103.1 The Bear - WRON

09/05/2026

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09/04/2026

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🎉 LOCAL BIRTHDAYS ON HIGHWAY 64 WITH BIG AL! 🎉

Presented by Your Clifton Forge Dairy Queen 🍦🎂

It’s Friday, September 4, and we’re wrapping up another week of Local Birthdays! We don’t have a registered birthday for today, but we’re looking ahead to Saturday — AND we have this week’s Clifton Forge Dairy Queen Birthday Bash Winner! 🥳

🎈 TODAY — Friday, September 4
🎂 No registered birthdays for today

🎈 SATURDAY — September 5
🎂 Tempest Lowman — 53

Happy Birthday, Tempest! We hope you have a fantastic Saturday filled with family, friends, fun and plenty of birthday cake! 🎉🎁🎂

🍦🎂 THIS WEEK’S CLIFTON FORGE DAIRY QUEEN BIRTHDAY BASH WINNER! 🎂🍦

After redrawing from the corrected complete pool of eligible birthdays for Sunday, August 30 through Saturday, September 5, this week’s winner is...

🥁🥁🥁

🎉 EVA ARRITT — 15! 🎉

Eva celebrated her 15th birthday on Wednesday, September 2, and wins a FREE 8-inch Dairy Queen Blizzard® Cake, courtesy of your Clifton Forge Dairy Queen! 🍦🎂

Congratulations, Eva! BIG AL will contact the winner with information on claiming the Birthday Bash prize!

🍦 WANT TO BE IN NEXT WEEK’S DRAWING?

Everyone registered for a birthday during our Sunday-through-Saturday week is entered into the weekly Clifton Forge Dairy Queen Birthday Bash drawing. The winner is selected during the Friday Morning Party just before 8:00 a.m.

🎉 REGISTER YOUR BIRTHDAY HERE:
[Highway 64 Local Birthday Registration](https://highlandsmediagroup.com/highway-64-birthdays?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

📻 Hear Local Birthdays weekday mornings around 7:50 a.m. on Highway 64 with BIG AL!

📣 TELL THOSE CELEBRATING YOU HEARD IT ON HIGHWAY 64 WITH BIG AL!

09/04/2026

🚨 HAWTHORNE STREET BRIDGE NOW OPEN IN COVINGTON

COVINGTON, Va. — The City of Covington announced Friday afternoon that the Hawthorne Street Bridge is now OPEN.

The city issued the update today, Friday, September 4, notifying residents and local business owners that the bridge has reopened to traffic.

“Thank you for your patience and understanding,” the city said in its public notice.

Motorists who regularly travel through the area can now resume using the Hawthorne Street Bridge.

For questions, comments or concerns, contact the City of Covington Public Works Office at 540-965-6321 or 540-965-6322.

📰 From the Two Virginias Newsroom

09/04/2026

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09/03/2026

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🚨 MAJOR MON POWER OUTAGE UPDATE — THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3 🚨

As of 3:30 p.m.

The widespread Mon Power outages continue across portions of southeastern West Virginia, with Greenbrier, Monroe and Pocahontas counties all reporting significant outages this afternoon.

⚡ MONROE COUNTY

🔴 2,942 of 3,398 customers are without power — 87%.

Some of the hardest-hit communities include:

⚡ Union: 1,271 of 1,309 — 97%
⚡ Gap Mills: 737 of 769 — 96%
⚡ Sinks Grove: 464 of 474 — 98%
⚡ Pickaway: 202 of 202 — 100%
⚡ Secondcreek: 149 of 149 — 100%
⚡ Zenith: 50 of 50 — 100%
⚡ Ronceverte: 27 of 27 — 100%
⚡ Wayside: 30 of 121 — 25%
⚡ Alderson: 9 of 218 — 4%
⚡ Wolfcreek: 3 of 38 — 8%

Mon Power lists an estimated restoration time of 7:30 PM tonight for the affected communities shown.

⚡ POCAHONTAS COUNTY

🔴 1,309 of 9,921 customers are without power — 13%.

