Podcasts about Putnam County

Join Kosta and his guest: Penny Foister, Director of Putnam County 911. In this episode: I think there's only one question we can start this episode with: what happens when we call 911? You started as an EMT in 1992 with our favorite County Mayor Mr. Randy Porter. We'd be hard pressed to find someone that knows more about emergency services in Putnam County than you, so I have to ask: what's the hardest job in emergency services? What's something the average person completely misunderstands about calling 911?Find out more about Putnam County 911:https://putnamcountytn.gov/911-centerBetter Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Cookeville, TN.This episode of Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is made possible by our partners at Aspire Barber and Beauty Academy.Find out more about Aspire Barber and Beauty Academy:https://aspirebarberandbeauty.com

Highlights from the May 14 meeting At the Wednesday (May 14) meeting of the Cold Spring Village Board, Mayor Kathleen Foley reported that, after an attempt to approve a sales-tax-sharing plan failed, Putnam County's town and village leaders worked with the four members of state Legislature to draft a revised home-rule request to get it done. Foley said the county Legislature must vote to accept the request and that a special meeting has been scheduled for Monday. The mayor reported that, following recent heavy rains, Village Hall received numerous calls about water flowing out of an old conduit on Craigside Drive near Haldane. Tests showed the water appears to be from an underground stream that shifted course after the severe storms in July 2023. The village is working with the school district and Central Hudson to resolve the situation. Seastreak has canceled plans for summer cruises to Cold Spring. Instead, it has proposed a cruise for Sept. 6, followed by Saturday and Sunday excursions from Oct. 4 through Nov. 9. Friday dockings are proposed for Nov. 7, 14 and 21. The board approved usage-fee increases for the village sewer and water systems effective July 1. The Cold Spring Fire Co. responded to nine calls in April, including three runs to assist other fire companies, two assists to local emergency medical services, two activated fire alarms and two brush fires. Firefighters spent six hours helping to extinguish a 19-acre blaze in Putnam Valley. Chief Matt Steltz reported that volunteers Philip Kean, Lauren De La Vega and Kimberly Seville recently completed basic exterior firefighting training. The Cold Spring police responded to 115 calls in April, including 27 assists to other agencies, eight traffic stops and four motor vehicle crashes. The Village Board accepted Camille Linson's resignation as associate justice, effective June 5. She is moving out of the area. The Historic District Review Board is considering a policy that would require applicants to create escrow funds for projects that require a public hearing to cover expenses. Trustee Eliza Starbuck said she is exploring options for companies that supply parking payment kiosks linked to the ParkMobile app. The board budgeted for two additional kiosks as part of its 2025-26 budget. The board approved a request from the sloop Clearwater to dock at Cold Spring from July 19 to 27.

Says deputies punished for writing too few tickets The union representing Putnam County Sheriff's Office deputies said it has filed a complaint with the state labor board alleging that its members are penalized for failing to meet quotas for writing tickets. The Sheriff's Office PBA announced on May 10 that an action has been filed with the state Public Employees Relations Board (PERB) against Sheriff Kevin McConville, Putnam County and County Executive Kevin Byrne. Neither the union nor the sheriff or county executive's offices responded to emails about the allegation, but a Facebook post by the PBA said Capt. James Schepperly, who heads the Sheriff's Office's patrol division, has used quotas "as a gauge of a deputy's performance," in violation of department policy and state law. The Sheriff's Office only publicizes its use-of-force policy. But state labor law bars police agencies from penalizing officers - including "reassignment, a scheduling change, an adverse evaluation, a constructive dismissal, the denial of a promotion or the denial of overtime" - for failing to meet quotas for writing tickets or arresting or stopping people. Putnam deputies who did not write enough tickets "had their schedules changed and were subjected to a change of duty assignment or location as punishment," according to the PBA. "It's our expectation that once our case is heard by PERB they will side with the PBA and these unlawful, retaliatory actions, that create an increase in tax dollars, will stop." According to data provided by the state Department of Motor Vehicles, Putnam deputies wrote 5,422 tickets in 2024, 20 percent fewer than 2023. Most drivers were cited in Southeast, followed by Philipstown and Putnam Valley. The most common infraction was an expired or missing state safety inspection, followed by driving without a license, lack of registration, speeding and disobeying a traffic device. According to Jackie Fielding, a fellow with the Brennan Center for Justice in New York City who co-authored a 2022 report on ticket quotas, they "can incentivize officers to prioritize enforcement activities that can be completed quickly and easily," rather than "investigating more complex or violent crimes that significantly impact public safety." "In the more extreme case, officers can resort to malfeasance to meet their quotas: fabricating a reason for a stop or arrest, assigning tickets to fictitious drivers or even recording tickets for dead people," she said. One case occurred in February 2023, when the Westchester County district attorney charged a state trooper, Edward Longo, with writing at least 32 tickets over 10 years on the Sprain and Taconic parkways for drivers he never stopped, including someone who had died before the ticket was issued. Longo was charged with 32 felony counts. The trooper who filed the paperwork charging Longo said his division "monitors its officers for performance-related goals in the issuance of traffic tickets," according to The Journal News, and may counsel those "who do not meet expectations or whose productivity falls below their peers."

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.   Today is Tuesday, May 13, 2025  Check out the job opportunities available in Putnam County in the heart of Advantage Valley…discover the pro-business climate and great quality of life in Huntington, #YesWV…and get in some outdoor therapy while soaking in the natural beauty of West Virginia's rail trails…on today's daily304.   #1 – From JOBS IN PUTNAM – Part of the Advantage Valley metro area, Putnam County is a great place to live, work and play. Check out who's hiring in industries ranging from manufacturing to healthcare! Learn more: https://bit.ly/m/jobsinputnam   #2 – From HADCO – The Huntington metro area is known as a hub for innovation and a diverse array of industries. Its innovative partners and leaders have dedicated themselves to fostering a pro-business culture and a dynamic quality of life.  The city sits upon the Ohio River at the point where West Virginia, Ohio, and Kentucky meet and is part of one of the largest inland ports in the United States. Whether your company's success depends on highway, rail, air, or water transportation, you'll find what you need here. Learn more: https://www.hadco.org/   #3 – From HERALD-DISPATCH– Need outdoor therapy? Explore West Virginia's rail trails.  The state's rail trails have seen an increase in activity throughout the past three years as people took to the outdoors for their mental health needs during the pandemic. But even post-pandemic, spending time outdoors is good for what ails you. Discover some of the Mountain State's most beautiful scenery on a bike ride, walk, or even horseback ride on a rail trail. From the 78-mile-long Greenbrier River Trail to one of West Virginia's newest additions, the Elk River Rail Trail, you'll find no shortage of places to spend time in the great outdoors.  Check out wvtourism.com for more information and travel itineraries.  Read more: https://www.herald-dispatch.com/special/visitors_guide/need-outdoor-therapy-explore-west-virginia-s-rail-trails/article_e1aeaf49-7795-4f24-bfff-821be1b4aecd.htmlherald-dispatch.com   Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304. The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo.  That's all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.

Philipstown, Dutchess County affected An appeals court on Wednesday (May 7) upheld a law that will shift many county and town elections in New York to even-numbered years, including in Putnam and Dutchess - a change meant to align local elections with statewide and federal races. Democrats argue that the law, which was approved two years ago, will increase turnout in local races. Republicans sued to block it, saying it violates the state constitution and could give Democrats a partisan advantage in higher-turnout election years. State Sen. James Skoufis, a Democrat from Orange County who sponsored the legislation, said that town and county elections in odd years typically see 20 percent to 30 percent turnout, while those during presidential years can top 70 percent. The appeals court ruled that the law can take effect immediately. The decision overruled a lower court that struck down the law, enacted in December 2023. The Republican-led Dutchess Legislature voted last year to spend $100,000 to join the legal challenge to the legislation. Under the law, anyone in office before 2025 will complete his or her term, but subsequent terms will be shortened. Here's what that means locally: Two of the four Philipstown Town Board seats, which have four-year terms, will be on the ballot in 2027 for three-year terms. They will be on the ballot again in 2030 for four-year terms. The other two seats, which will be on the ballot in November, will be for three-year terms that end in 2028. The Philipstown highway commissioner and town clerk seats, which have four-year terms, will be on the 2027 ballot for three-year terms, then return to the ballot in 2030 for four-year terms. The town supervisor, who serves a two-year term, will be elected in November to a one-year term and the seat will appear on the ballot again in 2026 for a two-year term. The Dutchess County Legislature seats, which will all be on the ballot in November, will be for one-year terms, rather than two, and return to the ballot in 2026. The election for county executive, a four-year position, will occur as scheduled in 2027, but the winner will serve only three years, until 2030. The law exempts villages, such as Cold Spring and Nelsonville. In cities, such as Beacon, elections can only be changed through a constitutional amendment. The law also exempts county races for sheriff, district attorney, clerk and judges. The law does not affect the Putnam County executive, whose four-year term is on the ballot in even-numbered years and next up in 2026, or Putnam legislators, who serve three-year terms. The Associated Press contributed reporting.

