Public Records & Notices View a complete day’s public records and notices at memphisdailynews.com. www.chandlerreports.com Friday, January 10, 2020 MemphisDailyNews.com Vol. 135 | No. 6 Rack–50¢/Delivery–39¢ Wheel tax Priscilla and friends recount hike squeaks stories on Elvis’ 85th birthday through commission committee LINDA A. MOORE Courtesy of The Daily Memphian A resolution to increase the Shelby County wheel tax by $20 to infuse more money into the Memphis Area Transit Authority passed the Shelby County Commission’s general govern- ment budget committee by a one-vote majority Wednesday, Jan.8. That vote leaves the legislation little wiggle room Monday, Jan. 13, when the amended reso- lution will need nine votes from the full com- mission to pass. And because the resolution involves a fee, there must also be a second vote by commissioners. The resolution is sponsored by commis- sioners Willie Brooks, Van Turner and Tami Sawyer, who were joined by Mickell Lowery and Eddie Jones with yes votes. Commissioners Da- vid Bradford, Edmund Ford Jr., Amber Mills and Mark Billingsley voted no. Commissioners Brandon Morrison and Mi- chael Whaley abstained. Priscilla Presley smiles while telling a story about her late former husband Elvis Presley during the Elvis Birthday Proclamation The resolution was amended to exempt Ceremony on Wednesday at Graceland. (Photos by Mark Weber/Courtesy of The Daily Memphian) county residents with incomes under $30,000, but amendments to exclude all senior citizens CHRISTIN YATES and to allocate all of the $20 to MATA failed. Courtesy of The Daily Memphian Conditional language that requires MATA On an unseasonably warm January morning, to give two commissioners seats on its board, hundreds of people gathered on the front lawn of to connect riders with larger employers like Graceland on Wednesday to celebrate what would the FedEx hub and to specifically reduce “the have been Elvis Presley’s 85th birthday. scheduled commute time to Raleigh-Frayser by “Every year, I am blown away by the amount at least half (50%), since significant economic of people and friends that come here to share this development and job growth is expected to time,” Priscilla Presley said. “It’s great memories; occur” remained. That area is part of Brooks’ his birthday is something that we celebrated when district. he was here with us, so this is a continuation of Also, any money collected above $9 mil- that.” lion will go to the county’s general fund to be Most of Elvis’ birthdays were celebrated at “allocated and appropriated in Shelby County Graceland with a small, inner circle of friends David Smock (left) and Victoria Pamore (right) wore Government’s Fiscal Year Budget, as approved birthday hats while attending a celebration at and family. by the Board of County Commissioners.” Graceland on what would have been Elvis Presley’s “Elvis was a little shy on his birthday,” she said. 85th birthday on Wednesday. Before the vote, about 30 people petitioned “He loved giving gifts, so when he received gifts, it commissioners to back the wheel tax increase was uncomfortable for him.” Memphian and music industry professional who and gave their perspectives on the need to im- But Elvis always enjoyed eating birthday cake, was good friends with Elvis and also managed the prove public transportation and the challenges she said, particularly chocolate cake or vanilla cake Beach Boys for more than 10 years. it takes to work in a city without it. with ice cream. James Lester said he’d lost two jobs trying Priscilla was joined by Jerry Schilling, a native ELVIS CONTINUED ON P2 to get to work on the bus, but rides the bus to WHEEL CONTINUED ON P3 INSIDE Public Records ................ 4 Public Notices ............... 12 memphisdailynews.com chandlerreports.com Marriage licenses are unavailable ©2020 The Daily News Publishing Company A division of The Daily News Publishing Company while Shelby County Clerk’s O ce Memphis, Tennessee The standard for premium real estate Established 1886 • 135th year information since 1968 reviews internal policies for its digital Call 901.523.1561 to subscribe Call 901.458.6419 for more information platforms. Page 2 MemphisDailyNews.com Friday, January 10, 2020 Whitehaven High teacher receives national ‘Oscars of Teaching’ award ELLE PERRY feels like an award for all of my High through the Memphis Teach- Courtesy of The Daily Memphian students. … It’s not about one per- er Residency. He earned a bache- Shortly after receiving the son, it’s about the people around lor’s in mathematics in 2011 from prestigious Milken Educator them.” Taylor University and a master’s Award Wednesday morning, Selection criteria includes in education in 2014 from Union Whitehaven High School teach- exceptional educational talent, University. er Nathan Kirsch