News Talk 94.1 Local Matters

Local Matters

Education, Sports, Faith & Everything In Between

Originating from News Talk 94.1 the show deals with community issues and interests that affect listeners closer to home. With topics from major events across the nation and how they impact our area to interesting people and figures from across the Upper Cumberland. Local Matters is where local, matters.

Covering the issues that matter to you. Every weekday.
Daily English United States Society & Culture · Education
1,424 Episodes
420 – 440

Ben Rodgers & Meet Algood City Manager Keith Morrison

Ben Rodgers talks with Algood City Manager Keith Morrison. .Keith touches on his background being born in Grundy County and growing up in Rhea County, how the contract experience helps him see 5-10 years down the road, and other projects that are taking place in Algood. Listen to the latest…
10 Mar 2023 7AM 34 min

Sam Brooks & Local Gym Owner Jennifer Faccinto Part 2

Sam Brooks visits with local gym owner and fitness competitor, Jennifer Faccinto. They talk about how has the idea of New Years' resolutions played out for the members of Jennifer's gym, what her schedule looks like at this point, and talking about her daughters and what they do in terms…
9 Mar 2023 7AM 34 min

Bob Bell & Highlands Training Center

On today's Local Matters...Bob Bell sits down with Highlands Training Center Executive Director Ryan Barnhart. Together they discuss his background, the recent grand opening of the Highlands Training Center in Cookeville, what an accredited center is, and why it's important that the Highlands Training Center is one, as well as…
7 Mar 2023 7AM 34 min

Caroline Moore & Saturn & Sun Collective's Hailey Allen

Caroline Moore visits with Hailey Allen, owner of Saturn & Sun Collective here in Cookeville. Hailey talks about her business Saturn & Sun Collective and how it's much more than just photography, coming to Cookeville to attend Tech and how much growth she's seen here, and what her style is…
6 Mar 2023 7AM 34 min

Ben Rodgers & EmpowerUC Director Megan Spurgeon

Ben Rodgers talks with Megan Spurgeon, the director of EmpowerUC. Megan recaps the $25 million planning grant that was received which helps EmpowerUC exist, what the specifics of the Highlands Training Center are, and how long the program is at the Highlands Training Center and what's to expect. Listen to…
3 Mar 2023 7AM 34 min

Bob Bell & Tennessee Tech's College Of Business Dean Tom Payne

On today's Local Matters...Bob Bell talks with Tom Payne, the dean in the College Of Business at Tennessee Tech. Tom gives an update on the College of Business and highlights two graduate programs that're offered, the typical students that take the two graduate programs and what kind of jobs they…
28 Feb 2023 7AM 34 min

Ben Rodgers & Empower UC's Megan Spurgeon

Ben Rodgers meets with Megan Spurgeon from Empower UC. Megan gives her background growing up in Pigeon Forge and working at Dollywood as her first job, any other public service, committees, and boards that she's been apart of, and what it was like starting a new job right when the…
24 Feb 2023 7AM 34 min

Bob Bell & FutureReady Program's Lance Key

Bob Bell visits with Lance Key from Putnam County School's FutureReady program. Lance gives his background from growing up in Smith County to teaching in the mid-state and now with FutureReady, what VITAL is and how it's grown today, and partnering with Florida virtual schools and Dave Ramsey to put…
21 Feb 2023 7AM 34 min

Caroline Moore & Cookeville Lifestyle Magazine's Chelsea Dartez

Caroline Moore meets with Chelsea Dartez of Cookeville Lifestyle Magazine. Chelsea tells us how Cookeville Lifestyle Magazine started, the winter issue of Cookeville Lifestyle and some of the feature stories inside, and all of the locations where you can find the magazine whether it's a paper copy or digital. Listen…
20 Feb 2023 7AM 34 min

