Vol. 1, Issue 9 September 2019 KEEPING YOU UP-TO-DATE MONTHLY WITH THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN SHELBY COUNTY, TN The first ever Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) Healthy Places Initiative, a $5.4 million renovation of the historically signifi cant David Carnes Park in the Whitehaven community in Memphis, TN, began with select input from residents who requested a walking trail, fitness area, and a splash pool for the children during the hot summer months. The vision of these residents became reality on August 10th, when BCBS, the City of Memphis and the nearby, Greater Faith Tabernacle Ministries, where Rev. Dr. Orlester Johnson is the Sr. Pastor, celebrated the opening of the park although it was not completely finished. NOTES FROM THE EDITOR By Yvonne D. Nelson, Ph.D. Here at NEWSCENE we spread the truth. If you are looking for the positive things going on around Shelby County, we invite you to peruse through our online edition for free and we encourage you to help us stay afloat, bringing you interesting topics about people you know, by subscribing to our monthly print edition or purchasing copies that interest you. If you know of an event that is about to take place in your community, please call and let us know about it too. There is a great chance that we don’t already know about it. If it’s too late to let us know about an event, please remember to take a few pictures while you are there and send them our way! NEWSCENE subscriptions are currently available for $84/year. You can subscribe online at iLoveShelbyCounty.com, email NEWSCENEShelbyCo@gmail.com, write us at I Love Shelby County, P.O. Box 9146, Memphis, TN 38190-0146, or call us at 901-300-0250. Thanks, Yvonne Story and Pictures by Dr. Yvonne D. Nelson It was June 14, 2018, when Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) held a “design reveal and groundbreaking ceremony” and hosted “location tours” for members from the Whitehaven community in Memphis, TN. The idea was formulated by BCBS “to create amazing spaces for our neighbors so they can participate in the outdoor activities they love” and to build “landmarks the community can be proud of for years to come.” The grand opening of the park was held August 10, 2019. The program featured a speech by Rev. Dr. Orlester Johnson of the Institute for Success/Greater Faith Tabernacle Ministries. Johnson owns the land directly adjacent to the park. Two of the park’s namesake (David Carnes) grandsons were present and many acknowledgments were given to those including, but not limited to District 3 City Councilwoman Patrice Robinson. “I can remember when there were fruit and nut trees lining this land,” said Phil Carnes during the ceremony. “They are gone now, but the land has been transformed into an open space for everyone, a public space that promotes health services. It is a wonderful thing what BCBS has done in honor of my grandfather’s name.”
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