Infections nationwide top 1,000; most in Texas The U.S. surpassed 1,000 measles cases on Friday (May 9), including three cases reported this week in Orange County. Texas still accounts for most cases, with 709 confirmed in an outbreak that has spread to New Mexico, Oklahoma and Kansas. Two unvaccinated elementary school children died in West Texas, along with unvaccinated adult in New Mexico. Other states with outbreaks - which the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines as three or more related cases - include Indiana, Michigan, Montana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Tennessee. New York has confirmed seven cases, including three in New York City, one on Long Island and the three in Orange County. The state Department of Health said the Orange County cases involve children younger than 5 years old who recently traveled internationally. No exposures outside immediate family members are known, it said. Orange County Deputy Health Commissioner Lisa Lahiff told the Times Union that because the cases were reported to the local health department in close succession, "we believe this is not indicative of local transmission." Officials declined to say whether the children were vaccinated, citing patient privacy. Earlier this year, the state Department of Health reported that Orange County has the lowest first-dose measles vaccination rate among 2-year-olds in the region, at 64.9 percent. A rate of at least 95 percent is needed to provide "herd immunity." The Putnam County rate is 86.6 percent and the Dutchess rate is 83.1 percent. The first of two vaccine shots is recommended between 12 and 15 months old and the second between 4 and 6 years old. Measles is caused by a highly contagious virus that's airborne and spreads easily when an infected person breathes, sneezes or coughs. As the virus takes hold in U.S. communities with low vaccination rates, health experts fear that spread could stretch on for a year. In 2019, the U.S. had 1,274 cases and almost lost its status of having eliminated measles. Getting another MMR shot as an adult is harmless if there are concerns about waning immunity, the CDC says. People who have documentation of receiving a live measles vaccine in the 1960s don't need to be revaccinated, but people who were immunized before 1968 with an ineffective vaccine made from "killed" virus should be revaccinated with at least one dose, the agency said. People who have documentation that they had measles are immune, and those born before 1957 generally don't need the shots because so many children got measles back then that they have "presumptive immunity." Measles infects the respiratory tract, then spreads through the body, causing a high fever, runny nose, cough, red, watery eyes and a rash. The rash generally appears three to five days after the first symptoms, beginning as flat red spots on the face and spreading downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs and feet. When the rash appears, the fever may spike over 104 degrees, according to the CDC. Most children will recover, but the infection can lead to dangerous complications such as pneumonia, blindness, brain swelling and death. There's no specific treatment, so doctors try to alleviate symptoms, prevent complications and keep patients comfortable.

If you've driven Highway 44 in Putnam County in recent weeks, you've no doubt noticed the very large clearing of land near the Ace Hardware. And even if you haven't seen it, you've probably heard about the new Publix and accompanying project.  In the spirit of keeping the community informed and up to date on the numerous new and exciting developments in the area, Adam Shaifer is here with me today to discuss Lake Country Village, also referred to locally as “The Publix Project!” But it's so much more than just the Publix. As the developer, Adam will provide us with the past, present and future of the project. He'll share the facts as he can, the plan for Publix and maybe even tease us with what else is coming! You'll hear more about the timing perspective of the project, which is what we all want to know. It's clear that Adam loves the community where he lives and works, and you don't want to miss this. It's always best to hear information directly from the source! https://lavista.com/wp-content/uploads/LEASING-PACKAGE_Lake-Country-Village.pdf Sponsors - Tim Broyles State Farm; ProSouth Electric; Habitat for Humanity of Putnam https://mydowntownagency.com/ https://www.prosouthelectric.com/ https://www.putnamcountyhabitat.org/

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.   Today is Tuesday, April 29, 2025  WV Division of Corrections is hosting a hiring event--here's your chance to find a stable and rewarding career in your community…Toyota West Virginia announces an $88 million investment at the Putnam County plant…and a new hiking trail showcases old-growth trees in Roane County…on today's daily304.   #1 – From WV CORRECTIONS – Make a difference in your community with a stable and rewarding career with the West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation! The division is hosting an in-person hiring event on Wednesday, May 7 at WorkForce WV Morgantown Office. Uniform and non-uniform positions are available at the following locations: Clarksburg Parole Office  Harrison County Youth Reporting Center  Monongalia County Youth Reporting Center  Marion County Youth Reporting Center  North Central Regional Jail and Correctional Facility  Pruntytown Correctional Center and Jail  Salem Correctional Center and Jail With increased starting salaries and excellent educational opportunities, get started on your journey today! Learn more: https://dcr.wv.gov/careers/Pages/careers.aspx   #2 – From TOYOTA WV – Toyota West Virginia is investing $88 million to assemble the next generation of hybrid transaxles. This brings the total plant investment to more than $2.8 billion and reinforces long-term job security to its more than 2,000 team members. Scheduled to start production in late 2026, the drivetrain component will help power future North American-assembled Toyota and Lexus models.  To celebrate the continued commitment to the Mountain State, Toyota West Virginia is donating $100,000 to the Marshall Advanced Manufacturing Center at Marshall University to support the center's workforce development program. The goal of this initiative is to broaden recruiting efforts for the school's skills programs and introduce more people to careers in advanced manufacturing. Read more: https://pressroom.toyota.com/charged-up-toyota-west-virginia-invests-88-million-in-new-hybrid-transaxle-line/   #3 – From NEWS & SENTINEL – A recently constructed trail through the Hungry Beech Preserve in Roane County will make it easier for people to enjoy the cove of large American beech and white oaks that fill 37 acres of giant trees, some of which measure 13 feet in circumference. The preserve is on a hilltop in a remote area between Clendenin and Spencer. The West Virginia chapter of the Nature Conservancy recently hosted a tour of the preserve to showcase what its 121 acres have to offer. Looping through the preserve, the recently constructed 2.6-mile trail was funded by an $83,400 grant from the American Water Charitable Foundation. A recent addition to the Old-Growth Forest Network, the preserve is not only home to the giant trees, but also 80 acres of younger forest that serves as a buffer around the big trees, as well as a large meadow area that provides a nesting area for birds. Read more: https://www.newsandsentinel.com/news/community-news/2025/04/old-growth-trees-stand-tall-at-the-hungry-beech-preserve/   Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304. The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo.  That's all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.

Michael Cole, whose daughter died from Fentanyl, discusses Lauren's Law and efforts to help people dealing with addiction. Dan Diorio with the Data Center Coalition offers his insights. Toyota making a signficant investment in its plant in Putnam County. Plus, Brad McElhinny stops by and Steam Release!

Board votes to override levy cap The Nelsonville Village Board on Monday (April 21) approved a $377,540 spending plan for 2025-26 after voting to exceed the state's 2.77 percent cap on levy increases. Expenses are projected to be 6.6 percent higher, and the adopted levy rises by 5.21 percent to $326,697. Taxes for the average property owner will increase by $68, said Mayor Chris Winward. Anticipated legal spending will increase by 20 percent, to $15,000 annually; Keane & Beane has had to defend the village from multiple lawsuits while also reviewing contacts, Winward said. Electricity bills are expected to be 33 percent higher and Nelsonville allocated an increase of 13.6 percent more, to $28,411, for insurance for its buildings (including the one leased by Putnam County for a sheriff station) and court actions against its elected and appointed officials. An additional 9.42 percent was appropriated for employee benefits. The court and village clerk will receive 3 percent raises and the deputy village clerk will receive a 2.55 percent boost. Winward's salary will remain at $4,500 annually and the trustees will continue to receive $2,650. Court changes The Nelsonville trustees voted to appoint Philipstown Justice Angela Thompson-Tinsley as the acting village justice in place of Stephen Tomann, who retired. The board also renewed a $150-per-hour contract with Kevin Irwin, a Pawling attorney who prosecutes traffic tickets and other non-criminal violations for Nelsonville, and approved the use of a credit-card reader giving to the village by the state's Unified Court System. Melissa Harris, the village clerk, said she hopes the machine will increase revenues from fines. "A lot of the time, people will say, 'I only have a card; can I have a week to pay and mail it in?' And then they don't," she said. New meeting day and time The board voted to move its monthly workshop and regular meetings to the second and third Wednesday of each month, respectively. The meeting time will also change, beginning a half-hour earlier, at 7 p.m. Mondays present a problem because many holidays fall on that day, and compiling information packets for trustees by Friday afternoons has proved difficult, said Winward. "This will give us a lot more time to be able to prepare for meetings," she said. No parking A sign prohibiting parking on Spring Street should be installed soon. Nelsonville approved a ban on Spring Street in December in response to drivers parking along the side of Blacksmith Wines, leaving only one lane. Trustee Dave Moroney said the installation of a no-parking sign had to be postponed because of equipment problems. There are new no-parking signs on Secor Street. Winward said the village anticipates more hikers parking there to use Nelsonville Woods because Breakneck closed for two years starting Monday (April 21). "It's only a matter of time until people figure out that they can just have the same view going up Bull Hill," she said.