Ben Rodgers & Cookeville Mayor Laurin Wheaton

Ben Rodgers talks with Cookeville Mayor Laurin Wheaton. Laurin discusses what the differences are between being mayor and vice mayor, the Tennessee Municipal League's project of going back to more of a sharing plan with the state where the sales tax revenue is returned to the cities it was earned…
17 Feb 2023 7AM 34 min

Sam Brooks & Barrett Steakley, Owner of Middle Tennessee Athletics Gym

Sam Brooks visits with Barrett Steakley, owner of Middle Tennessee Athletics Gym. Barrett gives an update on his kids and what life was before they were around, how Barrett and his wife found their way into owning the Middle TN Athletics Gym, and things Barrett looks for when he's deciding…
16 Feb 2023 7AM 34 min

Bob Bell & Tennessee Tech's College of Business

Bob Bell meets with Susan Wells and Sherry Cannon from the business college at Tennessee Tech. Susan talks about the makeup of Governor's School with things like how many students are invited and what the students do while they are here, the different types of classes that are offered and…
14 Feb 2023 7AM 34 min

Ben Rodgers & Cumberland, Smith, White, Jackson County Mayors Pt. 2

On today's Local Matters...Ben Rodgers visits with the four mayors from Smith County, Cumberland County, White County, and Jackson County. They talk about how each of the mayors do things like POs and budget amendments differently, the trash situation with the four counties and how each county handles it, and…
10 Feb 2023 7AM 34 min

Sam Brooks & Absolute Fitness Owner Jennifer Roberts-Faccinto

Sam Brooks meets with Jennifer Roberts-Faccinto, owner of Absolute Fitness gym and a physique competitor. Jennifer talks about growing up in Jackson County, playing multiple sports growing up but mainly softball, her coach and all the experience/roles she brings to help Jennifer, and how she entertains potential customers at Absolute…
9 Feb 2023 7AM 34 min

Bob Bell & Putnam County Schools' Communications Director Hannah Davis

Bob Bell talks with Hannah Davis, the Communications Director for Putnam County Schools'. Hannah discusses what she does as communications director and the job that led her to this, how long it takes to roll out family engagement surveys and who makes the decisions based off those, how the school…
7 Feb 2023 7AM 34 min

Caroline Moore & Luke Ramey And Casey Lemons From Cookeville Creative

On today's Local Matters...Caroline Moore visits with Luke Ramey and Casey Lemons from Cookeville Creative. Luke and Casey discuss what Cookeville Creative is and what the services are that they provide, what it's like to stay on top of the change and technology, and how they both trained in video…
6 Feb 2023 7AM 33 min

Ben Rodgers & Cumberland, Smith, White, Jackson County Mayors

Ben Rodgers meets with the four county mayors from Cumberland, Smith, White, and Jackson Counties. They discuss how working with the new commissioners and how the first few months have gone, Jackson County Mayor Randy Heady talks about what his Building Committee has been meeting on, and how most counties…
3 Feb 2023 7AM 34 min

Bob Bell & Putnam County Schools' Student of the Month

Bob Bell meets with Ross King, joined by his dad & Putnam County Superintendent Corby King. Ross discusses what an honor does when it comes to being named Student of the Month, some of the school organizations at Upperman Ross has taken apart of this year, and going to Boys'…
31 Jan 2023 7AM 34 min

Caroline Moore & Meet The Avery Trace Middle School Pickle Club

Caroline Moore meets with ATMS Teacher Ryan Dalton and students/members of the Pickle Club Ryan Dunn, Marcus McDonald, and Caden Coulas. Ryan talks about how the Pickle Club started, meeting with such a huge number in club membership and what the mantra of the club is, and the support the…
30 Jan 2023 7AM 34 min

Ben Rodgers & Clay County Mayor Dale Reagan & County Sheriff Brandon Boone

Ben Rodgers visits with Clay County's Mayor Dale Reagan and Sheriff Brandon Boone. The three discuss the growing population and tax base that Clay County is seeing, how many additional staff may be needed for the new jail being built, and Dale talks about the county commissioners that're currently serving,…
27 Jan 2023 7AM 34 min
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