News 2015

Your phone rings, you check the caller’s number and discover the number dialing your phone belongs to you.This unusual scenario isn’t your phone’s fault. Instead, it’s a ploy known as ID Spoofing, and it’s a trick perpetrated by criminals using Caller ID cloaking technology to mask their real phone numbers. After disguising their real numbers, scammers can cause a consumer’s own phone number (or the phone number of a loved one) to appear on your phone’s Caller ID. When an unsuspecting consumer answers the phone, the scammers will then attempt to defraud consumers with a host of schemes (card services scams, medical alert device scams, among others) all designed to cheat consumers.
“ID Spoofing deceives consumers into unwittingly answering a phone call that they might not normally answer,” said Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance (TDCI) Deputy Commissioner Bill Giannini. “Scammers can use ID Spoofing to gain access to consumers’ valuable personal information and financial data.”
Unfortunately, adding a phone number to the National Do Not Call Registry won’t protect consumers from scammers who are willing to break the law. TDCI’s Division of Consumer Affairs wants consumers to be informed of ID Spoofing and ways to protect themselves from ID Spoofing scams.
·         Don’t answer the phone if your number shows up on your phone’s Caller ID. 
·         Don’t attempt to call the number back, and do not press any buttons if prompted.
·         If you do answer the call, don’t give out your personal or financial information. Never give your personal information over the phone to someone you don’t know.
·         If you believe you’re the victim of an ID Spoofing scam, call TDCI’s Division of Consumer Affairs at (615) 741-4737 or go online here and file a complaint.
·         If you lost money on a scam as a result of ID Spoofing, immediately report the theft to your local police or sheriff’s department.
 

An irate Cannon County Woman who was wanting to fight a former boyfriend was arrested recently.  According to Cannon County Sheriff’s Department Reports.  Deputies were dispatched to Tenpenny Road for a fight in progress.  Upon arrival Brian Minerd spoke to the authorities and advised that he stayed at the residence the night before.  Minerd went to the doctor earlier in the day and when he came back the female resident Sarah Toombs was acting irate.  Minerd said they were still friends but they used to be in a relationship together.  Minerd told police he didn’t want to deal with her when she was acting like this so he went to his van and got in it to make a call.  Toombs tried to get in the van but found that he had locked her out.  So instead of giving up she allegedly took a rock and threw it right through his window.  When that didn’t work she then went to the rear of the van and broke out the back window too,.  Minerd stated that he did not get out of the van and she wanted to fight him so jumped in the front window and started hitting him in the face with a rock.  At that time Minerd grabbed a knife he had in the vehicle and told him to stop or he would cut her.  At that point a third party Travis Nunley came to the vehicle and drug Toombs out trying to restrain her.  After interviewing Toombs, she stated that she got mad at Minerd because he said something about her deceased husband.  Deputies said that Toombs had blood on her shirt and her hands were cut up.  Ms Toombs was placed under arrest for Domestic Assault. She will answer to the charge August 4th in Cannon County General Sessions Court

Several budgets are on tap to be approved during tonight’s Cannon County Board Of Education meeting.  The school’s food budget and IDEA part B and Preschool Budgets are amongst the budgets that will be reviewed by the board tonight.  Also on the agenda tonight Davetta Satchell will address the Board concerning her daughter remaining at Woodbury Grammar School.  Derek Vance will address the Board concerning his child attending Kindergarten a year earlier than Board Policy allows.  Westside Principal Karen King will address the Board concerning the construction of a Walking Track at the School.  Marcia Melton will address the board concerning changes of the 2015-2016 School Calendar.  Angela Cossey will address the board concerning the new sign at Woodland School and the disposition of the old sign.  The Board will also look to approve bus bids during tonight’s meeting.  The meeting will take place tonight at 6:30 at the Woodbury Grammar School Cafeteria.  

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is among the organizations launching a campaign to help save monarch butterflies. The TWRA, along with the National Wildlife Federation, Tennessee Wildlife Federation (TWF), Tennessee Parks and Greenways Foundation (TennGreen), Mississippi River Corridor (MRC) and The Nature Conservancy are partnering with Roundstone Native Seed Company in an effort to save the butterflies.
The “Save the Monarchs Campaign” will supply seeds for native wildflower gardens from Roundstone Native Seed Company to any individual or group that wishes to participate. The seeds include a mix of native, nectar-producing flowering plants and milkweeds, which are required to support healthy monarch populations. Funding for this project is being provided by a State Wildlife Grant and donations of funding or in-kind services from the non-profit organizations.
Monarch butterfly populations have declined more than 90 percent in just the past 20 years. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is conducting a status review under the Endangered Species Act. The decrease is largely attributed to severe weather changes, deforestation in Mexico and reduced acreage of protected Midwest farm land under the USDA Farm Bill.
School groups, non-profit organizations, and neighborhood associations are welcome along with individuals to apply for the seed packets. For information on receiving these seeds, please contact Pandy English in the TWRA Environmental Services Division at (615) 781-6643. Persons are asked to leave a message if directed to voice mail.
Each seed packet will cover approximately 15 feet. Recipients of the seed packets are urged to plant these seeds in open spaces, such as gardens or flowerboxes