Food truck brings the farm to Philipstown Ruby Koch-Fienberg has always loved farming and food systems - an interest that led her in 2022 to earn a master's degree in food studies from New York University. "I wanted to work with farms, helping them connect more with food pantries," said Koch-Fienberg. "When this job appeared on my radar, it was the perfect fit." The job is serving as ag and food systems coordinator with Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) for Putnam County, which is based in Carmel. Koch-Fienberg coordinates the extension's Farm to Truck Program, which provides free produce to Putnam County residents facing food insecurity. CCE contracts with Meals on Main Street, a nonprofit in Port Chester, to deliver food each week. Farm to Truck also drops food at pantries. On Wednesday (April 16), the Meals on Main Street mobile pantry spent 45 minutes parked at the Chestnut Ridge retirement community and the Philipstown Friendship Center for seniors. It served 85 people at the two stops, said Irma Arango, who has worked for Meals on Main Street for 15 years. Another 25 people had picked up food at the Brookside Senior Citizen Coop in Philipstown earlier in the day. The truck also makes weekly stops in Putnam Valley, Putnam Lake, Patterson, Carmel, Kent and Mahopac. "I like engaging with the people," Arango said. "I see their need and I see the smiles on their faces when they see the truck." She said clients sometimes leave thank-you notes. "People are so grateful." A Philipstown woman who picked up food at Chestnut Ridge said she relied on the weekly deliveries. "It's good for so many things, especially fresh vegetables," she said. The mobile pantry that day had milk, onions, potatoes, beets, carrots, kale, radishes, apples, baked goods and frozen salmon. The selection will grow as the season progresses. CCE launched Farm to Truck in May 2024 with a $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It is operated in partnership with New York Food for New York Families, a division of the state Department of Agriculture and Markets. The program supports regional agriculture by purchasing produce from about 20 farms in Putnam (including Longhaul and Glynwood in Philipstown), Dutchess, Columbia, Orange and Westchester counties. Mobile Pantry Schedule Monday: Putnam Valley 9:45 a.m. Library 11 a.m. Senior Center Wednesday: Philipstown 9 a.m. Brookside 10 a.m. Chestnut Ridge 11:30 a.m. Senior Center "We've spent more than $700,000 [on locally grown products] and expect to spend $1.3 million by the end of August," said Koch-Fienberg. She said Putnam residents made more than 3,000 trips to the food truck in March, which included many repeat customers. Nearly 300,000 pounds of produce, meat, eggs and dairy products have been distributed since the program began a year ago. Koch-Fienberg said it can be hard for people to ask for help, especially in communities considered wealthy. "Pockets of every community experience need," she said. "We absolutely have need in this county." The most recent data compiled by the United Way for its ALICE Project (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) indicates that 37 percent of households in Putnam are above the poverty level but below the annual income needed for basic survival, including savings for emergencies. Koch-Fienberg said that it's not clear if the federal grant that funded Farm to Truck will be renewed when it ends in August. "People have come become so reliant on the program, she said. "It's incredibly sad for it to have an uncertain future."

Endorses revenue sharing with towns, villages Putnam Executive Kevin Byrne this week vetoed a sales-tax reduction passed by the county Legislature and announced a long-discussed plan to share revenue with towns and villages if the rate remains unchanged. In a memo sent Monday (April 14) to the Legislature, Byrne called on lawmakers to convene an emergency meeting to rescind their 5-4 vote requesting the state allow Putnam to lower the county's portion of the tax on purchases from 4 percent to 3.75 percent. The reduction would cost the county an estimated $5.3 million annually. The higher rate has been in place since 2007, when the state enacted a law allowing Putnam to increase its sales tax from 3 percent to 4 percent. A series of extensions have kept the higher rate in place, but the most recent one expires on Nov. 30, requiring passage of another bill before state lawmakers end their 2025 session on June 12. Consumers in Putnam County pay 8.375 percent sales tax, which includes 4 percent for the state and 0.375 percent for the Metropolitan Commuter Transportation District. With the reduction, the total tax would fall to 8.125 percent. Preserving the rate will allow the county to continue reducing property taxes and fund capital projects, Byrne wrote in his memo. Flanked by officials from Philipstown, Cold Spring, Nelsonville and Putnam's other towns and villages, Byrne also announced outside Kent Town Hall on Tuesday that if county legislators renew the extra 1 percent, one-ninth of its revenue would be distributed annually to municipalities for infrastructure and capital projects. If sales-tax sharing had been in place in 2024, Putnam would have distributed $2.4 million to the county's six towns and three villages on a per capita basis, said Byrne during a news conference. Each would be guaranteed at least $50,000. With the move, Putnam would join 50 of New York's 62 counties that share sales tax revenue with their municipalities, according to the state Comptroller's Office. Dutchess' 2025 budget includes $46 million in sales-tax distributions, with an estimated $6.1 million for Beacon. Extending the current rate will also help fund a $1 million reduction in the property-tax levy that Byrne says he will propose for the 2026 budget. The reduction would be the largest in county history, he said. Addressing the Legislature on April 1, Cold Spring Mayor Kathleen Foley accused legislators of "hoarding" money because Putnam has accumulated $134 million in savings. Speaking at the news conference, Foley said the village has stormwater impacts it needs to address and that extra revenue could also help the village manage tourism. Dan Birmingham, the legislator who initially proposed a reduction to 3.5 percent, said the size of Putnam's savings, or fund balance, justified giving residents a break. During his first stint as a legislator, from 2004 to 2012, Birmingham supported the 2007 increase to 4 percent to cover county losses attributed to the Great Recession. Now, Putnam is "sitting on top of the largest fund balance-to-budget ratio this county has ever seen," he said. When Nancy Montgomery, who represents Philipstown and part of the Putnam Valley, predicted before the April 1 vote that Byrne would veto the lower sales tax, Birmingham said that unless the Legislature has six votes to override a veto, "you return to the status quo" after Nov. 30 - the 3 percent rate that existed before 2007. Byrne said on Tuesday that sacrificing the full 1 percent "would not help the towns; it would hurt this county" because the annual revenue loss would total about $20 million. In 2022, the Legislature unanimously agreed to pass along sales tax that exceeded what the county collected the previous year. In what turned out to be a one-time distribution, it shared $5 million, sending $369,670 to Philipstown, $101,671 to Cold Spring and $31,945 to Nelsonville, which used its portion to study the feasibility of building a sewer system. Nelsonvil...

Cites support for NYC toll, interest in Lawler seat A Philipstown resident who represents Putnam County on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority board rejected a demand by the county executive that he resign because of his support for congestion pricing in lower Manhattan and his interest in the U.S. House seat held by Rep. Mike Lawler. Neal Zuckerman, a Democrat who chairs the MTA board's Finance Committee, served on the Metro-North Commuter Council for six years before being appointed in 2016 to the MTA board with a recommendation from then-County Executive MaryEllen Odell, a Republican. He was reappointed, to a term that ends in 2026, by the state Senate in 2023 with a recommendation from Byrne, also a Republican. Byrne, a former Assembly member elected as county executive in 2022, is an ally of Lawler and a critic of the MTA's 3-month-old congestion-pricing program, which launched on Jan. 5 with a $9 toll for passenger and small commercial vehicles entering Manhattan below 60th Street. Zuckerman supports the toll, which is higher for buses and trucks, and raised $48 million in the first month while reducing traffic and travel times in lower Manhattan, according to the MTA. In an April 3 letter, Byrne claimed that Zuckerman "conveyed a genuine desire to work across the aisles regardless of political differences" during a meeting in 2023 for his reappointment but had since "outright opposed the policy positions" of the county and "openly assailed several officials duly elected by the people of Putnam County." He called on Zuckerman to resign "in a manner which is dignified and appropriate." Byrne also referenced news reports about Zuckerman's interest in seeking the 17th District congressional seat held by Lawler, a Republican in his second term. Philipstown is within the district's borders. Those reports "make clear that you intend to present yourself as a candidate for public office and seem to be using your position in furtherance of that pursuit," said Byrne. "It is imperative that we have a representative on the board who is dedicated to the position." Byrne copied his letter to President Donald Trump, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Gov. Kathy Hochul, both U.S. senators from New York, Lawler, four members of the state Legislature, the MTA board chair and the chair of the county Legislature. Individual legislators were also asked to sign a separate letter from Bill Gouldman, who represents Putnam Valley, calling for Zuckerman's resignation. Lawler said in a statement on Wednesday that Byrne's letter "speaks for itself. If Neal Zuckerman is not representing the interests of Putnam County residents on the MTA board, he should resign." In a letter responding to Byrne, Zuckerman said that chairing the board's Finance Committee has enabled him to champion projects that benefit Putnam riders, who use both the Harlem and Hudson lines. Those projects include repairs at the Cold Spring and Garrison stations and funding in the 2025-29 capital plan to buttress the Hudson Line against flooding, he said. He said his support for congestion pricing "should come as no surprise" since he had voted in 2019 for a capital plan that relied on it. "At recent board meetings, I have lamented the added burden of yet another fee on residents of our region," he wrote. But the program, enacted by state law in 2019, will help fund $15 billion (25 percent) of the MTA's capital plan for 2025-2029, which will "improve the system that is essential to the livelihoods of Putnam County commuters and, indeed, for the region's economy," said Zuckerman. He said that 69 percent of Putnam residents who visit the congestion zone get there by train but will benefit from the toll collected from drivers. If Zuckerman decides to pursue Lawler's seat, he could face at least four other Democrats declaring their candidacies: Beth Davidson, a Rockland County legislator; Jessica Reinmann, founder of the nonprofit 914Cares in Westchester County; Cait Conley,...

Stacey and Paul Sharp recently added a tulip farm to Stacey's family farm in Putnam County. They share about their hard work in putting this together, and how they hope Little Creek Flowers keeps the family farm alive for another generation.

