News Story Manager

Results:
Tag: Memphis District
Clear
  • March

    Dr. Zuzana Chovanec is Memphis District Employee of the Month

    Congratulations to Dr. Zuzana Chovanec, district archeologist, for her selection as the Memphis District Employee of the Month!
  • February

    A look back: Williamson’s 33 years of service

    With more than 33 years of federal service, Engineering and Construction (E&C) Division Chief Steve Williamson recently completed one life chapter and is now starting another. To help him close out this part of life, we're taking a look back to celebrate his life and career with the Memphis District.
  • Sam Tucker: A 1927 Mississippi River Flood Hero

    The Great Mississippi River Flood of 1927 has its related stories of heroism. Sam Tucker was one of those heroes, but his story of bravery went left untold for many years. While he became a contemporary hero among his fellow Blacks, his acts were never made public until 1972, when a history book author began picking up bits and pieces of it. Tucker, now retired from the Memphis District, had been working on the levee just above Laconia Circle. On the evening of April 21, Tucker was the only man willing to risk his life trying to save others. This is his story.
  • Employee Spotlight: Geographic Information Systems Specialist Lindsay Barrios

    This month, we’re featuring Geographic Information Systems Specialist Lindsay Barrios. Barrios was born and raised in Fort Payne, Alabama. After graduating from high school, she moved to Tennessee to study geology and geography at the University of Memphis. In February of 2018, Barrios officially became a member of the USACE Memphis District team. She said she was excited to work for the Corps for many reasons, which include the district’s mission as well as the leadership present throughout each of its offices.
  • January

    Employee Spotlight: Regulatory Supervisor Ben Pitcock

    In any business, it's the people that make it work. Without a team, organizations fail. On top of everything else valued, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Memphis District values every one of its employees very much. To show how much we value them, we highlight one district employee every month by asking about their position, what it’s like to work for the Corps, and how they got to where they are today. This month, we are highlighting Regulatory Division Supervisor Benjamin Pitcock.
  • December

    A look back: Pinkston's 48 years of service

    After an astonishing 48 years of combined federal service, Phillip Pinkston has decided to hang his hat, celebrating both the end and beginning of two of life’s most rewarding chapters. To celebrate his well-deserved retirement, we’re taking a look back to acknowledge all he accomplished, hear from the people he positively impacted, and more.
  • A look back: Coleman's 36 years of service

    Real Estate Chief Hugh Coleman recently retired from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers after an incredible 36 years of federal service. To celebrate and recognize his accomplishments, we take a look back at his eventful and inspiring life and career.
  • A look back: Word's 32 years of service

    She undertook the great responsibility of project oversight and financial analysis while her coworkers deployed in support of the 2011 Mississippi River Flood. Additionally, she quickly developed a complete understanding of the complex skills required to execute the Mississippi River and Tributaries maintenance program. These are just a few of many things Program Analyst Lisa Word accomplished before retiring after 32 years of federal service.   
  • Final ribbon-cuttings close out two-day celebration blitz

    To close out the two-day sprint across five states, the Memphis District held two final ribbon-cutting ceremonies on Nov. 18, 2021. Both events celebrated construction projects completed in Arkansas and Missouri.
  • November

    Dredge Hurley returns after completing impressive season

    The Memphis District’s Dredge Hurley was welcomed home after returning to its home port, Ensley Engineer Yard in Memphis Harbor, Sunday morning, Nov. 21. Their homecoming signifies the end of yet another highly productive dredging season. The Hurley started this season May 3. And in just over six months’ time, the crew dredged several hundred miles of the Lower Mississippi River.     
  • Celebrating one of five ribbon-cuttings/groundbreakings in two days

    Memphis District Commander, Col. Zachary Miller, district leadership, the Cairo Drainage District, Mound City, Illinois, and Project Delivery Team members all gathered to celebrate the completion of significant projects involving the replacement of culverts in both the northern and southern sides of the Mound City Pump Station and the installation of several relief wells in Mound City through Cairo.
  • July

