The Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN) articles from December 2002

The Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN) archives from December 2002

Memphis, Tenn., Retailers Report Good Sales for Holiday Weekend.
December 3, 2002... Byline: Linda A. Moore Dec. 3--Area retailers are calling last weekend's holiday sales a good start for the holiday shopping season and are optimistic about sales for the remainder of the holidays. Most retailers had planned for modest...

J.C. Penney Co. to Close Catalog Outlet Center at Memphis, Tenn., Mall.
December 3, 2002

Shoppers Swarm Online Retailers over Post-Thanksgiving Weekend.
December 4, 2002... Byline: Linda A. Moore Dec. 4--As brick-and-mortar retailers enjoyed the rush of Black Friday shopping, online retailers also relished were equally bombarded with a swarm of shoppers during the holiday weekend, which for them lasted into...

Despite Drop in High-Tech Spending, Businesses, Public Still Want Innovations.
December 5, 2002... Byline: Mark Watson Dec. 5--U.S. companies may be decreasing their technology spending this year, but businesses and the public continue to increase demand for innovations that make their operations faster, smarter, cheaper. That's the...

Memphis, Tenn., High-Tech Expo Enjoys Good Attendance.
December 5, 2002... Byline: Mark Watson Dec. 5--Technology that enables you to use a notebook computer as you would a handheld device, such as a Palm, Handspring or Pocket PC, drew the attention of hundreds at Wednesday's Information Technology Exposition and...

Memphis, Tenn., to Examine Utility Investments, Discuss Hold on Disconnections.
December 6, 2002... Byline: Mark Watson Dec. 6--If Memphis Light, Gas & Water Division had not invested $18.8 million in Memphis Networx, which Councilman Joe Brown calls a "failing venture," the city utility still would be disconnecting nonpaying customers...

Schnuck Markets Will Open Three New Memphis, Tenn.-Area Stores.
December 6, 2002

Tennessee Legislator Seeks Hearings to Review Planned Hospital Deal.
December 10, 2002

Memphis, Tenn., Furniture Store Changes Hands from Brother to Brother.
December 10, 2002

Memphis, Tenn., Considers Private Vendors for Auto Parts.
December 11, 2002... Byline: Mark Watson Dec. 11--Putting a Shelby County auto parts operation under private management saved local government about 16 percent of its expenses in this category, but at least one local businessperson still thinks the City of...

Home Depot Buys Memphis, Tenn., Strip Mall.
December 11, 2002... Byline: Jerome Obermark Dec. 11--Home Depot has purchased a strip shopping center at the southeast corner of Poplar and Avalon for a possible store site. At least one Midtown neighborhood leader welcomed the prospect of a large...

Memphis, Tenn., Resource Center Offers Job Training, Technology Services.
December 11, 2002... Byline: Ruma Banerji Dec. 11--Jerical Jones-Seay is plotting her escape from the cycle of minimum-wage, fast-food jobs. On Tuesday morning, she began taking computer repair courses at the new Uptown Resource Center to prepare for a...

Memphis, Tenn.-Based Firm to Handle McDonald's Credit, Debit Payments.
December 11, 2002... Byline: David Flaum Dec. 11--Concord EFS Inc. of Memphis will handle credit and debit card payments for fast-food giant McDonald's Corp. Late last month, McDonald's unveiled plans to accept plastic for payment at about a quarter of its...

Memphis, Tenn., Mall Renovation Could Stretch over Ten Years.
December 12, 2002... Byline: Christopher Dinsmore Dec. 12--The redevelopment of Pembroke Mall will begin in January and may take as long as 10 years, mall officials said Wednesday. The renovation of the mall itself will begin around Jan. 6. The interior...

Stock Falls Despite AutoZone's First-Quarter Earnings Increase.
December 13, 2002... Byline: Linda A. Moore Dec. 13--Memphis-based AutoZone Inc. reported first-quarter earnings Thursday of $1.04 per share, a 37 percent increase over fiscal 2002 that exceeded First Call analysts' expectations of 95 cents for the first three...

Current, Former Employees' Lawyers Challenge FedEx's Minority-Friendly Image.
December 13, 2002... Byline: Richard Thompson Dec. 13--Lawyers for 26 current and former employees of Memphis-based FedEx Corp. challenged the company's minority-friendly image Thursday by filing a racial discrimination lawsuit in a California court. The...

Back Yard Burger Chain to Open New Restaurant in Memphis, Tenn., Building.
December 13, 2002

Shelby County, Tenn., Rejects Proposal for Extra Consultant for Arena Project.
December 17, 2002... Byline: Blake Fontenay Dec. 17--Citing cost concerns, a divided County Commission decided Monday not to hire another consultant to oversee work on the downtown arena. Last week, the commission's public service and tourism committee...