On this Episode:- Benton Girls Basketball Coach Chris Michaels steps down after 5 seasons with the Cardinals to take the Jefferson City Girls Job.- Maysville baseball edges out Putnam County in a matchup of Class 2 Top 5 & GRC Conference teams. Hear from Wolverine coach Dakota Dunlap & Senior Dillon Willis.- Thursday Scoreboard Want to thank our year long sponsors Tolly & Associates, Little Caesars of St. Joseph, John Anderson Insurance, Meierhofer Funeral Home & Crematory, Musser Construction, HiHo Bar & Grill, Jayson & Mary Watkins, Matt & Jenni Busby, Michelle Cook Group, Russell Book & Bookball 365, The St. Joseph Mustangs, B's Tees, KT Logistics LLC., Hixson-Klein Funeral Home, James L. Griffith Law Firm of Maysville, Toby Prussman of Premier Land & Auction Group, Barnes Roofing, The St. Joseph School District, HK Quality Sheet Metal, Redman Farms of Maysville, Melissa Winn, Amber & Anthony Henke, Adams Bar & Grill, Green Hills Insurance LLC., Cintas, Thrive Family Chiropractic, IV Nutrition of St. Joseph, J.C's Hardwood Floors, Roth Kid Nation, Serve Link Home Care out of Trenton, Barnett's Floor Renewal LLC., Balloons D'Lux, B3 Renovations, Gabe Edgar, KC Flooring & Drywall, C&H Handyman Plumming, The Hamilton Bank member FDIC, Wompas Graphix & Embroidery of Liberty, The Tabor Family, Ellis Sheep Company of Maysville, Bank Northwest of Cameron, Akey's Catering & Event Rentals, Brown Bear of St. Joseph, Whitney Whitt Agency of Hamilton, Wolf Black Herefords, The KCI Basketball Podcast & Jacob Erdman - Shelter Insurance of Rock Port, Rob & Stacia Studer, Green Family Chiropractic & Annie & Noah Roseberry of Re/Max Professionals.

Administration promotes benefits for students, teachers Beacon school board members will vote April 22 on the district's 2025-26 budget proposal, which includes $87.7 million in spending and a 5.09 percent tax levy increase, just under the maximum allowed under a complicated state formula. The board will hold a public hearing during its May 6 meeting, and district voters will be asked to approve the plan on May 20. With the levy increase, the district could collect about $50 million in property taxes. The remainder of its revenue comes mostly from state and federal aid. Although state legislators had not approved a budget as of Thursday (April 10), Beacon is expected to receive about $31.5 million from Albany, including $21.7 in unrestricted foundation aid, a 2 percent increase. Direct federal aid accounts for about 2 percent of the Beacon district's budget, or $1.7 million. The Trump administration has threatened to cut funding to states and local districts that do not eliminate what the White House considers to be diversity, equity and inclusion programs, although New York State says it will resist. Beacon administrators plan to use the increased funding to implement summer workshops for incoming Beacon High School students and increased mental health support for students at the high school and Rombout Middle School. Math and reading teachers for struggling elementary students will be hired, as well as a part-time speech instructor at the elementary level. Teacher training would focus on "the science of reading" - a research field that investigates how children develop reading and writing skills. More than 75 percent of the budget will be spent on salaries and benefits for the district's 682 teachers, administrators and other staff. The proposed levy increase is larger than in years past due primarily to two factors: (1) debt service (about 8 percent of expected expenditures) on a $50 million capital project approved by voters last year and (2) increased residential development in Beacon. The capital project will fund sweeping improvements at all six district schools and is the first such effort to trigger a tax increase in at least 15 years. In addition, Beacon's tax base has also grown more than any other district in Dutchess County in the past five years. That growth is one of the factors in the complex state tax formula that determines how much a district can increase its levy; in Beacon it will allow the schools to add $1.2 million to the taxes collected for 2025-26. Superintendent Matt Landahl told school board members during their April 7 meeting that the district is creating individualized data sheets on budget impacts for each school. "This year is really important to give people as much information as they can have walking into their polling place," he said. While the levy is increasing, individual homeowners' tax bills may not go up by the same percentage. Development in Beacon adds taxpaying households, while assessments also impact what a homeowner owes. The district estimates that the owner of a home assessed at the median value in Beacon ($304,700) will pay $3,127 annually in school taxes - still considerably less than other Dutchess districts (see chart). "In my mind, this is an argument to go to the tax cap," Landahl said. "In our hiring and retaining employees, these are some of our closest-competing districts." If you expand the comparison regionwide, "that number just grows, if we're talking about Orange County, Putnam County and obviously Westchester County," he said. "That school tax estimate just gets bigger and bigger, compared to what we're paying here."

In May 2014, the murders of Russell and Shirley Dermond, a couple in their late eighties, shook the residents of Putnam County, Georgia. The decapitated body of Russell Dermond was found on May 6, 2014, in the garage of the house he owned on Lake Oconee. Neither his head nor his wife, Shirley, could be located in the house. As the investigation unfolded, the murder was revealed to be a double homicide when Shirley's body was found in Lake Oconee and the brutal attacks remain unsolved more than 10 years later.  Chapters: 00:00 Welcome to the Dark Oak 01:20 100 Episode Celebration and Giveaway 03:29 The Lake Oconee Murders 53:27 The Branch of Hope   Sources: Deviant True Crime Podcast. (2024, September 24). The Lake Oconee Murders Part 1: Derby Day [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5-5Nsf7WrA Deviant True Crime Podcast. (2024b, October 1). The Lake Oconee Murders Part 2: By land or by boat [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eShTiXyZAJg Deviant True Crime Podcast. (2024c, October 8). The Lake Oconee Murders Part 3: A big lead [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=018IGAx4FaE Deviant True Crime Podcast. (2024d, October 15). The Lake Oconee Murders Part 4: The Workup [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bo7o4tsoYFQ   Join The Dark Oak Discussion: Patreon The Dark Oak Podcast Website Facebook Instagram Twitter TikTok Youtube This episode of The Dark Oak was created, researched, written, recorded, hosted, edited, published, and marketed by Cynthia and Stefanie of Just Us Gals Productions with artwork by Justyse Himes and Music by Ryan Creep

Artistic director Justin Ball and associate director Xandy Poole discuss Stage Door Theater’s production of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” which opens April 10 at Agnes Scott College and runs through April 20. Plus, Denzel Curry stops by ahead of his April 10 show at the Eastern, and Matt Booth, owner of Videodrome, is bringing filmmaker Alan Rudolph to Atlanta for screenings of his films “Remember My Name” and “Choose Me” at the Plaza Theatre on April 10 and 12.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our host George Halford visits with Glen Jones who is the first archivist for Putnam County. In 2008 Glen became Putnam County's first archivist and created Putnam's Archives and Putnam's Veterans Hall. Hear about his upbringing, current and future plans, and more! Listen To The Local Matters Podcast Today! News Talk 94.1

During this episode, our host Ben Rodgers sits down with Ryan Williams who is the state representative for most of our area in Putnam County. They discuss all things Tennessee Government including term lengths, his background, introduction to government, future plans, and more! Listen To The Local Matters Podcast Today! News Talk 94.1

Meeting draws rally by farmers The Putnam County Legislature took the first step toward lowering its portion of the sales tax rate during a Tuesday (April 1) meeting filled with farmers protesting lawmakers' refusal to add operations to a special district. Legislators, by a 5-4 vote, approved a request for state legislation to lower the sales tax collected by Putnam from 4 percent to 3.75 percent. The higher rate had been in place since 2007, when the state enacted a law allowing Putnam to increase its sales tax from 3 percent. The law has been extended every two years since, with the most recent extension expiring Nov. 30, 2025. Consumers in Putnam County pay 8.375 percent sales tax, which includes 4 percent for the state and 0.375 percent for the Metropolitan Commuter Transportation District. If Putnam's request is approved by the state, the new tax rate will be 8.125 percent. County Executive Kevin Byrne and four of the nine legislators, including Nancy Montgomery, who represents Philipstown and part of Putnam Valley, opposed the reduction, which will cause an estimated $5 million reduction in annual revenue for the county. Byrne said the proceeds from sales taxes have funded property-tax reductions and a sales tax exemption for clothing and footwear under $110. Town and village officials, who have demanded for years that Putnam share sales tax revenue with their governments, also support the higher rate, said Montgomery. "They're the ones who hold the burden of generating the sales tax," she said. "They're the ones who pick up the garbage; they're the ones who provide and pay for the EMTs who respond to people falling off the mountain or falling on your sidewalk." Legislator Dan Birmingham, who had initially proposed a reduction to 3.5 percent, said the county's savings, or "unrestricted reserve funds," of $134 million justified giving residents a break. During his first stint as a legislator, from 2004 to 2012, Birmingham supported the 2007 increase to 4 percent to cover county losses attributed to the Great Recession. Now, Putnam is "sitting on top of the largest fund balance-to-budget ratio this county has ever seen," he said. In one confusing sequence during the Tuesday meeting, Montgomery voted for the 3.75 percent reduction, proposed a motion to reconsider its approval and argued with Chair Amy Sayegh before being allowed to change her vote to "no." "Robert's Rules say that if you vote yes on a resolution, you can make a motion to reconsider," said Montgomery, explaining her initial vote. Montgomery also tried to place on the agenda a resolution authorizing the county to share 50 percent of sales tax revenues above the budgeted amount with towns and villages. Ag district With farmers standing in solidarity, Montgomery asked her colleagues to suspend the April 30 deadline for applications to the county's Agricultural District while the process undergoes a review. Farms approved for the district gain protection from "unreasonable" local restrictions, and other benefits, under a 1971 state law designed to preserve agriculture. A vote in August to reject five farmers recommended by the Agriculture & Farmland Protection Board for inclusion not only spurred a lawsuit from Ridge Ranch, a livestock operation in Patterson, but protests by farmers and their advocates. Amid the backlash, Paul Jonke, then chair of the Legislature, removed a Philipstown farmer, Jocelyn Apicello, from the board. The farmers accuse a faction of the Legislature and Neal Tomann, a Philipstown resident who is the interim Soil & Water District manager, of being hostile to farming, and their complaints led Byrne to convene a roundtable meeting last month. Before Tuesday's meeting, farmers gathered in the parking lot behind the Historic Courthouse, their vehicles draped with banners - "Save Putnam County Farms" and "Learn More About Ridge Ranch and the Fight for Fair Farming." Inside the courthouse, they lined up to speak, often talking over Sayegh a...

