News

Few parents show for first parent, community session

Thursday, March 21st, 2013, 6:00pm

(WMC-TV) - The Illinois-based firm conducting the search for the Unified District only got input from about five or six parents Wednesday night.

Empty seats filled the inside of East High School auditorium which is where the first of two meetings meant to gauge public opinion was held.

Search officials said they were able to get some good one-on-one information from the parents who did show up.

One suburban school board member expects a much bigger crowd Thursday made up of parents who share her opinion concerning the next superintendent.

Thursday night's parent and community input session begins at 7:00 p.m. at Houston High School.

Watch Action News 5 at 10 p.m. to learn more about Thursday night's meeting.

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Country club to host wedding and event seminar

Submitted by April Dawn, Journalist

Wednesday, March 20th, 2013, 6:39pm

Country club to host wedding and event seminar

It is that time of year for weddings. Just in time for many of you brides-to-be, there is a free wedding workshop at the Colonial Country Club from 6 to 8 p.m. on March 21. WIth more than $10,000 worth of giveaways from venues, photographers, videographers, travel agents, florists, DJ's, Stationery specialists, make-up artists, tuxedos, rentals, caterers and more - it is something you won’t want to miss. Feel free to bring your bridesmaids and groomsmen.

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Driver involved in deadly crash will face judge

Submitted by WMCTV Web Staff

Monday, March 18th, 2013, 5:31am

MEMPHIS, TN- (WMC-TV) - A painted stick figure marks the spot on Park Avenue in Orange Mound where a motorcyclist was hit and killed after being struck by a suspected drunk driver. The suspected drunk driver is 33-year-old Sentell Stephens. And Monday, he is set to face a judge.

The crash happened around 7 p.m. Saturday at Park Ave. and Keating St.

Police said the driver of a pick-up truck ran a stop sign.

He is accused of leaving the scene with his two year-old son in tow. According to the affidavit, Stephens admitted to drinking three 40 ounce bottles of Budweiser.

One family friend said he was surprised by the news.

"My next door neighbor done told me he ran over somebody on a motorcycle and then left the scene, with his kid in the truck," said family friend Bobby Jones.

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Mansion 'squatter' pulled over in Jaguar, arrested after getting 'nails done'

Submitted by Nick Kenney, Reporter

Friday, March 8th, 2013, 7:41pm

MEMPHIS, TN- (WMC-TV) - A squatter is now locked up on a $2 million bond after what many consider a weeklong "joyride" in a $3 million mansion.

Thursday night, Tabitha Gentry, the self-proclaimed moor American National also known as Abka Re Bey, was pulled over in a white Jaguar. She is charged with theft of property over $60,000, and accused of stealing the property.

Sheriff's deputies sawed off the chain on the gate after Gentry was in custody. They then swept the house and found no one else inside.

Gentry has 6 children. The oldest is almost 16 years old. The teenager sent picture messages to her aunt from inside the house that showed no furniture and an empty refrigerator.

The aunt contacted attorney Kenneth Besser.

"My client's niece is the oldest daughter of Gentry," said Besser. "She wanted her niece out of there before the police had to take any action to take back the house."

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Mansion squatter evicted in past, has arrest record

Submitted by Nick Kenney, Reporter

Thursday, March 7th, 2013, 6:55pm

MEMPHIS, TN- (WMC-TV) - Unwanted guests are still occupying a $3 million mansion in East Memphis.

One of the squatters goes by the name Abka Re Bey, but her given name is Tabitha Gentry.

Action News 5 pulled a mugshot from October when she was accused of assaulting two police officers.

The charges were not prosecuted. The addresses listed on her arrest records all lead to places she no longer resides.

But a neighbor on 3156 Cromwell said Gentry, or Re Bey, previously uprooted the for sale sign, moved in, claimed the house as her own, racked up a $4,000 utility bill, and squatted for about 18 months before getting evicted.

Real Estate Attorney said Joseph Kirkland shared legal aspects of the situation.

"However, many times when you're dealing with property matters, the authorities want to have it treated as a civil matter," said Kirkland.

Kirkland's practiced real estate law for the past 37 years.

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Memphis Police Union demonstrators rally for benefits

Submitted by Kontji Anthony, Action News 5 Anchor/Reporter

Monday, March 4th, 2013, 5:28am

MEMPHIS, TN- (WMC-TV) - With budget season quickly approaching, the Memphis Police Association held a rally Saturday posing a question to citizens, "Do you know where your tax money goes?"

A battle brewing over Memphis Police benefits surfaced Saturday as dozens of demonstrators toted signs at the corner of Poplar and Highland for the police union's "Wake Up Memphis" rally.

"We're very concerned about how tax dollars are being spent and we are concerned about public safety," said Memphis Police Association President Michael Williams.

Williams said after taking a 4.6 percent pay cut, the city is now considering cutting holiday pay and increasing employee insurance premiums.

"I'm here to support my husband," said Jamie Keck, participant.

She said it is becoming unbearable.

"Three kids, 13, 7, and three and it's really hard to make ends meet. It really is," said Keck.

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Students, parents react to fake Ridgeway High School student

Submitted by WMCTV Web Staff

Monday, March 4th, 2013, 1:05am

MEMPHIS, TN- (WMC-TV) - Parents of Ridgeway High School athletes are speaking out about a student who faked his way into their school, and cost their kids a chance at a championship.

The Ridgeway Roadrunners were kicked out of the state tournament because of an ineligible player.

Now parents want answers about the man at the center of this developing scandal.

Parents and players said that his name is McKinzey Sewell. They said he went to school and played basketball with the team side by side. The team did not know he wasn't eligible to play or to even be a student at their high school.

"I wouldn't want to hurt nobody like that," said Ridgeway Senior Desean Dockery.

Dockery had no idea one of his teammates would cost him a chance at a state championship.

"He just act like one of us, we didn't really hang with him," he said.

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