Overheard

City officials in Memphis, Tenn., are getting antsy. Little has happened since Bass Pro Shops and the city announced a deal nearly a year ago to bring the Springfield retailer to the Pyramid arena.

Memphis officials have told WMC-TV in Memphis that there are more questions than answers right now. “You really want to meet with them and say, ‘Look, are you really going to do this?’” Memphis chief financial officer Robert Lipscomb told the TV station.

The main sticking point is a development deal. Bass Pro has signed a letter of intent to inhabit the basketball arena, with plans for a hotel, restaurant and a giant fish outside of the Pyramid. The company also has sent engineers to evaluate the site. It may be too little, too late for Bass Pro, as the city has begun courting other tenants.

The two parties are scheduled to meet the end of August, WMC-TV reported.

Slice of Nice

Convoy of Hope and Bass Pro Shops, both Springfield-based, have partnered to ship tents and relief supplies to the war-ravaged Middle East. Bass Pro donated two truckloads of tents, valued at $400,000.

Other shipped supplies included personal hygiene kits, food, baby formula, diapers, vitamins, linens, clothes and shoes.

This is the second shipment Convoy of Hope has sent to the Haifa, Israel, and Beirut, Lebanon, areas, where the conflict between Israeli and Hezbollah fighters is ongoing. Convoy estimates that about 900,000 refugees have been displaced by the crisis.

Twice of Nice

Area bank employees are dressing down for a good cause.

Empire Bank, Great Southern Bank, Ozark Mountain Bank, The Signature Bank and U.S. Bank are partnering with Developmental Center of the Ozarks for Bank Dress Down Days.

So far, the banks have raised $1,077, according to DCO’s summer newsletter.

DCO also has received several individual and corporate grants to fund program needs. For instance, a $5,000 grant from the O’Reilly Family Fund will help to renovate DCO’s Technology and Learning Center, and a $2,500 grant from Roy W. Slusher supported First Steps Therapy Services in Taney County and surrounding areas.

Triple Play

The 50th annual Exchange Club barbecue chicken dinner is Aug. 31 at Pat Jones River Park. The event is the club’s largest fund-raiser. Money raised goes for the prevention of child abuse.

Tickets are $15. The park is about 10 miles east of Highway 65 off of Division. Call Andy Osis at (417) 887-4420 for more information.