Regional Media Podcast Network

Wake Up Tri-Counties Kathy Cuff Bishop Hill Julmarknad

It's that time of the year in Bishop Hill when the Tomtes start to make mischief and the Christmas Market is ready to open. Julmarknad begins on November 24th and 25th in Bishop Hill and will continue for a second weekend on December 2nd, and 3rd. You can enjoy the shopping in Bishop Hill, the food, the music and the wonderful atmosphere of Bishop Hill for two consecutive special weekends. Kathy Cuff, representing the Bishop Hill Heritage Association, and with the Vasa Archives in Bishop Hil...

Kewanee Back When The History of the Kewanee Boiler Shop

Recently, what remains of the Kewanee Boiler Shop was devastated by a large fire. The fire reminded everyone of the remarkable history that The Boiler Shop has in Kewanee. The fire inspired our friend Dave Clark to take a look back on that remarkable history and take a closer look at the people who fostered that history and helped create a legacy with The Boiler Shop, one that still resonates today in the fact that you can travel anywhere on the globe and, if you can go looking for it, you c...

Kewanee Police Chief Nick Welgat Delivers Emotional Retirement Speech to Kewanee City Council

On Monday night at the Kewanee City Council Meeting, Kewanee Police Chief Nick Welgat gave a heartfelt and emotional speech to the Kewanee City Council. It was Chief Welgat's final act as Kewanee Police Chief as he was stepping down due to a battle with Cancer. On this night, his replacement as Chief Stephen Kijanowski was being sworn in, along with new Deputy Police Chief Michael Minx. With his colleagues and family looking on, Chief Welgat gave a deeply emotional address that touched every...

IVCC Professor Mike Phillips on Wednesday’s 3.6 Earthquake in Putnam County

The small town of Standard, Illinois was the epicenter of a relatively small but noticeable Earthquake on Wednesday morning, November 15th, 2023. According to the United States Geological Survey, the Earthquake was felt anywhere from 30 to 40 miles from the epicenter but did not do any damae. According to IVCC Professor Mike Phillips, an Earthquake that registers at 3.6 on the Richter Scale is on the very edge of being noticeable. So, not the most dramatic Earthquake but still one that shook...

Sparks’ Notes - Macomb Mayor Michael Inman

Macomb Mayor Michael Inman is back in the studio to talk about some announcements from the November 6th Macomb City Council meeting, including the proclamation recognizing November as Homeless Awareness Month, the official reveal of the first tenant in the retail property being developed in the old K-Mart building on East Jackson Street, and to remind Macomb citizens and businesses who are decorating their property exteriors for the Holidays to sign up for the Tour of Lights. 

Wake Up Tri-Counties OSF Diabetes Care Team

November is Diabetes Awareness Month and WKEI welcomed the Diabetes Care Team on Wake Up Tri-Counties on Monday, November 13th, 2023. Tami  and Carrie from the Diabetes Care Team joined Samantha Rux to talk about the steps to begin care for diabetes. Diabetes management is a lifetime commitment but a manageable one. The Diabetes Care Team at OSF Saint Luke Medical Center can give you the tools to manage your diabetes. Tami and Carrie take us through the process from discussing pre-diabetes, ...

The Good News Vanilla Cupcake Day

Friday was National Vanilla Cupcake Day and a pair of our Wethersfield Third Graders were in studio with the Good News about Vanilla Cupcakes...   

Morrison’s First Turkey Trot with Nathan Jacobs

November 25th will be the first ever Turkey Trot in Morrison and it will benefit The Morrison Food Pantry.

Sam Smith-Rock Falls Chamber of Commerce- Home Town Holidays

A conversation about Home Town Holidays

The Good News World Kindness Day with our Kewanee Third Graders

Monday, November 13th, 2023, is World Kindness and 3rd Grader Darrianna Collins gave us The Good News about kind things you can do at school and at home to celebrate. 

Mayor Dianna and City Manager Scott Schumard

Wake Up Tri-Counties Author Kenneth Woman Living The Beatles Legend The Untold Story of Mal Evans

Mal Evans was there at the start of The Beatles and he was there until the bitter end of the band and beyond. Formerly an engineer, Mal gave up a pension and a full time job to go to work for the band after hearing them perform and before they became the biggest band in the world. Mal bet it all and the bet paid off with a whirlwind, around the world adventure alongside the single most famous and beloved rock band in the world. Mal was everyone's trusted assistant, a roadie, someone who got ...

