"No, this isn't a movie set, and it's not some exotic distant land. It's Eagle Lake, just eight miles from the Pyramid as the bald eagle flies. Part of Meeman-Shelby State Park, the lake is a window into Memphis' past, showing what the river bottoms looked like before they were drained and converted to farmland."

"This free, guided canoe trip is a family-friendly, non-strenuous way to get out and enjoy some of the last remnants of wilderness left in the Memphis area. ..."

Learn more one of about Shelby County's few remaining wild places in Christina Callicott's Flyer cover story.

Participants are asked to submit a video that shows the depth of their fanhood for the performers.

Winners will receive a prize package and one will named the ultimate Rowdy Frynd.

Williams made news in Memphis last year for being rowdy and not very friendly after he was arrested for allegedly assaulting a waitress at the Peabody. Charges were later dropped.

Here's the lineup: Jack Pendarvis on Baby Doll, the smuttiest story every told; Tom Carson on Paul Newman and Hollywood’s fascination with the South; Cintra Wilson on Lindsay Lohan’s connection to Tennessee Williams; Phillip Lopate on the cinematic vision of director John Ford; Raymond Haberski on the America's most dangerous movie critic; Donna Bowman on the influence of Christian cinema; Jack Pendarvis (again!) on the slippery actor Dick Powell ...

Plus ... (phew): Dennis Lim interviews the cinematic poet Charles Burnett; Les Blank talks about getting fired from the set of Easy Rider; Gerald Early on race, sex, the South, and exploitative cinema; Roy Blount Jr. praises the great Madea; Hal Crowther pays tribute to Robert Altman; Scott Von Doviak revisits 10 Hall-of-Fame performances you probably missed because they here in "hick flicks"; Ray McKinnon discusses the wily craft of acting; William Caverlee remembers the thrill of Bonnie and Clyde; Francine Prose highlights Bette Davis in Jezebel; Joseph McBride wonders who is John Huston; and 13 More Essential Southern Documentaries.

DVD Tracks include:

1. from Dorothea Lange: A Visual Life

2. from Born for Hard Luck

3. from Bright Leaves

4. from Claire (dir. Milford Thomas)

5. from Come Early Morning

6. from The Intruder

7. from Cabin Field

8. from The Puffy Chair

9. My Old Fiddle

10. Krazy Kat Goes A-Wooing

11. Synchromy No. 4: Escape

12. from Marsaw

13. from The Accountant

14. The Devils-Helper

15. from Black Snake Moan

16. from Bigfootville

For more info go to the OA's website.

"Global Hyatt will add a sophisticated level of service to residents and guests of this landmark project," said Gene Carlisle, president of Carlisle Corporation. "We are proud to join with Hyatt and look forward to bringing this upscale product to the downtown market."

Oops. The early reviews are in on former Memphian David Gest's new British TV show. And, like Gest himself, they aren't pretty.

From The London Mirror: "Plumbing new depths of pointlessness, ITV's Sadly, This Is David Gest swiftly established itself as the worst programme of the year. OK, I made up the 'Sadly' bit.

"Minutes into the first instalment of our hero's staged fly-on-the-wall-to-wall-boredom series, the message was clear: Come in Mr Gest... your time is up! Setting up home at London's Grosvenor Hotel, David was 'determined to cash in on his UK fame while he's still hot property'.

"In another wild over-estimation of his popularity, the I'm A Celebrity weirdo declared: 'Why not stay where you're loved?' Where would that be?"

Well, we here in Flyer.com-land say that would be Memphis, of course! Come on, DG, you know you miss those Gus' Fried Chicken lunches.

And if you must, you can read the whole bitchy review here.

Experts spent four months making the life-size impression of the 26-year-old US singer.

He stands near a waxwork of his ex, Britney Spears, but as yet there are no plans to create a model of his other former love Cameron Diaz.

Madame Tussauds commissioned a Savile Row tailor to create a bespoke white suit for the star's waxwork at the London attraction.

Timberlake also features "old-school trainers" and designer stubble.

Timberlake, who began his UK tour last week, already has a waxwork from his 'N Sync boyband days in Madame Tussauds in the US.

A Madame Tussauds spokesman said: "Justin has been involved in the waxwork, selecting the images and the look that he wanted.

"He's one of those personalities that the public have been saying they would love to get up close and personal with for a long time."

Joel Priddy, cartoonist and instructor at the Memphis College of Art. And the winner is ...

We won't know until July 27th. That's when the winners of this year's Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, the most prestigious in the business, are announced. But until then, see what prompted the Eisner judges to nominate Priddy in the "Best Single Issue" category: The Preposterous Voyages of IronHide Tom (AdHouse).

Win or lose, good to see Priddy gaining more national recognition. Late last year, Harvey Pekar picked Priddy to be included in The Best American Comics 2006 (Houghton Mifflin).

