Derik Vanderford|Daily Times James "Nine" McDonald and Matthew "Mattman" Harris of 93.3 The Planet's morning show "The Rise Guys" pose with City Management Services Secretary Debbie Woodard as they receive a key to the City of Union on Tuesday.

slideshow

Derik Vanderford|Daily Times The Rise Guys set up in front of Copper Creek Cafe' on Tuesday to greet listeners and give away t-shirts and autographed pictures.

slideshow

Derik Vanderford|Daily Times The Rise Guys pose with Copper Creek Cafe employees.

slideshow

Local listeners of The Rise Guys morning show on 93.3 FM The Planet received a special lunchtime treat on Tuesday as they were able to put faces with a couple of their favorite voices.

Throughout the summer, The Rise Guys will visit a different city in their listening area every Tuesday.

Matthew “Mattman” Harris said Union was chosen because of the local concentration of listeners. He said it’s interesting how much information can be gathered from a Facebook page, including how many people from each town like the page.

“We were astonished by how many people in Union listen to the show,” Harris said. “It looked like the majority of the population.”

The Rise Guys announced on Monday they would be in Union on Tuesday, and they asked listeners to tell them which places they should visit. LeAnn Treadway Davis — who owns Copper Creek Cafe along with her husband Bobby Davis — happened to be listening.

“The radio just happened to be on 93.3,” she said. “It was all the way down, and when I turned it up, I heard them say something about Union.”

Once she found out they were looking for places to go in Union, she immediately called in and told The Rise Guys about her family’s business. Other listeners recommended various places to visit, and The Rise Guys were happy to oblige. The show also took calls on Tuesday morning before Harris and McDonald began their trip, and City of Union Mayor Harold Thompson called in.

Mayor Thompson told The Rise Guys he was happy they chose to come to Union, and he wished he could have greeted them personally. Thompson was on a trip to Hilton Head.

Radio personalities Harris and James “Nine” McDonald visited Union on Tuesday, setting up at Copper Creek Cafe as soon as they arrived. They gave away t-shirts and autographed pictures as they talked with fans.

Although Mayor Thompson could not be there, City Management Secretary Debbie Woodard came on his behalf and presented Harris and McDonald with a key to the City of Union. They were also given keepsakes from Union County and the USC Union Bantams baseball team.

After having lunch at Copper Creek Cafe, Harris and McDonald visited other businesses recommended by listeners including Shady’s, Midway Barbecue, Max Cash Title Loans and Gene’s Fine Foods. The trip allowed them to meet listeners from Union who they might not otherwise have a chance to meet.

One of those listeners was Jessica Harmon, who has been listening to The Rise Guys every morning for the past eight years. Harmon said she has called in numerous times and won tickets to everything from NASCAR to a Disturbed concert. She said another one of the show’s hosts — Paige — knows her voice.

“Paige is my buddy,” Harmon smiled. “I like the phone pranks they play on people. I like the War of the Roses. I just like everything about the show.”

As they left, Harris and McDonald said they were overwhelmed with the hospitality they received in Union, and they plan to visit again soon.