Wake Up Tri-Counties OSF Primary Care Providers

Does your family have a family doctor? Why not? It's recommended that families and individuals have a Primary Care Provider and OSF Saint Luke Medical Center has a number of options for you to find a Primary Care Provider, someone who can help you and or your family from having to only use Clinic Care or, far more expensively, having to go to the E.R in less than an emergency situation. Your Primary Care Provider can answer questions, can provide referrals to needed specialists, and most imp...

Cassandra-TWCA of The Sauk Valley

The YWCA is getting ready for their 100th Anniversary.

Sauk Talk-News and information from Sauk Valley Community College

Dallas Knack and Jenn Schultz joined us to talk about financial aid, class information and some fun stuff coming up through the college.

The Good News about National Sandwich Day Friday November 3rd

This Friday is National Sandwich Day and Kewanee 3rd Grader Dalary Gamboa joined Wake Up Tri-Counties on Wednesday with The Good News about National Sandwich Day! 

Wake Up Tri-Counties Illinois Suing Facebook and Instagram Parent Company Meta

The state of Illinois is one of 42 states that are suing Facebook and Instagram parent company Meta over concerns regarding Mental Health of users of these platforms. Lawyer and Fox News contributor, Andrew Reed joined Wake Up Tri-Counties to talk about the legal grounds for suing Meta and what ultimately social media companies may do to defend themselves from these lawsuits. We also spoke to Andrew about another big company facing a big lawsuit as Panera is under fire over the death of a co...

Sparks’ Notes - Chief Hamer, Macomb Police Dept

Sparks is joined by Macomb Police Chief Jeff Hamer to talk about a few different topics including Halloween safety tips, Fall/Winter driving tips, and the Bowl For Kids Sake bowling event happening at Diggers College Bowl this Saturday, sponsored by the Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Mississippi Valley.  The event will be raising funds to help match Bigs and Littles, ensure child safety, fund healthy activities, and provide professional support to help build and sustain long-lasting relati...

Wake Up Tri-Counties Halloween Nutrition with Nutritionist Elyse Boroski of OSF

What are some healthier choices to give out instead of traditional candy on Halloween? There are a few good ones out there but Nutritionist Elyse Boroski says you don't have to swear off candy as part of a healthy diet. Good nutrition is about a balanced diet that allows for an occasional treat. That said, if you are someone who doesn't feel like giving out candy on Halloween and would like an alternative there are several recommendations in our interview. Consider perhaps, a small toy or cr...

Wake Up Tri-Counties Football Writer Dan Pompei The Football 100

Sportswriter Dan Pompei is the co-author of the new book, The Football 100, chronicling the 100 best NFL Players of all time. The criteria involved much of the staff of The Athletic developing lists of players, debating the criteria, and coming to a consensus. Dan spoke with Sean on Wake Up Tri-Counties regarding the consensus picks, the difficult criteria, Jim Brown, and Tom Brady. The Football 100 is available now wherever books are sold is a terrific idea for a Christmas present for your ...

Cylvia from The YWCA of The Sauk Valley

Wake Up Tri-Counties Kewanee Parks Director Andrew Dwyer

Kewanee Parks Director Andrew Dwyer was our guest on Wake Up Tri-Counties on Wednesday morning. Mr. Dwyer was on hand to run down the most recent Kewanee Park Board meeting and the items discussed. In our conversation we touched on improvements to the Parks insurance and the change has helped move the Parks along on repairs following damage to the parks from weather over the past year. Mr. Dwyer also tells WKEI that Bakersville, the annual Halloween event at Baker Park was a huge success, gi...

The Good News About National Pumpkin Day with our Kewanee Third Graders

Wednesday, October 25th, is National Pumpkin Day and Kewanee third grade student Brian Castrellon joined Wake Up Tri-Counties with The Good News about National Pumpkin Day...   

Nina Dewhirst co - founder of Nodaway Community Theater Company.

Nina Dewhirst co - founder of Nodaway Community Theater Company talks about the Raise the Stage project. They are taking donations to raise the stage two feet to to make the viewing better.

Wake Up Tri-Counties Kewanee Mayor Gary Moore on Monday’s Kewanee City Council Meeting

It's official, Kewanee Police Chief Nick Welgat will step down as Kewanee Police Chief next month. Chief Welgat is battling stage four cancer and has told city leaders that he intends on spending as much time with his family as possible. The search is now underway for a new Kewanee Police Chief and Mayor Moore talked about Chief Welgat and the search for a new Kewanee Police Chief this morning on Wake Up Tri-Counties. At Monday's meeting, the City of Kewanee approved a pair of variances and ...