Memphis, Tenn. Places near Bottom in National Competitiveness Study.
December 17, 2002... Byline: Mark Watson Dec. 17--Only Buffalo, N.Y., and New Orleans rank lower than Memphis in a new study of competitiveness among the nation's 50 largest metropolitan areas. A Christian Brothers University administrator dismissed the...

Memphis, Tenn., Utility Defends Increase in Service Cutoffs to City Council.
December 17, 2002... Byline: Tom Charlier Dec. 17--Making an all-out bid to get their budget approved today, Memphis Light, Gas & Water Division officials have been trying to soothe concerns expressed by City Council members over service cutoffs and other...

FCC Decision Likely Means Increase in Wireless Service Bills.
December 17, 2002... Byline: Mark Watson Dec. 17--People use their wireless phones for long-distance calls much more than regulators expected, so the fees associated with that service are slated for an increase in the spring. Providers of wireless service...

Memphis, Tenn. Smog Causes Problems for Neighboring DeSoto County, Miss.
December 17, 2002

Memphis, Tenn.-Based Bank CEO Now Chairman Too.
December 18, 2002... Byline: David Flaum Dec. 18--Ernest Roessler added chairman to his chief executive officer and president duties at National Commerce Financial Corp. of Memphis on Tuesday. The board of the bank holding company named Roessler to succeed...

Cleo Inc. Plant in Memphis, Tenn., Plans Ahead to Next Year's Gift Wrap.
December 18, 2002... Byline: David Flaum Dec. 18--While 60 percent of what they made this year will be bought in the next seven days, the folks at Cleo Inc. have long since started thinking about next year, boosted by a new showroom at the company's Memphis...

Memphis, Tenn., Economic Development Officials Pledge Funds for Parking.
December 18, 2002... Byline: Jerome Obermark Dec. 18--Center City Revenue Finance Corporation members approved a resolution Tuesday pledging up to $1.8 million Tuesday to acquire property on South Main for a 300-car parking garage. The garage, estimated to...

Some Middle Tennessee YMCA's May Lose Property Tax Exemptions.
December 18, 2002... Dec. 18--NASHVILLE, Tenn.--A state panel is considering whether to partially revoke property tax exemptions for 21 YMCAs in Middle Tennessee, a ruling that could impact the Christian charity's health and wellness centers across the state. The...

Memphis, Tenn., Airport May Owe Ousted Financial Executive Money.
December 20, 2002... Byline: Richard Thompson Dec. 20--If nothing else is uncovered by Jan. 30, Memphis International Airport will end up owing Jerry McMichael money. McMichael, the airport's former top financial officer, was fired Oct. 4 for misusing...

Memphis, Tenn.-Area Board Approves Incentives Package for Medtronic.
December 20, 2002... Byline: Jerome Obermark Dec. 20--The Memphis & Shelby County Industrial Development Board has approved a $12 million package of incentives requested by Medtronic Sofamor Danek. The tax freeze package is meant to persuade the company's...

Memphis, Tenn., Pet Waste-Removal Service Joins Growing Trend.
December 20, 2002... Byline: Linda A. Moore Dec. 20--What would give someone an idea for a business that collects and gets rid of dog droppings? "Stepping in it," said Drew Phillips, owner of On Doody pet waste-removal service. On a summer day in 1999...

Memphis Photo Lab, Casualty of Digital Photography Revolution, Closes Up Shop.
December 21, 2002... Byline: Linda A. Moore Dec. 21--After a lifetime in photography and nearly 30 years as the proprietor of Dixie Color Lab, Bob Zimmerman is shutting down his photographic processing operation, the victim of technology that has made much of...

BellSouth Loses Fight with Memphis, Tenn., over Right of Way Charges.
December 21, 2002

Dim Economic Outlook Continues to Plague Mississippi.
December 24, 2002

New President-CEO Plans Few Changes at Canadian National Railways.
December 25, 2002... Byline: Mark Watson Dec. 25--A former Memphian expects to bring some Southern informality to the executive suite of Canadian National Railway Company as he takes over as the company's president and chief executive officer. But...

Memphis, Tenn., Airport Starts to Swab Checked Bags for Explosive Residue.
December 27, 2002... Byline: Richard Thompson Dec. 27--Some checked bags will be swabbed for explosive residue at Memphis International Airport starting today. The process begins just days before the Dec. 31 federal deadline to screen all checked bags for...

Memphis, Tenn.-Area Shoppers Pursue Bargains after Christmas.
December 27, 2002... Byline: Linda A. Moore Dec. 27--Area shoppers seemed less interested in returns and more focused on sales as after-Christmas shopping took off across the country and the Mid-South. On Thursday, people pursued bargains for themselves...