Today from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Dress for Success is holding a "Vogue and Vintage Sale," selling suits and separates from such designers as Gucci, Donna Karan, Chanel, Ralph Lauren, Oleg Cassini, and more.

The sale is being held at the Idlewild Presbyterian Church at 1750 Union.

That was Count Two of the indictment against Ford. The jury could not agree on Count One, a charge of extortion, and presiding Judge Daniel Breen declared a mistrial on that count.

Three other counts, relating to charges of witness intimidation alleged against Ford, resulted in Not Guilty findings.

Sentencing of Ford was set for Tuesday, July 31, at 9 a.m. -- a point in time distant enough to allow for an appeal of the verdict by Ford, as well as possible negotiations between himself and the U,.S. Attorney's office that might involve an offer of cooperation in future prosecutions.

The jury's deadlock on the Count One extortion charge would seem to mean that defense attorney Mike Scholl gained some traction in his efforts to demonstrate undue inducements on Ford by FBI agents. The senator ultimately was persuaded to accept some $55,000 for legislative aid given the bogus E-Cycle computer firm.

There apparently was no such disagreement on Count Two, alleging bribery. That charge was backed up by countless FBI surveillance videos showing Ford, then an influential state senator, accepting sums of money in 2004 and 2005.

The three intimidation counts were always regarded as the weakest points of the indictment, and, though surveillance evidence was presented in court to substantiate that Ford had issued threats against agent "L.C. McNiel" and undercover informant Tim Willis, it was not corroborated in depth and was clearly subject to alternate interpretations.

How the verdict came

News of a pending verdict was circulated at about 3 p.m., Friday, the third full day of deliberations. The 11th-floor courtroom of Judge Breen was quickly filled up by members of the media, friends and family of ex-Senator Ford, and representatives of the U.S. Attorney's office and the F.B.I.

A message from the jury,shared with the prosecution and the defense by Judge Breen, quickly established that all counts had been resolved except for one. Sensing victory, chief prosecutor Tim DiScenza moved for acceptance of the available counts and for a declaration of mistrial on the unresolved one. Defense attorney Scholl asked for time to consult with his client.

In the end, DiScenza's preference would be honored by Judge Breen after the judge had called the jury in and heard from its foreman that no agreement was possible on Count One.

Two circumstances had prefigured the outcome. One was a question had come to Judge Breen late on the evening before asking in effect for a definition of a phrase in the indictment relating to official culpability.

The other indication that a verdict of some sort was imminent came when jurors opted not to go out for lunch on Friday but had food delivered, which they ate quickly before resuming afternoon deliberations.

Ford 'Disappointed'

Although the accusaed senator had enjoyed a leisurely lunch with members of his immediate and extended family at a downtown grill, his attitude was clearly one of somber apprehension, as was theirs. This was in stark contrast to an air of relaxation, even jauntiness, they had all exhibited during break periods on Wednesday and Thursday.

During that lunch, Ford took time out to insist that he had been the victim of entrapment and to express a wish that more time and attention had been devoted to that subject during the trial.

In a brief statement to members of the media after exiting the Federal Building, former Senator Ford, who remains free on bond, expressed disappointment with the verdict.

Although well-wishers for Ford and family members attended the trial throughout, a striking feature of the former senator's trial was that it attracted less out-of-town media contingents and fewer demonstrators than had a previous one for Ford's former state Senate colleague, Roscoe Dixon.

Dixon was convicted of bribery and extortion charges last year and is now serving a term in federal prison. Another local figure,former Shelby County Commissioner Michael Hooks Sr., pleaded guilty to similar charges and has yet to begin his term.

Tennessee Waltz indictees yet to be tried include former state Senator Kathryn Bowers and fortmer Memphis school board member Michael Hooks Jr.

The shows, held in different backyards in Midtown, are a way of introducing kids to music of a non-juvenile variety, i.e. music parents can bear. The music is kept at an ear-friendly volume, and kids will be provided with a snack, while parents can enjoy a beer.

Saturday's show, from 2 to 5 p.m. will feature music from DJ Colin Butler, the River City Tanlines, and the Vending Machine. Admission is $5.

Other show dates are June 9th, July 21st, September 8th, and October 27th.

For more information on location and on receiving an invitation, go to the Memphis Rock n Romp Web site. And check out the Flyer story on the organization.

United States Attorney David Kustoff said the government got what it wanted in the John Ford trial.

"The bottom line is, as of today John Ford is a convicted felon," said Kustoff at a news conference in the federal building.

Jurors found Ford guilty of bribery, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. The former senator was found not guilty on three counts of threatening undercover FBI agent L. C. McNiel and undercover informant Tim Willis, but Kustoff shrugged off a suggestion that the jury found them to not be credible witnesses.

"The jury found enough credibility in what we put on to convict Mr. Ford," said Kustoff.