    USACE Planning and Response Teams: Volunteering when disaster strikes

    Emergency preparedness and response is primarily a state and local responsibility. However, in instances when the nature of the disaster exceeds the capabilities of state and local interests, the Corps of Engineers may provide help to save human life, prevent immediate human suffering, and/or mitigate property damage. The Memphis District actively responds to emergencies throughout the country, assisting in the form of the Blue Roof Program, debris removal, temporary housing and infrastructure support, and temporary emergency power. This team of USACE pre-trained volunteers is known as the Planning and Response Team (PRT).
  • Employee Spotlight: Safety Advisor Harley Chase

    He is the safety advisor to the Memphis District Commander as well as all district employees. He is charged with ensuring the district complies with all safety regulations, but most importantly, he is responsible for making sure all employees get home safely each day. His name is Harley Chase. He is the Memphis District Safety Manager and has been doing this job for 18 years now, with one and a half of them being here in Memphis, Tennessee.
  • June

    Substantial completion of Nash Relief Well Rehabilitation

    Congratulations to Memphis District project delivery team members for their recent work to rehabilitate 128 existing relief wells just south of Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
  • Wildlife Refuge repair and cleanup project completed ahead of schedule

    Many may be unaware, but one of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ more common missions throughout our country is environmental stewardship. The Memphis District is one of many districts to work closely with other environmental and regulatory agencies to protect existing natural resources, cultural assets, historic sites, and endangered species. In executing this critical mission, the Memphis District, along with hired labor teams, recently completed extensive scour repairs and debris removal to assist with protecting wildlife within the Big Lake National Wildlife Refuge, located in Mississippi County, Arkansas.  
  • May

    Employee and Heritage Spotlight: Divina LeClair

    Men are the breadwinners, and most men control family affairs. Women, on the other hand, play the role of mother, wife, and housekeeper. In their culture, it's disrespectful to stand with your hands on your hips. It's also not polite to point fingers at someone. Neither is it acceptable to spit in front of someone or lose your temper in public. And as of 2018, just over 2 million people from this country lived in the United States, accounting for 4.5 percent of the country's 44.7 million immigrants. The country is the Philippines. It is an archipelago nation consisting of more than 7,100 islands in the Pacific Ocean located near the equator. And the Memphis District woman proudly representing this land is Divina LeClair. She currently works for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as the district environmental compliance coordinator.
  • Remembering a Memphis District hero, brother

    The Memphis District and Chasteen family recently lost a beloved member to a hard-fought battle with cancer. Darian Chasteen, who most recently held the Hydraulics and Hydrology Branch Deputy Chief title, passed away on May 7, 2021. While no longer physically with us, his legacy will forever live on. Chasteen served more than 30 years with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Memphis District. During that time, he made many friends and touched numerous lives. In honor of his life and the contributions he made, we take a look back at his life, happy and thankful to have known such a person.
  • Memphis District employee returns home from Afghanistan

    The Memphis District recently welcomed back Electrical and General Engineer Aaron Ray from his deployment to Afghanistan. Ray deployed as an Area Support Group - Afghanistan (ASG-A) electrical engineer responsible for reviewing and approving all support requests for Task Force Power throughout Afghanistan. 
  • Arkansas channel cleanout project ‘Ready to Advertise’

    In support of the district's flood risk management mission, the Memphis District regularly plans and executes projects to maintain and repair channels and levees as needed. Most recently, a project called "The Locus Creek Channel Cleanout", recently reached a significant milestone known as "Ready to Advertise" (RTA). "Ready to Advertise" means the project package has been sent to the district contracting team for awarding this fiscal year. The work to be done is in the Craighead County, Arkansas area. According to PDT Project Manager Amber Jarnagin, Locust Creek has been experiencing debris blockages that aren't allowing proper channel drainage.
  • Memphis District assists Arkansas with St. Francis water trail dedication

    In partnership with the St. Francis Lake Association, the Arkansas Water Trails, and the City of Trumann, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) celebrated the dedication of the St. Francis Sunken Lands Water Trails on May 5, 2021.  Governor Asa Hutchinson offered some inspiring words about the value of outdoor recreation to the lives of Arkansans, saying, “The tourism industry is on the rise in Arkansas! The new St. Francis Sunken Lands Water Trails will be a major attraction in Poinsett county, bringing people in to take in this unique view of Arkansas’s natural history.”