News 2016

A well known area medical doctor  who operates a practice in Murfreesboro was arrested Sunday for DUI.  According to Murfreesboro police reports, Police responded to Haynes Drive in reference to a motor vehicle accident.  When police got there they made contact with 60 year old Mark Josovitz who was unsteady on his feet, had slurred speech and had an odor of an intoxicant on him.  Josovitz who runs a practice out of Murfreesboro, was unable to perform the field sobriety tests and was placed under arrest for DUI.  Josovitz allegedly went to see a woman after he became intoxicated.  When the woman called police on a domestic disturbance complaint that’s when Josovitz was located a few blocks away having already been involved in a wreck.  A second domestic harrassment report was made Monday after Josovitz allegedly called the school in which the woman was employed at several times and made some what was termed as alarming text messages to her.  The woman text Josovitz and told him not to have anymore contact with her.  Murfreesboro Police advised the woman on how to file charges of stalking and harrassment.

Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development has implemented LexisNexis InstantID from LexisNexis Risk Solutions as an added measure to prevent people from fraudulently applying for unemployment benefits.
LexisNexis InstantID, integrated into Tennessee’s unemployment insurance claims process, helps to confirm the applicant’s identity before processing their unemployment insurance claim. The program uses identity analytics that combine billions of public records and advanced linking technology to generate a knowledge-based quiz, designed so only the true individual would be able to answer the questions. This process of verifying and authenticating the applicant, called identity proofing, enables Tennessee to know whether the individual filing the claim is truly the owner of the identity.  
Since implementing LexisNexis Risk Solutions on December 15, 2015, more than 75,000 claimants have engaged in the identity verification process.  Eighty-percent of these claimants passed and were able to submit an unemployment claim. When the system prevents a person from filing, they must contact TDLWD for assistance. Less than half of the 20 percent who fail to answer the security questions actually made contact with TDLWD to correct any issues.
There is the possibility that those failing the verification process, but not contacting us could have been attempting to file fraudulent claims. If that is the case, the potential cost savings for Tennessee’s trust fund could be as high as $48.6 million, just in the first few months of operation. 
“By authenticating the identity of our claimants during the initial claims process it reduces the risk of the department making improper payments from the unemployment trust fund,” said Unemployment Insurance Administrator Linda Davis. “This keeps the trust fund at a higher level and potentially reduces employer taxes.”
Unemployment insurance fraud is when individuals knowingly collect benefits based on false information. This may occur when an individual continues to work, but reports they are unemployed, or when someone files a claim using a different identity. When this happens, the fraudulent filing does not show up on the victim’s credit report and the crime goes unnoticed.  The only way a victim would become aware someone has stolen their identity is if they needed to file an unemployment claim of their own and their name was already in the state’s system.
“We felt utilizing the identification verification feature of LexisNexis Risk Solutions was a necessary step toward preventing fraud in the unemployment system,” Commissioner Burns Phillips commented. “So far, the numbers show it has been effective in eliminating potential fraudulent claimants, resulting in major cost savings.”
The National Federation of Independent Business (NIFB) recently nominated the Department and its Employment Security Division for the Unemployment and Workers’ Compensation 2016 Unemployment Insurance Integrity Award.  The NIFB Tennessee director cited in his nomination the significant progress the Department has made in combatting fraud and abuse, which has resulted in lower tax rates for Tennessee employers.  The organization’s director specifically noted in his letter to UWC the LexisNexis InstantID program and how successful it has been in stopping fraudulent unemployment insurance claims.
 

With Tax Day only a month away, the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance’s (TDCI) Division of Consumer Affairs wants the public to know they have a voice at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

“For many, filing income taxes is a task that can be time-consuming and stressful,” TDCI Deputy Commissioner Bill Giannini said. “Our Consumer Affairs team and our partners with the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service remind Tennesseans that tax help is just a phone call away.”

The Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) is an independent organization within IRS that helps taxpayers and protects taxpayer rights.  TAS can help if you need assistance resolving an IRS problem, if your problem is causing financial difficulty, or if you believe an IRS system or procedure isn’t working as it should.  The service is free.

If you are a Tennessee taxpayer seeking help, utilize the information below to contact your local TAS office:

Middle TN and East TN
801 Broadway, Stop 22
Nashville, TN 37203
Phone: 615-250-5000
Fax: 855-828-2719        
                                                            

Website:
www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov

Toll-Free Phone Number:
1-877-777-4778

Additional Online Resources:
www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov/get-help
www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov/about-us/learn-more-eligibility
Facebook.com/YourVoiceAtIRS
Twitter.com/YourVoiceatIRS
YouTube.com/TASNTA

Remember, if you decide to hire a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) to file your taxes, you may contact the Tennessee Board of Accountancy to find out if complaints or disciplinary actions have been filed against him/her. Contact the Tennessee Board of Accountancy at accountancy.board@tn.gov or 888-453-6150. Learn more at www.tn.gov/regboards.
– See more at: http://tn.gov/news/38676#sthash.QXnlBg5c.dpuf

A Woodbury woman was arrested in Murfreesboro after Murfreesboro Police pulled over the car she was riding in for not coming to a complete stop over the weekend.  According to Murfreesboro Police Reports, police officers witnessed a silver Chevrolet Cavalier failing to come to a complete stop exiting private property onto Westgate Blvd from the Mapco Station on South Church Street. After making a traffic stop they conducted a warrants check on the two people in the car.  The passenger Jennifer Wilkey of Woodbury came back with a wanted for violation of probation.  She was arrested and transported to the Rutherford County Jail.

