Carrie Sanders
Robert Pera Press Conference
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Robert Pera Press Conference
The new Memphis Grizzlies majority owner, Robert Pera addressed media and fans in his first public press conference since buying the NBA franchise from former owner Michael Heisley .
Pera, a 34 year old tech Billionare who created Ubiquiti Networks, made brief comments about himself, his company and his commitment to improve the city of Memphis, "We're fully committed to the community and leveraging the Memphis Grizzlies brand name to make a positive impact on the community," Pera said. Pera then outlined his goals for the team and then introduced the new Grizzlies CEO, longtime friend and business associate, Jason Levien. Leiven, a former sports agent, regaled the media and fans with stories about his personal friendship with Pera and introduced the formal list of minority owners, including Harold Ford, Jr., basketball greats Penny Hardaway and Elliot Perry, NFL player Payton Manning and wife Ashley and native Memphian Justin Timberlake. Levien then expressed his feelings about the new ownership and his position in saying, "We want to be the best. We want to consistently be the best and we're going to strive for that every day.” Levien wrapped with what he thought both he and Pera could bring to the team and to the NBA, citing Pera’s youth and enthusiasm for the sport of basketball and his own experience as a sports agent making him a, “player friendly,” CEO. A sign outside the Forum says – “Where new starts are made.” That is a concept fans certainly seem to be getting on board with when it comes to Robert Pera’s new ownership of the team. Grizzlies fan David Steinberg is very excited about Pera's new ownership and says, “From what I can tell, he’s going to take it to the next level.” It IS a new beginning for Grizzlies owners, players and fans. Reporting from the Downtown Memphis, Carrie Sanders, Insight News. |
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West Nile Threat PKG
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West Nile Threat
Cases of West Nile Virus are at an all-time high since the disease's introduction to the United States in 1999. A record 3,042 and 134 deaths have been reported by Centers for Disease Control.
Memphis is combatting this problem with the Shelby County Health Department's Vector Control Program. The program fights mosquitoes in the larvae stage by applying larvicides to standing bodies of water throughout the city and county. Gambusia fish, or mosquito fish, that eat larvae in smaller residential ponds are given away through Vector Control at no charge. Vector Control also has one hundred sixty-three testing sights across Memphis that count and test adult mosquitoes each week for the virus. Depending on Test results, Vector will then conduct truck-mounted spraying to kill the infected mosquitoes. By doing this, they hope to stop or minimize the spread of the virus to humans. |
The Shelby County Health Department has reported only 19 cases of West Nile so far this year. Doctor Daniel Sprenger, Director of Vector Control for Memphis and Shelby County, expects for the reported cases to go up through September but is pleased that Memphis has not experienced the severity of the virus that has occurred in other U.S. cities.
Dr. Sprenger says, "The absence of the disaster that's going on elsewhere in the country would suggest that an organized program such as this is some value to the residents and provides some degree of protection."
Even though Memphians have Vector Control fighting mosquitoes, It is still a good idea to take precautions.
Ashley Wolfe, a runner at Mud Island's Greenbelt Park, says of the the Vector program, " I feel better with them doing that, but I still want to take some precautions of my own."
Vector encourages residents to try to stay indoors around dusk and dawn, cover exposed skin with clothing and spray skin with insect repellant containing DEET. You should also empty water from any objects holding excess water where mosquitoes might breed.
For more information or to pick up mosquito fish, you can contact Shelby County Vector Control at 901-222-9715.
Dr. Sprenger says, "The absence of the disaster that's going on elsewhere in the country would suggest that an organized program such as this is some value to the residents and provides some degree of protection."
Even though Memphians have Vector Control fighting mosquitoes, It is still a good idea to take precautions.
Ashley Wolfe, a runner at Mud Island's Greenbelt Park, says of the the Vector program, " I feel better with them doing that, but I still want to take some precautions of my own."
Vector encourages residents to try to stay indoors around dusk and dawn, cover exposed skin with clothing and spray skin with insect repellant containing DEET. You should also empty water from any objects holding excess water where mosquitoes might breed.
For more information or to pick up mosquito fish, you can contact Shelby County Vector Control at 901-222-9715.
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