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MEMernet A roundup of Memphis on the World Wide Web.
Fe b r u a r y 2 7 - M a r c h 4 , 2 0 2 0
S W E E TG R AS S S MAS H Details are fuzzy, but it’s clear that something definitely happened at Sweetgrass in Cooper-Young on Saturday, according to a post by Brad Gilmer on Nextdoor.
The restaurant did not post anything formal about the incident online. Nextdoor users had questions and theories. “Looks as if a vehicle would have come in at a very odd angle?” asked Kathy Ladner. “Someone ordered the large plate of nachos and then couldn’t fit through the door on the way out!” exclaimed Michael Cairo. But Cairo later explained that a driver lost control before midnight and hit the building. “It was so loud it shot me out of bed. I thought someone was about to drive through my apartment. Wild Saturday night!” said Cady Mink. M O R GAN & M O R GAN
4 POSTED TO INSTAGRAM BY MEMPHISASF_CK
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Questions, Answers + Attitude Edited by Toby Sells
W E E K T H AT W A S By Flyer staff
Aquifer, Guns, & Last Meals A bill threatens water protections, (more) guns on campus, and death row dining. “U N-P R OTECT O U R AQ U I F E R ” A new Tennessee bill could “unprotect our aquifer,” removing Shelby County’s ability to control wells drilled into the Memphis Sand Aquifer, the source of the area’s famously pristine drinking water. The bill, filed by two West Tennessee Republicans, Sen. Delores Gresham (R-Somerville) and Rep. Curtis Halford (R-Dyer), would prohibit cities and counties from exercising authority over a landowner’s water rights on “certain drilling requirements.” Scott Banbury, Conservation Programs Coordinator for the Tennessee Chapter of the Sierra Club, said the bill is “about whether or not Shelby County has the authority to regulate groundwater wells within its jurisdiction.” He Clockwise from top left: TVA workers drill a well, lawmakers want more guns said under the bill, the Tennessee on campus, voters decide on police and fire, last meals on death row Valley Authority would have been able to use wells close to contaminated areas. death row inmate Nicholas Sutton. Ward Archer, president of Protect Our Aquifer, said the bill Sutton, who died by means of electrocution Thursday, would “un-protect our aquifer” and “set us way back about 50 February 20th, was the state’s first inmate to be put to years” before local well controls were established here. death this year. Sutton was sentenced to death in 1986 after killing a fellow inmate. He was in prison at the time R ES I D E N CY FO R PO LI C E, F I R E he committed the murder, serving a life sentence for three Memphis voters will get to decide if police and fire personmurders he had been convicted of in 1979. According nel should be able to live within 50 miles of the city. to the Tennessee Department of Corrections, death row The Memphis City Council ended a month-long debate inmates are allowed to request a last meal “within reason,” on the question with a vote last week to keep the issue on costing up to $20. the November ballot. Some council members were conHere is what the 10 inmates executed prior to Sutton cerned about having police officers here who do not live in selected for their final meal: Memphis. Others argued allowing the move would lower Lee Hall — Philly cheesesteak, two orders of onion rings, annual overtime payments of around $39.4 million for a slice of cheesecake, and a Pepsi. police and fire. Stephen West — Philly cheesesteak and french fries. Donnie Johnson — asked that his supporters donate STU D E NTS WITH G U N S (E N C O U R AG E D!) meals to the homeless. Some state lawmakers want to allow students at Tennessee David Miller — fried chicken, mashed potatoes, biscuits, public colleges and universities to carry firearms on campus. and coffee. The bill (SB 2288/ HB 2102) would expand a 2017 law Edmund Zagorski — pickled pig knuckles and pig tails. that allows full-time employees with permits to carry a conBilly Ray Irick — a burger, onion rings, and a Pepsi. cealed firearm on campus. Cecil Johnson — refused a final meal. In some states, students must be 21 years old to carry a Steve Henley — shrimp, oysters, fried fish, onion rings, gun on campus. The draft of Tennessee’s proposed bill does and hush puppies. not include an age provision. Daryl Holton — declined a last meal. Philip Workman — asked that a large vegetarian pizza be LAST M EALS O N D EATH R OW given to a homeless person. Visit the News Blog at memphisflyer.com for fuller versions of Fried pork chops, mashed potatoes with gravy, and peach these stories and more local news. pie with vanilla ice cream was the last meal of Tennessee
