Home Care In Ellendale, TN

Fifty-five schools in Shelby County earned a Reward School designation for last year, according to the state.

The Tennessee Department of Education released its list of Reward Schools Friday following approval by the State Board of Education.

The list recognizes schools for achievement in academics as well as, for the first time, other factors like low truancy rates and high graduation rates.

As a result, the list of Reward Schools has grown statewide and in Shelby County. A total of 318 schools across the state earned the designation, more than double last year's total.

Priority List: 11 SCS schools earn their way out of the bottom 5 percent

Find Out: Is your school is on the 2018 Priority List of schools performing in the bottom 5 percent?

The designation was previously based on the top 5 percent of schools in proficiency and growth on state tests.

"I think you do a disservice when you measure what’s happening in schools simply by test data," Superintendent Dorsey Hopson said. "So I’m glad the state is starting to look at more measures."

The only Shelby County district that did not have a Reward School was Millington Municipal Schools.

Closing: 7 SCS charter schools forced to close at end of year — including 3 of Willie Herenton's

Here's who was named a Reward School in Shelby County:

Arlington

Arlington Elementary

Donelson Elementary

Bartlett

Bartlett High School

Bon Lin Middle School

Ellendale Elementary

Oak Elementary

Collierville

Bailey Station Elementary School

Collierville Elementary School

Crosswind Elementary School

Sycamore Elementary School

Tara Oaks Elementary School

Germantown

Dogwood Elementary School

Farmington Elementary School

Houston Middle School

Riverdale Elementary School

Lakeland

Lakeland Elementary School

Shelby County Schools

A. B. Hill Elementary

A. Maceo Walker Middle

Alcy Elementary

Bethel Grove Elementary

Bruce Elementary

Campus Elementary

Cromwell Elementary

Downtown Elementary

DuBois Elementary School of Entrepreneurship

E.E. Jeter Elementary/Middle

Ford Road Elementary

Gardenview Elementary

Germanshire Elementary

Germantown Elementary

Germantown Middle

Grahamwood Elementary

Hickory Ridge Elementary

Highland Oaks Elementary

Holmes Road Elementary

Idlewild Elementary

J. P. Freeman Elementary/Middle

Larose Elementary

Lucie E. Campbell Elementary

Lucy Elementary

Middle College High

Oakshire Elementary

Raleigh-Bartlett Meadows Elementary

Richland Elementary

Riverwood Elementary School

Sea Isle Elementary

Sharpe Elementary

Southern Avenue Charter Elementary School

Southwind Elementary

Vollentine Elementary

Westhaven Elementary

White Station Middle

William Herbert Brewster Elementary School

Willow Oaks Elementary

Winridge Elementary

Reach Jennifer Pignolet at [email protected] or on Twitter @JenPignolet.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The aftermath of Sunday’s devastating storms is still being felt Friday, especially in several Memphis suburbs.

Even though Memphis Light, Gas, and Water has made progress restoring power, nearly 15,000 customers still don’t have electricity, like some in Bartlett.

Along Oak Road in Bartlett, it’s day two of the heatwave that’s putting a stranglehold on the Mid-South.

“My house right now is about 85 degrees. I try to spend as little time in there,” said Bartlett homeowner Micah Pugh.

It’s also another day for some MLGW customers who are struggling without any power in their homes or churches after Sunday night’s storms.

“It’s been hard. We are just hopeful and praying that everybody can their power back on,” said Dennis Foster, Ellendale United Methodist Church trustee.

Neighbors say this area has loss electricity over and over again this week as MLGW crews work around the clock to restore power to thousands.

Friday was no different for Mellissa Sisscil. She says with every glimmer of hope she gets when the lights come on, she loses hundreds of dollars in groceries.

“It’s extremely frustrating,” Sisscil said. “You make plans for groceries kids and work and just like that you have to start all over.”

Uprooted trees, snapped utility poles, and downed power lines still cover some roads in Bartlett. Friday’s update from the City of Bartlett says there are still several roads that are impassable because of storm debris.

Bartlett Mayor David Parsons says he’s aware of the challenges people are facing.

“We understand the temperature. We understand the length of time. There’s a lot of helping hands trying to resolve getting you back your power,” Parsons said.

MLGW president Doug McGowen, who was with the mayor in Bartlett, says crews are making headway.

“I am pleased to report that we have restored more than 112,000 of the 122,000 customers who were impacted by the storm,” McGowen said.

Restoration efforts are concentrated in several hard-hit areas of the county.

“There are some large clusters of outages in the Millington, Shelby Farms, and Northaven area and here in the Barlett area. There’s a small cluster in the Lakeland area, in the city of Memphis, in the Raleigh neighborhood,” McGowen said.

As for full restoration, McGowen admits there will likely be a small number of people still without electricity going into the weekend, but the work will continue to get their power back.

