Category: News

With less than one week left before the April 15 tax deadline, the Internal Revenue Service is reminding Tennessee taxpayers that options are available if they can’t file their forms or pay their taxes on time. They can even submit filing extensions and request payment options online.
“Don’t panic if you need more time to file or pay your taxes,” said IRS spokesman Dan Boone. “Requesting more time to file is easy, and there are several payment options.”
The IRS expects Tennessee taxpayers to submit about 190,000 filing extension requests by the April 15 deadline. Nearly 3 million tax returns are expected to be filed by Tennesseans this year, with about 590,000 of those likely to be filed in April alone.
To avoid the late filing penalty, taxpayers should file a tax return or an extension form by April 15 even if they can’t pay the full amount due. Tax returns or extension forms can be filed online free at IRS.gov through the Free File program, which offers free use of brand-name tax software. Lower-income and elderly filers who need help completing their taxes can call 1-800-906-9887 to find free tax help sites in their area.

The Get Fit Tullahoma Urgent Team Health & Wellness Expo took place at the Northgate Mall on Saturday with the sole purpose of creating awareness for Tullahoma and surrounding residents of their options for healthier living. Everything from a US Marine Corps Pull Up Competition to a performance by the Estill Springers Square Dancers took place at Saturday’s event to a very excited and receptive crowd. This is the 2nd Get Fit Tullahoma Health Fair of its kind, with a 3rd event shortly to follow coming up in August. To keep up to date with Get Fit Tullahoma announcements like them on Facebook or visit tullahomatn.gov. To see live footage from Saturday’s Expo, including the Pull Up Competition and more, watch our Thunder TV news video online at WMSRRadio.com. See pictures below

MTSU’s College of Mass Communication and the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival have entered into a partnership that will help students better understand the dynamics of one of the world’s most successful entertainment events.
Bonnaroo officials will visit campus this month for a question-and-answer session with students. Then, students from the college will participate in the behind-the-scenes activities at the festival as part of their education. This year’s festival is set for June 12-15 in Manchester, Tenn.
“Bonnaroo is one of the most successful, ambitious and diverse music festivals in the world,” said Mass Communication Dean Ken Paulson, “and it is also one of the most generous.”
Paulson said Bonnaroo partners Ashley Capps, owner of AC Entertainment, and Rick Farman, co-founder of Superfly Presents, will come to MTSU on April 9 to work with mass communication students.
In 2002, Capps and Farman teamed up to create Bonnaroo, which was acclaimed by Rolling Stone magazine as one of the 50 moments that changed the history of rock ‘n’ roll. The festival is now known not only for its legendary lineups but also for its commitment to green initiatives and the improvement of the community it calls home.
The partnership with MTSU is the culmination of an emphasis on education in Tennessee. Capps and Farman have done speaking engagements across the state, including at UT as well as Belmont and Vanderbilt universities.
“MTSU and Bonnaroo are neighbors, so it makes sense to work together,” Farman said. “While creating Bonnaroo, we learned lots of lessons we can share with students studying business, communications and the music industry.”
Paulson said the partnership also includes a symposium that MTSU will host in the fall of 2014 on the “Anatomy of a Music Festival: The Bonnaroo Story and the Future of Festivals.”
MTSU boasts the fifth-largest mass-communication college in the nation and is the only one that features departments of recording industry, journalism and electronic media communication.
A survey by Radio Television News Association, published by TV Week’s NewsPro magazine, recently listed the college among the nation’s top 20 programs. More information about the college can be found www.mtsu.edu/masscomm.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has released its 2013 “Crime on Campus” study.
The annual report presents the nature, volume and extent of reported crime on the campuses and in the housing of Tennessee colleges and universities during calendar year 2013.
Among the report’s findings:
 *Overall, crime reported by Tennessee’s colleges and universities decreased by 11.6% from 2012 to 2013.
 *While offenses in the “Larceny/Theft” category decreased, reports in Burglary and Robbery increased in the same time period.
 *In contrast to a decrease in the previous year’s study, the overall category of “Sex Offenses –Forcible” increased by 25% in 2013.
“This report will hopefully assist law enforcement, institution administrators, and government officials in planning their effort in the fight against crime,” said TBI Director Mark Gwyn. “The threats to society by criminal activity must be addressed by efforts from all law-abiding citizens as well as law enforcement agencies.”
The TBI’s CJIS Support Center publishes the report yearly, as required by the College and University Security Information Act, enacted by the Tennessee General Assembly in 1989.
Motlow College had one report of theft and one for assault.

