News 2016

The Woodbury Police Department have reported the following arrests over the past week:
Ronald Wayne Jernigan-DUI 2nd offense, driving on a revoked drivers license.
Audrey Amaro-Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Schedule 2 drugs morphine
Deborah E. Smithson-Driving on suspended drivers license, Schedule 2 drugs morphine, DUI 1st offense and criminal impersonation.  
Bryan Keith Alexander-Schedule 4 with intent (xanax) and driving while license revoked.
James Estell Brown-Disorderly Conduct after a verbal altercation Wednesday at Bryson Court.  also charged with disorderly conduct in the altercation was Crystal Renee Boshak and Matthew Mark Whiting.  All three ares scheduled to appear in Cannon County General Sessions Court to answer to the charge on March 12th
 

Speaker Beth Harwell (R-Nashville) and Representative Mark Pody (R-Lebanon) announced earlier this week that the Tennessee House of Representatives unanimously passed legislation that allows for homeland security upgrades that the Tennessee Military Department will implement at armories and recruiting stations around the state. The “National Guard Force Protection Act of 2016” was introduced to ensure the safety of Tennessee National Guard service members in the wake of the Chattanooga attack in July of 2015. The legislation is sponsored by Representative Charles Sargent (R-Franklin).
“Each day, our service members put themselves in harm’s way to ensure we are safe and secure. The safety of our military men and women, as well as the general public, is of the utmost importance,” said Speaker Beth Harwell. “I was proud to cast my vote in support of this legislation.”
The enhancements at armories and recruiting stations throughout the state will include mobile ballistic shields, shatter resistant film for windows and doors, barriers in front of the buildings, cameras, and more.
“The Chattanooga attack was tragic and senseless. I am proud that we are making the implementation of these safety features a priority in the House of Representatives this year,” said Representative Pody. “I thank all our Tennessee National Guardsmen and women for their service.”
Having passed unanimously in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, the legislation is headed to Governor Haslam’s desk for his signature.
 

Through the United Way Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, individuals and families with an annual household income of less than $62,000 can file their taxes for free from now until April 15, 2016.
Since the start of this year’s VITA program on January 29, 2016, 433 returns have been completed with an average Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) refund of nearly $2,000 going back into Rutherford and Cannon counties. EITC is a benefit for working individuals with low to moderate income. The opportunity to file through the VITA program supports United Way’s focus to increase financial stability for individuals and families in the community.
United Way VITA sites are located at Patterson Park Community Center in Murfreesboro and Smyrna Assembly Hall. Appointments are necessary to file at the VITA site. To schedule an appointment, call (615) 971-8678.
Individuals and families can also file for free anytime, anywhere with www.myfreetaxes.com.
For more information, call (615) 971-8678 or visit www.yourlocalvita.org.

Middle Tennessee Electric this week launched its new charitable foundation SharingChange. The foundation gives members the opportunity to easily give to local charitable organizations.
The move streamlines the cooperative’s charitable efforts and gives members more options on how they can contribute to their communities.
“Over the last 13 years, Middle Tennessee Electric members have donated more than $8 million to over 550 local nonprofit organizations in the four-county service area served by MTEMC,” said Chris Jones, MTEMC President. “Every penny that members donate, 100 percent, goes back to those communities through local charitable organizations.”
A highlight of the new program is the different ways to give. Members can now round up their bill to the nearest dollar; or they can add a fixed amount to each monthly bill; or they can do both.
“We recognized over the years, these were additional options our members wanted in their charitable giving,” said Jones. “For pennies each month, the collective impact on our communities is significant.”
Averaging about $6 dollars per year, the rounding of the bill is the easiest option. If a member’s bill is $48.50, the bill is rounded up to $49, and that 50 cents is contributed to SharingChange.
“For much less than a cup of coffee a month, our members are changing the lives of their neighbors,” Jones added.
Past grant recipients and their programs included helping fulfill medical needs of local senior citizens, student scholarships, helping control the pet population and even funding local veterans; programs designed to help build camaraderie and find productive, safe ways to deal with conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder.
To learn more about the program, or to begin participating in SharingChange, visit www.SharingChange.org.
 

A Rutherford County woman is charged with TennCare fraud in connection with prescription drugs.
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) recently announced the arrest of Alexis N. Sanders, 21, of Murfreesboro. She is charged in Rutherford County with three counts of using TennCare to fraudulently obtain a controlled substance by doctor shopping, which involves going to multiple doctors in a short period of time in order to obtain prescription drugs.
“Prescription drug abuse is an epidemic that law enforcement, providers and communities are working to eliminate, especially when public dollars are involved,” Inspector General Manny Tyndall said. “We are working with investigators, pharmacists and doctors across the state to stop this activity in TennCare..”
District Attorney General Jennings H. Jones is prosecuting this case.
TennCare fraud is a Class E felony carrying a sentence of up to two years in prison per charge.
 

