Join Kosta and his guest: Jonathan A.D. Williams, Putnam County Commissioner for District One, Owner of Veterans Barber Shop, former U.S. Marine, police officer, and candidate for Putnam County Commission District One.

In this episode: Your first term on Putnam County Commission started in 2010. So, let’s start there. What inspired you to run for Putnam County Commission and what’s changed the most over the past sixteen years? We’re recording this episode on the second week of early voting and our county vote totals have already surpassed the early vote total for 2022 and 2018. What’s motivating voters to get out to the polls? Has the increased interest of this election cycle changed your campaigning strategy? If elected, this will be your fourth term on the County Commission. What do you see as your greatest accomplishments to date? What do you hope to add to those accomplishments over the next four years?

Find out more about Veterans Barber Shop:
https://www.veteransbarbershop.com/

Find out more about Jonathan A.D. Williams for Putnam County Commissioner:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063633996867

Register to vote, check your registration or update your voter registration: https://sos.tn.gov/govotetn

Important Putnam County Election dates and information:
Putnam County General Elections will be held on August 6th with early voting from July 17th to August 1st.
All early voting takes place at the Putnam County Election Commission on 705 County Services Dr, Cookeville, TN 38501.
For more information visit on Putnam County polling locations visit: https://putnamcountytn.gov/election-commission

Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Cookeville, TN.

This episode of Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is made possible by our partners at Miss Sallie's Market.

Find out more about Miss Sallie's Market:
https://www.misssallies.com

Join Kosta and his guest: Margo Dirkson, Department Coordinator for the Office of Access, Belonging, and Community Outreach at Tennessee Tech University.

In this episode: In 2024, TTU launched the office of Access, Belonging, and Community Outreach, where you currently serve as the Department Coordinator. Will you tell us about the office and how it serves students? You and Dr. Robert Owens built this office from the ground up. Most faculty never get to design a cabinet-level office from scratch. How do you know when you're getting it right? Belonging is a buzzword in higher education and I feel like sometimes it loses its meaning. Tech enrolls first-generation students, students from rural Tennessee, international students, and students whose families have been in the Upper Cumberland for generations all in the same residence hall. What does belonging actually mean at a place like TTU?

Find out more about TN Tech's Office of Access, Belonging and Community Outreach:
https://www.tntech.edu/news/releases/24-25/tech-launches-new-office-of-access-belonging-and-community-outreach.php

Find out more about TN Tech:
https://www.tntech.edu

Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Cookeville, TN.

This episode of Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is made possible by our partners at Aspire Barber and Beauty Academy.

Find out more about Aspire Barber and Beauty Academy:
https://aspirebarberandbeauty.com

Join Kosta and his guest: Sara Kruszka, candidate for Democratic Executive Committeewoman for Tennessee District 15.

In this episode: Like everyone listening to this episode, no matter how hard we try, we can’t escape this election cycle. However, today’s episode will be a bit different as we’re talking about a part of the ballot you’ve probably never paid much attention to: State Executive Committee. You’re running for Tennessee District 15 Democratic Executive Committeewoman, what is that? Why have we never heard of it before? Let’s talk about our local party, and what candidates are bringing to this election. For several decades here in Putnam County we’ve had a dwindling to non-existent Democratic slate of candidates. This year, you’re running 19 candidates across the county. From your perspective, as a group, what are the greatest strengths and weaknesses for this coalition over the next 4 months? You’ll have a contested race on the August ballot, and although your campaign will look different than your peers, you’ll still need to campaign. Why should voters pick you to be their voice for the state democratic party?

Find out more about Sara Kruszka's Campaign: https://www.instagram.com/votesaratn/

Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Cookeville, TN.

This episode of Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is made possible by our partners at Miss Sallie's Market.

Find out more about Miss Sallie's Market:
https://www.misssallies.com

Join Kosta and his guest: Kelley McNeal, CPA, public servant, educator and candidate for Putnam County Trustee.

In this episode: For 23 years you served as an auditor for the Tennessee Comptroller's Office. A critical part of that role was going to Trustee offices across Tennessee and examining how offices were (or weren't) properly executing their responsibilities. What did that experience teach you about what differentiates a well-run Trustee's office from a poorly run office? For our listeners meeting you for the first time, you grew up on a farm on the Putnam-Overton County line. You’ve lived and served our Upper Cumberland community for your entire life. Why did you decide to run for office this cycle? How did you decide to run for Trustee? As we’ve discussed in previous episodes, this election season, there are two primary races that have us on the edge of our seats. Putnam County Mayor, and Putnam County Trustee. We know all three of the candidates in this race have put their all into campaigning and that’s part of what makes this election cycle so exciting for voters. What do you hope voters are thinking about when they go to cast their ballot in this election?

