Laker Country 1049 is pleased to announce that Zac Oakes, a Russell County resident and 2013 graduate of Russell County High School, has joined the station as News Director and Digital Content Contributor. Oakes has most recently worked with the Central Kentucky News Journal in Campbellsville and the Advocate-Messenger in Danville.
“I’m excited for the opportunity to begin working in news in my hometown,” Oakes said. “Russell County holds a special place in my heart as this is the community I grew up in and I’m excited to join the Laker Country WJRS team to help continue the tradition of providing top-notch local news to this wonderful community.”
Oakes is a native of Russell Springs, Kentucky and after graduating from Russell County High School he attended Lindsey Wilson College where he majored in Journalism and Public Relations and graduated in 2016.
While at Lindsey Wilson College, Oakes received multiple awards from the Kentucky Intercollegiate Press Association during his time as editor of the college’s newspaper, RaiderView.
Jeff Hoover, the owner of Lake Cumberland Broadcasters, LLC, said he was thrilled to have Oakes join the station’s staff. “First and foremost, Zac is a person of strong faith. Secondly, he shares a passion for Russell county and the surrounding area. And finally, he shares our station’s long-term commitment of providing dependable and reliable local news coverage” Hoover said in addition to his news reporting duties, Oakes will write feature stories and commentaries to be published on the station’s newly redesigned website, www.lakercountry.com. “I’m excited about what Zac brings to our station and our efforts,” Hoover said.
Oakes has spent the majority of his career working in local news in Russell, Adair, Taylor and Boyle counties while also spending a year working in public relations for a non-profit.