“Today, we are approaching 99 percent of our customers back on,” McGowen said. “For the remaining one percent that’s little solace because every single customer counts. So, we’re not going to stop working until we get everybody restored.”

McGowen says while the power is out, he recommends people take advantage of the various cooling centers around Memphis and Shelby County.

The Tennessee Baptist Mission Board is also providing chainsaw crews to help with cleanup. All you have to do is fill out a form at City Hall or Bellevue Baptist Church and return them to Bellevue to get help.

On the new episode of Food Network’s Restaurant: Impossible, host Chef Robert Irvine and the crew rewatch the episode featuring Ellendale’s in Nashville. The restaurant closed in 2018.

According to the episode synopsis, tonight’s episode will also include some behind-the-scenes moments that viewers never saw.

“One of the craziest ambush episodes we’ve ever done,” Irvine said in the teaser for the upcoming episode. “We’re going to relive all the gory details… and reveal behind-the-scenes secrets no one has ever heard until now.”

Ellendale’s Restaurant Closed Permanently In 2018

Four years after filming their episode of Restaurant: Impossible, the restaurant closed its doors permanently according to The Tennessean.

Ellendale’s Restaurant posted on its Facebook page to announce the closure.

“After nineteen years in business, Ellendale’s Restaurant will be closing its doors on Sunday, July 1st, immediately following Sunday Brunch,” the post reads. “It is with a very heavy heart that we must announce the closure of Ellendale’s Restaurant. As the proprietor of Ellendale’s, it has been an unbelievable journey to own and operate this restaurant and serve the Donelson community for nineteen years.”

The post, which was written by Julie Buhler, continues, saying that she was thankful for the patrons, staff and relationships built by Ellendale’s and that opening the restaurant was a dream of hers.

“I also want the opportunity to say thank you to all of our loyal customers, who, without their support love and friendship we would be nothing,” the post reads. “Our intimate conversations and friendships will endure. What a blessing it has been to share your holidays, weddings, births, birthdays, and the passing of the ones we love.”

The post invited the patrons to one final Sunday Brunch.

The Ellendale’s Owner is Now the Owner and Creator of Phat Bites in Nashville

Most Recently, the Ellendale’s Restaurant Facebook Page is used to promote Phat Bites, which is owned by Julie Buhler, the owner and executive chef of Ellendales. Following the closure of the restaurant, gift cards were honored at Phat Bites.

The most recent post on Ellendale’s Facebook page came a year after the closing and promotes Phat Bites restaurant.

“Ellendale’s fans come to Phat Bites today for Yazoo smoked ribs, pickle smoked chicken, Granny’s cowboy caviar & loaded potato salad,” the post read. “It’s not raining in here!!! (Vegan bbq too).”

Buhler began her career in Milwaukee, Wisconsin where she ran her own catering business while also attending college. She also worked as a personal chef to Dolly Parton and later cooked for Reba McEntire, Vince Gill and Garth Brooks before opening Ellendale’s.

Following the Restaurant: Impossible makeover, reviews were mixed, but the majority of them were positive according to Chew Boom.

Many of the reviews mentioned delicious food, good staff and beautiful decor. The negative reviews mentioned that the prices were increased following the Restaurant: Impossible renovations. One reviewer said they had the steak and that they have “had better steaks at Waffle House.”

Restaurant: Impossible airs on Thursday nights at 9 p.m. on the Food Network.

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Shelley Ruth Thompson, née Elliott, lost her long battle with Alzheimer’s on the afternoon of Wednesday, November 8, 2023. Shelley passed away peacefully with Danny, Justin, Vicki and Doug by her side.

Shelley was born in Memphis to John and Linda Elliott. Shelley attended Coleman and Treadwell. She graduated from Nicholas Blackwell/Bartlett High School in 1967. When Shelley was in high school, she met the love of her life, Danny Thompson. Danny proposed to Shelley on May 26, 1969, and they hoped to be wed on that day a year later. Instead, they married on January 10, 1970, before Danny left for a 12 month tour to Vietnam.

After Danny’s return from service, Shelley and Danny lived on Jackson Avenue at the Andrew Jackson Apartments while Danny completed his BA from Memphis State. They bought their first house in Bartlett, where they welcomed their first born, Justin Elliott Thompson (1974), and their second child, Vicki Melissa Thompson (1977). Shelley was very active in the lives of her young children and constantly advocated for them. She served as their room mother and co-president of the PTA with Danny at Ellendale Elementary. She also was a Cub Scout den leader for Justin and a Girl Scout troop leader when Vicki was a Brownie. Shelley volunteered to lead the puppet ministry at Ellendale Methodist Church, where she sourced the material for the plays and made the puppets herself.