Monday the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation released its latest study into the scope and nature of domestic violence offenses, as reported by Tennessee’s law enforcement agencies. The study utilizes data sent to TBI through the Tennessee Incident Based Reporting System (TIBRS) and includes reported offenses which occurred from 2012 to 2014. Among the report’s findings:
Simple Assault was, by far, the most frequently reported offense, accounting for 68.4% of all domestic violence offenses.
Females were three times more likely to be victimized than males.
From 2012 to 2014, victims were six times more likely to be abused by a spouse than an ex-spouse in domestic-related offenses.
Domestic violence resulted in 270 murder victims during the three-year study period.
Juveniles accounted for 58.9% of victims reporting a victim-to-offender relationship as child or step-child.
“The issue of domestic violence is, by no means, a novel problem in American society,” said TBI Director Mark Gwyn. “The persistence of domestic violence and the large number of related incidents reported to law enforcement necessitates continued awareness about this issue.”
In 2013 the Cannon County Sheriff’s Department dealt with 30 Domestic Violence cases

A new investigation by the Tennessee Comptroller’s office has revealed that employees of the Warren County EMS-Rescue Service (WCEMS) received wages totaling $23,834.40 for time worked at another entity or for time that was undocumented. Investigators found that two employees received a total of $3,514.60 in wages from WCEMS for hours in which they were working for a separate entity not associated with Warren County government. Comptroller investigators compared time sheets for both entities and noted 256 hours which overlapped.
Additionally, 12 employees received a total of $20,319.80 in wages from WCEMS for hours that had no documentation to support the employees were at work. Investigators have made several recommendations to improve accuracy and oversight of time worked. Warren County leaders indicate they are now implementing a time clock system that utilizes an employee’s thumbprint at WCEMS.
The investigative report also outlines concerns with the calculation and documentation of vacation, sick, and compensatory leave. Additional payroll problems are also noted in the report.
All of the findings and recommendations have been reviewed with the district attorney general for the Thirty-first Judicial District.
“Many of the problems noted in this report could have been avoided with improved oversight and better recordkeeping,” Comptroller Justin P. Wilson said. “I am pleased to see the county is taking steps to shore up weaknesses and stress the importance of accurate timesheets.”
If you suspect fraud, waste or abuse of public money in Tennessee, call the Comptroller’s toll-free hotline at (800) 232-5454, or file a report online at: www.comptroller.tn.gov/hotline.
 

Twelve total candidates from a long list of applications went through the interview process for the open position of the Cannon County High School Lionettes head girls basketball program.  After the interview process was over the Committee stayed in house choosing Jonathan Odom to fill the position.  Coach Odom has been an assistant with the Boys Basketball program over past few years.   He was also the head baseball coach this past season with the Cannon County Lions High School Boys Baseball team.  This coming season will be the first year that Coach Odom will be in a head coaching capacity although he has been the head coach in previous years of the boys JV team. Odom replaces Michael Dodgen who left after 10 years of guiding the program to take over the White County Lady Warriors in Sparta which is closer to his home in Cookeville.  Coach Odom inherits a team who finished last season with an appearance in the State Tournament.  The Lionettes are expected to do well this year as they return leading scorer Kelli Davis and post player Autumn King.  Coach Odom teaches carpentry at Cannon County High School.
 

Two agents from the state’s Tennessee Emergency Management Agency along with a HAZ MAT team from Rutherford County were called to Cannon County recently to conduct contamination tests on a letter a Cannon County resident received.  According to Cannon County Sheriff’s Department Reports Deputy Jordan McGee went to a call on Hollow Springs Road where Ms. Robin Novoa stated that she received a suspicious letter from South Africa addressed to her son.  Her son was active military and advised her that some records for the military had been compromised and that ISIS had gotten the names and addresses of active military and their families and were sending letters to them that were contaminated and that she needed to contact Homeland Security.  After the TEMA Representatives and HAZMAT got to the Sheriffs Department they conducted the tests where no contamination was found.  The letter was opened and read to see if there were any threats being made.  The letter contained information where an individual was trying to receive money from the Novoa family and no threats were made and the scene was considered clear.  The letter was taken to the TEMA offices in Nashville where it would be further investigated.

