Regional Media Podcast Network

The deadline is approaching for the Goodfellows Christmas Baskets. You have until December 8th to either nominate a family in need to receive a Goodfellows Christmas Basket or to apply on behalf of your own family. If you'd like to make sure a family gets a basket or that your family gets a basket, call Kewanee High School at 309-853-3328. Meanwhile, donations to help continue the tradition of Goodfellows Christmas Baskets are always being accepted and are always needed so that they can make sure that all the baskets are full. Donations can be mailed to Goodfellows at P.O Box 5 Kewanee, IL, 61443. Amron Buchanan and Ken Knowles with Goodfellows joined Wake Up Tri-Counties this week to talk about Goodfellows and call on people to get involved.

The Mayor of Galva Rich Volkert joined Wake Up Tri-Counties on Wednesday to recap Monday's Galva City Council Meeting. The top item on the agenda was a presentation by Henry County Administrator Erin Knackstedt and Economic Development Director Jim Kelly. They attended the meeting to talk about the attempt to revive the Henry County Tourism Bureau. With Galva having a number of events such as the Levitt Amp Concert Series, a huge Fourth of July celebration, and The Back Road Music Festival, being part of a brand new Henry County Tourism Bureau makes sense for the City of Galva. They Mayor discussed this and the potential to make Car Cruise-Ins a regular attraction in Galva. You can hear all about it in our conversation with Mayor Rich Volkert on Wake Up Tri-Counties.

Today, Clarissa Garcia from Irving Elementary School joined Wake Up Tri-Counties with The Good News about National Chocolate Day!

The Mayor of Kewanee Gary Moore joined Wake Up Tri-Counties on Tuesday morning to follow up on Monday's Kewanee City Council Meeting. Two discussion items dominated Monday's meeting. The first was a discussion only item regarding the growth of gambling establishments in Kewanee and how to perhaps take control of the number of gambling establishments in the City. One idea, floated by Mayor Moore, was to place a higher standard on Pour Licenses issued by the City. The City of Kewanee cannot prevent new gambling establishments but the Mayor and City Council does control the issuance of Pour Licenses, the license to serve alcohol. A Pour License is required for a gambling establishment in Illinois and without a Pour License, the gambling parlors cannot operate. This gives the City of Kewanee a way to have some say in the opening of new gaming parlors in the City. 

The other big topic of discussion on Monday is more complex and hotly debated. It was a discussion over privatizing the sanitation department in Kewanee. Five companies have offered bids on a contract to provide trash service to the City of Kewanee and the City is considering the idea. But, Mayor Moore stated that there are several factors that must be resolved before any agreement with a private company would be considered. For now, the City is looking into the cost effectiveness of privatization for Kewanee residents and whether it can be done in a fashion that won't increase costs or create any new burden on residents.

Today on Wake Up Tri-Counties, Samantha Rux with OSF Saint Luke Medical Center joined Wake Up Tri-Counties to talk about the holiday season and the ways you can combat, Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD. Seasonal Affective Disorder hits millions of people each year with the changing clock and the varying stresses that come with the holiday season. Samantha joined WKEI on Tuesday with some tips and tricks for beating SAD and enjoying your holiday season. Among the tips is the gift of giving. Do something charitable, its good for your heart and your mental health when you can do something kind for someone in need. OSF Saint Luke Medical Center has a number of ways you can help as a volunteer or just someone who makes charitable donations.

Connie Johnson joined Wake Up Tri-Counties on Wednesday this week with the Cambridge News...

The Liverpool Legends are coming to the Adler Theater in Davenport on Saturday, November 25th, 2023. The band was formed back in 2003 with the help of Louise Harrison, the sister of George Harrison who happened to hear Marty performing some of her brother's songs at an industry gathering and invited him to meet with her and Sir Paul McCartney. From their Louise helped Marty form the Liverpool Legends who earned their way to a stay in Branson, Missouri for a time before the band took to the road full time. Their incredible live show still features the voice of Louise Harrison as narrator of the show. Louise sadly, passed away in January of this year. The show carries on in her memory and you can see The Liverpool Legends perform the music of The Beatles while telling the band's story at the Adler Theater in Davenport this coming Saturday. Marty Scott was our guest on Wake Up Tri-Counties on Wednesday, November 22nd, 2023.

The Kewanee School District and the Kewanee Education Association, representing teachers and staff at Kewanee Schools, reached a new three year contract agreement that was finalized at Monday's Kewanee School Board Meeting. Ruth Kapacinskas is the President of the Kewanee Education Association and she joined Wake Up Tri-Counties to discuss the contract, what was achieved in this contract, where it can be improved in the future, and the hope that the KEA and members of the Kewanee School Board can work together more between now and the next contract which will come up in 2026.

On Tuesday we were heartbroken to hear of the passing of our friend Linda Bolls. For many years with Bob McKee, and then with myself, Sean Kernan, Linda was a regular guest on WKEI. She represented the Kewanee Salvation Army on WKEI and was among those helping to promote the Angel Tree. She stepped away from the Salvation Army several years ago and helped get Eddie Tolliver into the position as her replacement. But retirement did not slow Linda Bolls down as she threw herself into volunteering. Her work as a volunteer in the community earned her statewide recognition after she was nominated for an award by Etta LaFlore and was honored by the governor. In what may have been her final appearance on WKEI, we talked to Linda alongside Etta LaFlora about her volunteer work and being honored by the state of Illinois. Thank you Linda Bolls for all you did for this community, you will never be forgotten.