Local business leaders…educators…and government officials gathered together some ten years ago to look at how the Upper Cumberland could better help its workforce serve local employers.

Not only would that focus allow the area to grow through new industry and companies locating here, but the effort would help prepare employees better for existing jobs. That effort has continued…a collaboration between private and public entities…creating successful outcomes for the region.

How did the group come together and what’s being done to move the process along? We visit with Dr. Myra West of TCAT, Dr. Jerry Boyd of the Putnam County Schools and Lillian Hartgrove, Vice President of Workforce Development for the Highlands Chamber of Commerce. They are members of the steering committee of the Workforce Development Program.

Today In The Upper Cumberland airs each weekend as a way to introduce you to interesting people and subjects of interest to our community. Catch the show each Saturday morning at 6 on Lite Rock 95.9, Rock 93-7, and 106-9 Kicks Country.

Sunday morning, the show airs at 7am on Rock 93-7. Catch the show Sunday night at 6pm on Lite Rock 95.9 and at 7pm on 106-9 Kicks Country. You can also catch Today in The Upper Cumberland Sunday mornings at 7am and Sundays at Noon on News Talk 94.1/AM 1600.

The police chief of Algood facing scrutiny after audio and video recordings surfaced this week. An update of Friday’s events from News Talk 94.1’s The Upper Cumberland At 5.

The latest local news, weather, sports and obituaries, weekdays at 5 on News Talk 94.1/AM 1600.

The state of Tennessee and the Upper Cumberland region are dealing with a large addiction to opioids and pain killers. But it’s not just the lives of adult men and women being lost to this addiction.

Just like infants born addicted to illegal drugs, thousands of babies statewide are being born addicted to opioids. This can lead to lengthy hospital stays and babies that deal with withdrawal symptoms. But what are the long-term implications of these actions.

Today, the second of a two-part discussion on the topic…as we visit with Dr. Sam Barnes and Dr. James Gray. These two long-time Upper Cumberland doctors are focused on the issues surrounding opioids and how we can save the lives of these infants.

Today In The Upper Cumberland airs each weekend as a way to introduce you to interesting people and subjects of interest to our community. Catch the show each Saturday morning at 6 on Lite Rock 95.9, Rock 93-7, and 106-9 Kicks Country.

Sunday morning, the show airs at 7am on Rock 93-7. Catch the show Sunday night at 6pm on Lite Rock 95.9 and at 7pm on 106-9 Kicks Country. You can also catch Today in The Upper Cumberland Sunday mornings at 7am and Sundays at Noon on News Talk 94.1/AM 1600.

The state of Tennessee and the Upper Cumberland region are dealing with a large addiction to opioids and pain killers. But it’s not just the lives of adult men and women being lost to this addiction.

Just like infants born addicted to illegal drugs, thousands of babies statewide are being born addicted to opioids. This can lead to lengthy hospital stays and babies that deal with withdrawal symptoms. But what are the long-term implications of these actions.

Today, the first of a two-part discussion on the topic…as we visit with Dr. Sam Barnes and Dr. James Gray. These two long-time Upper Cumberland doctors are focused on the issues surrounding opioids and how we can save the lives of these infants.

Today In The Upper Cumberland airs each weekend as a way to introduce you to interesting people and subjects of interest to our community. Catch the show each Saturday morning at 6 on Lite Rock 95.9, Rock 93-7, and 106-9 Kicks Country.

Sunday morning, the show airs at 7am on Rock 93-7. Catch the show Sunday night at 6pm on Lite Rock 95.9 and at 7pm on 106-9 Kicks Country. You can also catch Today in The Upper Cumberland Sunday mornings at 7am and Sundays at Noon on News Talk 94.1/AM 1600.

Jackson County High School’s Tiffany Allen-Kirby has been selected as the Lite Rock 95.9/106-9 Kicks Country Dream Big Scholar for February.

The award honors outstanding work in the classroom, leadership in school groups, and organization, achievement in extracurricular activities as well as work in the community. One student from a high school across the Upper Cumberland wins the award each month.

Tiffany has been active in 4-H as well as softball. Tiffany is a part of Jackson County High School’s softball team, she is also in recreational and travel ball leagues.

While being a part of 4-H and softball, Tiffany has accomplished many thing. She has achieved being on the honor roll, being FCCLA president, and gaining 4-H honors and all star.