said he’d never educational accomplishments Along with the prize, 2019-20 heard of the award prior. that go beyond the classroom, Milken winners will attend an The award comes with an teachers whose contributions all-expenses-paid Milken Edu- unrestricted $25,000 gift and is have been unsung, strong poten- cator Forum in Indianapolis in a secret to school staff, teach- tial for professional and policy March. At the forum they will ers and students before being leadership, and an engaging and network and exchange education announced. inspiring presence that motivates ideas with state and federal lead- Called the “Oscars of Teach- and impacts students, colleagues ers. They also will be paired with ing” by Teacher magazine, the and the community. a prior Milken Educator mentor. Milken Educator Awards has no Kirsch teaches math at The first Milken Educator formal nomination or application Whitehaven High and coaches Award was presented in 1987. Ten- process. It’s a confidential selec- the school’s competitive math nessee joined the awards program tion process that finds early- to team, as well as its track and in 1992. Since that time, $1.7 mil- mid-career educators as candi- Whitehaven High School math teacher Nathan Kirsch celebrates after cross country teams. Outside lion has been awarded to 69 recipi- dates, who are then reviewed by receiving the Milken Educator Award on Wednesday during a pep rally of the school, Kirsch coaches ents in the state. panels in each state. at Whitehaven High. (Ziggy Mack/Courtesy of The Daily Memphian) middle- and long-distance run- Erica Stephens, a fourth-grade The Milken Family Founda- ners of all ages for the Bluff City math teacher at Whitehaven’s tion makes the final selection. of their career has the potential to Kirsch is the only 2019-2020 Track Club. John P. Freeman Optional School, A pep rally turned into a sur- impact thousands of young peo- award winner in Tennessee. This He student-taught at White- received a Milken Award during prise award ceremony for Kirsch ple’s lives,” said Jane Foley, senior year the foundation focused on haven High during the 2013-14 the 2018-19 school year. Wednesday, Jan. 8, in the White- vice president of the Milken Edu- secondary school educators. school year, then spent two years Stephens called the experience haven High School gymnasium cator Awards. “One of the best He said he was overwhelmed teaching at Hamilton High School, “exhilarating” and “empowering.” in front of students, teachers and teachers in the entire country, of and humbled to be chosen. before teaching at Whitehaven She was excited to see that local and state dignitaries. three million teachers, is here at “This doesn’t feel like an High in the 2016-17 school year. Wednesday’s award recipient, “One teacher over the course your school.” award for me,” Kirsch said. “It Kirsch came to Whitehaven Kirsch, was from Whitehaven. Elvis was born on Jan. 8, 1935 in Tupelo, ELVIS CONTINUED FROM P1 Mississippi, and moved to Memphis at age “After all these years, people still re- 13. He met Priscilla when she was just 14 member him. I think Elvis’ drive was al- years old while he was serving in the U.S. ways to be accepted and loved,” Schilling Army. She later moved to Memphis, and said. “This is a perfect example of him the two were married from 1967 to 1973. being accepted and loved and honored Priscilla was 32 when Elvis died. She on his birthday.” said it’s “mind boggling” to think Elvis During the Birthday Proclamation would be 85 this year because she always Ceremony, Schilling recalled taking a remembers him as being youthful and drive with Elvis around the Graceland beautiful. property in a golf cart and ending up on One of the lessons Elvis taught her was Elvis Presley Boulevard, which had re- to respect everyone, regardless of culture, cently been renamed from Highway 51. status or other factors. “I looked over and realized Elvis was “He (Elvis) said to always have respect, still in his pajamas, and he said, ‘Hell, it’s and that has always stuck with me be- my street, I can wear whatever I want to,’” cause this man showed all of that in every Schilling said. way,” she said. Priscilla then shared a similar story Elvis’ 85th birthday festivities con- of a time when Elvis drove to her home tinue through Friday with The Auction to show her his brand new car. He walked Heather Crews (second right) and Tisha Schauer (far right) smile through a window while at Graceland, an Elvis Birthday Bash and over to her, and she mentioned to him that attending a celebration for what would have been Elvis Presley’s 85th birthday on Wednesday Evening Tour, a Birthday Celebration his pajama bottoms were sticking out of at Graceland. (Mark Weber/Courtesy of The Daily Memphian) Concert featuring Terry Mike Jeffrey and his jumpsuit.