It is official! WJJM FM will now simulcast all home games and post season games from Preston Hopkins Field on WJJM FM and streaming live on the NFHS network. Listeners will have the opportunity to watch the Tiger games at home on their digital devices while listening to the MCHS Football Broadcast crew of Mike Keny, Mike Wiles, Kyle Bolton, Jeff Haislip, and Ike Wiggins. WJJM is proud to be the voice of the Tigers and this promises to be a very exciting year for the MCHS Football squad. This is also an amazing opportunity for all of our advertising partners. GO Tigers.

(NASHVILLE, TN), July 12, 2016 — State Senator Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville), Lewisburg Mayor Jim Bingham and Marshall County Mayor Joe Boyd Liggett announced Tuesday, July 12th, that the Department of Transportation (TDOT) has informed them that a major project to improve SR-50 (N. Ellington Parkway) has been scheduled to be let to construction in December. The project, which is part of the bypass around Lewisburg, is designed to improve the capacity and operation efficiency of the road.

“This is a huge project,” said Senator Tracy, who is Chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee. “It will be a tremendous help in alleviating traffic. Not only will it improve the looks of the area, but it will enhance business growth. I am very pleased that it is moving forward to the construction phase.”

The project will include the widening of 2.18 miles of SR-50 from a 2-lane section to a 5-lane section. It will begin just west of SR-106 (Franklin Pike) and ends just east of SR-11 (Verona Avenue). The portion of the project from just east of SR-106 to west of SR-417 (W Ellington Parkway) will be a 5-lane section with 10-foot shoulders and the remainder of the project will be a 5-lane section with 10-foot shoulders and curb and gutter. It will include the reconfiguration of the Franklin Road intersection and the Fifth Avenue/Rock Crusher Road intersection and will upgrade 5 existing signalized intersections and a new signalized intersection at SR-50 at SR-106. It will also include a new bridge over the CSX Railroad and a new Arch Bridge over Snell Branch.

“This project has been worked on for many years, and to have it become a reality is tremendous. Thanks to everyone, especially Sen. Jim Tracy, who helped make this happen.” Said Mayor Joe Boyd Liggett.

“On behalf of the citizens of Lewisburg, I want to thank Governor Haslam, Commissioner Schroer and his staff at TDOT, and a special thanks to Senator Tracy and Representative Spivey for their leadership on moving this project” added City Mayor, Jim Bingham.

The estimated project cost, including right of way, utilities and construction is estimated at approximately $30 million. The cost of just construction is approximately $20 million. Some of the funds will come from $100 million appropriated by the General Assembly this year, which was spearheaded by Tracy, to repay money borrowed from the state’s Highway Trust Fund during the recession.

The project will take approximately 30 months to complete.

The Marshall County Courthouse Annex now has new office hours. This goes into effect July 1, 2016.

The Courthouse Annex will now be open from 8:00 A.M. – 4:30 P.M.

The big record labels have seen album sales, and their revenue, decline as more listeners opt for digital downloads. So now, they are urging Congress to impose a fee, which many consider a tax, on local radio stations simply for airing music free of charge for listeners.

Ironically, local radio remains the number one promotional vehicle for music – and already provides between $1.5 to $2.4 billion dollars annually in music sales for artists and record labels. By pushing a fee on local radio, record labels are biting the hand that feeds them.

WHERE DOES THE MONEY GO YOU ASK?

In short, the money would flow out of your community and into the pockets of the record labels – the great majority of which are foreign-owned. The record labels would like for you to think this is all about compensating the artists, but in truth the record labels would get at least 50 percent of the proceeds from a fee imposed on local radio.

HOW DOES THIS AFFECT YOU?

If you’re one of the nearly 243 million people who listen to radio each week, this fee could reduce the variety of music radio stations play, and all but eliminate the possibility of new artists breaking onto the scene. It could particularly affect smaller, minority-owned stations, some of which may have to switch to a talk-only format like WJJM AM Fox Sports Talk or shut down entirely.

IT ALSO AFFECTS YOUR COMMUNITY.

Radio stations are major contributors to public service – generating $6 billion in public service annually and providing vital news and community information and free airtime to help local charities. If a tax were imposed, stations’ critical public and community service efforts could be reduced. And worst of all, the jobs of 106,000 Americans employed by local radio could be in jeopardy.

DOESN’T RADIO ALREADY PAY FOR MUSIC YOU ASK?

Radio compensates composers and songwriters to the tune of about $550 million annually. It’s widely understood that songwriters do not have the same name recognition to financially exploit themselves to make money. Performers can make money from touring and personal appearances, merchandise and other licensing and branding opportunities like perfume and clothing lines.

Radio stations also pay a royalty for streaming music over the internet, for reasons that include concerns that a digital copy of the music could be captured by the end user.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP LOCAL RADIO STATIONS LIKE WJJM FM?

Congress has continually recognized that local radio is different and should not be subject to such a fee. Local radio is free, so everyone, regardless of income, can have access to it. The Local Radio Freedom Act has been introduced in Congress to oppose a tax on local radio stations. Visit NoPerformanceTax.org to take action and encourage your senators and representatives to cosponsor this legislation.

noperformancetax.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Friday, June 3rd, State Senator Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville) announced that $7,480 has been awarded to the Marshall County Community Theatre from the Tennessee Arts Commission. The Rural Art Support Grant is distributed through an appropriation of state funds by the General Assembly, federal dollars from the National Endowment for the Arts and by Tennesseans who buy specialty license plates.

“This is great news,” said Senator Tracy. “The arts are very important to our communities, especially in terms of education, economic development and cultural development. We are sure the Marshall County Community Theatre will put these funds to good use.”

“Tennessee is fortunate to have elected leaders who appreciate the importance of our vibrant arts and cultural heritage,” said Ann Pope, Executive Director of the Tennessee Arts Commission.

According to Pope, the Arts Commission will award approximately 1,000 community grants in both urban and rural areas through the 2017 fiscal year, totaling $5.5 million. The allocation process involves a review by citizen advisory panels made up of Tennesseans with expertise in appropriate disciplines and a final review by the full 15-member commission.