Athens News Matters

Athens News Matters for October 15, 2021

WUGA | By Chris Shupe,

Published October 15, 2021 at 4:26 PM EDT

This week on Athens News Matters, Western Circuit District Attorney Deborah Gonzalez sits down with Chris Shupe to discuss staffing in her office, her decision to charge a juvenile defendant as an adult, and the rash of shootings involving young people in Athens. We will revisit an interview with former Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation Chad Smith in recognition of Monday marking the first Indigenous Peoples' Day in Athens. October is National Depression and Mental Health Screening Month. Psychologist Dr. LaKeish Gantt joins the team to talk about what it is like to live with mental health challenges. Chris Shupe sat down with Nick Fuhrman to discuss the service dog training program here at UGA and our panel breaks down the week in politics and news.

Athens News Matters

Chris Shupe

Chris Shupe was the Program Director of WUGA from 2014-2022. Shupe may be best known as The Athens King, a tribute to Elvis Presley, which often included an 8 piece show band! After two years as a part-time announcer, Chris Shupe joined WUGA full time as the station’s Morning Edition Host and Assistant Operations Director. He was later promoted to PD in 2014.

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Alexia Ridley

Alexia Ridley joined WUGA as Television and Radio News Anchor and Reporter in 2013. When WUGA TV concluded operations, she became the primary Reporter for WUGA Radio. Alexia came to Athens from Macon where she served as the News Director and show host for WGXA TV. She's a career journalist and Savannah native hailing from the University of Michigan. However, Alexia considers herself an honorary UGA DAWG!

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Martin Matheny

Martin Matheny was formerly WUGA's Program Director and a host and producer of our local news program 'Athens News Matters.' He started at WUGA in 2012 as a part-time classical music host and still hosts WUGA's longest-running local program 'Night Music' which was heard on WUGA and GPB Classical. He is now the Morning Edition Host for Delaware First Media.

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