna, thank you very much, and Big and Rich," said Rich.

Rich has a special place in his heart for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. A place he has visited many times.

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Bass Pro Shops listen to Mud Island residents' signage concerns

Submitted by Andrew Douglas on Tuesday, June 4th, 5:03 pm

MEMPHIS, TN- (WMC-TV) - Memphis city leaders say an agreement has been reached regarding Bass Pro Shops signage on the north side of The Pyramid. Mud Island residents were concerned that putting a big sign on that side of the pyramid would ruin the scenic views from the island.

Memphis City Council is applauding Bass Pro Shops for taking the community's concerns seriously as it moves forward with the pyramid's transformation.

"It makes me feel real good. I mean, they are going to be good neighbors," said Lee Harris, Memphis City Council. "They're coming to town and taking public input seriously and taking seriously the input to being a really good neighbor to downtown and downtown stakeholders."

Councilman Lee Harris says he wrote a letter to the company months ago out of concern for a giant Bass Pro Shops sign on the north side of the pyramid. That particular side of the pyramid faces Mud Island and Harbortown.

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Grizzlies Head Coach: 'I don't have any intention of going anywhere'

Submitted by WMCTV Web Staff

Tuesday, June 4th, 2013, 9:21am

Hollins contract expires at this end of this month on June 30.

MEMPHIS, TN- (WMC-TV) - After coaching a history-making Grizzlies team, Head Coach Lionel Hollins could be looking to leave the team and the Bluff City – according to national reports. But Monday morning, Hollins told a local radio station he wants to coach the Grizzlies.

Reports say contract talks between Coach Hollins and Grizzlies execs stalled over the weekend.

Yahoo Sports reports that the coach who guided the Grizzlies to their first Western Conference Finals appearance could part ways with the team. The report claims that the Grizzlies have given Coach Hollins permission to talk with other teams.

Citing Hollins' agent, the report claims negotiations broke down over philosophical differences. Hollins said on First Call with Peter Edmiston on Sports 56 WHBQ/87.7 FM that all of his conversations with CEO Jason Levien were positive.

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