After she graduates from Jackson County High School, Tiffany plans on going to college to become an occupational therapist to help others the way that they have helped her sister.

Lite Rock 95.9 Morning Show Host Sheila Scruggs visited Jackson County High School and presented Allen-Kirby with a plaque. Allen-Kirby will join other Dream Big Scholars from the 2016-2017 academic year at a spring banquet where she could win a $1,500 college scholarship, or one of two smaller scholarships.

106-9 Kicks Country and Lite Rock 95.9 joined forces with The Tennessee Credit Union in 2014 to encourage rising seniors who want to Dream Big. Parents, teachers, and local residents nominate graduating seniors for the award.

The Tennessee Credit Union has offices in middle and east Tennessee, including 1281 South Walnut Avenue in Cookeville. For 65 years, The Tennessee Credit Union has been helping members achieve their financial goals with products and services designed to exceed their expectations. To nominate a student to become a Dream Big Scholar, visit 1069 Kicks Country Dot Com or Lite Rock 959 Dot Com.

Did you miss the big announcement Wednesday morning? 106-9 Kicks Country is proud to be joining Algood Drugs in celebrating the men and women, the teens and seniors…the unsung who give to local organizations…through their hard work.

We are looking for the heroes in the trenches …volunteers who help kids learn to read…answer phones…type newsletters… deliver meals to seniors…staff non-profit programs…create fund-raising events…hard work that means so much but rarely sees recognition.

Do you know of any Volunteer Heroes in your community? If so, click here and let us know. Help us recognize those hard working men and women.

Listen to Jason & Tony talk with Larry Stone about the Volunteer Heroes program, and how you can take part.

You may not think of homelessness when you think about the Upper Cumberland. However, the problem is real. And many of those who are homeless served our nation’s military.

There are programs available to assist veterans who may have found themselves in some financial trouble. Veterans who may just need a helping hand to regain their footing can get that help. Veterans who are having difficulty adjusting back to civilian life can get advice in multiple areas.

Ron Rohrbach is the Director Of The Homeless Veteran Reintegration Program. The program serves Cumberland, Dekalb, Putnam and White Counties.

Today In The Upper Cumberland airs each weekend as a way to introduce you to interesting people and subjects of interest to our community. Catch the show each Saturday morning at 6 on Lite Rock 95.9, Rock 93-7, and 106-9 Kicks Country.

Sunday morning, the show airs at 7am on Rock 93-7. Catch the show Sunday night at 6pm on Lite Rock 95.9 and at 7pm on 106-9 Kicks Country. You can also catch Today in The Upper Cumberland Sunday mornings at 7am and Sundays at Noon on News Talk 94.1/AM 1600.

Sullivan is very active both in and out of school. She is a member of the CHS Interact club and a columnist for Cookeville High School’s student newspaper, as well as a being a part time intern at ECOM Inc.

Sullivan has accomplished all A’s while taking honors, AP, and dual enrollment courses. On top of academic accomplishments, Sullivan has been active with Cookeville Children’s Theater, MTVA’s Mid-State Choir, and Cookeville High School’s Chamber choir.

After graduation, Sullivan plans to do foreign mission trips. She also hopes to attend Tennessee State University for Pre-Dental Hygiene and later move to ETSU or UT Health Science Center in Memphis for their Dental Hygiene Programs. Later on, she hopes to work as a medical missionary to underprivileged countries.

A recent Gallup Poll suggested that Americans’ trust and confidence in the mass media “to report the news fully, accurately and fairly” has dropped to its lowest level in history. Just 32 percent of Americans said they had a great deal or fair amount of trust in the media.

The number stood at 72 percent in 1976.

Tennessee Tech Communications Professor Russ Witcher teaches journalism to the next generation of journalists who will live in this new environment of fake news, Facebook and Twitter reporting, analysis over reporting. He explains how the media has changed and what it means for all of us.

Today In The Upper Cumberland airs each weekend as a way to introduce you to interesting people and subjects of interest to our community. Catch the show each Saturday morning at 6 on Lite Rock 95.9, Rock 93-7, and 106-9 Kicks Country.

Sunday morning, the show airs at 7am on Rock 93-7. Catch the show Sunday night at 6pm on Lite Rock 95.9 and at 7pm on 106-9 Kicks Country. You can also catch Today in The Upper Cumberland Sunday mornings at 7am and Sundays at Noon on News Talk 94.1/AM 1600.