In this week's mini-sode, we are shining the spotlight on the Broadway H-I-T musical: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee! Being one of the most revered musical-comedies in the Broadway canon, it's a must know for all thespians!Support the showHost/ Production/ Editing: Brennan StefanikMusic: Dylan KaufmanGraphic Design: Jordan Vongsithi@batobroadway on Instagram, Threads, and TikTokPatreon.com/batobroadway

Developer proposes million-dollar homes off Route 9 The Philipstown Planning Board gave its final approval on March 20 to a site plan for Hudson Highlands Reserve, a 24-lot residential project revived in 2021 after being in limbo for more than five years. Horton Road LLC, the developer, applied to construct 22 homes on part of a 210-acre property between Horton Road and East Mountain Road North, setting aside 79 percent as open space. The homes, at 2,500-to-3,000 square feet, will be listed for $1 million to $3 million and built to "green" environmental standards. They will be clustered, along with two existing residences, on 31 acres and accessed from a new road off Route 9. The development also will include a commercial lot on the highway and a 15-acre common lot with a 19th-century barn for a homeowners' association clubhouse. As part of its agreement with the town, Horton Road LLC agreed to pay $105,000 in recreation fees. The project is Philipstown's first approved "conservation subdivision," which allows the developer to build more homes in exchange for leaving open space. Its 166 acres of protected space will include portions of Clove Creek, the 5.7-acre Ulmar Pond, forests and wetlands, and a one-lane, stonewall-lined trail that is a remnant of a roadway connecting Horton Road and East Mountain Road North. Under a conservation agreement between Horton Road LLC and the town, the open space will be reserved for "passive recreational uses" by the homeowners, such as cross-country skiing, hiking, picnicking and walking. The agreement also restricts new buildings, herbicides and pesticides and the clearing of trees and vegetation. Although Horton Road LLC still has conditions to satisfy, such as obtaining a state Department of Transportation permit for the Route 9 entrance and approval from Putnam County for wells, the Planning Board approval caps a process that began in 2014. Horton Road LLC is owned by the David Isaly 2008 Trust and the Jason Isaly 2008 Trust, and managed by Christina Isaly Liceaga, David Isaly's sister and the wife of Ulises Liceaga, who was identified in 2014 as the project's architect. Ulises Liceaga told the Planning Board in 2014 that he and his wife purchased land on East Mountain Road North in 2000 to build a weekend home while living in New York City. "Avid horseback riders, we looked for a place to have some horses" and began envisioning Hudson Highlands Reserve, he said. In 2013, Horton Road LLC had acquired parcels from Lyons Realty, Rodney Weber and Joseph and Denise Frisenda. After a public hearing in 2019, the project went dormant while its owners prepared responses to detailed questions from the Planning Board and others and began drafting a state-mandated environmental impact statement. In 2021, Horton Road LLC reintroduced the project to the Planning Board, which granted preliminary site plan approval in September 2023.

Join Kosta and his guests: Catherine Jackson, Executive Officer of The Home Builders Association of the Upper Cumberland and Katie Hall, General Manager at Cookeville Kitchen Sales. In this episode: Building a house is like making a cake from scratch - I don't know how. Let's start there, because for most of us buying an existing home is confusing enough, what's it like to build a house? From 2014 to 2024, the median price of a 3-bedroom house in Putnam County has increased over 115%. Buying a home is mathematically impossible for the majority of the Upper Cumberland. How can building more homes help bring down demand and cost? How does building a new home in 2025 compare to buying a similar home at the same price point? Is it comparable or are there other factors we need to consider? Find out more about The Home Builders Association of the Upper Cumberland:https://uchba.com/

Designs would 'calm' traffic, protect pedestrians Rutgers University has released a traffic study of Cold Spring that includes recommendations to improve safety at four busy village locations. The study was conducted by the Voorhees Transportation Center at the university and funded by the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council (NYMTC). It outlines measures to reduce and "calm" traffic and improve pedestrian safety. NYMTC, created in 1982, is the metropolitan planning organization for Putnam, Westchester and Rockland counties, New York City and Long Island. The report, posted at dub.sh/CS-traffic-study, makes recommendations for Main Street at the Visitors' Center; Fair Street; Lunn Terrace at Market Street; and Main at Route 9D. It also considers the trolley operated by Putnam County. During its research, Voorhees conducted a resident survey and hosted a workshop. Its 39-page report was also reviewed by Putnam County and state agencies. Main Street at Visitors' Center The report notes this is the only Main Street location where legal U-turns can be made and is a busy area with frequent encounters between drivers and pedestrians. It recommended adding high-visibility paint and patterns to crosswalks; adding a crosswalk across Main; and installing signage and pedestrian lighting. It also suggested the village consider a mini roundabout. Fair Street The street is a challenge because it's narrow, frequently used by delivery trucks and congested with hikers on busy weekends. Inconsistent parking rules and one-way traffic on weekends create confusion, the report said. It recommends adding sidewalks to both sides between Main Street and Mayor's Park, installing pedestrian lighting, restricting on-street parking and encouraging drivers to use the municipal parking lot. Lunn Terrace at Market The area is described as "the most challenging" of those examined for the study because it provides the only vehicle access to the Metro-North parking lot and the lower village, and it's busy. It suggested a crosswalk across Market and better signage, road markings and striping to direct pedestrians and drivers. It also said the village could consider a small roundabout with splitter islands and a flashing sign at the crosswalk. Cold Spring trolley The researchers observed what most residents already knew - people don't know how to find it and can't get real-time data about its schedule. The recommendations included payment options besides cash; route modifications to encourage ridership; updated signage with timetables; and shelters at popular stops. Main Street at Route 9D The researchers found that, between 2019 and 2022, there were 68 vehicle crashes in the village, and that 44 percent were on Route 9D and 20 percent at its intersection with Main Street. Its recommendations included reflective crosswalk markings; the removal of obstacles that interfere with driver sightlines ("daylighting"); no parking within 25 feet of the intersection; increasing the interval on pedestrian crossing signals; and streetscaping to slow traffic. It also suggested examining the addition of left-turn lanes on Route 9D. In response to the report, Mayor Kathleen Foley said there is a perception that the village is so overrun with visitors, that it can't do much on its own. But she said the report "emphasizes steps that are common sense and simple, and that we can do ourselves to improve traffic and pedestrian movement for residents and visitors alike." She noted that the report could help the village make the case for grants to address the issues it identifies. Foley said eliminating parking on Fair Street has made driveways safer, reduced driver confusion and created a wider roadway for trucks, buses and emergency vehicles. "Shifting Fair to one-way northbound during the busy season, as we did in the fall, provided an alternate loop for vehicles to move around the village and eliminated tangle-causing left turns onto Main Street," she said. Stronger vi...

Welcome back to the 222nd episode of The Cup which is our a weekly (give or take, TBD, these are unprecedented times) performing arts talk show presented by Cup of Hemlock Theatre. With the theatres on a come back we offer a mix of both reviews of live shows we've seen and continued reviews of prophet productions! For our 222nd episode we bring you a Duet Review of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, directed by Jennifer Walls, and presented by Shifting Ground Collective. Join Mackenzie Horner and Ryan Borochovitz, as they discuss competitive spelling, audience participation, and neurodiverse representation. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is playing at the Aki Studio (585 Dundas St E, Toronto, ON) until March 15th, 2025. Tickets can be purchased from the following link: https://shiftinggroundcollective.com/spelling-bee/ This review contains many SPOILERS for The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. It will begin with a general non-spoiler review until the [23:01] mark, followed by a more in-depth/anything goes/spoiler-rich discussion. If you intend to see the production, we recommend you stop watching after that point, or at least proceed at your own risk. Support Shifting Ground Collective: https://shiftinggroundcollective.com/support-shifting-ground/ Follow our panelists: Mackenzie Horner (Before the Downbeat: A Musical Podcast) – Instagram/Facebook: BeforetheDownbeatApple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3aYbBeNSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3sAbjAuRyan Borochovitz – [Just send all that love to CoH instead; he won't mind!]; if you enjoy his theatre thoughts, more can be found at https://nextmag.ca/search/borochovitz Follow Cup of Hemlock Theatre on Instagram/Facebook/Twitter: @cohtheatreIf you'd like us to review your upcoming show in Toronto, please send press invites/inquiries to coh.theatre.MM@gmail.com0:00 – I-N-T-R-O 5:10 – Pre-Spoiler 14:37 – Cast Shoutouts 22:55 – SPOILERS from here on out 23:15 – Neurodiversity 38:04 – Oh Right, It's a Musical 45:32 – Cotton Candy

