‘The Floor Is Yours’ debuts on WCAB

“The Floor Is Yours,” a new weekly radio program hosted by Rutherford County attorney Andrew LaBreche, debuted Saturday, Sept. 12, on Eagle Country Radio, WCAB 100.9 FM and 590 AM and on eaglecountryradio.com/listen-live.

LaBreche said the program is designed as a forum where residents can submit questions, concerns, and ideas for research and discussion with public officials and community leaders.

“Once every week, the floor is yours,” LaBreche told listeners.

The first guest was longtime Rutherford County resident Cindy Grondahl, former owner of Legal Grounds and author of Love and Contraband: My Life as a Drug Dealer’s Wife.

Grondahl discussed her earlier involvement in marijuana trafficking in Florida and the Caribbean before moving to Rutherford County. Her former husband, Douglas Wayne Grondahl Sr., died in Rutherfordton in 2004 at age 46.

The interview later moved into a Rutherford County courtroom, where Grondahl said she disclosed details of her former husband’s activities during their divorce.

Her attorney was Laura “Suzy” Bridges, who later became a resident Superior Court judge. The judge hearing the divorce case was Deborah Burgin.

Grondahl said the testimony resulted in a substantial settlement. LaBreche said Bridges had described it as one of the larger settlements or judgments of its kind at the time.

The relationship with Bridges also led into the history of Legal Grounds.

According to the broadcast, Bridges originally opened Legal Grounds as a coffee shop at 217 N. Main St. in downtown Rutherfordton. Grondahl later became increasingly involved in running the business.

Grondahl also discussed her role in the effort to bring liquor by the drink to the area, saying supporters gathered signatures and worked with supporters in Forest City to get the measure passed.

She alleged that Legal Grounds later faced aggressive police enforcement after alcohol sales began, including Rutherfordton police officers monitoring customers leaving the business.

“I’ve always said they put us out of business,” Grondahl said. Her claims were presented as her recollection and were not independently established during the broadcast.

The former Legal Grounds building later became the subject of a separate dispute over deterioration and public safety.

According to the Town of Rutherfordton, the 1912 building had suffered roof and interior collapses after years of water infiltration. The town obtained court authority in 2021 to address the nuisance, and the Historic Preservation Commission approved demolition in January 2022.

The broadcast also included Grondahl’s claim that she once spent hours providing the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office under then-Sheriff Dan Good with information about her former husband’s activity but received no follow-up.

LaBreche emphasized that the account involved a previous sheriff’s administration, many years ago, not the current office.

LaBreche said future episodes will focus more heavily on current Rutherford County issues and the county’s transition to new leadership.

Residents can submit questions and topics to thefloorisyoursradio@gmail.com.

“The Floor Is Yours” airs Saturdays at 10 a.m.