Author: Tina LaFleur

AUDIT: Dickson County Workers Duped by Phishing Scheme for $60,000 in Taxpayer Cash

Tina LaFleur
Tennessee Star

A thief duplicated an email address belonging to Dickson County’s director of schools and then duped the school system’s staff into wiring $20,000 in taxpayer money, an audit says. Someone pulled the same stunt with the Dickson County Mayor’s Office a few days later, in April of last year, according to Tennessee Comptroller Justin Wilson’s audit, which was released this week. Auditors called it a phishing scheme. No one at the county mayor’s office immediately returned a request for comment Tuesday. Director of Schools Danny Weeks told Tennessee Watchdog that law enforcement agencies, including members of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, have yet to catch the culprit. “Last I heard, Dickson County law enforcement thought it was someone from outside the country,” Weeks said, adding what happened was “a perfect storm of events coming together from someone with crafty and evil intentions.” “I was out of town the day it happened, and it was the last thing that happened on a Friday afternoon. My business manager assumed she got an email from her boss, and you do what your boss asks you to do. If it were something that happened on a normal day in the office, she would have…

Read the full story

INDICTMENT: Tennessee Comptroller Alleges Former Manchester-Coffee County Conference Center General Manager Stole $31,000

Tina LaFleur
Tennessee Star

  An investigation by the Tennessee Comptroller has resulted in the indictment of Alyce Heifner, the former general manager of the Manchester-Coffee County Conference Center. Heifner stole at least $31,000 from the conference center over 15 months. Investigators determined Heifner used multiple schemes to steal money. She made personal purchases using the conference center’s credit and debit cards. These purchases included clothing, a big screen TV, and a personal trip to Europe. Heifner also took cash from the conference center’s bank account, and she received pay and a reimbursement to which she wasn’t entitled. Heifner was able to conceal her activity by removing pages from bank statements and credit card statements. She also submitted incorrect and misleading financial reports to The Public Building Authority of Coffee County, Tennessee (PBA) board. Alyce Heifner admitted to Comptroller investigators that she took the money because she was angry at the PBA board for not supporting her, and because she was angry at the Coffee County community for the way she was treated. Heifner resigned her position on December 4, 2015. In December 2016, Alyce Heifner was indicted by the Coffee County Grand Jury on one count of theft over $10,000 and two counts…

Read the full story

Tuesday is IHOP’s National Pancake Giveaway to Help Children Battling Life-Threatening Illness

Tina LaFleur
Tennessee Star - Pancakes

Did you wake up this morning with a hankering for pancakes? You’re in luck! Tuesday, March 7 is National Pancake Day at IHOP. This is the eleventh year for the annual charity drive, exact day of which changes each year. No purchase is needed to participate in this offer, however IHOP does suggest diners donate to a charitable partner in return. The contributions made on National Pancake Day at IHOP restaurants benefit Shriners Hospitals for Children, the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, and Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Since its start in 2006, National Pancake Day has generated more than $24 million for charity. This year, IHOP hopes to raise $3.5 million for children battling life-threatening illnesses. All of the money raised on IHOP National Pancake Day is donated directly to local children in need. If carbohydrates are off-the-menu, and you’re looking for another way to help, IHOP customers can purchase a “Wall Icon” to pledge their support. Just talk with the cashier. “Year after year, we look forward to celebrating with our guests,” said Darren Rebelez, President of IHOP Restaurans said. “Every penny raised goes a long way in making a meaningful and lasting impact on so many kids and families in our communities.” Check…

Read the full story