Local Matters

Sam Brooks meets with former Tennessee Tech Basketball players Chad Crouch, Amy Crouch, and their daughter, Upperman basketball player Brooklyn Crouch. They discuss the dynamic that basketball has played in their family, especially considering Brooklyn's success this year, Brooklyn's decision to attend and play for Upperman High School, and what went into that decision that many people may not normally consider when choosing a high school to attend, as well as how Brooklyn's high school basketball career and experiences have differed from her parents' own.

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Bob Bell meets with Kathryn Wisinger, the new appointed Director of the Putnam County Library. They discuss her background, growing up in Cookeville, what brought her to the Putnam County Library, the various special classes that the library hosts for children, as well as the library's Board of Trustees, and the role that they play in the library's operations.

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Ben Rodgers talks with Amy New, President & CEO of the Cookeville-Putnam County Chamber of Commerce. They discuss what the Chamber has going on currently that she is excited for, changes surrounding the Visitors Bureau, the downtown Visitors Shop, the importance of the Leslie Town Centre, as well as some of the events that the Chamber has lined up for 2022.

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Sam Brooks talks with Cookeville High School Lady Cavaliers Basketball senior players Bailey Gillies and KK Graves. They discuss what their experiences were like progressing through CHS's basketball program from the time they were freshmen to now as seniors, the relationship that they have with the community and fellow CHS Basketball alumni, as well as who some of the most influential individuals have been in their lives throughout their playing career.

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Bob Bell sits down with Darron Smith, Dean of the College of Agriculture and Human Ecology at Tennessee Tech University. They discuss his background, education, and career, the majors that are available under the College of Agriculture and Human Ecology, as well as an overview of the various farms and facilities that are available to the College and its students.

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Ben Rodgers sits down with White County Executive Denny Wayne Robinson, Smith County Mayor Jeff Mason, Cumberland County Mayor Allen Foster, and Jackson County Mayor Randy Heady. They continue to discuss the various projects, updates, and issues in their respective counties, the Tennessee State EMS Advocate Award that Cumberland County Mayor Allen Foster recently received, and learn more about Ben and his work with the counties of the Upper Cumberland as the Mayors turn the table on him and take a turn asking the questions.

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Sam Brooks sits down with Bert Browne, Tennessee Tech University Football Coach, and former record setting Quarterback at TTU. They discuss his background and how he ended up at TTU, his time coaching under Eastern Kentucky University's Roy Kidd, as well as what his expectations are for Golden Eagle Football in the upcoming season.

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Bob Bell talks with Katelyn Steakley, Executive Director of the Putnam Education Partnership Foundation. They discuss what the Putnam Education Partnership Foundation is, what her role as Executive Director entails, how their mission has evolved since its inception, what their current vision is, and what some of their initiatives are including a backpack program, a student needs fund, as well as school safety.

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

Ben Rodgers sits down with White County Executive Denny Wayne Robinson, Smith County Mayor Jeff Mason, Cumberland County Mayor Allen Foster, and Jackson County Mayor Randy Heady. They discuss The Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement (TISA), and its school overhaul funding, the various projects that they have currently going on in their respective counties, how they are allocating American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds for those projects, as well as what some of the other issues are that they're addressing in their counties.

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

Sam Brooks meets with retired teacher and coach, Marty Cook. They discuss his family and career, what led to him retiring from teaching, his time coaching baseball, and who some of the key players were throughout his coaching career, as well as why Sycamore Elementary School in Cookeville was such a special place to work at for him.

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