Kustoff said the government has not decided whether to retry Ford on the first count of the five-count indictment. The extortion count on which jurors deadlocked carries the most severe punishment, a prison sentence of up to 20 years.

Assistant U.S. attorneys Tim DiScenza and Lorraine Craig, who prosecuted the case did not answer questions. Kustoff said all Tennessee Waltz cases are equally important because they send the same message the public corruption will not be tolerated.

Defense attorney Michael Scholl said "we are going to keep fighting" and that Ford would appeal. Acceptance of guilt, or lack thereof, has made a big difference in the sentences handed out to previously convicted Tennessee Waltz defendants Roscoe Dixon and Michael Hooks.

Ford did not speak with reporters after the verdict was announced. Ford is under a separate federal indictment in Nashville. Kustoff said it would be up to prosecutors in Nashville to decide what to do about that case.

Following is a formal statement from U.S. Attorney Kustoff:

Almost two years ago, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Tennessee announced indictments against state and local government officials whom were alleged to have violated the duties and responsibilities entrusted to them by the public. The investigation into public corruption in the Tennessee Legislature and local governments, now known as Tennessee Waltz, culminated with the indictments of a number of public officials, including then Tennessee State Senator John Ford. When my predecessor as U.S. Attorney, Terry Harris, announced these indictments and disclosed the alleged public corruption, he told the public that they have a right to know that their government is not for sale.

Without a doubt, people have a right to expect that public representatives in their official capacity act truthfully, openly and overtly--all in the best interests of the people whom they serve. People want to be able to trust their government to do the right things for the right reasons. Quite simply, the public wants and should expect honest government.

We are pleased with the jury's verdict in the United States v. John Ford. Over the course of the past two and a half weeks, the jury has listened carefully and considerately to all of the proof presented at trial, including the testimony of the witnesses as well as the video and audio recordings. There were over 200 exhibits introduced in this trial. The jury found unanimously, beyond a reasonable doubt, as to count 2 that John Ford violated the essential and fundamental public trust that had been bestowed to him by the people of the State of Tennessee. We respect the jury's verdict in all respects.

The bottom line of Operation Tennessee Waltz is simple--Law enforcement in West Tennessee will aggressively pursue government officials who violate the public trust. The majority of public officials are honest folks who act in the best interests of the people. Hopefully, public corruption investigations like Tennessee Waltz and Main Street Sweeper will demonstrate to those other public officials that law enforcement will aggressively pursue and investigate those who breach the public trust.

There are a number of individuals who have worked very hard on this matter that I want to recognize. I want to commend Assistant United States Attorneys Tim DiScenza and Lorraine Craig for their exemplarily work on this case as well as Mark Erskine, Litigation Support Specialist for the US Attorney's Office.

I also want to thank the Special Agent in charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation My Harrison for her leadership during Operation Tennessee Waltz.

Finally, I want to recognize Special Agents Brian Burns and Mark Jackson from the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Precious Cargo coffee house, at 381 North Main downtown near The Pyramid, is hosting a benefit for Gregory Sunday at 6p.m. that will feature local jazz musicians Sidney Kirk and Emerson Able.

For more information call 578-8446.

Clent Green and Brian Bowles were both arrested in connection with the incident, and charges are pending while other persons of interest are questioned. Bowles was charged with possession of a stolen vehicle, after police discovered the getaway car (a 2006 Ford Expedition) used in the SWAT van burglary was also stolen.

Three assault rifles and three shotguns were recovered yesterday, and police continue to search for two stolen .357 handguns.

"From the moment that these weapons were stolen, our officers have worked tirelessly to recover these weapons that had fallen into the hands of these criminals," says police director Larry Godwin.

At a press conference Thursday morning, police detailed a timeline of criminal activity leading up to the weapons theft:

April 19th: A 2006 Ford Expedition was reported stolen from a hotel parking lot in Tunica.

April 20th: A MED employee reports the theft of his license plate (which was later discovered on the Expedition).

April 23rd: Around 9 a.m., a witness reports seeing a man get out of the stolen Expedition and attempt to pry open the door of a Ford pick-up. After spotting the witness, the suspect ran to the stolen SUV and fled.

At 3:36 p.m., visiting Wake County, North Carolina SWAT officers report the theft of eight weapons from their van. They had stopped in Memphis to eat on their way to a weapons competition in Arkansas.

April 24th: The abandoned Expedition was recovered by officers in Millington. Stolen property inside the vehicle was linked to another car burglary that occurred in Whitehaven on April 21st. CSI investigators managed to link the goods to Green and Bowles.

Later that day, acting on a tip, a Memphis police officer recovers one of the stole weapons.

April 25th: Memphis police locate and arrest Green. At his residence, police discover stolen items from yet another auto burglary. Later, police recover five more weapons. They locate and arrest Bowles.

—Bianca Phillips