I know. The title seems like it would be from a T.G. Sheppard country song or maybe from a bad TV reality show, but it came to mind after my co-host Rebecca Biddy mentioned on the morning show recently that my life is “filled with women.” She’s not wrong.

I’m a “girl dad” with two fantastic daughters. I also have a sister, three very cool aunts, had two inspiring grandmothers, a very special great-grandmother, and I even remember my great-great-grandmother. Then there’s my mom, who was awesome and incredibly supportive of my career. I’m pretty sure she was the only person who actually listened to those early Sunday morning shifts during my first year of radio. And no, I haven’t forgotten my wife, B.J. We worked together at several radio stations. In fact, we met when I was applying for a job at a station where she worked, and our mutual friend George Mason Dixon set us up on a blind date. Maybe I’ll share that story in a later blog. Heck, most of my dogs have been female, too. So yes, I’ve had a lot of women in my life, including the aforementioned Rebecca on the morning show and the Girl Next Door, Madison Parker, who drops by on a regular basis.

With that said, there are four women who really made big contributions to my radio career. The first was my junior high guidance counselor Barbara Shirley. I had Mrs. Shirley for an open period during the last half of my 9th grade year. She knew I was interested in radio and it just so happened that a new station was opening in my hometown that spring. She suggested I attend the grand opening and sign-on ceremony. She even gave me permission to leave school and walk the six blocks to the studio. What a day it was! Little did I know that three years later I would have a job at the station working those Sunday mornings I mentioned.

I kept that first job in radio for two years before landing my second job at a station owned by the other three women whom I owe so much: Linda Dotson, Sandra Fowler and Edith Chambers. They owned Country Love 1130 WLBA in Gainesville, Ga. Linda and Sandra were the heartbeat of the station. They both sold advertising, managed the staff, developed promotions and ran day-to-day operations, while Edith was a silent partner with another occupation.

WLBA was part of a market that had two other AM stations and two big FM stations. It had the disadvantage of being a daytime station, which meant it was only on-air during daylight hours. It also meant you had to work a lot harder to compete against the other stations. Nevertheless, that’s exactly what Linda and Sandra did. They fine-tuned a country format - the only one in town. They advertised on billboards and in the local newspapers and even printed their own Top 30 playlist each week and placed those flyers in area record stores. The the biggest and best idea they had, though, was the annual “Acre in the Country” promotion. Each year they would buy an acre of land in the country and give it away. Over a two-month period, listeners would register to win the piece of property. Then, WLBA would have all the qualifiers gather for a big country picnic at a local park where one person would win the land. I think it was one of the best radio promotions ever, making WLBA a hit with listeners and advertisers alike, despite the challenge of being a daytime station only.

Linda and Sandra treated all of us like family, and that was never more evident than about six months into my tenure at WLBA. They hired a new program director from another market, and after a few weeks, he suggested the ladies make several changes, including firing me. I’m still not sure why. I was 19 years old, eager to learn and thought I got along well him. Linda refused to go along with his plan, so he told her he would start looking for another job and leave as soon as he found one. If he said that hoping for a counteroffer, he got one - but not the kind he expected. Linda told him she considered it his two-week notice, and as soon as she found a new program director, he would no longer be needed. She had a new PD in place within two days, and I’ve never seen or heard from that person again.

I owe so much to Linda and Sandra and consider them two of my greatest radio heroes. Who knows what would have happened if I had lost my job. Again, Rebecca was correct. I have had many women in my life - great women - and I am thankful.

Thanks for taking time for this. See you on the radio!

Joel

So where to start? Is it a spill all, teen magazine style blog? Or is it more the thirteen pages you have to scroll past to get a recipe by some lady named Kelly on Pinterest? I’d say neither. This is more adventures in radio rather than close up TMI. At least for me.

Hi, Girl Next Door here- mostly known for my constant interrupting on the morning show on My Country 99.3 and in real life. So buckle up and get your boots on because we are going for a ride… blog style.

So the real story starts here: way too early in the morning, coffee barely hitting my system, and maybe if I’m lucky I sneak in a quick breakfast on my way to the studios. I come in practically on two wheels and think most mornings “what is happening today?”. That’s the cool thing about radio is you never know what the day- or information- will hold.

Or when certain Morning Show Hosts go on vacation. Okay so that was for sure on a calendar somewhere but that means that all this week Joel on the Morning show is stuck with me as a bonafide co host. I don’t even have to ring the studio doorbell.

So I ask more questions. How will the show be different? What is the log in to the other computer again? How can I annoy Joel to the best of my ability? Can I win that fancy beach trip too?

Well all I can say now is this is a Girl Next Door takeover. Tune in 6a-10p for giveaways, the music that made country great, and a new perspective on the Morning Show. At least for a week.

See you in the morning.

🎙️ Madison Parker
“The Girl Next Door”
My Country 99.3 WCON

For those who may not know me, I’m Tim Cicciarelli from The Ride Home on My Country 99.3 WCON. Today, I took the day off from My Country 99.3 WCON.

A year ago today, I lost my beautiful wife, Amy.

I want to thank Josh Tanner for stepping in for me this afternoon, and thank the Foster family and everyone at Habersham Broadcasting for giving me the time and grace to reflect, remember, and simply breathe on what has been a very emotional day.

