Scenic Roots

Gary W. Rollins College of Business (UTC) (Aired Tues 10/22/24) When we talk about “school choice,” what do we mean? How do we talk about it - especially in the heat of an election campaign? This week, our campus - the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga - will host a panel discussion titled, “Choice in Education: Today’s Policy, Tomorrow’s Future.” It takes place Thursday, starting at 5:30 PM...

Olivia Reeves (UTC) (Aired Tues 10/22/24) This summer at the Paris Olympics, Olivia Reeves won the first gold medal in weightlifting for the United States in 24 years. Olivia - now a senior here on our campus, the University of Tennessee of Chattanooga - was honored with a parade through campus and received the keys to this city. I had the chance to speak with her last month.

In conversation: Olivia Reeves, Olympic gold medalist at UTC. “Choice in Education” - a UTC discussion beyond the headlines. abc@utc: Lessons in empathy through learning with the arts. These voices - and more - on this edition of “Scenic Roots.”

Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly - in October 2024. (City of Chattanooga) Last week, Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly stopped by our studios here at WUTC for our latest one-on-one conversation, recorded on Friday. Among the topics: the Moccasin Bend National Archeological District; John Chambers sworn in as the new Chief of Police for the City of Chattanooga; a new brand and website for the City of Chattano...

(AVA) (Aired Thu 10/17/24) In just a few years, the Between the Bridges Local Arts Festival has become another destination for Chattanooga’s art scene. This year’s festival - presented by the Association for Visual Arts, or AVA - is Saturday and Sunday in Coolidge Park, which is also celebrating its 25th anniversary. Sarah Moore is AVA’s director of festivals.

“Convergence” by Andrew Nigh - the sculpture for this year’s burn at Fire Up the Fields. (Sculpture Fields at Montague Park) (Aired Thu 10/17/24) This weekend, it’s time to “Fire Up the Fields” - the annual sculpture burn here in Chattanooga. It happens Saturday at Sculpture Fields at Montague Park, starting at 5 PM - and after sundown is the signature burn of a 30-foot wooden sculpture designed a...

(Signal Centers) (Aired Thu 10/27/24) Each year, the Women of Distinction of Greater Chattanooga honors women in this area for their contributions to our community. This year’s awards presentation and luncheon is Thursday, October 31st starting at 11:30 AM at the Chattanooga Convention Center. Taylor Bostwick is president and CEO of the Speech and Hearing Center, a program of Signal Centers. Nicol...

(Tivoli Theatre Foundation) (Aired Thu 10/17/24) “Moulin Rouge! The Musical” opens the new Broadway season at the Tivoli Theatre Foundation here in Chattanooga. The series of eight performances begins Tuesday, October 22nd and runs through Sunday, October 27th at Memorial Auditorium. The lineup for the rest of the Broadway season, which runs through July of next year: “Pretty Woman,” “Six,” “Hades...

(UTC) (Aired Thu 10/17/24) Next week, urban mobility and smart tech are on the agenda for Chattanooga Connect - a new conference hosted by our campus, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. The conference on Monday through Wednesday is presented by UTC’s Research Institute and its Center for Urban Informatics and Progress. Dr. Mina Sartipi is executive director of the Research Institute - and...

Fast forward to future tense: Chattanooga Connect 2024. “Moulin Rouge!” kicks off Broadway at Memorial Auditorium. This year’s Women of Distinction of Greater Chattanooga. These voices - and more - on this edition of “Scenic Roots.”

Yuriy Bova - the Mayor of Trostyanets, Ukraine. (Chattamatters) (Aired Thu 10/17/24) Chattanooga has a friendship city in Ukraine. When a delegation from that city visited here this month, Ian-Alijah Bey of Chattamatters sat down with its mayor to talk about what has happened to his hometown since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine - and how Chattanoogans can help. _____ Chattamatters is the civic story...

(Cohutta Song Fest) This weekend, the music is calling in Northwest Georgia. On Friday and Saturday, the first-ever Cohutta Song Fest debuts in the small railroad town a half hour from Chattanooga and twenty minutes from Dalton. Highlights of the two-day fest on Wolfe Street: live music from singer-songwriters, a songwriter master class workshop and a songwriting contest. Thom Brown and Charlsey E...

(Lookout Comedy Festival) Everywhere you turn you’ll hear a punchline at this year’s Lookout Comedy Festival here in Chattanooga. The festival, which runs Wednesday through Saturday at multiple venues in this city, features comic talent from this area and around the country. Donnie Marsh is the festival’s founder and producer.