I'm truly excited for you to meet my guest today! His story blends leadership, passion and a love of history and music. His accent will quickly give away that he is from the UK, and he'll share the story of how he came to the United States and ultimately to Eatonton, Georgia! Richard Garrett is a dedicated professional, entrepreneur and community leader with a long and successful career. His journey, across various industries, always brings a forward thinking approach to his work. Along with his wife Karen, who is a Cordon Bleu-trained chef, Richard runs a charming Bed & Breakfast, right here in Eatonton, where guests enjoy a warm welcome, delicious food and a unique hospitality experience. Richard's love of music led him to become a unique collector, and you definitely don't want to miss this story! He'll tell us how it all started, what makes it special and how it ties into his appreciation for history. His passion for public service has led him to serve on the Putnam County Board of Commission, where he's diligently working to help shape the future of Eatonton & Putnam County. Guest: Richard Garrett Website: https://www.dot2dotinn.com/ Phone: 706-991-5030 Email: dot2dotmanager@gmail.com https://www.oldschoolhistorymuseum.org/events Sponsors: Tim Broyles State Farm; ProSouth Electric; IV Wellness Solutions; Reynolds Community Radio https://mydowntownagency.com/ https://www.prosouthelectric.com/ https://www.ivwellnesssolutions.org/ https://reynoldscommunityradio.com/

I'm truly excited for you to meet my guest today! His story blends leadership, passion and a love of history and music. His accent will quickly give away that he is from the UK, and he'll share the story of how he came to the United States and ultimately to Eatonton, Georgia! Richard Garrett is a dedicated professional, entrepreneur and community leader with a long and successful career. His journey, across various industries, always brings a forward thinking approach to his work. Along with his wife Karen, who is a Cordon Bleu-trained chef, Richard runs a charming Bed & Breakfast, right here in Eatonton, where guests enjoy a warm welcome, delicious food and a unique hospitality experience. Richard's love of music led him to become a unique collector, and you definitely don't want to miss this story! He'll tell us how it all started, what makes it special and how it ties into his appreciation for history. His passion for public service has led him to serve on the Putnam County Board of Commission, where he's diligently working to help shape the future of Eatonton & Putnam County. Guest: Richard Garrett Website: https://www.dot2dotinn.com/ Phone: 706-991-5030 Email: dot2dotmanager@gmail.com https://www.oldschoolhistorymuseum.org/events Sponsors: Tim Broyles State Farm; ProSouth Electric; IV Wellness Solutions; Reynolds Community Radio https://mydowntownagency.com/ https://www.prosouthelectric.com/ https://www.ivwellnesssolutions.org/ https://reynoldscommunityradio.com/

Adam Levy brings over 25 years of diverse legal experience to the bench, serving as one of three judges on Prime Video's Tribunal Justice, created by Judge Judy Sheindlin. Podcast Highlights: •    Levy talks about being part of a legal dynasty, including his mother, Judge Judy Sheindlin •    Levy discusses how the "rule of law" applied at home •    Levy shares the importance his mother's work ethic had on his professional development •    Levy shares a funny story of how his mother accepted a job on his behalf early in his career •    Levy shares his passionate views on the importance of truth and his disgust for those who blatantly lie •    As a young attorney, Levy would learn by reading transcripts of cases that  reflected the work of the best possible  lawyers, prosecutors and criminal defense lawyers  •    Levy discusses the instances where he and the other two Tribunal Justice judges disagree •    Levy shares his loathing for situations where various legal professionals don't play by the rules, especially when one of those involved seems more concerned about their own political aspirations •    Levy explains his views on the classification of public documents as well as conspiracy theorists and the value of critical thinking Having served two terms as Putnam County District Attorney in NY, Levy used his experience as a private practitioner to create pragmatic and impactful programs and initiatives to improve the fair and impartial administration of justice in the county where he lived, worked, and raised his family. This hands-on approach included extensive in-service training for all newly hired prosecutors and an open-door policy for his staff. Leading by example, Levy personally prosecuted a wide range of criminal cases, including sexual assaults, political corruption, and witness intimidation matters. Levy also dedicated time to training the next generation of lawyers as well. He was an instructor at The National Institute of Trial Advocacy and a long-time educator at The New York Prosecutors Training Institute. These trainings helped lead, guide, and mentor young prosecutors in cross-examination and trial strategy skills as they began their legal careers. Levy's expertise was built through a lifetime of legal service. As a 1992 Hofstra Law School graduate, Levy began his career as an ADA at the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office, where he prosecuted a wide range of violent and non-violent offenders with a practice focused on seeking justice for women and children who were the victim of physical and sexual assault—He then co-founded his legal partnership, Levy & Santoro, in Carmel, NY. He brought his trial experience from Suffolk County to the people of Putnam County, handling complex criminal and matrimonial matters in courts throughout New York State. Levy's no-nonsense approach to cases and reputation as a skilled trial attorney and advocate ultimately led to his election as District Attorney in Putnam County, where he lived with his family. His daughter, Sarah Rose, a newly admitted lawyer, is the law clerk on "Judy Justice," where his mother, judicial icon Judge Judy Sheindlin, presides. Levy and his wife Lori have two other children, Jacob and Emma, who are still in school. In his spare time, he enjoys skiing, scuba diving, white water rafting, and spending time with his family. ON THE KNOWS with Randall Kenneth Jones is a podcast featuring host Randall Kenneth Jones (bestselling author, speaker & creative communications consultant) and Susan C. Bennett (the original voice of Siri). ON THE KNOWS is produced and edited by Kevin Randall Jones. www.OnTheKnows.com  Adam Levy: www.TribunalJustice.TV  Randall Kenneth Jones: www.RandallKennethJones.com Susan Bennett: www.SusanCBennett.com Kevin Randall Jones: www.KevinRandallJones.com

Join Kosta and his guest Chad Mynatt, Director of Manna Global Missions and Co-Director of El Puente Community Center. El Puente is a Hispanic Community Center located in Cookeville, TN. El Puente's mission is to create a welcoming community and offer resources that empower and connect the Hispanic community of the Upper Cumberland. In English “El Puente” means “Bridge”. El Puente es un centro comunitario para hispanos en Cookeville, TN.In this episode: Roughly 10% of people living in Putnam County are hispanic. It's the fastest growing minority in Putnam County and in Tennessee. Will you tell us about the origins of El Puente and what led you to creating this organization? You're white. That might be blunt to say, but it's true. You're a caucasian person that's created a community to help our hispanic neighbors. What role do white people play in being of service to minorities and how do we better love our neighbor? What do you wish people knew about the hispanic community in the Upper Cumberland?

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.   Today is Friday, Jan. 17, 2025. Farmers in the Northern Panhandle, you may be eligible for assistance from last summer's drought…Putnam County receives a federal grant to grow its housing market to suit demands for a rapidly expanding business economy…and, need some R&R time? these relaxing retreats in Almost Heaven will have you sighing with happiness…on today's daily304. #1 – From WTOV9-TV –  The Northern Panhandle Conservation District is actively promoting a program designed to assist West Virginia farmers affected by the summer drought. The Livestock Forage Disaster Program, facilitated through the Department of Agriculture, aims to provide compensation to eligible livestock producers in Brooke, Ohio, and Marshall counties who experienced grazing losses during the summer and fall drought. Livestock farmers are encouraged to contact the Farm Service Agency to determine eligibility and apply in person by the Jan. 30 deadline. Read more: https://wtov9.com/news/local/west-virginia-farmers-urged-to-apply-for-drought-relief-program#   #2 – From HERALD-DISPATCH –  The Putnam County Development Authority has received a $5 million grant through the state's Economic Enhancement Grant Fund to address the area's housing needs. The grant, awarded by the West Virginia Water Development Authority, will be used to assist in building more than 600 residential units proposed in the Hurricane and Fraziers Bottom areas. A recent study showed that more housing was needed in the regions, especially with the new addition of the Nucor plant in neighboring Mason County and job opportunities at Toyota Manufacturing in Buffalo.  Read more: https://www.herald-dispatch.com/news/putnam_news/putnam-development-authority-given-5-million-for-housing/article_af45f000-cd33-11ef-b7cf-9b8fe7efaa71.html   #3 – From WORLD ATLAS – When you think of wellness retreats, it turns out you can find many of them right here in Almost Heaven, home to what is sometimes called “America's First Spa,” the town of Berkeley Springs.  The hot springs at what is now known as Berkeley Springs State Park have drawn visitors from near and far for centuries. While the Eastern Panhandle retreat might be known as West Virginia's oldest spa, the Mountain State is home to many venues where you can escape to relax and soak in the beauty of nature, from the spa at Wheeling's Ogelbay Resort to the outdoor recreation paradise of the New River Gorge National Park.  Learn more at World Atlas, and check out wvtourism.com to start planning your next getaway! Read more: https://www.worldatlas.com/places/8-best-wellness-retreats-in-west-virginia.html   Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304. The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo.  That's all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.  

