Local Matters
Education, Sports, Faith & Everything In Between Originating from News Talk 94.1 the show deals with community issues and interests that affect listeners closer to home. With topics from major events across the nation and how they impact our area to interesting people and figures from across the Upper Cumberland. Local Matters is where local, matters. Covering the issues that matter to you. Every weekday.
Episodes
August 12, 2025 • 32 mins
Jeremy Wendt sits down with Kim Dillon, the new Director of Overton County Schools, to discuss her unexpected journey from classroom teacher to district leadership. Originally planning to become an attorney, Dillon switched paths after having children and has now been in education for 23 years. She shares her thoughts on how career pathways have evolved, the importance of secondary education, and the recent success of AP and dual e...
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August 11, 2025 • 32 mins
Host George Halford sits down with Trish Stover, a proud Jamestown native and owner of Stover's County Kitchen in Livingston, Tennessee. Trish shares stories from her upbringing, the strong family values that shaped her, and how those values are reflected in her restaurant. She opens up about the heartbreaking loss of her youngest daughter—a tragedy that deeply affected her but ultimately strengthened her resolve and passion. From ...
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August 8, 2025 • 33 mins
Cumberland County Mayor Allen Foster sits down with Ben Rogers to discuss Cumberland County's 2025-2026 year growth, and what it means for the county now and in the upcoming future. Hear the Mayor's first hand account of what this will mean for Cumberland County and the surrounding counties around the areas.
Listen To The Local Matters Podcast Today! News Talk 94.1
Listen To The Local Matters Podcast Today! News Talk 94.1
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August 7, 2025 • 32 mins
Alma Shoemaker of Caring Hearts United joins Drs. Lee and Mabry to share her journey from truck driver to devoted volunteer in this moving episode. She reflects on meeting founder Melinda Breedlove at the Warren County Fair and the compassionate mission that sparked Caring Hearts United. After Melinda's passing, Alma and Melinda's sister, Diane Sneed continued her legacy—providing hospice units in Middle Tennessee with donated care...
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Elizabeth Best and Mary Ann Martin join Tiffany Anton to discuss the story behind Bless the Mess Cleaning and how it all got started for them. They discuss how Bless the Mess Cleaning works, and how they're always able to help out no matter how big the mess!
Listen To The Local Matters Podcast Today! News Talk 94.1
Listen To The Local Matters Podcast Today! News Talk 94.1
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August 5, 2025 • 35 mins
Jeremy Wendt sat down with Algood faculty and staff Beth Gaw (assistant principal), Kesha Johnson (kindergarten), and Jill Williams (3rd grade) to discuss the importance of teaching and how to bring more people into the profession. They reflected on the influence of their own favorite teachers and how those experiences shape their current methods in the classroom. Jill emphasized the value of soft skills, self-discovery, and active...
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George Halford sits down with Sandy and Bill Miller to explore their journey from the depths of the ocean to behind the lens. These St. Louis natives met during Bill’s first scuba dive, where Sandy was his instructor—a meeting that sparked both a lifelong partnership and a shared passion for adventure. After two decades as dive instructors, the couple discovered photography, a hobby that began when Bill gifted Sandy a camera after ...
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August 1, 2025 • 32 mins
Fentress County Executive Jimmy Johnson joins Ben Rogers to break down the 2025–26 fiscal year and the progress being made across the county. Johnson discusses major construction projects, including new junior college buildings, school and highway funding, and the impact of state revenue on small counties with lower pay scales. He opens up about the challenges of retaining emergency service personnel amid rising costs for essential...
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July 31, 2025 • 33 mins
Tennessee Tech alumna Blakelee Smith, a Cookeville native, joins Drs. Lee and Mabry to spotlight the importance of UV awareness during National UV Awareness Month. Blakelee shares what sets her dermatology practice apart, highlighting the wide range of clients they serve—from teens struggling with acne to older adults managing chronic skin conditions. She breaks down common myths around sunscreen, explains the differences between U...
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July 30, 2025 • 33 mins
Tiffany Anton sits down with Lee Flatt, founder and owner of Wrap World, to talk about how he turned a simple idea into a thriving business. Starting in a space barely bigger than a recording studio, Lee now leads a team that specializes in vehicle wraps, temporary signage, and banners for both indoor and outdoor use. He shares insight into the wrapping process, the different materials used, and the importance of preparation. Lee a...
