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Judge Otis Higgs remembered by family, friends

MEMPHIS, TN- (WMC-TV) - Funeral arrangements for Memphis icon and public servant Judge Otis Higgs should be finalized Monday.

Judge Higgs passed away Friday, after a sudden illness. He was 75 years old when he died.

According to his brother Tony James, Higgs began feeling ill after court recessed Friday.

"From what I understand he came home, stated that he wasn't feeling well, and he passed out," said James.

Relatives said Higgs' wife called 911, and rushed the judge to the hospital where he died hours later.

It was a shock that was felt throughout the Mid-South.

During his life time Otis Higgs touched a lot of people through his work in the legal system and as a minister.

Higgs' other roles included being appointed interim sheriff back in the 1990s when the current sheriff committed suicide.

"He's a servant, and being a servant that's what you do," said James.

Memphis' cost of living ranks fifth lowest in nation

Memphis' cost of living ranks fifth lowest in nation

The Council for Community and Economic Research ranked Memphis as the fifth lowest in the nation in terms of cost of living.

“Memphis is the least expensive major metropolitan area to live in the continental United States,” said Greater Memphis Chamber director of research Adrienne Johnson. “A family of four can save on housing, groceries and receive the best health care in the country while building their savings accounts," said Johnson.

The data is based on prices from grocery stores, housing, utility, health care and other miscellaneous goods and services simultaneously gathered by volunteer organizations around the country.

The pricing period lasts three days during the first three quarters of each year.

Garbage trucks back on the streets Wednesday

Garbage trucks back on the streets Wednesday

As of Wednesday morning, Allied Waste workers are still on strike and trash is piling up around several Mid-South homes.

Republic Services expects a full number of trucks to be back on the streets Wednesday afternoon and hope to catch up soon.

One customer affected said it doesn't take much for the stink to spread.

"Everyday. Everyday we create a little bit more and so it doesn't take long for it to back up," 

Republic Services suggests customers put out the trash on the normal day and leave it on the curb until gone.


 

Students, parents upset about high school closure

A walk-out and small rally was held at the Bishop Byrne High School Monday morning to protest the closure.

WHITEHAVEN, TN- (WMC-TV) - Students and parents are upset about the announced closure of Bishop Byrne High in Whitehaven.

A walk-out and small rally was held at the high school Monday morning to protest the closure. In the announcement, it was revealed the school will close at the end of the school year.

Over the weekend, Action News 5 obtained several letters of complaint from students upset that the class of 2013 will be the last of the school's graduates.

The Monday walk-out was quickly curbed by administrative faculty.

Students in grades seven through 11 are encouraged to apply to Memphis Catholic or other schools in that school system.

The diocese says years of rising costs and decreasing enrollment led to the decision.

So far, there is no sign that the protest parents' complaints made any impact on the decision.

Copyright 2013 WMC-TV. All rights reserved.

Big Brothers, Big Sisters teen goes to inauguration

Big Brothers, Big Sisters teen goes to inauguration

MEMPHIS, TN- (WMC-TV) - A Mid-South boy is getting a chance to experience history when he attends President Obama's second inauguration.

It's a chance he thought he would never get, and it's all thanks to the Big Brothers, Big Sisters program.

15-year-old Brandon Rodgers and his big brother have been all over the place together.

Exposing the Whitehaven High School student to new sights, foods, people and places.

"Going places like Florida, Kentucky, places I thought I'd never go before," said Brandon Rodgers.

Imagine what his reaction will be after he sees President Barack Obama's inauguration in the nation's capital in person Monday.

"Never dreamed of it," he said.

His big brother, who happens to be Shelby County Commissioner Steve Mulroy, is taking Rodgers along for the trip full of museums, monuments, and once in a lifetime opportunities.

Fans celebrate Elvis' birthday with 5-tiered cake

MEMPHIS, TN- (WMC-TV) – On January 8, 1935, Elvis Presley was born in Tupelo, Mississippi. And one thing The King loved most – birthday cakes.

One birthday party guest knows better than anyone just how much Elvis loved his birthday cakes.

"We always had a cake for him," said his former maid, Nancy Rooks. "He wanted those down-to-earth homemade cakes."

Elvis' birthday celebrations started back when Graceland opened to the public in 1982 and people have been coming back every year since.

This is only the 3rd birthday celebration Elvis' former maid has made it to since his death. She says he loved coming home to Memphis for his birthday and that tradition continues.

Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell asked the audience, "How many of you have been coming to this event for 30 years? I see some hands."

One of those hands belonged to Carol Der from Baltimore, Maryland. She has been making the birthday visit for 35 years.