Wake Up Tri-Counties OSF Innovation Hub

OSF Saint Luke Medical Center Innovation Hub is all about developing best practices in a variety of different areas. When people think of innovation, they often think of technology first. But, innovation at OSF Saint Luke Medical Center goes beyond just technology. The process of patient billing, ways to engage young people in the work done at their local hospital and in their own healthcare journey, and, yes, technological innovation all have a role to play when it comes to Innovation at OS...

Skip’s Trips

Skip Lee made a stop in this morning, and we just had a conversation off the cuff. 

YWCA of The Sauk Valley

Rebecca was in on Friday and brought a quiz show environment to the studio.

Kewanee Boilermakers Football Postgame Podcast Kewanee Defeats Aurora Central Catholic

The Kewanee Boilermakers defeated Aurora Central Catholic 50 to 0 on Friday night, a dominant victory that featured Brady Clark setting a scoring record for his Kewanee career, and the team becoming one of the highest scoring in team history. Russ Hughes and Jeremy Peart caught up with Brady and several of the Kewanee star players along with Coach Matt Clark following Friday's dominant victory.   

Wake Up Tri-Counties Henry County Board Meeting Wrap-Up October

The Henry County Board met on Thursday, October 20th and among the highlights, the board placed a two year hold on the idea of a CO2 Pipeline that was planned to go through Henry County. A number of Henry County residents had come together to oppose the CO2 pipeline and many of them were in attendance at Thursday's meeting to advocate for a moratorium on the pipeline plan while regulations on such plans are put in place and more safety concerns are addressed. The Board also celebrated a new ...

Wake Up Tri-Counties KHS Fall Play Bethel Park Falls Cast Interview

Members of the cast of the KHS Fall Play, Bethel Park Falls joined Wake Up Tri-Counties in studio on Friday to talk about Bethel Park, Kewanee's theater program and to introduce themselves while inviting you to come to their performances of Bethel Park in the Petersen Auditorium on Saturday evening, October 28th, at 7 PM. Or, you can come to Sunday afternoon's matinee show at 2 PM on October 29th. Joining us in studio on Friday...  Glenn / Ash / Garnet: Cooper Bates Clay / Reed / Sonny: Al...

Lynette Harbin and Kennedy Schafer Big Brothers Big Sisters

Lynette Harbin and Kennedy Schafer from Big Brothers Big Sisters  talk about the adopt a family program for families in Christmas in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program.

Wake Up Tri-Counties National Health Education Week with the Henry and Stark County Health Dept

It's National Health Education Week and the Henry and Star County Health Department say they are here to help with tips for healthy living. That's really no different from any other week, but it's a little more hyper-focused in this week. RaeAnn Tucker from the Henry and Stark County Health Department joined Wake Up Tri-Counties on Thursday to talk more about what the Health Department is doing to promote healthy living and common health issues people tend to look past but should look furthe...

Wake Up Tri-Counties Tiffany Bockiewicz Tells Us About Kewanee’s Enchanted Pumpkin Festival;

The 2nd Annual Enchanted Pumpkin Festival is this weekend, Saturday, October 21st, in Kewanee. Vendors will line the streets of downtown Kewanee with all kinds of items for sale. The Farmer's Market will be open, their will be two live musical performances and Good's Furniture is set to host a Trunk R'Treat in their parking lot as part of the 2nd Annual Enchanted Pumpkin Festival. The Trunk R' Treat runs from 3 PM to 5 PM. You can hear all about the 2nd Annual Kewanee Enchanted Pumpkin Festi...

Wake Up Tri-Counties Kewanee Education Association President Ruth Kapacinskas

The President of the Kewanee Education Association, Ruth Kapacinskas, joined Wake Up Tri-Counties on Thursday to discuss the ongoing mediation between the Kewanee School District and the staff represented by the KEA. Earlier this week, Dr. Chris Sullens, Kewanee School District Superintendent expressed optimism that a deal between Kewanee School District and the KEA could be completed by the next School Board Meeting in November. We asked Ruth Kapacinskas if she was as optimistic as the Supe...

Angelo’s Pink Pizza Month and CGH Health Foundation

Michelle Hodge from Wright's Corporate joined us the for an update on Angelo's Pink Pizza Campaign and how ordering pizza helps out The CGH Health Foundation and KSB Women's Health Program.

Spoofhound Football Head Coach Matt Webb

With one game left in the regular Season, Coach Webb Talks about this weeks game against  Lafayette (St. Joseph) and about the post season. 

The Good News National Chocolate Cupcake Day

Today, Wednesday, October 18th, 2023, is National Chocolate Cupcake Day. How do we know that this is National Chocolate Cupcake Day? Because Coralyn Dwyer, one of our local third graders was in our studio today to give us The Good News about National Chocolate Cupcake Day... 

