This week UCDD’s Megan Choate and Rosa Smith discuss child care needs and issues Unless you’re the parent of a small child, or work in the industry, you may not realize just how severe the lack of daycare is, not only here in the Upper Cumberland, but around America. During the past two years, and estimated 16 thousand childcare programs ... Read More »

This week, go inside Recovery Kitchen in Cookeville with Co-Founder Justin Veals Today we go inside the challenge of homelessness with someone who’s been been there. Someone who continues to help in our Upper Cumberland community. Justin Veals is the Co-Founder of The Recovery Kitchen. Today In The Upper Cumberland airs each weekend as a way to introduce you to ... Read More »

Meet new Program Manager for the Appalachian Center For Craft, Ashley Lusiettot.  Join host Andrea Kruszka as she sits down with painter, sculptor, and the new Program Manager for the Appalachian Center For Craft, Ashley Lusiettot. They discuss her background coming from Wisconsin, her preferred mediums of painting and sculpting, as well as her style of art, as well ... Read More »

Cookeville Water & Sewer Director Barry Turner discusses the city’s infrastructure As the Upper Cumberland continues to grow, we face issues with infrastructure – making sure we have enough, expanding infrastructure, and also replacing old infrastructure. So what about water and sewer infrastructure that dates back to The Depression? There’s some of that in Cookeville, as we find out from ... Read More »

This week, get to know Baxter artist Ken West, and how he got his start in art.  Join host Andrea Kruszka as she sits down with Baxter artist Ken West. They discuss how his brother’s art inspired him to take up drawing, the various mediums he enjoys working in, his favorite kind of background noise and music to have ... Read More »

Cookeville Vice Mayor Luke Eldridge discusses his efforts tackling homelessness. Homelessness has always been a part of Upper Cumberland life, but over the last three years, the visible signs of homelessness have increased dramatically. We explore the issues behind homelessness, and how the Upper Cumberland is trying to solve the problem with Luke Eldridge. He has spent time over the ... Read More »

This week Malia Meyer discusses her unique approach to jewelry & gemstone making  Join host Andrea Kruszka as she sits down with jewelry and gemstone maker Malia Meyer. They discuss how she got started making gemstones out of recycled CDs, what she did before getting into jewelry making while on the path to becoming a youth pastor and going ... Read More »

Putnam County’s Randy Jones discusses county infrastructure, and county roads. The state released a report this week that Tennessee needs some 62.9 billion dollars in public infrastructure improvements during the next 5 years. The biggest areas of increase – transportation. Much of that has to do with growth, and growing costs. In Putnam County, Randy Jones is responsible for the ... Read More »

This week, meet Tennessee Tech University Art Education student Veston Phillipi.  Join host Andrea Kruszka as she sits down with Tennessee Tech University Art Education student Veston Phillipi. They discuss what he does as an artist, how he decided on art education, some of the projects that he has worked on with his art class, the types of projects ... Read More »

Go inside and learn more about L.B.J.& C. Head Start with Director Penny Meadows One of the biggest issues facing job seekers across the Upper Cumberland right now is a lack of childcare. Many daycares are reporting extensive waiting lists; to the point that UCHRA has stepped in trying to help expand childcare across our region. Also working to fill ... Read More »