Find out more about the Putnam County Trustee's Office: https://putnamcountytn.gov/trustee

Find out more about Kelley McNeal for Putnam County Trustee: https://www.facebook.com/p/Kelley-McNeal-for-Putnam-County-Trustee-61577288861722/

Register to vote, check your registration or update your voter registration: https://sos.tn.gov/govotetn

Important Putnam County Election dates and information:
Putnam County Primary Elections will be held on May 5, 2026, with early voting from April 15th to April 30th.
Putnam County General Elections will be held on August 6th with early voting from July 17th to August 1st.
All early voting takes place at the Putnam County Election Commission on 705 County Services Dr, Cookeville, TN 38501.
For more information visit on Putnam County polling locations visit: https://putnamcountytn.gov/election-commission

Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Cookeville, TN.

This episode of Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is made possible by our partners at Aspire Barber and Beauty Academy.

Find out more about Aspire Barber and Beauty Academy:
https://aspirebarberandbeauty.com

Join Kosta and his guest: Ferran Kefauver, Executive Director of CityScape.

In this episode: The crown jewel of Cookeville is our Historic Westside. There are countless shops, offices and enough restaurants to feed an army, but it wasn’t always this way. In fact, not too long ago, our downtown was mostly an afterthought. What changed and how has CityScape helped direct and support this rebirth? We’re a few weeks away from CityScape’s most anticipated event of the year: Taste of the Town. This year’s event will be at the original Putnam County Fairgrounds off East Veterans Drive. What can you tell us about this year’s event? What can we expect? I know I’ll get some heat if I don’t ask this, and I also understand it’s out of your hands, but we all want to know - is Wine on the Westside ever coming back?

Find out more about CityScape:
https://cookevillecityscape.com/

Taste of the Town 2026 | The White Barn Affair
Saturday, April 25, 2026

Historic Putnam County Fairgrounds
Membership Options: https://cookevillecityscape.com/benefits

Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Cookeville, TN.

This episode of Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is made possible by our partners at Miss Sallie's Market.

Find out more about Miss Sallie's Market:
https://www.misssallies.com

Join Kosta and his guest: Jamie Hunter, Chief Deputy Trustee for the Putnam County Trustee’s Office and candidate for Putnam County Trustee.

In this episode: You’ve spent 30 years in public service here in Putnam County. You’ve lived here your entire life and now, as we said in the introduction, you’re running to serve as our next Putnam County Trustee. I want to start with your background, and what’s at the heart of what you’re trying to accomplish. As a lifelong member of our community, what does success in public service mean to you? Let’s talk about the work of our County Trustee. Most listeners are well aware of property taxes, but after we pay, it’s mostly a mystery. Can you walk us through what the Trustee's Office actually does with that money? Where does it go? Why does it matter? This is a contested primary with three Republican candidates. Other than County Mayor, this race will be the most closely watched election of the 2026 Primaries. What do you think is the single most important thing voters should be focused on when casting their vote for this office?

Find out more about the Putnam County Trustee's Office: https://putnamcountytn.gov/trustee

Register to vote, check your registration or update your voter registration: https://sos.tn.gov/govotetn

Important Putnam County Election dates and information:
Putnam County Primary Elections will be held on May 5, 2026, with early voting from April 15th to April 30th.
Putnam County General Elections will be held on August 6th with early voting from July 17th to August 1st.
All early voting takes place at the Putnam County Election Commission on 705 County Services Dr, Cookeville, TN 38501.
For more information visit on Putnam County polling locations visit: https://putnamcountytn.gov/election-commission

Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Cookeville, TN.

This episode of Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is made possible by our partners at Aspire Barber and Beauty Academy.

Find out more about Aspire Barber and Beauty Academy:
https://aspirebarberandbeauty.com

Join Kosta and his guest: Linda Vickers, Executive Director of Safe Haven Recovery Program and Deanna Jenkins, President of the Board for  Safe Haven Recovery Program.