A Warren County woman is charged with TennCare fraud in Rutherford County in a case involving prescription drugs.
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) announced Monday the arrest of Amber L. Briggs, 28, of McMinnville. She is charged with two counts of fraudulently using TennCare to obtain controlled substances by doctor shopping.  An indictment accuses her of going to multiple physicians within a short period of time, receiving prescriptions for the same or similar controlled substances, with the clinical visits or the prescriptions being paid for with TennCare benefits.  Briggs turned herself in to the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office.TennCare fraud is a Class E felony carrying a sentence of up to two years in prison per charge.
The OIG, which is separate from TennCare, began full operation in February 2005 and has investigated cases leading to over $3.5 million paid in restitution and recoupment to TennCare, with a total estimated cost avoidance of over $173 million for the TennCare program, according to latest figures.  To date, 2,079 people have been charged with TennCare fraud.
Through the OIG Cash for Tips Program established by the Legislature, Tennesseans can get cash rewards for TennCare fraud tips that lead to convictions.  Anyone can report suspected TennCare fraud by calling 1-800-433-3982 toll-free from anywhere in Tennessee, or log on to www.tn.gov/tnoig/ and follow the prompts that read “Report TennCare Fraud.”

Just after 3pm on Friday afternoon Coffee County authorities responded to the downtown branch of Coffee County Bank for an apparent bank robbery. The bank was closed quickly as investigators arrived on the scene.
According to information received from local police the male suspect handed a bank teller a note demanding money. The man was wearing some type of hoodie, dark glasses and gloves, no gun was shown. He left the bank in the vicinity of United Methodist Church. Manchester Police and Coffee County Sheriff’s department personnel began to search the area. A vehicle was spotted at the back of Henley Apartments just behind Coffee County Bank. Two people in the area identified the man as the possible suspect and the vehicle was also identified as the one the suspect left the scene in. Police took Wesley Todd Bingham 34 of Antioch, Tn into custody at the apartment complex. Manchester Police Chief Investigator Billy Butler said that Bingham has been charged with aggravated robbery and was booked into the Coffee County jail under a $100,000 bond. His court date will be on April 15th. As the investigation continued, around 7:30pm Friday night police Chief Mark Yother told us the money taken in the robbery ($4,190) was recovered at Henley Apartments.
Kenneth Kirby president of Coffee County Bank told WMSR News that everyone at the bank handled the situation professionally and all employees were safe. Kirby also thanked local law enforcement for their quick work. Police arrested the suspect 39 minutes after the crime was committed.

A turkey hunter shot Thursday morning in Marion County has died, according to Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency spokesperson Dan Hicks.
Hicks said the shooting happened just after 7 am off of Irondale Road near South Pittsburg. He said that Virgil McNeese, 46, shot Stanley “Ransey” Whitman, 41. McNeese is the police chief for the town of Monteagle.
According to Hicks Whitman was flown to Erlanger Medical Center where he died on Friday. Both men are from Grundy County. Hicks said the two men were turkey hunting with their kids when the shooting occurred.
Hicks said the incident is still under investigation but at this point the shooting is believed to be accidental. TWRA officials in Nashville say that there are an average of 5 – 7 hunting accidents in the state each year during turkey season, however this was the first they’ve learned of during the current season. It will be up to the district attorney to decide whether or not to pursue criminal charges.

One person was injured in a single vehicle crash on Hawkersmith Road in Tullahoma Friday afternoon around 1 p.m. According to Tennessee Highway Patrolman Sgt. Larry Fraley, Jason L. Skidmore, 48, of Hawkersmith Road lost control of his 1998 Acura and ran off the road and struck a bridge abutment. Tullahoma Firefighters had a difficult time getting him out as the car was hanging over the embankment. The firefighters were able to cut him out. He was transported to Harton Regional Hospital for treatment. Skidmore faces several charges.

Motlow College students and area citizens are invited to attend a Career Fair on Tuesday, Apr. 22, according to Tom Dillingham, director of career planning and extended services at Motlow.
The fair will be held from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. in the courtyard between Simon Hall and the Forrester Student Center on the Moore County campus. In the event of inclement weather, the fair will be moved inside the Forrester Student Center.
There is no pre-registration fee or fee of any kind required to attend the event. Job seekers are encouraged to dress for success and bring copies of their resumes.
Representatives of manufacturing, banking, engineering, health care, continuing education, military, beauty care and other industries will set up booths to promote their individual businesses and job openings. Any business interested in participating in this year’s event or individuals just needing more information are urged to contact Dillingham by calling 931-393-1760 or by email at CPES@mscc.edu.