The largest outage shown is:

⚡ Marlinton: 1,085 of 3,595 — 30%
⚡ Buckeye: 199 of 394 — 51%
⚡ Hillsboro: 25 of 46 — 54%

Mon Power lists an estimated restoration time of 7:30 PM tonight for these affected areas.

⚡ GREENBRIER COUNTY

Greenbrier County remains the hardest hit of the three counties, with the latest information provided showing:

🔴 12,464 of 18,405 customers without power — 68%.

Major outages include Lewisburg, Ronceverte, Renick, Frankford, Fairlea, Caldwell, Maxwelton, Williamsburg, Clintonville, Crawley and several other communities.

Most of those outages also have an estimated restoration time of 7:30 PM tonight, while the outage affecting customers in White Sulphur Springs was listed for 8:00 PM.

⚠️ These restoration times are estimates and could change as crews assess damage and make repairs.

⚡ MON POWER / FIRSTENERGY

For the latest outage totals and restoration information:

outages.firstenergycorp.com

📞 Report an outage: 1-888-LIGHTSS (1-888-544-4877)

📲 Stay connected for the latest updates right here on our page.

🔋 Sponsored by BackUp Power LLC

⚡ Never be left in the dark. Call BackUp Power LLC NOW to create your backup power plan with James Bryant at 540-968-6440, or check them out online at backuppowerllc.com

⚡ When the power's out, we'll keep you in the know!!

09/03/2026

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🎂 Celebrity Birthdays on Highway 64 with BIG AL

Thursday, September 3, 2026

Today’s Celebrity Birthdays on Highway 64 with BIG AL are sponsored by Jackson River Family Practice’s Walk-In Clinic. No appointment needed, lower copays than urgent care, in Low Moor behind LewisGale Hospital Alleghany. Open Monday through Thursday, 8–5. Call Dr. Jeff Henderson and his caring staff at 540-862-6750 for more information.

🎉 Today’s Most Famous Celebrity Birthdays

🏂 Shaun White — 40
Three-time Olympic gold medalist and one of the most famous snowboarders of all time, nicknamed “The Flying Tomato.”

🎬 Charlie Sheen — 61
Actor best known for Two and a Half Men, Platoon, Wall Street and Major League.

🏖️ Al Jardine — 84
Rock & Roll Hall of Famer and longtime member of The Beach Boys, one of the most influential groups in American music history.

🎸 Steve Jones — 71
Guitarist for the legendary punk rock band S*x Pistols.

🥁 Don Brewer — 78
Drummer and vocalist for Grand Funk Railroad, singing lead on the classic “We’re an American Band.”

🎤 Redfoo — 51
Singer, rapper and producer best known as one-half of LMFAO, the duo behind the massive hits “Party Rock Anthem” and “S*xy and I Know It.”

🎬 Garrett Hedlund — 42
Actor known for TRON: Legacy, Friday Night Lights and Country Strong.

🥎 Jennie Finch — 46
Olympic softball legend who helped Team USA win gold at the 2004 Athens Olympics and silver at the 2008 Beijing Games.

🎤 OMI — 40
Jamaican singer best known worldwide for the smash hit “Cheerleader.”

👠 Kaia Ge**er — 25
International model and actress and the daughter of supermodel Cindy Crawford.

🕊️ Famous Birthdays We Remember

📰 Mort Walker (1923–2018)
Legendary cartoonist who created the long-running comic strip Beetle Bailey.

🎬 Eileen Brennan (1932–2013)
Acclaimed actress remembered for Private Benjamin, Clue and The Last Picture Show.

📅 And on the Calendar…

🍖 Today is National Baby Back Ribs Day!

🇺🇸 1 day until Labor Day Weekend!

🏈 7 days until the NFL season kicks off!

🎂 That’s your Celebrity Birthdays on Highway 64 with BIG AL—sponsored by Jackson River Family Practice’s Walk-In Clinic. Open Monday through Thursday, 8–5. Call Dr. Jeff Henderson and his caring staff at 540-862-6750. If you’re celebrating today, have a very happy birthday!