 On the heels of the Presidential Preference Primary election, that saw the turndown by the public voters of a proposed sales tax increase and wheel tax increase, the Cannon County Commission will meet tonight for their regular monthly meeting.  On the agenda.  Commissioner Mark Barker will address the commission concerning the elimination of the wheel tax sticker.  The Commissioners will look at resolution 2016-5 which is Amended Road procedures.  The Commissioners will look into approving the surety bond for the Director Of Schools.  They will also consider budget amendments.  Consider the adoption of a Cannon County Ethics Policy and have quarterly reports from various departments.  The meeting will start at 5:00 in the courtroom of the Cannon County Courthouse.
 

The Cannon County Historical Society announces their next meeting will be Tuesday March 8th at 6:30 p.m. at the Cannon County Senior Center in the small dining area. The featured guest will be the” Chaplain of Cannon County”, Bro Herb Alsup.  He will be speaking about his years and experiences in Cannon County.  The Society will meet at 6:30 for “snacks and refreshments” and the program will begin at 7:00.  The community is welcome to attend.

Cannon County High School conducted a Student Mock Election Monday before the real election Tuesday.  U.S. Government and Sociology students in Mr. William F. Curtis’s classes conducted the election during students’ first period.
429  Students out of 570 high school students  voted in the Mock Election and their results are as follows:
Total Students Voting = 429 out of 570 (75.26%)
STUDENTS Voting
President – Democratic Primary
Hillary Clinton – 14 Votes or 13.59%
Bernie Sanders – 89 Votes or 86.41%
President – Republican Primary
Ben Carson – 49 Votes or 19.29%
Ted Cruz – 45 Votes or 17.71%
John Kasich – 6 Votes or 2.38%
Marco Rubio – 17 Votes or 6.69%
Donald Trump – 137 Votes or 53.93%
Invalid Votes – 72 Votes – (Voted for more than one) or 16.78% of Total Voters

STAFF Voted this way
President – Democratic Primary
Hillary Clinton – 5 Votes or 71.43%
Bernie Sanders – 2 Votes or 28.57%
President – Republican Primary
Ben Carson – 6 Votes or 35.30%
Ted Cruz – 2 Votes or 11.76%
John Kasich – 1 Vote or 5.88%
Marco Rubio – 5 Votes or 29.42%
Donald Trump – 3 Votes or 17.64%

The Registered Voters voted Tuesday with the majority voting for Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump in comparison to this Mock Election.

More than 14,400 donors came together in a big way last year to “pay back” nonprofits in the region, raising more than $2.65 million in just one day as part of The Big Payback.
That’s why The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee is bringing back The Big Payback for its third year on Tuesday, May 3, for what is hoped to be the biggest event yet. Nonprofits—including schools and religious institutions—are encouraged to register now to participate at TheBigPayback.org.
The Big Payback is a community-wide, online giving day designed to give the public the opportunity to pay back the nonprofits that make this a place we are proud to call home. Starting at 12 a.m. on May 3, the public-at-large has 24 hours to make donations to their choice of participating local nonprofits at TheBigPayback.org.
“The Big Payback puts a charitable spin on the idea of ‘buy local’ and provides an easy and fun way for communities to show their local pride and give back,” said Ellen Lehman, president of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. “Nonprofits do life-changing work every day across Middle Tennessee, and it’s important we recognize the positive impact they have in our own backyards by supporting their efforts.”
Gifts from the public will be boosted with additional funds from sponsors of The Big Payback. Nonprofits will vie for financial incentives, bonus donations and additional prizes. An online leaderboard will track donations in real-time.
Donors will be able to view and select from participating organizations based on location and focus area, such as animals, education, health, arts and more. Donors can support multiple organizations and make gifts of any size, from $10 and up.
Nonprofits, schools, and religious institutions found success in last year’s giving day helping to raise much-needed funds for particular needs such as new windows for a building, computers for a classroom, or specific programming in support of a mission.
There is no cost for nonprofits to participate. The past two years, donors supporting The Big Payback have ensured no participating organization walked away empty handed.
Organizations interested in participating in The Big Payback should register by March 18. Details can be found at TheBigPayback.org.

The Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce is working in partnership with the State of Tennessee, the Nashville Career Advancement Center and several local educational institutions to provide advising for adult learners interested in returning to school on March 12, 2016 from 12 p.m. – 3 p.m. at Stones River Mall located at 1720 Old Fort Parkway in Murfreesboro, Tenn.
 
Tennessee Reconnect is the State of Tennessee’s initiative to help adults enter higher education so that they may gain new skills, advance in the workplace, and fulfill lifelong dreams of completing a degree or credential.
 
On March 12, the following educational institutions will be present to provide information for those interested in going back to school:
 
Argosy University
Bethel University
Chamberlain University (Nursing School)
Goodwill Career Solutions
King University
Lipscomb University
Marian University (Nursing School)
Middle Tennessee State University (University College)
Motlow College
Paul Mitchell the School – Murfreesboro
Tennessee College of Applied Technology – Murfreesboro
Tennessee State University
Trevecca Nazarene University
Western Governors University
 
The event will include a financial aid workshop and hot jobs presentation every half hour.
 
For more information about Tennessee Reconnect, visit www.tnreconnect.gov.