In this episode: Safe Haven was founded in 2023, but your work and service to those seeking to rebuild their lives started long before Safe Haven. Will you take us to the beginning of your story and tell us how you got here? Safe Haven is a 12-month program. A year is a serious commitment to ask of anyone, but especially of someone who might be coming straight from incarceration. What does the first week look like for a new resident, and how do you build the foundation to continue the process? While you’re addressing very practical barriers to returning to an independent life like employment and transportation, you’re also equally focused on spiritual healing. How do you balance the practical and the faith-based sides of recovery? Why is it important to have both?

Find out more about Safe Haven Recovery Program: https://safehavenuc.org

Find out more about Run for a Reason 5K:
📆 Date: May 9, 2026
📍 Location: Dogwood Park | Cookeville, TN
⏱️ Registration Time Begins: 8:30 AM | Race Begins: 9:30 AM

Find Out More and Register: https://safehavenuc.org/participants

Sponsor the Race: https://safehavenuc.org/sponsorship

Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Cookeville, TN.

This episode of Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is made possible by our partners at Miss Sallie's Market.

Find out more about Miss Sallie's Market:
https://www.misssallies.com

Join Kosta and his guest: Sam Sandlin, CPA, Putnam County Commissioner for District 2 and Candidate for Putnam County Commission District 2.

In this episode: It’s March of 2026, and unless you’re literally living under a rock in Putnam County you know we have local elections this year. Let’s start with some background, because while most of our listeners know there’s an election, they might not know why it matters. What is a County Commissioner? What does the County Commission do? You’ve served the 2nd District of Putnam County for eight years, two terms in office and you’re going for a third. What do you see as your greatest accomplishments so far and what do you still want to achieve? This term you’re running as an Independent. Why? How will this change your campaign strategy? When we’re talking about local government, particularly on the county level, what responsibility do you see our county government having in ensuring a quality of life to Putnam County residents that’s better than what they currently have?

Find out more about the Putnam County Commission: https://putnamcountytn.gov/county-commission

Register to vote, check your registration or update your voter registration: https://sos.tn.gov/govotetn

Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Cookeville, TN.

This episode of Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is made possible by our partners at Aspire Barber and Beauty Academy.

Find out more about Aspire Barber and Beauty Academy:
https://aspirebarberandbeauty.com

Join Kosta and his guest: Cora Hageman, Owner and Founder of Wonderfill Refillery.

In this episode: For most Cookeville shoppers, Wonderfill is their first experience with a zero-waste store. So, let’s start there. What is a zero-waste store? How does it work? What do we need to know before we go? How is garbage and waste from single use items like shampoo bottles and cleaning supplies really impacting our environment? If enough of us move to a zero-waste system how can we better our community in the Upper Cumberland and the world overall? Wonderfill is committed to a sustainable mission that includes: pricing, lifestyle adoption and use. How do you push back against the perception that sustainable living is only for people who can afford it or have the time and resources to implement it into their lifestyle?

Find out more about Wonderfill Refillery:
https://wonderfillrefillery.com/

Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Cookeville, TN.

This episode of Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is made possible by our partners at Miss Sallie's Market.

Find out more about Miss Sallie's Market:
https://www.misssallies.com

Join Kosta and his guest: Mark Lynam, Director of Research Development and Proposal Services at Tennessee Tech.

In this episode: When most people hear Office of Research, their eyes glaze over. Explained for those of us without a PhD: what does your office actually do, and why should our greater Upper Cumberland community care? What kind of research is TTU doing? Where does the money come from? How is it used? Let’s talk about the Research and Creative Inquiry Symposium. This year it'll be held April 20th through the 23rd. For anyone who hasn't been, paint us a picture. What does this event look like from start to finish and why is it one of the most important events on Tennessee Tech's calendar?

Find out more about the Research and Creative Inquiry Symposium:
https://www.tntech.edu/research/research-day.php

Research and Creative Inquiry Symposium is an event designed to promote student research and creative inquiry and provide a venue for presenting that work. This event is open to undergraduate and graduate students from all departments who want to display their research and creative projects.

Find out more about TN Tech Office of Research:
https://www.tntech.edu/research/about.php

Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Cookeville, TN.

This episode of Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is made possible by our partners at Aspire Barber and Beauty Academy.

Find out more about Aspire Barber and Beauty Academy:
https://aspirebarberandbeauty.com