Think there's no good news these days? Check out these 6 Memphis stories from 2022

Corinne S Kennedy, Memphis Commercial Appeal
·4 min read

Sometimes, we all need a little good news.

2022 brought Memphis plenty of sad news, but it was also a year full of funny animal stories and in which Memphians helped some of the most vulnerable.

Here are six stories from this year that put a smile on our faces.

GloRilla surprise appearance

Memphis rapper GloRilla surprised students and staff at her alma mater Martin Luther King Jr. College Preparatory High School in September, giving a performance and donating $25,000 to the high school’s Fine Arts program.

"I want them to be able to know that anything they put they mind to is possible. Long as they got a dream, then you gotta reach for the stars," she said of the students. "It feels real good to be able to have a platform and be able to come in and help students that come from where I came from."

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Chef Tam is a 'Chopped' champion

Tamra Patterson at her restaurant Chef Tam's Underground Cafe on in Memphis, Tenn., on Friday, Feb. 12, 2021. In the background a mural painted on of her father.
Tamra Patterson at her restaurant Chef Tam's Underground Cafe on in Memphis, Tenn., on Friday, Feb. 12, 2021. In the background a mural painted on of her father.

Beloved Memphis chef Tamra Patterson, known to most at Chef Tam, appeared on the Food Network show “Chopped” in April, battling against four other chefs to claim the $10,000 prize. Though it should come as no surprise to anyone who has eaten at Chef Tam’s Underground Cafe that she edged out the competition.

"It feels feel great to be the first Memphian to have won the show," Patterson said. "I can't tell you how great it feels to represent the city of Memphis. I would love to be able to continue to do that."

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Riona makes first public appearance

Riona, the dog set on fire by her owner a couple months ago has recovered and made her first appearance since the incident, decked out in Christmas attire at Hollywood Feed.
Riona, the dog set on fire by her owner a couple months ago has recovered and made her first appearance since the incident, decked out in Christmas attire at Hollywood Feed.

Few things are more uplifting than a good animal story. Riona the dog’s story starts as a sad one, having been set on fire by her owner. But neighbors rushed to her aid and some of the city’s best veterinary experts treated the pup’s burns. Riona inspired donations and well wishes from around the globe.

In December, the doggo was well enough to make her first public appearance and posed for pictures with fans at animal rescue Tails of Hope’s event at Hollywood Feed. Tails of Hope has said the 1-year-old pitbull mix is recovering well and is happy.

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ShotRx expands its Memphis medical work

Pharmacist Ted Lyons preps a vaccine for Antoinette Holt during the Church of God in Christ's Holy Convocation in Downtown Memphis on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022. Ted and Merica Lyons started a mobile vaccine clinic, ShotRx, during COVID-19. Seeing the need in Memphis, they expanded to a primary care clinic.
Pharmacist Ted Lyons preps a vaccine for Antoinette Holt during the Church of God in Christ's Holy Convocation in Downtown Memphis on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022. Ted and Merica Lyons started a mobile vaccine clinic, ShotRx, during COVID-19. Seeing the need in Memphis, they expanded to a primary care clinic.

During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, pharmacists Ted and Merica Lyons had one big question on their mind: What could they do to help? That simple question led to the couple emptying their 401(k) accounts and starting a mobile vaccine clinic.

In the time since, they have expanded and now have a full-service brick-and-mortar clinic in Hickory Hill, offering a full range of primary care services. The Lyonses still have the van and travel around town offering COVID-19 vaccines, flu shots and standard childhood vaccinations.

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Peggy’s Heavenly Soul Food reopens

Angel figurines and statues adorn the shelves and walls of Peggy's Heavenly Soul Food on South Cleveland Street.
Angel figurines and statues adorn the shelves and walls of Peggy's Heavenly Soul Food on South Cleveland Street.

After a brief stint at a location on E.H. Crump Boulevard, 73-year-old Peggy Brown brought her beloved soul food joint back to its Cleveland Street location.

When the restaurant reopened with its familiar, homey décor ― to the delight of loyal customers ― Brown talked with The Commercial Appeal about what brought her to cooking in the first place.

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Ja says Memphis is home

While it might not be the same type of happy news story as the others on this list, it's probably safe to say most people in Memphis were pretty happy when news broke that Ja Morant had officially signed a contract extension with the Grizzlies.

The team and its star agreed to a five-year, $193 million contract extension, the largest in franchise history. It could be worth even more if Morant makes an All-NBA team.

Corinne S Kennedy covers economic development, real estate and healthcare for The Commercial Appeal. She can be reached via email at Corinne.Kennedy@CommercialAppeal.com

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Here are some of the happiest news stories from Memphis in 2022