Wise Up, a Wise County Messenger podcast

Wise County Sheriff Lane Akin was once known as Joe Lane. Joseph Lane had a beard and shaggy hair as an undercover agent during the precipice of the meth boom in Texas. His time in narcotics enforcement influenced his career and was the subject of his new book, "The Point. Dawn of the Texas Meth War."

The Wise County Courthouse will be looking a little different soon. We discuss the new-look roof, changes for early voting in the March primary, the bonds on the May ballot, important sports updates and more on the Season 1 finale of the Wise Up podcast.Want to be featured on the next episode? Leave us a message on the Wise Up Hotline: 940-242-1931

As Valentine's Day approaches, the Wise Up podcast shares our takeaways from a recent story on a couple whose relationship has stood the test of time, while also sharing staff plans to celebrate the romantic, top-10 holiday.The crew also dives into the art of campaign mailers, water developments for Wise County, Newsmax and why we hate Super Bowl parties.0:00 Intro/Valentine’s Day 6:20 Political ads/campaign mailers 9:30 PACs10:50 Super Bowl13:50 Scanner tales 18:20 Micah minut...

The UIL’s biennial realignment Feb. 1 has shaken up the Wise County sports scene. The Wise Up crew discusses the new landing spots and more on Episode 11 of the podcast.

Atlanta Braves pitcher and Decatur graduate Bryce Elder joins the Wise Up podcast to share how a bet on himself led to a career in Major League Baseball.The MLB All-Star and former Texas Longhorn shares his approach to Spring Training after the breakout season in 2023 and his message to local students and athletes during visits to area schools this offseason.

The Wise Up crew discusses how the Paradise community has banded together in the face of another tragedy following the plane crash that resulted in the deaths of Dr. Heath Smith and his six-year-old and eight-year-old sons; the new Lost Battalion Memorial Highway; an important sports update and more on Episode 9 of the podcast.

The Wise Up crew talks inclement weather, the loss of a Decatur legend, the forum for the March primary and more on the latest episode of the Wise Up podcast.

The Wise Up podcast crew discusses the 2023 Wise County Person of the Year, the new food truck that's in the works in Alvord and debuts a new sports segment in this week's episode.

Wise County Messenger editors Austin Jackson and Brendan Marchand look back at some of the top stories and moments of 2023 in Wise County.

Wise County artist Kevin Roach joins the Wise Up podcast to discuss the artistry behind turning storm damage and tree stumps into intricate, lifelike carvings of people and animals — with a chainsaw.Roach recently turned the hobby into a full-time job, leaving the oil and gas industry to carve out a new gas-powered career as a chainsaw artist. You can see his work in Wise County and beyond.Sponsor: Wise County State Farm agent Cary Bohn