Vikki Locke behind the microphone at Talk Radio 640 WGST? What is this all about?
After after decades of waking up Atlantans and keeping them company during their morning commutes, at Star 94 for nearly 20 years and then at B98.5, Locke signed off at the end of June.
So what is she doing in the WGST studio booth? Consulting.
After deciding to hang up her headphones to help care for her ill father, Locke launched LRK-Media with publicist Meg Reggie and broadcaster Kimberley Kennedy, a gig that offers Locke more flexibility and allows for travel when her dad goes in for treatment. Among the new firm's clients is Dr. Jeffrey Gallups, the founding partner of the Ear, Nose and Throat Institute, who is known as "the rock doc" thanks to his many famous patients.
The rock doc is now the talk doc. Gallups will be hosting a new show from 8 to 9 a.m. Sundays on WGST discussing health care.
“Ask me a question you would never ask your doctor,” is how Gallups put it. “I don’t know of another show like this in the country.”
His first guest will be his fellow physician, U.S. Rep. Tom Price, who will discuss national health care policy in light of ongoing debate over Obamacare, the debt ceiling and budget wrangling.
Future guests will include "Mama" Jan Smith, the vocal coach whose client list has included Usher and Justin Bieber, and Georgia Insurance Commissioner Ralph Hudgens.
Locke’s role in the new show is entirely behind the scenes. It’s one she may expand.
“Since leaving the airwaves as an on-air personality I’ve had several radio stations contact me about coaching their talent,” she said. “It’s been fun. And it beats getting up at 3 a.m.!”
Grantville makes headlines again
Viva GrantVegas! "Dumb and Dumber To" with Jeff Daniels and Jim Carrey cranked up this week in Cabbagetown before heading westbound and down to Grantville. The town about 50 miles southwest of downtown Atlanta made other headlines recently, too. Its city council suspended Police Chief Doug Jordan for a week without pay after the chief visited Maricopa County, Ariz. Sheriff Joe Arpaio, paying his own way to discuss crime-fighting techniques with the nation's most famous sheriff during a vacation. After a surge of public support the Grantville politicians voted to restore the chief's pay. We love happy endings.