An incredible seamstress, Shelley sewed her own wedding dress and made clothes for her children, including every Halloween costume they ever wore. Shelley also sewed crayon holders and curtains for Justin’s children, Clara and Adele. She was part of a quilting club. For a while, she dabbled in woodworking, where she and her friends rescued scrap wood from cabinet shops to make holiday yard decorations. Shelley loved every type of hobby, spending hours with close friends, Linda Marchetta and Margaret McGrory, pursuing any new interest.

As a young mother, Shelley returned to Memphis State University and earned a degree in education, graduating first in a class of 400. She taught first graders for 17 years, starting at Millington Elementary and ending her career at Rivercrest Elementary. Shelley was blessed with many friends and was always very social. She developed many lifelong friends in high school, including Beth Williams, née Austin, Nancy Gookin, née Thornton, and Beverly Williams. Her circle of friends also included friends from the Andrew Jackson Apartments, work, her children’s school, her community, and teaching. She had fun with them as much as she could - joining them for lunches, outings, Farkel parties, card games, and surprise parties. Shelley was available whenever anyone needed a friend.

Shelley was the quintessential grandmother to Clara and Adele. Shelley held “grandparents’ camp” in the summers, where they would make crafts, play games, go on outings to Chuck E. Cheese and Putt Putt, and participate in programming at the Ellendale Community Center. Shelley brightened her grandchildren’s lives by attending grandparents’ day at school, their concerts and recitals, and chaperoning their field trips.

Shelley lived as full of a life as she possibly could until she was overtaken by Alzheimer’s. While the last years of her life were incredibly hard, she was comforted by the daily care she received from Danny, her devoted husband. Shelley leaves behind her husband Danny Lee Thompson, her son Justin Elliott Thompson and Justin's wife Amber Isom-Thompson, her daughter Vicki Melissa Carriker and Vicki's husband Doug Carriker, her grandchildren Clara and Adele Thompson, her sister Vicki Goolsby, and many, many dear friends.

There will be a celebration of life for friends and family on May 26, 2024. If you wish to give anything in her memory, please donate to St. Jude Memorial Giving, 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105-9959 or Hilarity for Charity (HFC) .

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Shelley Ruth (Elliott) Thompson, please visit our flower store.

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Special to The Weekly

Don’t rain on my parade were sentiments of parade goers Dec. 3 as they bundled up for a cold and wet Bartlett Christmas Parade. A cold drizzling rain fell and a frigid breeze blew as the parade got underway.

It was announced earlier in the day on social media that rain or shine Bartlett’s parade would go on (unless lighting was present). The community heeded that message and many came prepared with coats, hats, gloves and lots of umbrellas.

A few of the participating school floats canceled due to the weather, but the floats in the procession made quite an impression on float judges Jason Sykes, communications for Bartlett City Schools; Rachel Landsdown, Trustmark Bank; Sharon Fryman, Saint Francis Hospital Bartlett; and Bryan Woodruff, Bartlett City School Board. The float created by staff and students of Oak Elementary was named the Sweepstakes Trophy winner for the best float of the parade with its historical theme.

Although it wasn’t the usual crowd at a city of Bartlett annual Christmas parade, those willing to bear the cold and rain were in for a real treat as 40 participants paraded down Stage Road from Bartlett Blvd. to Shelby Street with banners, costumes, classic cars, and parade-themed Christmas floats honoring this year’s theme, “Happy 150 Years Bartlett.”

“A little rain never hurt anyone,” said Kellen Gill of Bartlett. “We’re right here every year. We are Bartlettonias.” She and her family members planted themselves on the curb for a great view of the parade.

Families like the Harmeiers found comfort from the rain and cold under the awnings facing Stage Road along the businesses at Bartlett Station Plaza.

Jenny Harmeiers said she and her kids, Laura, 13, Cole, 11., and Paige, 7, were there to support the Oak Elementary float that featured old Bartlett (then Union Depot) and the current-day Bartlett, honoring the city’s 150th anniversary. They were pleased to find out the float had been recognized with the big trophy of the day.

One by one participants of the parade made their way down Stage Road to finish the parade. In traditional style, Santa came up the rear, escorted by the Bartlett Fire Department, waving to the crowd and wishing Bartlett families a Merry Christmas.

It may have been rainy and chilly, but parade goers and parade participants seemed proud to be part of the parade honoring the city’s birthday. It was the last birthday celebration among many throughout the year celebrating the past, present and future of Bartlett.

“Overall we were really pleased with the parade, we had a lot of really great looking entries celebrating Bartlett’s 150 Birthday year,” said Debbie Gelineau, director of community relations.

In a post on her Facebook page, Miss Tennessee Grace Burgess, who participated of her home town’s Christmas parade, stated, “It might have rained on our parade tonight, but there was no place I’d rather be than my hometown for the annual Christmas Parade.”

The 2016 Float Trophy winners by category were: