Garner's Station

We talk with Amy Mattingly, director of K-12 programs with Helps Education Fund, about the WakeTogether volunteer tutoring program, which is offering a structured approach to reading tutoring for students in Wake County Public Schools. Listen, learn more about the program and find out how you can get involved.

We talk with Dr. Dudley Flood, a retired educator and administrator with the NC Department of Public Instruction who helped bring communities together to integrate the state's public schools in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He received the state's highest civilian honor, the North Carolina Award, in 2021 from Gov. Roy Cooper.

We learn more about the North Carolina Commission of Indian Affairs and discuss other matters relating to the state's Native American populations with commission Executive Director Greg Richardson, who resides in Garner.

We talk with two cast members in the Towne Players' upcoming production of Moana Jr. as well as Gabe Yarborough, a Towne Players alum who is currently doing some professional acting work while pursuing his college degree.

Garner Area Historical Society Board Members Judy Bass and Karen Padgett discuss Garner history and what's featured in the new Garner History Museum at the Depot in Downtown Garner.

Tammy Brunner and Roxanne Buzille discuss the Wake County Office of Deeds' work to transcribe and digitize records of enslaved persons in the county in the antebellum era.

Garner Economic Development Director Joe Stallings sits down with John MacDonell and Grady Matthews to discuss the INQ 4300 and E-District projects in Garner.

Rick Mercier is joined by Tim Stevens as they discuss The Wall That Heals as it makes its visit to Lake Benson Park March 31-April 3, 2022. For the full list of events during The Wall That Heals' visit to Garner, go to GarnerWall.com.

Garner Mid-day Rotary member Rita Hines talks about the Backpack Buddies program, which helps combat food insecurity among the community's student population.

In this special edition, Sgt. Mike Medlin chats with Garner Police Chief Lorie Smith as well as Capt. Mike Mciver and Lt. Paul Caldwell.

Garner Economic Development Director Joe Stallings sits down with Nikki Leonard and Cassandra Brooks to discuss the importance of early childhood education and its relevance to economic development.

In this episode, Garner Mayor Ken Marshburn reviews the town's major milestones and accomplishments of 2021 and looks ahead to what we can expect this year.

In this episode, we have a wide-ranging conversation with Downtown Garner Association board member Kentrell Perry about owning a small business, history, mindfulness and more.

Garner Economic Development Director Joe Stallings chats with local commercial real estate gurus Ed Brown and Jimmy Barnes.

Sophia Sandlin chats about her career as a Garner police officer. She is the first female African American officer to retire with 30 years of creditable service with Garner PD.

Garner is growing at a rapid rate. Learn what's on the horizon and what the Town is doing to plan for growth in this interview with Garner Planning Director Jeff Triezenberg.

Garner resident Mary Williams has traveled the country and other parts of the world performing and educating audiences about African American musical traditions. She is an adjunct professor at Duke University's Center for Documentary Studies. For more than a decade she has been team teaching a course with Timothy Tyson titled "The South in Black and White." She performed the soundtrack for and acted in the feature film adaptation of Tyson's book "Blood Done Sign My Name." She has also appeared in the film "The Wronged Man."

Garner Economic Development Director Joe Stallings and Garner Chamber of Commerce President Matthew Coppedge break down how the Town landed the new Amazon fulfillment center.

In this special Veterans Day edition, local World War II and Vietnam War veteran Spencer Cardwell offers a tour of the Garner Veterans Memorial at Lake Benson Park. Additional commentary by memorial designer Mon Peng Yueh and memorial earthcasts sculptor Thomas Sayre. For more--including how to purchase a memorial brick--visit GarnerVeteransMemorial.org.

Garner native Drew Cook, the assistant superintendent for academics for the Wake County Public School System, talks about how the school system is dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and about what the future might hold. Cook was previously principal at Garner Magnet High School.

We chat with Amy White, executive director of Community of Hope Ministries in Garner. White is also a member of the State Board of Education.

We talk with Garner resident David Forbes, a pastor, educator and civil rights activist. In February 1960, David was a student leader of sit-ins and protests in Cameron Village in downtown Raleigh. That spring, he was a founding member of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, an organization that played a central role in the Civil Rights Movement.

In this episode, we talk with News & Observer sports journalist Joe Giglio about Garner, college sports and the journalism business. Follow Joe on Twitter at @JoeGiglioSports.

We visit South Garner High School and talk with Principal Roderic Brewington about how his school is settling in to the community.

Rick Mercier talks with TheGifted Arts co-founders CJ and Nicholé Morgan about their Garner-based non-profit that builds confidence, character and leadership skills in young people through the performing arts.

In this episode, we catch up with Arlie Kidd (neé Honeycutt) and talk about why the performing arts matter so much to a community--in particular, its young people. We also discuss The Towne Players of Garner's upcoming production of Disney's "The Little Mermaid." More about that show at https://www.etix.com/ticket/e/1009246/disneys-the-little-mermaid-garner-garner-performing-arts-center.

Garner Economic Development Director Joe Stallings sits down with Michael Haley, executive director of Wake County Economic Development, and Timothy Downs, vice president of economic development for the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce, to talk about the role of regionalism in economic development.* NOTE: We experienced some technical difficulties during the recording of this episode that partially affected sound quality.

Season 1, Episode 3: In this episode, we talk with Jeff Hicks, a retired Navy Commander who has served on Garner's Veterans Advisory Committee and is active in efforts to help resettle refugees who come to our region. This interview is a great way to learn more about services available to veterans in the Garner area. Recorded at Brice’s Brewing Company in Garner.

Season 1, Episode 2: In this episode, we mark Small Business and Economic Development Week by looking at workforce development in the area. Guests are Lisa Daughenbaugh, career development coordinator at Garner Magnet High; Bernita Nichols, senior director of customized training at Wake Tech; and Kimberly Wheeler, director of business engagement with the Capital Area Workforce Development Board.

Season 1, Episode 1: In this episode, we talk with local entrepreneurs Kris Bengtson, Angie Mikus and Alaksha Surti. Recorded at Brice’s Brewing Company in Garner.