Kewanee Back When A Kewanee Man Wrestled a Bear and Won

Did you hear the one about a guy from Kewanee who wrestled a bear? It's not a joke, a guy from Kewanee actually wrestled a bear. And he won. In 1921 Fred Cook took part in exhibition in which local men were invited to try and wrestle a bear. After a few other men tapped out against the beast, Fred Cook climbed into the ring and, according to legend, Cook pinned the bears shoulders to the mat. Whether this was planned or a real wrestling event is lost to time, though you can likely imagine th...

Wake Up Tri-Counties Dr. Chris Sullens Kewanee School District Superintendent

Dr. Chris Sullens joined Wake Up Tri-Counties on Tuesday to discuss Monday's Kewanee School Board Meeting. In our conversation, the Superintendent discussed the latest Kewanee School District independent audit, the latest on solar and wind projects that aim to help the school electric bill and reduce the school's carbon footprint, and the Superintendent addressed the latest in negotiations regarding a new contract for Kewanee Teachers and Staff. The Superintendent did not discuss any specifi...

Sparks’ Notes - Tim Clark, New Horizons HS

Sparks is joined by Tim Clark, an educator at New Horizons High School in Lewistown to talk about their upcoming Spring Lake Adventure Challenge on Saturday, October 21st.  The Adventure Challenge is being held to help raise funds for the school's annual Senior Trip to sightsee in Chicago. This is an all-ages, family-friendly event where teams use a map and compass to seek out check points and solve challenges. Registration starts at 9 a.m., with a racer's meeting at 9:40 a.m., and the eve...

Wake Up Tri-Counties Concerned Citizens of Henry County Discuss Opposition to a CO2 Pipeline in Henry County

Concerned Citizens of Henry County is  group of residents who have come together to oppose a possible CO2 Pipeline that is planned by Wolf Carbon Solutions to go through Henry County. Concerned Citizens of Henry County want to know more about the potential safety hazards of a CO2 Pipeline. There are also concerns about the potential use of Eminent Domain laws which could be used to seize needed property to push the pipeline through over the objections of Henry County residents. Wolf Carbon S...

The Good News About Friday the 13th with our Wethersfield Third Graders

For many, Friday the 13th evokes superstition but our Wethersfield 3rd Graders aren't afraid. On Friday the 13th, Janessa Watts and Aurora Schriver came to our Save A Lot Studio to deliver The Good News about Friday the 13th. 

Kewanee Football Postgame Podcast Kewanee Defeats Newman Central Catholic

The Kewanee Boilermakers defeated Newman Central Catholic on Friday night, 34 to 8 was the final score. Following the game Russ Hughes and Jeremy Peart caught up with players and coaches including Coach Matt Taylor. Kewanee is now 7 and 1 on the season. 

Whiteside County Health Department

Dan from the WCHD provided us with information on The Affordable Care Act, and some dates coming up for enrollment. 

Sauk Talk-News and Events from Sauk Valley Community College

Eric Valdez gave us information on The Freedom 5K coming up on Veteran's Day, Saturday, November 11th, and Dallas Knack talked about a few other things at the college.

Greg McDanel Maryville City Manager

We talked about future projects the city is planning, ongoing projects that have been in the works for a while like the water treatment plant, Mozingo Welcome Center and some smaller projects being looked at for the square.  

Wake Up Tri-Counties Sara Billiet Kewanee Public Library Book Clubs

Have you thought about joining a book club? The Kewanee Public Library is here to help. The Kewanee Public Library holds book clubs on the third Monday of each month, barring a holiday. The next two meetings of the Kewanee Library Adults Book Club is set for Monday, October 16th, at 2 PM or at 6 PM. This months book is called Inheritance by author Dani Shapiro. You can get a copy of the book at the Library and join the meeting on Monday at either 2 PM or 6 PM for a lively discussion of the b...

Wake Up Tri-Counties RaeAnn Tucker Henry and Stark County Health Dept Flu Clinics

The Henry and Stark County Health Department is holding a drive thru Flu Shot Clinic at their Kewanee location today, Thursday, October 12th, from 11 AM to 1 PM. Drive thru and get your flu shot today. October is the ideal time to get a flu shot to protect yourself and the people you care about from getting sick during the winter. It's an especially important time for people with immune system issues to get a flu shot. If you or someone you know is immune compromised, make sure they are gett...

Betty Clementz-Rock Falls Rotary

Betty gave us an review of The End Polio Now walk which to place on Saturday, October 7th, at Centennial Park in Rock Falls.