Local Matters

Caroline Moore meets with Emma Crabtree, owner of the indoor plant shop Glass Tangerine in Cookeville. They discuss her background moving around a few times, the different paths she found herself on as she grew up, why she went into the indoor plants business, as well as when the idea of the Glass Tangerine originated, and what went into the timing of opening up the store.

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Ben Rodgers sits down with newly elected City Of Cookeville Council Member, and Vice-Mayor, Luke Eldridge. They discuss his background and what made him decide to run for City Council, the homeless population in Cookeville, and the ways to work with them and help them out, as well as the point in his life where he realized that public service was the right path for him.

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Sam Brooks talks with Dr. Rob Owens, Chief Diversity Officer at Tennessee Tech University. They discuss his background and role as Chief Diversity Officer at TTU, his time growing up in Murfreesboro, his family's background in sports, as well as his experiences playing a sport in high school while also playing in the marching band and making good grades, and just how rare that was at the time.

Listen to the latest Local Matters Podcast… Presented by Office Mart.

Bob Bell meets with Ryan Barnhart, Director of Workforce Development for the Highlands Economic Partnership. They discuss his background and what brought him to Cookeville, workforce development within the Highlands Economic Partnership, challenges within the existing industry and job needs across the Upper Cumberland, as well as the new Highlands Training Center initiative.

Listen to the latest Local Matters Podcast… Presented by Office Mart.

Caroline Moore talks with local educator Luke Anderson. They discuss his background growing up in Edmond, Oklahoma, what made him decide to be a teacher later than some people, as well as what it was like coming to Cookeville High School as a new teacher.

Listen to the latest Local Matters Podcast… Presented by Office Mart.

Ben Rodgers talks with new elected City Of Cookeville Mayor Laurin Wheaton. They discuss how the City of Cookeville elects the next mayor compared to other cities, possible reasons for the low voter turnout during the most recent election cycle, as well as some of the first things that her and the City Council will work on together.

Listen to the latest Local Matters Podcast… Presented by Office Mart.

Sam Brooks sits down with Cookeville High School Girls' Basketball Head Coach and new Assistant Athletic Director Jamie Gillies. They discuss her thoughts on last year's successful season for the Lady Cavaliers, their experiences going through summer camp with this year's team, her new role as CHS's Assistant Athletic Director, as well as what she thinks about smaller schools playing multiple sports for those teams to succeed.

Listen to the latest Local Matters Podcast… Presented by Office Mart.

Bob Bell talks with Dr. Jeremy Wendt, Chairman of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction in the Tennessee Tech University College of Education. They discuss his background coming from Coalfield, TN and Morgan County, his time at TTU, what the typical life of an Education Grad from TTU is like, and the various fields of employment that one may go into, as well as how the COVID-19 pandemic changed what teachers are taught, and how that's impacting K-12 education.

Listen to the latest Local Matters Podcast… Presented by Office Mart.

Caroline Moore meets with local artist, reverend, and American Legion District Commander Skip Ritter. They discuss his background growing up in Madison and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, his early employment as a consulting engineer, how he became involved with the American Legion, as well as the various local projects that the American Legion are involved in.

Listen to the latest Local Matters Podcast… Presented by Office Mart.

Ben Rodgers sits down with Macon County Mayor Steve Jones, and fellow UT CTAS County Government Consultant Wesley Robertston. They discuss their respective backgrounds, highlights of Macon County's recently passed budget, as well as various projects taking place within the county.

Listen to the latest Local Matters Podcast… Presented by Office Mart.