Host & Producer Big Dan Wilson is joined by Nathan Schroeder, a farmer from Leipsic, Ohio, Putnam County and President of the Ohio Pork Council. 

Today I have a return guest! Maggie Milner, President & CEO of the Eatonton-Putnam Chamber of Commerce is back to update us on the many positive changes we have seen in both downtown Eatonton and Putnam County over the last couple of years! There's a lot going on you're going to want to hear about! We'll discuss new businesses, events and venues. Did you know there's a brand new sculpture trail that you can visit in Eatonton with amazing artwork from all over the country? And a new gun shop? You'll hear about all of this and much more! Of course, we'll talk about what is going on at the Chamber of Commerce, tourism in the area and opportunities for local businesses to network and showcase what they do. We'll talk about some BIG changes happening in Maggie's life. And we'll share some “late breaking news”! We have a lot to talk about, so let's welcome Maggie back to the show! Guest: Maggie Milner https://eatonton.com/ https://visiteatonton.com/ Sponsors: ProSouth Electric; Tim Broyles State Farm; Reynolds Community Radio https://www.prosouthelectric.com/ https://mydowntownagency.com/ https://reynoldscommunityradio.com/ health@leadthelake.com

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.   Today is Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024  A high school athlete may have lost her race, but she wins at life after helping out another runner in distress…a Putnam County music teacher's creative approach to learning earns him the title of West Virginia's 2025 Teacher of the Year…and Wheeling's “Food for Fines” cancels parking violations for residents in exchange for a food donation…on today's daily304. #1 – From THE REAL WV – Olivia Alexander is a freshman runner for Musselman High School. She traveled five hours from her home in Inwood to compete in the State Cross Country Championship. After training for months with her teammates and overcoming an injury early in the season, she didn't place. She didn't even finish. She accomplished something much more.  One mile into the 5K race for the state title, Olivia saw Neena. The two runners had never met. All Olivia knew was what she saw–a girl in distress. And even though it was in the middle of the biggest race of her life, she stopped to help. Her Good Samaritan deed earned her praise from Neena, the coaches and other supporters. Check out the full story at the link! Read more: https://therealwv.com/2024/12/03/freshman-runner-stops-race-to-help-competitor/   #2 – From WV GAZETTE-MAIL – When students walk into Seth Skiles' classroom at Rock Branch Elementary School in Nitro, they know they're in for something special. Instead of sheet music or instruments, Skiles brought in pre-cut pastry dough and baked crescent rolls while teaching about Thanksgiving traditions. Students and staff said this kind of creative, hands-on lesson is just another day in Skiles' general music class. His engaging and multifaceted teaching style recently earned him the title of West Virginia's 2025 Teacher of the Year. Read more: https://www.wvgazettemail.com/news/education/rock-branch-s-maestro-creative-music-instructor-named-wv-teacher-of-the-year/article_4c7c52e8-a065-11ef-800a-a3598d22241e.html   #3 – From WTRF-TV – In the spirit of the holiday season, the City of Wheeling is once again offering its popular “Food for Fines” initiative, allowing residents to donate non-perishable food, cleaning supplies, or personal hygiene items in lieu of paying $10 fines for overtime parking violations. Donations will be distributed to local non-profit organizations to benefit community members in need. Mayor Denny Magruder expressed pride in the initiative's success, noting the impact it has had on local food pantries over the years. “This initiative reflects the holiday spirit of giving and helps provide additional support to those in need. While no one enjoys getting a parking ticket, this program offers an opportunity to make something meaningful out of it,” he said. The “Food for Fines” program will apply to citations issued between Dec. 1, 2024, and Jan. 1, 2025. Donations must be brought to the City's finance department, where parking fines are typically paid. Read more: https://www.wtrf.com/ohio-county/wheeling-bringing-back-food-for-fines-program/   Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304. The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo.  That's all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.   Today is Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. The WV SBDC helps a young Huntington man become a business owner…Looking for that perfect gift for the outdoor lover in your life? Check out the WVDNR gift guide…and a Putnam County couple converts their farm into a Horseshoe Heaven for the community…on today's daily304.   #1 – From WV COMMERCE –  How does a 21-year-old take over an $850,000 business that has been a community staple since 1974? For Alexis Campbell, the young manager of Withrow Sharpening and Sales in Huntington, the answer came through the guidance and support of the West Virginia Small Business Development Center. Learn how a WV SBDC coach walked him through the steps needed to secure a loan and accomplish his dream of owning his own business. Watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qikJ-NefJh0   #2 – From WVDNR – Need a little help finding a gift for the hunter, angler or outdoors lover in your family? To make holiday shopping easier this year, the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources has partnered with the West Virginia Department of Tourism to bring you a Holiday Gift Guide designed specifically for hunters, anglers and outdoor enthusiasts. From WVDNR gift certificates to a West Virginia Wildlife Calendar to a subscription to Wonderful West Virginia magazine, you're sure to find the perfect gift.  Give the gift of the outdoors this Christmas, and wrap up your shopping today! Learn more: https://wvdnr.gov/gift-the-outdoors-2024/?userID=6c06d2e4-819d-456e-a63e-d1de9077b812&campaign_name=wv_dept_of_commerce&campaign_medium=advocacy&campaign_source=everyonesocial&es_id=5adb7fef8d   #3 – From WV GAZETTE-MAIL – We are told that we should cultivate a habit of thankfulness or an “attitude of gratitude.”One couple in Putnam County is actively doing just that. Scott and Tammra Smith built a farm on 44 acres of land in Scott Depot, where they raise a variety of animals including miniature horses and donkeys, goats, sheep and even a barn cat. As their menagerie grew, they decided to use the farm as an outreach to the community. Farm tours and field trips include closeup interactions with the farm animals, hay rides, and even information on the Battle of Scary Creek, which was fought on part of the property. The farm also hosts public events throughout the year. “We are happy to share this beautiful place and all that it has to offer,” Tammra Smith said.  For more information, check out the Facebook pages for Horseshoe Heaven on Smith Farm and Itty Bitty Therapy -- Horses Bringing Happiness, Hope and Healing. Read more: https://www.wvgazettemail.com/dailymailwv/daily_mail_features/scott-depot-couple-fosters-stronger-community-through-agritourism-therapy/article_e02bbc9c-a5b3-11ef-bce3-db468951f1a3.html   Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304. The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo.  That's all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.  

  The Derman Murders are the unsolved killings of Russell and Shirley Dermond in Putnam County, Georgia in May 2014. On May 6, 2014, Russell's decapitated body was found in the garage of his Lake Oconee home. He was 88 years old. Over a week later, Shirley's body was found floating in Lake Oconee. She was 87 years old and had been weighted down with concrete blocks. As of April 2024, the murders remain unsolved and Russell's head has not been found. The FBI is offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the killer or killers. Guest Bio and Links: Alice LaCour is a native Texan, a Yale Law School graduate, and a mean fiddler player. (She's been known to go down to Georgia). In another life, she was a dancer, but now the courtroom is her stage. When she's not lawyering she's hanging with her husband and wrangling her three adorable children. Brett Talley is a Southern gentleman who loves abandoned buildings, long walks on haunted beaches, and Cthluhu plushies. His saintly wife tolerates him, while his little girl and son hang on his every word–and love the podcast theme. Listeners can learn more about The Prosecutors Podcast at their website, on IG @prosecutorspod In this episode of Zone 7, Crime Scene Investigator, Sheryl McCollum, welcomes Brett and Alice from The Prosecutors Podcast to dive into the perplexing double homicide of Russell and Shirley Dermond in Lake Oconee, Georgia. Sheryl, Alice, and Brett cover various aspects of the case including the idyllic setting, Russell and Shirley's background, the brutal nature of the crime, and the intriguing yet cruel methods employed by the killer. With insights from legal experts and firsthand involvement, they explore different theories, investigate motives, and emphasize the critical role of DNA evidence and genetic genealogy in bringing this case closer to resolution. Show Notes: (0:00) Welcome back to Zone 7 with Crime Scene Investigator, Sheryl McCollum   (0:15) Sheryl welcomes Brett and Alice from The Prosecutors Podcast (2:30) Brief background of the Dermond murders  (4:30) Details of the crime scene in Putnam County, Georgia (5:00) Analysis of Shirley's body being found in the lake  (6:00) The brutality and peculiarities of the crime (10:30) Theories of mistaken identity and cartel involvement (14:00) Speculation on why Shirley might have been the target (16:30) Timeline and investigation insights (23:00) Importance of the boat in the crime's execution (27:00) Theories and intricacies of the crime scene (27:30) The lake and docking the boat (35:30) Revisiting the son's tragic murder (42:00) Genetic genealogy technologies  (50:00) Final reflections on the case's solvability Thanks for listening to another episode! If you love the show and want to help grow the show, please head over to iTunes and leave a rating and review!  --- Sheryl “Mac” McCollum is an Emmy Award-winning CSI, a writer for CrimeOnLine, a Forensic and Crime Scene Expert for Crime Stories with Nancy Grace, and a CSI for a metro Atlanta Police Department. She is the co-author of the textbook., Cold Case: Pathways to Justice. Sheryl is also the founder and director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, a collaboration between universities and colleges that brings researchers, practitioners, students and the criminal justice community together to advance techniques in solving cold cases and assist families and law enforcement with solvability factors for unsolved homicides, missing persons, and kidnapping cases.   Social Links: Email: coldcase2004@gmail.com Twitter: @ColdCaseTips Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum Instagram: @officialzone7podcast   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ben Rodgers meets with chairman Lynn McHenry at the Putnam County School Board. They talk all about Governor Bill Lee's voucher bill for public schools, how Lynn came to his current position, his perspective on unified bills in general, and more! Listen to the latest Local Matters Podcast today. News Talk 94.1

A murdered teenager found near a bus route in 1970s Putnam County. Danny Collins' case is sparse, but just an hour away - another case with a similar method was brewing. A connection was drawn to another case of attempted murder. Four boys survived an encounter to help implicate the suspect - but it's unknown if the criminal in question ever met with justice - for what was done to the four boys, or to Danny Collins. Join Julia and Harper in their search for answers.