📻 As heard on Highway 64 with BIG AL!

09/03/2026

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🎙️ News From Nashville – Thursday, September 3, 2026

Good morning, everyone! Always bringing you your News From Nashville from the heart of Music City, it’s BIG AL…

Sponsored by Highlands Centre Secure Storage, located at 129 Mall Road in Covington. Clean, climate-controlled units with 24/7 access, 24/7 security monitoring, and units starting at just $25 a month. To secure your storage, call 540-962-1155.

And now, the news.

🎣 LUKE BRYAN FIRES BACK AT THE A.I. ACCUSATIONS

Luke Bryan has had enough of people claiming artificial intelligence was behind his song “Fish Hunt Golf Drink.”

Appearing on Theo Von’s podcast, Luke had some strong words for the online critics who have accused him of using A.I. to write the song. Keeping Luke’s colorful language radio-friendly, he essentially said if he runs into the critics someday, he might just want to knock the crap out of them.

Luke added simply, “People have lost their minds.”

📺 “MARSHALS” SEASON TWO TRAILER ARRIVES

Fans of the Yellowstone universe are getting another look at what’s ahead for Kayce Dutton.

The trailer for Season Two of “Marshals” has arrived, with the new season scheduled to premiere October 4 on CBS.

The trailer features the return of Cal and Belle and makes it pretty clear that Kayce and his son aren’t out of danger yet, with a new adversary entering the picture.

🦋 DOLLYWOOD PLANS NEW TRIBUTES TO DOLLY

Dollywood is planning several additions honoring the legacy of Dolly Parton.

Next year, the park plans to introduce a new Wildwood Grove character called The Dream Maker, along with her Dream Wagon, celebrating Dolly’s passion for dreaming big and telling stories.

A new Tribute Center is also planned where fans can share their memories of Dolly. Other additions include a mountainside waterfall, a guitar sculpture and new stained-glass windows at the chapel representing the changing seasons of the Great Smoky Mountains.

Meanwhile, the City of Sevierville is preparing a walkable tribute called “In Dolly’s Footsteps,” highlighting 11 locations around the city, including the Pines Theater.

And Dolly’s vandalized Hollywood Walk of Fame star is expected to be repaired.

🦌 LUKE COMBS GOES DEER HUNTING

And Luke Combs is taking fans along on one of his other passions—hunting.

A video from Luke’s hunting trip to Iowa last December has now been released online, showing the country superstar successfully hunting a 10-point white-tailed buck.

So when Luke isn’t selling out stadiums and topping the country charts, apparently you might find him sitting in a deer stand.

And that’s your News From Nashville, sponsored by Highlands Centre Secure Storage, 129 Mall Road in Covington. Clean, climate-controlled storage with 24/7 access, 24/7 security monitoring, and units starting at just $25 a month.

To secure your storage, call 540-962-1155.

I’m BIG AL, always bringing you your News From Nashville from the heart of Music City!

09/03/2026

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🍎 HEY BIG AL, WHAT’S FOR LUNCH?

As Heard on Highway 64 with BIG AL

📅 Thursday, September 3, 2026

Good morning! Here’s what’s being served in our area schools today!

🏫 ALLEGHANY HIGHLANDS PUBLIC SCHOOLS

🍎 CALLAGHAN • MOUNTAIN VIEW • SHARON ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

🥣 BREAKFAST — Choose 1:
• Cereal with String Cheese
• Yogurt with Graham Crackers
• Scrambled Eggs with Toast

🍽️ LUNCH — Choose 1:
• Popcorn Chicken with Breadstick
• Sloppy Joe on a Bun

🐾 COVINGTON MIDDLE SCHOOL

🥣 BREAKFAST — Choose 1:
• Cereal with String Cheese
• Yogurt with Graham Crackers
• Blueberry or Chocolate Muffin
• Donut
• Apple Frudel