Since 2002, the small Middle Tennessee city of Manchester in Coffee County has hosted one of the most popular live music events in the country – the annual Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival.  Held on a 700‑acre farm, the festival is a four-day, multi-stage event that showcases a diverse assortment of musical styles and performers.  Thousands of people from all over the country make the yearly trip to attend the festival, and Manchester becomes their temporary home for several days in June.  As in years past, over 80,000 music lovers are expected to attend this year’s festival, which kicks off Thursday night, June 11, and winds down Sunday night, June 14.With 80,000 festivalgoers converging on the festival site, the area in and around Manchester always sees increased traffic throughout the festival.  As Manchester prepares to welcome a multitude of visitors, the Tennessee Department of Transportation and Tennessee Highway Patrol are gearing up for the extra traffic expected in the area.  TDOT and the THP are working closely with the Manchester Police Department, the Coffee County Sheriff’s Department and festival promoters to keep traffic moving on I-24 while also getting Bonnaroo attendees to their destination.
“As always, the main goal is to keep through traffic moving smoothly on I-24 during the Bonnaroo festival while getting festivalgoers safely into and out of the festival site,” said TDOT Commissioner John Schroer.  “TDOT has once again coordinated with our partners at THP and other agencies well ahead of the festival to ensure that traffic delays are kept to a minimum throughout the festival period.”
This year, Bonnaroo will officially open all its gates on Wednesday evening June 10 at 8:00 p.m. CDT to allow more time for vehicles to enter the campgrounds.  State Troopers will be on-the-job 24 hours a day, beginning Wednesday night, patrolling on the ground and by air. 
“There has been a decrease in the number of crashes state troopers have worked during Bonnaroo the last couple of years,” THP Colonel Tracy Trott said. “We hope that trend continues this year. We believe our presence on the interstate, along with joint efforts with TDOT and local law enforcement, has helped ensure safe passage ways to and from Bonnaroo,” he added.
During Bonnaroo 2014, Troopers logged nearly 6,000 man-hours, worked 11 traffic crashes (0 fatal, 0 injury, and 11 property damage crashes), and wrote 124 citations and issued two warnings.  A breakdown of all THP-issued citations during last year’s festival period is included in this release.
TDOT HELP units will assist with traffic management during the festival and will aid any motorists who require assistance.  In addition to having HELP trucks on-site, TDOT and other agencies will be taking the following steps beginning June 10 through June 15:

Efforts will be concentrated on keeping I-24 traffic flowing.

Exit 111 (SR 55) will be used as the main festival exit. Exits 97, 105, 112 (temporary exit on westbound side only), 117 and 127 are alternate exits if congestion occurs on the interstate.

TDOT maintenance units will be posted throughout the festival region, and maintenance personnel will be on call all weekend.

TDOT will provide variable message signs to warn drivers of delays.

There will be no construction-related lane closures on I-24 near the Bonnaroo festival area between 6:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 10 through 7:00 p.m. on Monday, June 15.

Median crossovers will be guarded to prevent motorists from parking in the crossovers and blocking emergency vehicles.

Festival traffic will be kept in the right lane and/or on the shoulder of the interstate, allowing through traffic to utilize the left travel lane unimpeded.

Emergency vehicles will use county roads that will be kept at low volume.

Bonnaroo promoters issued early news releases to the trucking industry and other sources to alert the traveling public to festival times, location, and alternate routes.

Temporary communication towers are in place to improve emergency communications.
During the festival, motorists should call 511 from any mobile or land line phone for traffic updates or visit the TDOT website at www.tn.gov/tdot where they can also find information on alternate routes.  From your desktop or mobile device, get the latest traffic information and live streaming SmartWay traffic cameras at www.TNSmartWay.com/Traffic.  TDOT is also on Twitter.  For statewide traffic tweets follow TN511 or for regional traffic information follow Nashville511, Chattanooga511, Memphis511 and Knoxville511. 
 
Also, drivers should keep in mind that if they need the assistance of a state trooper while traveling anywhere in Tennessee, they can simply dial *THP (*847) from their cell phone.  They will be automatically connected to the nearest THP dispatch office and the operator will send a state trooper to their location.

From unmanned aircraft to flying to maintenance, 30 high school students from across Tennessee experienced the various aspects of the profession during the MTSU aerospace Introduction to Aviation Camp June 1-5. The camp was held both at the Jean A. Jack Flight Operations Center and other MTSU facilities at Murfreesboro Airport and in aerospace technology labs in the Business and Aerospace Building.
Coordinated by MTSU’s nationally respected Department of Aerospace, the activities included unmanned aircraft systems, pro pilot, flight simulators, maintenance management and the air traffic control and technology laboratories.
“We’ve been rotating them through the various stations, representing all of the operational aspects of aviation,” said professor Wendy Beckman, the director of the fifth-year camp.
The Professional Pilot Advanced Camp, which is full, will be held June 15-17 in the MTSU facilities at the airport. This camp offers three days of flight-oriented instruction.
To learn more about the camps and about registering for either camp in 2016, visit www.mtsu.edu/aerospace.
For more information about the camps or the aerospace program, call the department at 615-898-2788 or email Mary Lou Cornett at Marylou.Cornett@mtsu.edu or Beckman at Wendy.Beckman@mtsu.edu.