By John Martin/ MicroMemphis Reporter

Zach Stark realizes it’s a mostly unorthodox cause.

Stark, who mans the recreational center at St. John’s Episcopal Church at the corner of Greer and Central, and his church have started an ongoing drive called “Wipes 4 Workouts.”

But he’s hoping the community in the district rallies just as they would for a food drive or anything like it.

“It’s kind of self-explanatory,” Stark said. “We have a lot of people who come in and work out in our facilities, and lots of times these are people who don’t come from privilege or a silver-spoon background. Our operation here is modest, so we need all the help we can get.”

By John Martin/ MicroMemphis Reporter

Normal protocol for the University of Memphis men’s soccer team is as follows: The team practices around 3:30 in the afternoon, and depending on the week and the team’s class schedules, on Tuesday mornings between 6 and 7 a.m.

The women’s team, which has enjoyed vast success under coach Brooks Monaghan, comes in after the men and work its morning practices around them, as well.

But there’s a problem: The reason there is no set daily schedule is because there are no lights. Despite fielding nationally competitive men’s and women’s teams annually, the soccer facility on campus has no lighting.

“It limits the time we’re able to practice,” senior defender JJ Greer said. “Basically, we are limited from about 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and then you have to throw in there guys’ class times, which limits it even more.”

That the soccer programs on campus are forced to haggle over the use of the practice field so as to avoid the sun setting on them as they practice, makes the situation even more complicated. A new soccer facility, however, is part of the U of M’s master plan for the Park Avenue campus, which is just south of the University District. The goal is to have it ready by 2016.

By John Martin / MicroMemphis Reporter

There is a disturbing trend developing in the University District.

Pretending to be lawn crews, burglars are infiltrating neighborhoods in the University District, and residents are growing nervous.

The crews do light weed-whacking and lawn upkeep around houses while identifying access points within the house. By doing so, they become familiar with the residential home for a later burglary. 
 
Details about the scam, including the name the burglars use for their fake business, were not available, but their modus operandi is the same throughout each instance reported.

While it is hard to pin down specific numbers of burglaries that have happened directly as a result, it is certain that there is a new sense of caution when it comes to hiring yard crews and anyone looking for odd job work.

By John Martin / MicroMemphis Reporter

The Memphis Grizzlies disposed of the Oklahoma City Thunder in five games earlier this month in rather easy fashion.

But, after the tornadoes that demolished the surrounding areas in Oklahoma City, there’s no lingering bad blood from the City of Memphis toward their neighbors to the west.

Many businesses around the University District, including Newby’s Memphis at 539 S. Highland St. organized food and donation drives to assist the residents of Moore, Okla., where dozens of people were killed and thousands of homes destroyed by a tornado outbreak that swept through the state.

Newby’s, a prominent stable of the University District, conducted the drive May 23, and the turnout was promising. Though official numbers haven’t been tallied, organizers and nearby residents were encouraged by how many people showed up.
 

Before the tectonic plates within the Big East began to shift (mostly in totally opposite directions), first-year University of Memphis athletic director Tom Bowen had a plan.

A large part of that plan is centered on a massive renovation to the Park Avenue campus in the University District, which is currently home to a majority of the U of M’s Olympic sports’ practice facilities.

Late last year, Bowen released the 20-page plan that would ostensibly ensure such a development. He termed the call-to-action a “March to the East.” Among the more integral parts are goals to balance the department budget and increase annual giving from $8.7 million to $11 million in the 2014-15 fiscal year.

Tammy Duncan is conflicted.

Every other day, it seems, the Normal Station resident who lives near the intersection of Highland and Southern hears about a robbery, burglary or an instance of assault. Though it comes up less frequently, the word ‘murder’ is too much a part of her regular vocabulary.

Duncan can’t just up and move, either. This is where she grew up. The University District – Normal Station – is all she’s ever known. There are sentimental strings keeping her here.

Therein lies the dilemma: Crime is, on some level, a part of the fabric in this city, in concentrated neighborhoods and the metro at large. But, as ostensibly dangerous as it is, it’s still home – and it’s hard for lifelong residents, like Duncan, to leave.

University of Memphis police cordoned off Echles Street Feb. 11 when a parked SUV parallel to the U of M recreation center caught fire.

Firefighters responded to the scene at about 10:15 a.m and were able to extinguish the flame, which originated at the hood of the silver Honda CRV. No one was injured, and the fire did not cause damage to the nearby vehicles.