🍽️ LUNCH — Choose 1:
• Popcorn Chicken with Breadstick
• Sloppy Joe on a Bun

🐾 ALLEGHANY HIGH SCHOOL

🥣 BREAKFAST — Choose 1:
• Cereal with String Cheese
• Smoothie with Graham Crackers
• Blueberry or Chocolate Muffin
• Donut
• Apple Frudel

🍽️ LUNCH — Choose 1:
• Sloppy Joe on a Bun
• Cheesy Poppers with Marinara
• Cheesy Jalapeño Dip with Chips
• Pizza Variety

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

🏫 GREENBRIER COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

🥣 BREAKFAST:
• Cheese or Western Omelet with Toast & Jelly

🍽️ LUNCH:
• Homemade Pepperoni Pizza

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

🏫 MONROE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Elementary • Middle • James Monroe High School

🥣 BREAKFAST:
• Strawberry Yogurt Parfait

🍽️ LUNCH:
• Japanese Cherry Blossom Chicken

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

🥕 SIDES & EXTRAS: Today’s listing highlights the main breakfast and lunch entrées. Please check your local school menu for available sides, fruits, vegetables, condiments and other meal accompaniments.

🥛 MILK INFORMATION: All schools serve milk daily for breakfast and lunch. Fat-free flavored milk and 1% unflavored milk are available. Some menus offer chocolate flavored milk and some offer strawberry flavored milk.

⚠️ MENU NOTICE: All school menus are subject to change due to emergency school closings and/or supplier shortages.

📻 As Heard on Highway 64 with BIG AL!

🍎 Catch HEY BIG AL, WHAT’S FOR LUNCH? every Monday through Friday at 6:20, 6:55 and 7:30 a.m. on 103.1 The Bear and 103.5 Big Country!

🍎 Helping parents, grandparents and students know what’s for lunch before the lunch bell rings!

☀️ Go out there and make it a great day!

09/03/2026

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🤠 ON THIS DATE IN COUNTRY MUSIC
📅 September 3rd
🎙️ As Heard on Highway 64 with BIG AL

Here are some of the biggest moments that happened On This Date in Country Music History!

🎂 1925 — Hank Thompson was born in Waco, Texas. Thompson became one of country music’s great honky-tonk and Western swing stars, with a career spanning seven decades and more than 60 million records sold worldwide.

🎶 1964 — Jim Reeves hit #1 on the country chart with “I Guess I’m Crazy.” It became the first of six posthumous #1 country hits for Reeves and spent seven weeks at the top.

💿 1986 — Randy Travis was sitting at #1 on the country albums chart with his breakthrough debut album, Storms of Life. The landmark album included “On the Other Hand,” “1982,” “Diggin’ Up Bones” and “No Place Like Home.”

🎤 1996 — Tim McGraw reached #1 on the country singles chart with “She Never Lets It Go to Her Heart,” from his album All I Want.

🔥 2022 — Morgan Wallen was #1 on the country chart with “You Proof.” The song ultimately spent 10 non-consecutive weeks at the top.

🎵 And that’s what happened On This Date in Country Music History — September 3rd!

🎙️ As heard on Highway 64 with BIG AL — Where Virginia & West Virginia Wake Up Together!

09/03/2026

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☀️ GOOD THURSDAY MORNING, EVERYONE!

Happy Thursday, September 3rd! 🎙️ BIG AL is LIVE on Highway 64 with BIG AL, and we’re ever so close to Labor Day Weekend! 🇺🇸

Just ONE MORE WAKE-UP until the FRIDAY MORNING PARTY! 🎉🤠

📍 Where are YOU listening from this morning? Tell us where you are AND how you’re listening — 103.5 BIG Country, 103.1 The Bear, the FREE Highlands Media Group App, or online at Highway64WithBigAl.com.

🌐 Listening online? Click LISTEN LIVE and don’t forget to hit the ▶️ PLAY button!

Drop us a comment and BIG AL may give you a shout-out LIVE ON THE AIR! 📣🎙️

Thanks for making us part of your morning — THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!

Highway 64 with BIG AL
Where Virginia & West Virginia Wake Up Together.