Join Kosta and his guest: Jennifer Hutchinson-Tracy, Director of the Putnam County Animal Shelter.In this episode: Adopting a pet is a magical experience. What's one of your favorite adoption stories from here in Putnam County? And what do we need to know about how to adopt our next furry friend? How many animals are currently at the Putnam County Animal Shelter and what does the intake to adoption rate look like for any given month? If you could manage one misconception people have about animal shelters or even animal control, what would it be? You've helped thousands of families here in the Upper Cumberland find another member of their family and a pet they will cherish for the rest of their life. The holidays are right around the corner, everyone wants a puppy for Christmas, what's your message to families on adopting instead of shopping from a breeder this holiday season?Find out more about Putnam County Animal Shelter:https://www.cookeville-tn.gov/161/Animal-ShelterFind out more about Friends of Putnam County Animal Shelter:https://friendsofcpcanimals.orgBetter Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Cookeville, TN.This episode of Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is made possible by our partners at Volunteer State Community College.Find out more about Volunteer State Community College:https://www.volstate.edu/campuses/cookeville

Jeremy Wendt sits down with Lance Key who is the Instructional Support Specialist for Putnam County Schools. They talk all about his past, the VITAL program in Putnam County, other technology in education, and more! Listen to the latest Local Matters Podcast today. News Talk 94.1

Join us on this episode of West Virginia Outdoors as we meet the state's youngest Master Angler and hear his incredible fishing journey. We'll also share the story of a nice buck taken down in Putnam County. Plus, we'll be joined by DNR Assistant Chief for Game Management, Seve Rauch, for a discussion on game management strategies and updates. Tune in for a morning full of great outdoor stories and expert insights!

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.   Today is Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. Congratulations to the Mountain State's first youth Master Angler…experience the beauty of fall in Almost Heaven with a stay at a WV State Park cabin…and You're Not Seeing Things--don't miss out on the arts scene in Appalachia with YNST Magazine…on today's daily304. #1 – From GAZETTE-MAIL – Carson Shock from Putnam County has become the Mountain State's first youth Master Angler award recipient, according to Gov. Jim Justice, who praised the youth's dedication and passion. Shock, 14, completed this feat by catching 22 fish species on 13 waters across West Virginia. A program of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, the Master Angler Award is one of the most prestigious achievements for those who fish in West Virginia. Shock completed his final slam on Oct. 14 by reeling in a fallfish on the South Branch of the Potomac River.  To learn more about fishing regulations in West Virginia or to purchase a license, visit wvfish.com. Read more: https://www.wvgazettemail.com/metrokanawha/putnam-teenager-becomes-latest-master-angler/article_aa8006be-9539-11ef-a902-5b64a8864924.html   #2 – From WV STATE PARKS – If you've never visited West Virginia's state park cabins, you're in for an unforgettable adventure. Here's why your next fall getaway should be right here, in the Mountain State. Autumn in West Virginia is nothing short of spectacular. At Watoga State Park, the state's largest park, the foliage is a sight to behold and a perfect setting for those stunning autumn photos.  From the spacious cabins at Canaan Valley Resort State Park to the charming historic cabins at Holly River State Park, each one is a home away from home. You'll have all the amenities you need while still feeling connected to the natural beauty that surrounds you. Visit wvstateparks.com to learn more and book your cabin stay for the Almost Heaven getaway of a lifetime. Read more: https://wvstateparks.com/embrace-fall-in-west-virginia-state-park-cabins/   #3 – From YNST MAGAZINE – YNST (You're Not Seeing Things) Magazine is a print & digital media company amplifying the unseen and unsung arts & culture of Appalachia. The magazine is on a mission to portray home with a contemporary, colorful lens by capturing the region's vital storytellers, unique designers, impactful photographers, dynamic artists and underrepresented perspectives.  Don't miss out on all the great content! Subscribe to YNST and find out what everybody is talking about. Learn more: https://ynstmagazine.com/shop/   Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304. The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo.  That's all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.  

Ben Rodgers meets with Mayor Randy Porter. They talk all about Christmas On The Square, other events this holiday season, county happenings, and more! Listen to the latest Local Matters Podcast today. News Talk 94.1

We talk with Brandon about his work in East Tennessee helping out after the Hurricane.

George Halford sits down with Jeff Jones, who is the county attorney for Putnam County. Hear all about his past, his family, the extent of his stay in Cookeville, all of the work he has done for the city, his future plans, and more! Listen to the Local Matters Podcast today. News Talk 94.1

Today's show features not one, but two guests! With me is Cathy Lepkowski & Mike Sleeth. Both of them are members of Christ Our King and Savior Catholic Church here in Greensboro and both are part of the St. Vincent de Paul Georgia Conference. This wonderful organization works diligently to bring help and hope to neighbors in need. Some of the important areas they work in include increasing healthcare access, decreasing food insecurity, increasing food access and increasing housing stability. We will talk specifically about a grant opportunity they are currently working on with the Department of Housing & Urban Development to alleviate some of the rental housing challenges in Greene, Putnam & Hancock Counties. We'll talk about why this is such a huge problem in the area and how the approach of St. Vincent is unique, sustainable and scalable throughout Georgia. They will tell us about the community concept of the project, "A Place To Call Home." Guests: Cathy Lepkowski & Mike Sleeth Phone: 706-453-7292 (Church office) Website: https://svdpgeorgia.org/ Website: https://svdpgeorgia.org/price-grant/ (PRICE Grant Information) Email: mike@bank-checking.com (Mike Sleeth) Sponsors: Lake Oconee Bistro; Tim Broyles State Farm; Habitat for Humanity of Putnam County; Simplify AI Academy https://www.lakeoconeebistro.com/ https://mydowntownagency.com/ https://www.putnamcountyhabitat.org/ https://simplifyai.academy/

This week, Matt and Dusty talk with Kris Swartz from Wood County and Jeff Duling from Putnam County, current president of the Ohio Federation of Soil and Water Conservation Districts. In addition, we have featured audio from Cati Riddell talking GrowNextGen, Brynn Bishop on the upcoming Night for Young professionals, Julie Myers with Luckey Farmers Cooperative talking about the 4Rs, and Eric Doll, president of the Ohio Forestry Association talking about the upcoming Paul Bunyan Show at the Guernsey County Fairgrounds. Tune in for the wide ranging and informative discussion in this week's Ohio Ag Net Podcast!

Join Kosta and his guest: Kathryn Wisinger, Director of the Putnam County Library.In this episode: In this community we're lucky to have the partnership of local government, education, public resources like the library, non-profit resources like Plenty Book Store and countless businesses and community members working to improve the “book culture” as our friend Lisa Uhrik would say. *However, in Putnam County only 31% of elementary students tested at or above the proficient level for reading. What's the missing link? As a kid I loved going to the library, now my kids love going to the library, but a lot has changed in the past 20 years. What can parents expect the Putnam County Library of 2024 to have it didn't before? What are a few small changes we can make as parents, and adults in general to reintegrate reading into our lives and help create that “book culture” for the people around us?  Find out more about Kathryn Wisinger and the Putnam County Library:https://pclibrary.org/Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Cookeville, TN.This episode of Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is made possible by our partner Sabrina Brazle, The Realty Firm.Find out more about Sabrina Brazle:https://www.sabrinabrazle.com/*More information about Putnam County School System testing scores, finances and other government provided data can be found here. 

We talk to Randy about tourism, county projects, immigration, methadone, and more.

IT IS THURSDAY, BESTIES!! Pls forgive us for Tay's monotoned, hoarse a** voice- she talked a little too much (way too much), but don't worry because BOY do we have some spirals for you to soar down! Morgan starts us off by covering the MEGALODON (aka BIG M'Fin TOOTH): the lore, the science, the history, the frantic search of mammals, cold blooded, hot blooded- you name it. Taylar then wraps it up by covering the unsolved, but still active 2014 case of Russell and Shirley Dermond in Lake Oconee, Putnam County, GA. Someone knows something, this case is so close to a break through, please share this story far and wide in hopes of getting answers for their family. That's all we've got for you guys today, because honey- this one drained me! TTYL BESTIES ILY! Thank you so much to our sponsors: PROSE: For customize haircare go to PROSE.COM/CACBESTIES HONEYLOVE: Want a bra so comfy you can sleep in it on accident? Head to HONEYLOVE.COM/CREEPSANDCRIMES