Regional Media Podcast Network

On this edition of Kewanee Back When, Dave and Sean talk about memories of those who passed away in 2023. Three remarkable citizens left us in 2023 and left behind legacies that will never be forgotten. Bud Johnson, beloved owner of the Wanee Theater, Linda Bolls longtime leader of the Kewanee Salvation Army and honored volunteer, and legendary educator, former Superintendent of the Kewanee School District Jim Golby, are remembered on this special edition of Kewanee Back When.

Spongebob Squarepants The Musical hits the stage at the Petersen Auditorium tonight, Saturday, January 13th, 2024, at 7 PM. Earlier this week members of the cast of Spongebob the Musical dropped by Wake Up Tri-Counties to talk about bringing Spongebob to the stage. 

We were joined by 

Cooper Bates as Spongebob

Isaac Lynes as Patrick 

Alex Hager as Mr. Krabbs

Jersey Duytschaver as Karen 

and their teacher Heather Olalde

Yes!!! Spring Bingo and Community Garage Sales are not far away!

This morning we talked about about the Art Johnson Rock Falls Rotary Youth Exchange Program with Bob Sondgeroth.  Art was very active in the youth exchange program and after his passing the club decided to name the program after him.  

 

We have our first outbound student who has been approved and is now fundraising for her 11 month exchange that will start in July of this year.

 

Kimzey Spreeman, our last outbound who went to Malaysia and had to return early due to COVID restrictions on travel that were starting to be imposed. Kinzey is now a junior in college and home on break.

 

Skip Lee, the former mayor, will also be joining us.  Skip and his wife were host parents for Rotary many times and his daughter was an outbound student.

 

Tom Myers, our current club youth exchange officer, will join us.  Tom's daughter was an outbound and their family has hosted inbound students.

The Kewanee Boilermakers were in action on Monday evening in Princeton. The Boilermakers put up a good fight but came up short in the end with a 61 to 55 loss. Russ Hughes, the voice of Kewanee Basketball, joined Wake Up Tri-Counties on Tuesday to wrap up Monday's game. In our conversation we talked about the sportsmanship on display from both teams on Monday night, the strong performance of Kashen Ellerbroock who scored a season high 13 points, and the continuing terrific play of Brady Clark who once again led the Boilermakers with 22 points. The Boilermakers dropped to 11 and 6 on the season with the loss. The Kewanee boys basketball team will be back in action on Friday, on the road against Hall. The next time they will be on WKEI RegionalMediaNews.com will be on Friday, January 19th.

OSF Healthcare is preparing an all new Community Health Needs Assessment. Connie Wessels joined Samantha Rux on Wake Up Tri-Counties to discuss planning for the annual Community Health Needs Assessment which will be seeking Henry County residents to fill out the Community Health Needs Assessment in order to determine what health services Henry County residents would like to have represented at OSF Saint Luke Medical Center. In the past, the Community Health Needs Assessment has helped determine the need for further mental health services in the area. The newest Community Health Needs Assessment will be seeking responses from the community later this year.