On this WGNS Action Line episode, host Scott Walker welcomes Rutherford County Mayor Joe Carr for a candid, heartfelt conversation about his recent horseback riding accident that left him with nine broken ribs, a lacerated liver, and a partially collapsed lung. Mayor Carr walks listeners through what happened on the farm that day, the emergency response from Rutherford County Fire & Rescue, EMS, and law enforcement, and the life-saving care he received at Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford and Vanderbilt’s Trauma Center.

Beyond the dramatic details, Carr reflects on faith, pain, humility, and what he’s learned about community, family, and leadership through suffering. He talks about the emotional and spiritual side of recovery, why no one should “go it alone,” and how this experience deepened his appreciation for first responders and county staff who kept government moving while he healed. Scott and the Mayor also touch on Rutherford County’s growing public safety network—new EMS stations, fire halls, public health and safety buildings, and how the county is working to support first responders without raising property taxes. The episode closes with Carr’s determination to “get back in the saddle” and his Thanksgiving-season message of gratitude to Rutherford County residents.