Regional Media Podcast Network

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 Hill, joined Wake Up Tri-Counties to promote Julmarknad and talk about the incredible shopping opportunities and celebrations happening in Bishop Hill. 

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 can find a Kewanee Boiler in the basement that's been working several decades and shows no signs of slowing down. Dave Clark takes us back to the history of the Kewanee Boiler Shop and, stick around to the end, Dave takes a few moments to remember Jim Golby, the former Kewanee School District Superintendent who passed away recently is wonderfully well remembered on this edition of Kewanee Back When. 

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 everyone who heard it. We have preserved the speech in its entirety and are sharing it with you with a heartfelt thank you to Chief Welgat as he steps into retirement and his continuing battle with cancer. 

Kewanee Mayor Gary Moore joined Wake Up Tri-Counties on Tuesday morning to wrap up an eventful and emotional Kewanee City Council Meeting on Monday evening. On Monday, at the start of the meeting Kewanee Police Chief Nick Welgat gave a heartfelt and tear streaked address to the City Council and the community in general, thanking the Council for his time as Kewanee Police Chief and discussing his decision to retire and focus on his health and family. In our interview, the Mayor reflects on the career of Chief Welgat and his time as Police Chief. The Mayor also addressed ongoing rumors regarding the potential of privatizing trash and recycling pick up in the City of Kewanee. The Mayor said that it has been a discussion but reassured that any plan would require the City to keep on the employees who handle trash and recycling. 

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 a few people awake this morning and led to Police in Peru to issue a social media statement telling residents that indeed it was an Earthquake that many felt this morning. RegionalMediaNews.com caught up with Professor Mike Phillips for a conversation about Earthquakes in Illinois. 

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. 

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, to the diagnosis of diabetes, to the start of diabetes treatment via the diabetes care team at OSF Saint Luke Medical Center.