(Bessie Smith Cultural Center) For more than four decades, the Bessie Smith Cultural Center has preserved and celebrated the history and culture of African-Americans here in Chattanooga. On Saturday, the center will host the brand-new Bessie Smith Legacy Gala at the Chattanooga Convention Center, starting at 6 PM. Elijah Cameron is with The Bessie.

Wade Hinton (Hinton & Company) Polarization. Far too often, we hear the word - and far too often, we use the word - to describe our politics and our culture. What about the workplace? Wade Hinton is CEO of Hinton and Company here in Chattanooga, a consulting and advisory firm that helps organizations - quote - “create impact through inclusive leadership.” Wade is the author of a recent e-b...

Wade Hinton on “Bridge Building” in a polarized workplace. A night to honor Chattanooga’s African-American luminaries. This year’s Lookout Comedy Festival; Cohutta Song Fest. These voices - and more - on this edition of “Scenic Roots.”

Old timey corn picked the old timey way at Sequatchie Cove Farm. (Sequatchie Cove Farm) Drive about an hour west of Chattanooga - and you’ll find an emerging generation of farmers passionate about locally grown food here in Southeast Tennessee. Kelsey Keener is a third-generation farmer at Sequatchie Cove Farm, along the Sequatchie River in Sequatchie. Jess Wilson is president of the Southeast Ten...

(Chattanooga Motorcar Festival) (Aired Thu 10/10/24) This weekend, cars - and car aficionados - are revving up downtown Chattanooga. The Chattanooga Motorcar Festival - one of the top auto events nationwide - returns to the West Village, this Friday through Sunday. The Festival, presented by DeFoor Brothers, is more than a showcase - it raises money for neuroscience research. Ember Souchet is with...

(Locals Only Music Festival) (Aired Weds 10/09/24) This weekend, a new festival aims to fill a gap in Chattanooga’s music scene. On Saturday and Sunday, the Locals Only Music Festival features bands and musicians here in Chattanooga at Barrelhouse Ballroom. Mike Monen is co-owner of Five Wits Brewing Co. and Barrelhouse Ballroom. I spoke with him - and Barrelhouse’s Amber Carrington. (Locals Only...

A map of the land swap that will extend the Cumberland Trail in Hamilton County. (Chattanooga Audubon Society) (Aired Weds 10/09/24) In Northern Hamilton County, a land swap with Tennessee State Parks at Audubon Mountain will extend the Cumberland Trail. Jim Stewart is executive director of Chattanooga Audubon Society. Matt Folz is director of Hamilton County Parks and Recreation.

(United Way of Greater Chattanooga) (Aired Weds 10/09/24) Here in the Chattanooga area, the response to the impact of Hurricane Helene is coming from many corners of our community. One nonprofit trying to get the word out about helping those in need is United Way of Greater Chattanooga. Abby Garrison is United Way’s vice president of community investments.

Andy Ramirez (Andy Ramirez) (Aired Weds 10/09/24) Andy Ramirez is a documentary photographer here in Chattanooga. From protests to punk concerts, he uses still photography to - quote - “tell the stories of others in the hopes of better understanding my own.” A Latino who grew up in this city, Andy is one of the local artists working with community members in the Rossville Boulevard Corridor Art an...

Through the lens to lift voices: Photographer Andy Ramirez. Extending the Cumberland Trail in Northern Hamilton County. In Chattanooga, the premiere of the Locals Only Music Festival. These voices - and more - on this edition of “Scenic Roots.”

Tim Piersant, holding a Chattanooga Whiskey bottle. (Chattanooga Whiskey) (Aired Tues 10/08/24) Sometimes, a conversation about one thing leads to a conversation about something quite different. Five years ago, one of our earliest guests on “Scenic Roots” was Tim Piersant, founder and CEO of Chattanooga Whiskey. Since then, his business has switched to corn 100 percent locally grown in this state...

A blue jay at the Tennessee River Gorge Trust’s Bird Observatory. (Tennessee River Gorge Trust) (Aired Tues 10/08/24) It’s so simple - and yet so essential - for tracking birds: tie an aluminum or colored band on each bird’s leg. Bird banding is one of the activities offered this fall by the Tennessee River Gorge Trust, the conservation nonprofit that protects 17,000 acres in the Gorge - known as...