Regional Media Podcast Network

Peoples National Bank has revamped their loan department and one of the ways they have done that is brought in our friend Jolene Efnor who joined Wake Up Tri-Counties on Tuesday, December 19th, to talk about this new approach to the Lending Process. With that, Peoples National Bank has launched a brand new, and already award winning, website: PNB-Kewanee.com. You can now begin your loan journey online via the new website and their are new options for online banking as well. Find out more in our conversation with Jolene Efnor from Peoples National Bank on Wake Up Tri-Counties. 

Respiratory illnesses are common in this time of year but they don't have to be. Kathy Blanford is an infection control specialist with OSF Saint Luke Medical Center and OSF St Clare Medical Center and she joined Samantha Rux on Wake Up Tri-Counties to talk about the best ways to avoid a respiratory illness. Whether it is the common cold, the flu, or COVID-19, the best advice is wash your hands. It's not quite that simple but that is step one in infection control, wash your hands. Other advice, stay home if you are sick, wear a mask if you are sick and have to go out to places, and again, wash your hands. 

Brock Tumbleson and Eddie Tolliver with the Kewanee Salvation Army dropped by WKEI on Friday with an update on the progress of the Kewanee Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign. The campaign has been a huge success but just over a week left, there is still a little way to go to reach the goal. You can help by dropping some coins in the red kettles or by contacting the Salvation Army to volunteer as a Bell Ringer. Meanwhile, a good chance to make a donation will be on Saturday, December 16th when Santa Clause will be at the Salvation Army Store in Kewanee from 10 AM to 1 PM. And, Brock and Eddie tell WKEI that there will be a bell ringing contest between Santa Claus and The Grinch, outside of the Kewanee Wal Mart on the last day of the Red Kettle Campaign, Saturday, December 23rd, 2023. Details in our interview. 

Alina Angel and Cruz Martinez give us The Good News about Kewanee's Holiday Lights at Windmont and Northeast Park. 

The Kewanee Public Library is preparing to fully revamp their website. Sara Billiet with the Kewanee Public Library joined Wake Up Tri-Counties on Thursday to talk about the exciting changes coming to the library website that will make it even easier to navigate, contain even more resources, and provide the kind service and information that the current website has delivered with a more modern design. Meanwhile, Christmas and New Years will shorten hours at the Library this month but only right before the Christmas and New Year holidays. And finally, in big news at the library, Sara is currently taking on the role of Acting Library Director while the search continues for a permanent director of the Kewanee Public Library. 

By now you know the best ways to protect yourself against COVID and the Flu, get vaccinated, wash your hands regularly, and if you feel as if you may be ill, stay home or wear a mask if you must be in public spaces. RaeAnn Tucker from the Henry and Stark County Health Department dropped by Wake Up Tri-Counties to talk about an increase in the number of cases of the Flu and COVID during this winter season. RaeAnn also talked about home safety during the winter. Tips to keep your family safe and warm in the holidays include making sure all of your Christmas lights are in working order, making sure your displays are safe for and from your pets, and making sure you are properly and safely using items like space heaters, a known potential fire hazard if they are not used correctly and safely. 

The Kewanee Boiler Girls got off to a fast start and never really looked back as they traveled to and defeated Galva 50 to 35. Strong team defense and one of the best scoring nights of the season thus far furthered the story of how the Boiler Girls have improved in each game thus far this season. The Kewanee Girls have now won two straight games and 3 out of their last four games and struggling to an 0 and 6 record to start the season. The Boiler Girls will take a 3 and 7 record into the St. Bede Holiday season tournament. 

The Henry County Farm Bureau is freshly returned from their annual meeting and stocked with awards. The Henry County Farm Bureau Young Leaders were among the many who led the Henry County Farm Bureau to honors at the Farm Bureau Annual Meeting and Katie Laleman tells us all about this year's numerous honors on this edition of Wake Up Tri-Counties. Katie also talked about the launch of the T-Shirt and Poster contest for the Henry County Farm Bureau as local kids in Henry County schools will have a chance to design t-shirts or posters that will be a big part of the Henry County Farm Bureau for 2023.