GERMANTOWN, TN- (WMC-TV) - Friends of Heather Palumbo Jones filled almost an entire row at the Germantown courtroom Wednesday. They gathered to see Heather's estranged husband, accused in her death, facing a judge.

"He needs to see us every single time. If we can't all be here, some of us will be here every single time," said friend Melissa Smith.

Chris Jones is charged with second degree murder in her death last month.

The judge ordered a mental evaluation for Chris Jones, which is fairly routine according to Jones' public defender.

"That will prove he is sane, and hopefully it will assure better justice," said Smith.

Chris Jones sat in the courtroom and said nothing with a hand on each knee. The body of Heather, a kindergarten teacher, was found near Highway 64 and Collierville-Arlington Road several days after she disappeared from her Germantown home.

GERMANTOWN, TN- (WMC-TV) - Germantown city leaders are discussing a 44.5-cent property tax increase.

The Germantown City Administrator, Patrick Lawton, said the drop in property values mean taxes must go up to keep city coffers level. They hope to generate $4.7 million.

"There's a lot if money, I don't think, is being spent wisely," said resident Maggie Wells.

Maggie and Steven Wells have mixed reactions to the imminent tax hike in Germantown.

"I guess I understand the reasoning behind it," said Steven.

Lawton said the tax hike would be, in addition, to a raise in county property taxes and the recent municipal schools sales tax hike.

"A kind of new normal as economists put it," he said. "That half-cent sales tax is separate from the property tax."

It's all because Germantown property values dropped 4.6 percent in this year's reassessment.

MEMPHIS, TN- (WMC-TV) - A man who sacrificed his life for a friend is being honored Friday. Memphian Andrew Svgdik died in a crash last week.

Officials in Chattanooga said he pushed a girl out of the way when a car crashed into him.

19-year-old Andrew Svgdik was a graduate of Christian Brothers High School.

Friends said he was a friend who could make everyone laugh. He had musical talent and was an encouraging teammate on the soccer field. It is certainly fitting that they honor him at the very place where he inspired them.

When you lose someone you love, it often makes you realize what really matters.

"If anybody ever needed help Andrew would be there," said coach Rogerio Lima.

When the Christian Brothers Community lost Andrew Svgdik, they came together.

For some it is comforting to know that he was killed saving someone's life.