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July 29, 2025 • 32 mins
In this episode, Jeremy Wendt sits down with Dale Carver, Welding Instructor at Cookeville High School, to discuss the importance of skilled trades in today’s workforce. A Lebanon native with 24 years in manufacturing, Dale shares how his lifelong passion for teaching and inspiration from his middle school shop teacher led him to the classroom. Now in his third year at CHS, Dale talks about the critical demand for quality welders, ...
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July 28, 2025 • 33 mins
George Halford sits down with Cookeville native Lisa Carver, the force behind Highways and Hedges, a grassroots outreach making a real impact in the local homeless community. After a motorcycle accident left her with a brain injury and ended her career as a hairdresser, Lisa began assembling “blessing bags” with her children and handing them out to those in need. Known for serving hot soup from the back of her car during the cold m...
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July 25, 2025 • 32 mins
In this episode, Ben Rogers sits down with Lorie Elder Burnette, the newly elected Mayor of Livingston, to talk about her journey from small-town roots to big-city life — and back again. A Livingston native, Lorie shares how her time in Nashville gave her a deeper appreciation for her hometown and eventually inspired her to serve it in a greater capacity. With a background in physical therapy and experience in home health care, she...
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July 24, 2025 • 34 mins
The Drs. sit down with Maria O’Connell, an Ayurveda and wellness specialist, to explore her journey from the corporate world to holistic health. Maria shares stories from her early career with companies like Ford and an oil plant in Texas, moving across the country before finding her passion in alternative medicine. She explains the core principles of Ayurveda—known as the “science of life”—and how it emphasizes balance, natural he...
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July 23, 2025 • 33 mins
Tiffany Anton sits down with Dennis Bynum to discuss his H2O water filtration business and how he brought this unique system from Arizona to Tennessee. Now available in 30 states, Dennis shares the journey of convincing the original creator to let him expand it nationwide. He dives into the unseen dangers in our water—like flushed drugs, chemical spills, and the 17 contaminants recently found in Cookeville’s water system. Dennis al...
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July 22, 2025 • 32 mins
Jeremy Wendt sits down with Angie Givens, the Tennessee Upper Cumberland Coordinator for TN CCR&R. Though Angie didn’t found the program herself, she leads its work across 18 counties in the Upper Cumberland region. TN CCR&R traces its roots back to educator Marguerite Hullander in 1998 and later became statewide under the Tennessee Department of Human Services, with Signal Centers located in Chattanooga TN serving as the managing ...
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July 21, 2025 • 33 mins
In this inspiring episode, George Halford sits down with Zach Gantt—a native of Hilham, TN whose early life spiraled into sports, crime, and addiction, landing him behind bars three times by age 18 and labeled the county’s second‑largest drug dealer. Zach shares the crushing toll of his substance abuse and addiction on his mind and relationships, revealing how a SWAT raid became the wake‑up call that led him to get clean, earn his ...
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July 18, 2025 • 32 mins
Ben Rogers sits down with Representative John Rose to discuss all that might come with the Big Beautiful Bill and how it will affect our everyday lives, the United States, and the world.
Listen To The Local Matters Podcast Today! News Talk 94.1
Listen To The Local Matters Podcast Today! News Talk 94.1
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Drs. Lee and Mabry sit down with Jenna Carlin, owner of Healed by His Grace Massage Therapy, to discuss her faith-based approach to healing and wellness. Jenna shares how her journey began with a dream to open a salon with her best friend and evolved into a passion for therapeutic touch. She offers a range of personalized services, including pet therapy with her horse, and emphasizes the importance of understanding each client’s un...
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July 16, 2025 • 32 mins
Tiffany Anton sits down with Kalin McCullar, owner of 1806 BBQ in Livingston, TN, to talk about his journey from backyard smoking to running a full-time restaurant. Raised by a single dad who loved to cook, Kalin shares how his passion for barbecue turned into a business after years of trial and error. He discusses the challenges of balancing two full-time jobs, the importance of consistency, and what makes 1806 BBQ a local favorit...
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