U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander will be the keynote speaker at the 2016 Reagan Day Dinner hosted by the Dekalb County Republican Party. The dinner will be tonight, at 6:00PM at the Dekalb County Complex.
Tickets are $30 per person and table sponsoships are still available.  Proceeds go to benefit Republican Candidates for offices in Dekalb CountyFor more information on the Reagan Day Dinner, go to the Facebook Page at DeKalb County Republican Party.

March 21—CCHS Tennis match with Macon Co. at home, 3:30 p.m.
March 22—CCHS Tennis match with Webb School at home, 3:30 p.m.
March 22—CCHS Soccer match at Watertown, 6:00 p.m.
March 22—CCHS Baseball game with Livingston at home, 5:00 p.m.
March 22—CCHS Softball game at Smith Co.
March 24—CCHS Soccer match at Sequatchie Co., 6:00 p.m.
March 24—CCHS Tennis match with Livingston at home, 3:30 p.m.
March 24—CCHS Softball game with Macon Co. at home, 5:00 p.m.
March 24—CCHS Baseball games with Eagleville at home, 4:30 JV, 6:30 Varsity
March 25—CCHS Soccer match with Goodpasture at home, 6:00 p.m.
March 26—CCHS Baseball game at Fayetteville City (DH), 1:00 p.m.
March 28—CCHS Baseball game with Macon Co. at home, 5:00 p.m.
March 29—CCHS Baseball game at Macon Co., 6:00 p.m.
March 29—CCHS Softball game at Upperman
March 29—CCHS Soccer match with Macon Co. at home, 5:00 p.m.
March 31—CCHS Softball game with Dekalb Co. at home, 4:30 p.m.
April 2—CCHS Baseball games with Mr. Juliet Christian at home, 1:00 (DH)
April 4—CCHS Baseball game at Central Magnet, 5:00 p.m.
April 4—CCHS Tennis match with Goodpasture at home, 3:30 p.m.
April 5—CCHS Baseball game with Central Magnet at home, 5:00 p.m.
April 5—CCHS Softball game with York, at home, 4:00 p.m. (DH)
April 5—CCHS Soccer match at Merrol Hyde, 7:00 p.m.
April 7—CCHS Softball game at Livingston (DH)
April 7—CCHS Soccer match with Bledsoe Co. at home, 6:00 p.m.
April 7—CCHS Tennis match with Merrol Hyde at home, 3:30 p.m.
April 8—CCHS Tennis match at Central Magnet, 4:30 p.m.
April 8-9 – CCHS Baseball at Clarkrange Classic

A Woodbury man who told Cannon County Sheriff’s Deputies that he just got out of jail returned to the facility after being arrested on driving on a revoked driver’s license.  According to Cannon County Sheriff’s Department reports, Deputies noticed a green Buick driven by Hester Lockridge make a wide turn off John Bragg Highway onto Bradyville Road.  Allegedly the vehicle continued to cross the center line a couple more times before authorities decided to make a traffic stop.  Lockridge offered up the information that his license was revoked and he had just gotten out of prison.  Deputies allowed him to call for a licensed driver to come pick up the car to keep it from being towed.  Dispatch verified the information for Mr. Lockridge and then a check was done on a passenger in the car Samantha Briggs.  Dispatch advised that there was an active warrant on Briggs in Coffee County.  Sheriff’s Deputies arrested Briggs on that warrant.  They also arrested Lockridge for driving on a revoked license.  They waited a short time for the licensed driver to come pick up the car but then it was discovered that the person had just been pulled over by the Woodbury Police Department and was under arrest for methamphetamine charges.  The vehicle was left off the side of the roadway to be picked up by a licensed driver at a later time.  Lockridge will answer to the charge April 5th in Cannon County General Sessions Court.

The Woodbury Police Department made the following arrests during the past week
Brandy Turnbo-Unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia
Samantha Dunn-Unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia
Melissa Ann Luttrell- Legend Drug, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Simple Possession of Schedule II methamphetamine
Kayla Ann Miller-Possession of Schedule II, and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia
Terry Wayne Morton-Misuse of Registration, Implied Consent and DUI
Jessee Paul Smith-Public Intoxication
Justin Lee Dyer-Vandalism
Malia Suzanne Jernigan-Driving While Impaired
Dustin St. Johns-DUI, Implied Consent and Possession of Schedule II
Michael Lyon Adcock-Theft under $500.

The Cannon County UT Extension Service has partnered with the Adams Memorial Library to have a 4-H section for summer reading.  The library has agreed to purchase books based on suggestion and designate an area in the library for these books.  Students participating in the 4-H program will be encouraged to read a set amount of books on topics of Agriculture, Nutrition and Family Consumer Science.  These books will be educational and fiction to promote reading for fun and increase reading skills.

Tennessee preliminary unemployment rate for February was 4.9 percent, five-tenths of a percentage point decrease from the January revised rate of 5.4 percent. The U.S. preliminary rate for February was 4.9 percent, unchanged from the previous month.
Economic Summary
Over the past year, Tennessee’s unemployment rate decreased from 6.0 percent to 4.9 percent while the national rate declined from 5.5 percent to 4.9 percent.
Total nonfarm employment decreased 1,600 jobs from January to February. The largest decreases occurred in professional/business services, arts/entertainment/recreation, & government.
Over the year, nonfarm employment increased 89,300 jobs. The largest increases occurred in trade/transportation/utilities, professional/business services, & education/health services.