Wise Up, a Wise County Messenger podcast
Wise Up, a podcast by the Wise County Messenger in Decatur, Texas, is a candid, twice-a-month conversation with members of the Wise County community.
Unlike what goes in print, these stories are not limited to a word count. We hope these conversations provide insight, laughs and a better understanding of the human beings who make Wise County special.
Episodes
73 episodes
J.D. Clark on the work to make Highway 287 safer and other issues affecting Wise County
Wise County Judge J.D. Clark puts his state of the county address in podcast form, addressing major developments that are occurring in Wise County, like U.S. 287 safety improvements, courthouse restoration, future water resources and the next e...
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56:00
The Role of Mental Health in the Fight Against Cancer
Terra Durdon of the Center for Emotional Wellness and the Tough Enough to Wear Pink counseling center joins the Wise Up podcast to discuss the nonprofit organization's role in supporting first responders and those fighting cancer in Wise County...
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Season 3
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Episode 1
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42:07
Wise Up 2.0: Introducing our new host
Meet Josh Henry, the newest addition to the Wise Up podcast. Henry studied sports broadcasting at the University of North Texas. Now, the member of Bridgeport Police Department team has agreed to lend his talents to the Wise County ...
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Season 2
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Episode 3
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49:44
Sheriff Lane Akin on going undercover and "The Dawn of the Texas Meth War"
Wise County Sheriff Lane Akin was once known as Joe Lane. Joseph Lane had a beard and shaggy hair as an undercover agent during the precipice of the meth boom in Texas. His time in narcotics enforcement influenced his career and was the subject...
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Season 2
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Episode 1
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1:11:48
Wise Up Ep. 13: What's up with the Wise County Courthouse?
The Wise County Courthouse will be looking a little different soon. We discuss the new-look roof, changes for early voting in the March primary, the bonds on the May ballot, important sports updates and more on the Season 1 finale of the ...
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Season 1
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Episode 13
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21:10
Wise Up Ep. 12: Love, mailers and Newsmax
As Valentine's Day approaches, the Wise Up podcast shares our takeaways from a recent story on a couple whose relationship has stood the test of time, while also sharing staff plans to celebrate the romantic, top-10 holiday.The crew als...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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30:31
Wise Up Episode 11: UIL Realignment Reaction
The UIL’s biennial realignment Feb. 1 has shaken up the Wise County sports scene. The Wise Up crew discusses the new landing spots and more on Episode 11 of the podcast.
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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15:59
Wise Up Ep. 10: Bryce Elder
Atlanta Braves pitcher and Decatur graduate Bryce Elder joins the Wise Up podcast to share how a bet on himself led to a career in Major League Baseball.The MLB All-Star and former Texas Longhorn shares his approach to Spring Training af...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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44:45
Wise Up Ep. 9: A great loss in Paradise
The Wise Up crew discusses how the Paradise community has banded together in the face of another tragedy following the plane crash that resulted in the deaths of Dr. Heath Smith and his six-year-old and eight-year-old sons; the new Lost Battali...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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19:38
Wise Up Ep. 8: Bracing for weather, reflecting on a Decatur legend
The Wise Up crew talks inclement weather, the loss of a Decatur legend, the forum for the March primary and more on the latest episode of the Wise Up podcast.
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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18:03
Wise Up Ep. 7: Who is the Wise County Person of the Year?
The Wise Up podcast crew discusses the 2023 Wise County Person of the Year, the new food truck that's in the works in Alvord and debuts a new sports segment in this week's episode.
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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16:41
Wise Up Ep. 6: The Year That Was 2023
Wise County Messenger editors Austin Jackson and Brendan Marchand look back at some of the top stories and moments of 2023 in Wise County.
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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53:17
Wise Up Ep. 5: Chainsaw Artist Kevin Roach
Wise County artist Kevin Roach joins the Wise Up podcast to discuss the artistry behind turning storm damage and tree stumps into intricate, lifelike carvings of people and animals — with a chainsaw.Roach recently turned the hobby into a...
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12:27
Wise Up Ep. 4: Ghost stories with a paranormal investigator and a historian
Paranormal investigator Suzette Munson and local historian Hannah Rainey uncover the history and lore behind Downtown Decatur's local haunts for the Wise County Historical Society's ghost walk tour on the historic town square. The Messenger tag...
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27:34
Wise Up Ep. 3: Parker Hicks
Decatur graduate and current Lubbock-Cooper Liberty basketball coach Parker Hicks joins the Wise Up podcast to discuss how he came into his own as a coach after breaking a few records and launching multiple title runs as a player at Texas Tech ...
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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29:05
Wise Up Ep. 2: Bridgeport PD Chief Steve Stanford and Mayor Randy Singleton
Bridgeport Police Chief Steve Stanford and Mayor Randy Singleton dive into their mentor-mentee relationship, cultural shift, leading through loss and their careers in law enforcement in our newest episode of Wise Up.Co-hosts are Brendan...
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Season 1
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Episode 2
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40:46
Wise Up Ep. 1: Wise County Judge J.D. Clark.
Judge J.D. Clark dives into his little-known life as a singer-songwriter and what led to him joining the Chico City Council at the age of 20. Clark, who later became the youngest mayor in Texas, also discusses his rise through ...
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Season 1
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Episode 1
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35:06
Making A Mess: Cody Powell, Emergency Management Coordinator
After a review of the week, Amy Neal and Richard Greene visit with Wise County Emergency Management Coordinator Cody Powell about the county’s new emergency command center.
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30:10
Making A Mess: First year teacher, Reunion development
As pointed out by Austin Jackson, this was our most ambitious episode yet — 3 reporters and 2 guests. After a recap of the week, Amy Neal joins podcast to interview first-year Decatur teacher Rob Watson about entering the classroom after 30 yea...
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35:47
Making A Mess: School Security Training, Steve Stanford
We're back with a new episode of Making A Mess. We do a short review of the week in Wonderful Wise. Rhome changes administration, county commissioners pass resolution on the border and Beto O’Rourke comes to Wise County. Our main story is...
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40:55
Making A Mess: Back To School
We're back. Messenger Editor Richard Greene and Assistant Editor Austin Jackson discuss the start of school in Wise County. They are joined by Alvord ISD Superintendent Randy Brown to talk about the challenges with teacher shortages facing dist...
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36:20
Making A Mess: Atlanta Braves pitcher Bryce Elder
We got a chance for a quick phone interview with Bryce Elder to talk about his MLB debut and win. Had a couple of technical difficulties, but Bryce sounds great in interview.
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6:26
Making A Mess: Chico ISD's Randy Brawner and Breann Cox
Chico ISD made the decision last week to move to a 4-day school week for the 2022-23 school year. Chico ISD Superintendent Randy Brawner and Chico High School Principal Breann Cox join us to talk about the move and what went into the decision.&...
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20:31
Making A Mess: Decatur Athletic Director Steve Huff
After a hiatus, Making A Mess returns to visit with new Decatur football coach and athletic Director Steve Huff.
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12:48
Making A Mess, Episode 48: J.D. Clark State of Wise
Wise County Judge J.D. Clark joined us on the latest episode of Making A Mess to discuss the state of the county after a busy 2021 and the prospects of record growth in 2022.Also stay tuned until the end as co-host Kristen Tribe discusses her n...
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33:46