The truth is, this past year has been the most challenging year of my life.

I have walked hand-in-hand with both grief and gratitude. Grieving the loss of the love of my life and learning how to navigate this world without her, while also feeling deeply grateful for the love and precious time we shared together. I’m also incredibly thankful for the encouragement and support from my family, along with both lifelong friends and people who have entered my life during this difficult season.

This morning, I planted two trees in Amy’s memory. A Stellar Pink Kousa Dogwood because she asked guests to wear touches of pink at our wedding, and a Merlot Redbud because she often wore deep reds and burgundy colors and looked absolutely stunning every single time.

Amy passed away at 4:58 on Monday, May 26, 2025.

Since that day, every Monday at around that time, I quietly play a song on My Country 99.3 that meant a great deal to us when we were dating. Run by George Strait.

Back then, Amy would send that song to me often. Over the years, it became ours. Now, it has become part of how I remember her. So if you happen to be listening on a Monday around 4:58, and you hear “Run” come across your radio speakers while you’re driving home, sitting in traffic, taking the kids to practice, or just finishing up your workday… maybe you’ll think of my Amy for a moment. I’d like that very much.

While I planted those trees today… I found myself thinking about something much bigger than my own grief. Connection. Real connection. And that brings me to you. Our friends on “the other side of the speakers”.

One of the things we hear all the time when we’re out at events across North Georgia is how much you enjoy spending part of your day with us.

Some of you tell us Joel Williams and Rebecca Biddy help you laugh your way into work each morning. Others say Mary McCay helps the workday go by faster. Some of you tell me you enjoy the ride home with me in the afternoons. And many of you share how Kathy Nicholson keeps you company into the evenings.

But radio is more than a one-way conversation.

It’s more than songs. More than contests. More than giving away concert tickets, trucks, vacations, or station swag. More than a jukebox simply playing “The Music That Made Country Great.”

This is a relationship. There are real people behind these microphones… and real people on the other side of the speakers. That relationship is honestly what I missed most when I stepped away from North Georgia radio back in 2005.

Sure, I missed the music. I missed the concerts. I missed the crazy morning show antics Scott Howard and I used to get into every day. But more than anything, I missed the connection with listeners. I missed serving this community. I missed feeling like we were all experiencing life together in real time.

That’s the magic of local radio.

For over 20 years, I was away from it. Then last year, I was blessed with the opportunity to come home to My Country 99.3 WCON, a truly family-owned radio station that has served North Georgia for decades. The Foster family believes in community, connection, and local radio done the right way, and I cannot adequately express how grateful I am to be part of this team and back here where I belong.

And honestly, many days over this past year, you helped carry me.

Through heartbreak. Through grief. Through long afternoons when the “On Air” light came on even though my heart was hurting.

Your kindness, your messages, your prayers, your stories, your hugs at remotes,

concerts, and community events… they mattered more than you know.

You reminded me that radio still matters because people still matter.

And while today has been incredibly difficult, I also feel overwhelming gratitude.

Gratitude for Amy. Gratitude for this community. Gratitude for every single one of you who allow us to be part of your mornings, your workdays, your drives home, and your evenings.

We may be the voices behind the microphones…

…but you are the heartbeat on the other side of the speakers.

And for that, I thank you.

It’s the soundtrack to backroads and ballgames, to tailgates, church parking lots, Friday night lights, mountain sunsets, and long drives home after work. It’s music that reminds us where we came from… and sometimes who we still want to be.

That’s why we’re so excited to welcome you to the official Substack of My Country 99.3 WCON, “The Music That Made Country Great.”

This is going to be more than just another website or social media feed. Think of this space as our digital front porch. A place where the voices you hear every day on the radio can pull up a chair beside you and talk a little longer.

Here, you’ll find stories from all of us:

🎙️ Joel Williams
🎙️ Rebecca Biddy
🎙️ Mary McCay
🎙️ Tim Cicciarelli
🎙️ Kathy Nicholson
🎙️ Latonio Harmonson
🎙️ Josh Tanner

We’ll be sharing our thoughts on what’s happening right now in country music, revisiting the songs and artists that shaped generations, and diving into the memories that make country music feel so personal.

Some days, we may talk about George Strait turning a simple lyric into a life lesson. Other days, we may tell stories about growing up in North Georgia, behind-the-scenes moments from the station, local events we love, or the little everyday moments that connect us all together.

You’ll also get:

🎶 Country music history and nostalgia
🎤 Concert stories and artist memories
🌄 North Georgia lifestyle and community highlights
📻 Behind-the-scenes moments from WCON
❤️ Personal reflections from our on-air family
🎉 Updates on station events, contests, and appearances

Country music has always been about storytelling. Real stories. Real people. Real life.

And in a world that sometimes moves a little too fast, we still believe there’s something powerful about slowing down long enough to connect through music, memories, laughter, and conversation.

Whether you’ve been listening to country radio for decades or you just found us on the app five minutes ago… welcome. We’re glad you’re here.

This is just the beginning.

So grab a cup of coffee… or sweet tea… or whatever’s riding shotgun with you today, and join us as we celebrate the music, the stories, and the people that make North Georgia feel like home.

Thanks for being part of the My Country family.

We’ll see you on the radio.

📻 My Country 99.3 WCON
“The Music That Made Country Great

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