The Rant

Susan Weber, co-chair of the Lee Grow Play Succeed campaign to pass a bond in November to fund a multi-million dollar sports complex in Sanford, joins The Rant to talk about plans for the complex, the upcoming bond referendum and what a complex could mean for Sanford's future. Hosted by Gordon Anderson, Jonathan Owens and Billy Liggett.

Lisa Mathis from the North Carolina Board of Transportation and engineer Brandon Jones from NCDOT Division 8 join The Rant to talk about road projects in and around Lee County and to share a little highway trivia.  

Ricky Secor, the principal at Broadway Elementary School for the past four years, talks about the preparations he and his faculty have taken to start the 2020-2021 school year — which begins Monday with online classes. Hosted by Gordon Anderson, Billy Liggett and Jonathan Owens. 

Beth List, the director of library services for the Lee County Library, talks about how they've adapted to the pandemic to continue to offer books, internet and other services to the community. She also answers questions we all want to know about the library (Dewey Decimal system, anyone?) and shares updates on upcoming events. 

Scott Mason, known throughout North Carolina as the Tar Heel Traveler on WRAL, joins The Rant to talk about his career, what goes into making a Tar Heel Traveler segment and why The Rant was on his radar. 

Sanford native, UNC senior and Rant contributor Laura Brummett joins The Rant's Friends of The Rant podcast to talk about her passion for journalism and college life during the pandemic. Hosted by Gordon Anderson, Billy Liggett and Jonathan Owens. 

In the July 2020 edition of The Rant Monthly, Morehouse College student and Southern Lee grad Ari Wright Thompson wrote about his experience growing up in Sanford and racism he faced. Ari talks goes into more detail for the podcast and talks about how studying political science and law will make him a better advocate. 

The Rant was joined this week by Chad Blackwelder, longtime chef and current food service marketing specialist for the N.C. Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Blackwelder talks about the industry, how restaurants have adapted to COVID-19 regulations and why Thousand Island dressing is frowned upon. We also play a little game of “guess that tune” in the beginning.