March 31 WPWT: Sad News, Glad News

WPWT 870 AM Sad News: Long-time and well-respected Northeast Tennessee radio news announcer Art Countiss retired today from WPWT 870 AM radio. Countiss is also the 1993 Tennessee Associated Press Broadcasters Association Broadcast Journalist of the Year and Countiss previously retired from his broadcasting career at WJCW(?) in 1998 when he announced his Republican Primary candidacy within Washington County, Tennessee 6th House District elections. Good luck, Art...

WPWT 870 AM Glad News: Coinciding with the announcement at WPWT of Art Countiss' retirement is the news that Jody Lee's "conservative" Local View afternoon talk radio show is officially toast...!

"Word Up" on the streets is that 501 (c)(3) tax-exempt Appalachian Educational Communications Corporation President Dr. Kenneth C. Hill is promoting not one, --- no, no, not just another series of mind-mumbing WPWT commercial radio spots --- but both of his sons up, up, and away within the ranks of high-earning AECC "key employees": Rep. Matthew Hill has allegedly been promoted to "Vice President" --- no more clock punching for Rep. Matthew Hill --- while his equally talented brother and WPWT "Good Morning Tri-Cities" host Timothy A. Hill has allegedly been promoted to the Rep.'s former "Operations Manager" post at the rather cool $36,125 AECC pay grade (estimated by Rep. Hill's 2003 AECC salary)...shhhhh, "loose lips sink ships."