It won’t be long before the Upper Cumberland’s natural beauty will again be on display as spring buds across its national and state parks. Hard to imagine many areas of the nation that are as blessed with such treasures as we are with our park space. We introduce you to some of those treasures as we await spring.

We start in Jamestown with the Big South Fork National Park and Recreation Area. Stretching into East Tennessee and Southern Kentucky, the national park offers thousands of acres of exploration and recreation opportunities.

Two members of the team who take care of the park sit down with us to talk about its beauty. Frank Graham and Chris Dearmond talk about the opportunities available and what you might see as you explore Big South Fork.

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.

Here are the latest closings, delays and cancellations from 106-9 Kicks Country.

Listen live now for the latest on road conditions, schedule changes and the forecast from our team of meteorologists.

Keeping you ahead of the storm…106-9 Kicks Country.

Did you miss Gator & Styckman’s last show this morning? Want to relive some of the best stories that the two have? Check out our playlist believe, and laugh along to some wild stories!

And don’t worry, Gator & Styckman will still be here! Gator’s hanging out weekday afternoons, and Styckman’s taking over at night…who knows what kind of trouble he’ll get in to by himself…

Jason & Tony are moving to Kicks Country to wake you up. Listen to the playlist below to see how the two dynamic duos of Kicks Country met.

It’s only on 106-9 Kicks Country…#1 For Most Country.

Gator & Styckman are moving…to different times, that is! Listen to Gator & Styckman’s goodbyes as they sign off from mornings on 106-9 Kicks Country.

But don’t worry, they’ll still be around! Gator’s hanging out with you in the afternoons, and Styckman’s keeping you company to help end your day.

As a new year begins, hundreds of new members will join the Upper Cumberland community. The health of these infants born across our region continues to be a concern to soon-to-be moms and dads as well as the community itself.

Karen Parks sees this first-hand every day as the Neo Natal Education Nurse at Cookeville Regional Medical Center. She looks at how infant care has changed as well as how parents are examining what they do in bringing up the newest citizens of our region.

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.

Did you miss the announcement Monday morning? Gator And Styckman have some big news to share! They’re moving from mornings, but don’t worry, they’ll still be around! Listen to the full announcement below to learn more.

White County High School’s Senior Caylee Tollison has been selected as one of the Lite Rock 95.9/106-9 Kicks Country Dream Big Scholars for the month of January.

The award, presented by the Tennessee Credit Union, 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.

Tollison has achieved some outstanding academic achievements, such as being nominated for the Congress of Future Medical Leaders. Tollison was also chosen to be a member of two different honor societies, The Society of Torch & Laurel and National Society of High Scholars. This December, Tollison and her fellow senior cheerleaders traveled to Disney World in Florida and cheer.

In addition to Tollison’s academic success, she is a member of several clubs such as: BETA club, interact club, student council, young life, and HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America). Tollison is also a member of the cheerleading team.

Once Tollison graduates high school, she plans to attend Yale University and become a neurosurgeon to help brain injury victims.

Lite Rock 95.9 Morning Show Host Sheila Scruggs visited White County High School a couple of months ago and presented Tollison with a plaque. Tollison 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 1069KicksCountry.com or LiteRock959.com.

Since 9/11, our focus as it relates to airline safety centered on keeping those who wished to do harm off airplanes. Recent events in Europe and this month in Ft. Lauderdale show there’s another area of focus needed. Because airports bring together large numbers of people – and people that are often not focused on safety – they provide an easy “soft target” for those looking to cause mass casualties.

A Tennessee Tech professor has spent much of his career working on safer flying experiences, both technical and from a security standpoint. Dr. Vahid Motevalli is Tech’s Associate Dean for Research and Innovation.

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.

A new year and the year’s first snow….good reasons to have a new source of news, weather, sports, and information in the Upper Cumberland. It has arrived with the launch of News Talk 94.1/AM 1600.

The station signed on the air Monday bringing information and conversation to Cookeville, Monterey, Baxter, Sparta, Livingston, Gainesboro and Smithville.

“We are excited to be able to reach a much bigger portion of the Upper Cumberland with a station dedicated to keeping local listeners informed,” Stonecom President Larry Stone said. “News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 will truly be Where The Upper Cumberland Talks.”

The station’s call letters were changed with the Federal Communications Commission to WUCT, reflecting the station’s new position. Stonecom, owners of News Talk 94.1 and three other stations, purchased the station in October and erected new transmission equipment in December.

News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 combines information with conversation 24/7, providing local listeners the chance to stay informed on many different topics.

“We call it ‘Smart Talk’ because it reflects a focus on more than just politics,” Stone said. “Most of us…are so much more than just left vs. right name-calling. We care about highways and our kids. We love SEC Football. We are interested in our money, our house, our animals. News Talk 94.1 reflects this.”

The station features Clark Howard, weekdays 9-11am with two hours of conversation on everything from scams to travel deals to retirement. Middle Tennessee’s own Dave Ramsey shows the road to financial peace weekdays 1-3pm. The SEC Network’s Paul Finebaum brings interesting guests and SEC football talk 365 days a year to afternoons on News Talk 94.1. His 3-5pm show gives listeners the chance to sound-off.

In addition to conversation and the biggest games, News Talk 94.1 will be an information center for the region with local news and weather every hour on the hour followed by CBS News, the long-time standard bearer for national and international news coverage.

“Rafferty Cleary and Kate Cook will provide our listeners with complete coverage of the stories happening right here at home,” Stone said. “Every hour, count on us for local news followed by CBS News, which since the 1940s has been a beacon in this region for news.”

News Talk 94.1 will also present a full-hour of local news, weather, and sports each morning from 7am-8am. “The Upper Cumberland This Morning” will also offer the latest UT News from Bob Kesling, business reports, and the day’s obituaries at 7:25am. The fastpaced approach to news continues afternoons at 5pm with “The Upper Cumberland At 5.”

Fans of political conversation will have numerous chances to sound off on the issues as well as News Talk 94.1 presents Fox News Host Brian Kilmeade mornings from 8-9am, Joe Pags weeknights 6-8pm and John Bachelor weeknights 8-10pm.

News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 will be home to marquee sports events including the upcoming AFC and NFC Championship Games as well as the Super Bowl and March Madness. The station serves as the home to the Lady Vols and features two hours of UT conversation every Sunday at 4pm, including the long-running Big Orange Sunday featuring former Tennessee Defensive Coordinator Doug Mathews.

Weekends on News Talk 94.1 feature more smart talk including a Saturday focus on getting things done. “How To Saturday” features engaging conversation in all fields from your garden to technology to your health. Sunday evening features a six-hour block that brings insight and analysis beyond the rhetoric.

Stonecom proudly serves the entire Upper Cumberland on-air and online with local content and service through News Talk 94.1/AM 1600, Lite Rock 95.9, Rock 93-7 and 106-9 Kicks Country. Stone said the station looks forward to offering new forms of information and conversation on News Talk 94.1 and at NewsTalk941.Com, where the station streams live.

“This is only the beginning,” Stone said. “I hope local listeners will make News Talk 94.1 a destination – and a new preset on the radio.”

Tennessee will likely examine the issue of medical marijuana during the coming year as two legislators have introduced a bill to provide for the legal use of cannabis for medical reasons. A Tennessee woman has seen first hand what medical marijuana can do for those suffering with diseases and medical issues.

Dana M. Arvidson is the founding member of The International Women’s Cannabis Coalition.

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 Sundays on  News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 beginning at 7am and 12:30pm.