Regional Media Podcast Network

The month of May has a number of designations and one of them is Blood Pressure Awareness Month. Heart Disease is among the leading causes of death and it's also one that can be prevented. If more people paid attention to their blood pressure, many lives could be saved. That's why the Henry and Stark County Health Department is touting Blood Pressure Awareness Month. There are really no symptoms to tell you that you have high blood pressure. Only a blood pressure test can tell you for sure. Thus, getting your blood pressure checked frequently is the best advice for battling high blood pressure. The higher your blood pressure, the harder your heart has to work to pump your blood. RaeAnn Tucker from the Henry and Stark County Health Department spoke about Blood Pressure Awareness Month on Wake Up Tri-Counties this week. 

May is National Radio Month and each year during National Radio Month, our friend Dave Clarke likes to delve into the history of Kewanee radio. This month, Dave takes us back to 1966 and the sign on of WKEI FM which would, in 1974, become WJRE. The first song to play in the history of WJRE, after leaving behind the big bands and crooners in 1974, was none other than California Girls by The Beach Boys touching off years of the Hit Parade on WJRE. It would not become the WJRE we know today until the 1990s when the boom of the country music scene caused another seismic shift in the local radio market. But that's a story for another day. On this edition of Kewanee Back When it's 1966 to 1974, WKEI FM becomes WJRE. 

The Bishop Hill Quilt Show is set to charm visitors once again from May 17th to 19th at the Colony School. This vibrant affair will showcase hundreds of quilts embracing this year's theme, "Rainbows, Rick Rack, and Roses." Attendees can explore a variety of quilting styles, including antique, miniature, patchwork, and appliqué. Admission is priced at $5.00. The Prairie Queen Quilt Club, with assistance from the Bishop Hill Heritage Association, also presents challenge quilts at the Steeple Building Museum. The Colony School opens its doors from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and until 3 p.m. on Sunday. Lorna Brown is one of the organizers of the event and she joined Wake Up Tri-Counties on Tuesday with all the information about the Bishop Hill Quilt Show. 

The Mayor of Kewanee, Gary Moore joined Wake Up Tri-Counties on Tuesday morning to follow up on Monday's Kewanee City Council Meeting. In our conversation, the Mayor addresses the contentious topic of the approval of a permit for the new marijuana dispensary coming to Kewanee at the former location of the Broken Chimney restaurant. Last night, members of the public spoke about concerns they had about the dispensary being just over 250 feet away from Wethersfield School. Other members of the community spoke in favor of the dispensary, including former Kewanee Police Chief Nick Welgat. We asked the Mayor about the divisive 3 to 2 vote of the council in favor of the dispensary and the concerns raised by citizens at Monday's Kewanee City Council Meeting. 

Actor Peter Macon is an Emmy Award winning voice actor who has had a slow rise to fame. That rise will no doubt be accelerated by his terrific work as Raka in the blockbuster hit, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. In Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, Raka is the keeper of legends, doing his best to maintain the legend of Caesar, the first Ape leader, and the subject of the previous three Apes movies. Raka stands in defiance of those who corrupt Caesar's legend and try to twist his teaching to fit their narrative of ape domination. Raka is also a friend and ally to Noa, the film's protagonist, providing a listening ear and wise guidance to the young, headstrong, Noa. Peter Macon is awesome in Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes and it was our pleasure to have him on Wake Up Tri-Counties this week. 

Mayor Inman returns to the K100 Studio to talk about the past, present, and near future in Macomb, including the Macombopoly Dedication Ceremony on May 9th, the currently ongoing Citywide Spring Cleanup, and the road improvement projects occurring on South Johnson and South Adams Streets during the summer months. 

To stay up to date on City of Macomb business, visit the City of Macomb website.