Regional Media Podcast Network

Representative Spain phoned in this morning from Springfield to give us a session update. We also talked about some ethics, specifically with the ongoing ComEd investigations. Also what to expect as budget talks and review get going this week.

Event details when , where, how – not too late to still sign up to participate relayforlife.org/saukvalley il or 1 – 800 – ACS – 2345. Event is just 3 weeks away – June 3rd at Westwood Building 3 from 6 – 9 p.m.

Luminaria – are the bags in memory of a loved one – a survivor of cancer or a loved one lost to the disease which is the purpose to remember all who had heard the three words : You have cancer- This Luminaria ceremony takes place at 8 p.m.

Mother's Day was Sunday and on Friday, our Wethersfield 3rd Graders came to our Regional Media Studios to give us The Good News about Mother's Day. It wasn't just Mother's Day however, last week was Nurses Week and on May 10th, School Nurses were in the spotlight. A pair of our Wethersfield 3rd Graders took that day to show their appreciation for Wethersfield School Nurse, Mrs. DeClercq.

The annual OSF Saint Luke Medical Center Golf Outing is set for Monday, June 5th, at 10:30 AM at Midland Golf Course. Proceeds from the event benefit the OSF Saint Luke Medical Center Transportation Program which helps patients in need get to needed medical care and check ups at OSF Saint Luke Medical Center. You can support the OSF Saint Luke Transportation Program by signing up to play some golf. There are going to prizes on the lines in various competitions on the course and lunch will be provided. Sign up at this link to the OSF Saint Luke Medical Center Foundation and listen to our interview with Kathy Foes with the OSF Saint Luke Medical Center Foundation and Samantha Rux from this morning's Wake Up Tri-Counties on WKEI.

Sara Billiet from the Kewanee Public Library was our guest on Wake Up Tri-Counties on Thursday. Sara joined us to promote the start of the Summer Reading Program at the library, open to kids and parents. This year, you can track your Summer Reading via the Beanstack app or, for those less than tech friendly, you can get a paper log. As part of kicking off the Summer Reading Program, the Library will feature a visit from the man known as the Master Facilitator of Fun, Mr. Steve. Mr. Steve will perform May 30th at 11 AM to help kick off Summer programs at the library.

May is mental health awareness month. Lisa stopped in to talk about the services available at The Whiteside County Community Health Clinic.

Thursday, May 11th, 2023, is officially Public Health Heroes Day. Governor J.B Pritzker made the proclamation official on Thursday, May 11th, the same day as the official end of the Federal COVID-19 Pandemic Emergency Proclamation. Going forward, May 11th in Illinois will be set aside to honor the heroic public health workers who put their lives on the line during the pandemic to care for and educate the public about COVID-19. From getting needed information out to mask mandate updates, to providing vaccinations, to being directly on the frontline fighting the virus, Public Health Heroes more than deserve the honor of their very own day. We talked with RaeAnn Tucker from the Henry and Stark County Health Department on Thursday about Public Health Heroes Day and what the fight against COVID-19 looks like going forward.

Sparks is joined by Amy Fansler Milas, the Circus Director for the YMCA of McDonough County, to talk about the YMCA Circus Academy's Broadway Circus Show on Friday and Saturday, May 20th and 21st beginning at 3:00 p.m.

This year's show will feature the performers showing their aerial and floor skills set to showtunes from classic Broadway shows including Cats and West Side Story. 

These shows are open to the public, and admission is $2 for adults. For more information, visit the YCMA of McDonough County and YMCA Circus Academy Facebook pages

The Spring planting season has gone very well so far based on the data culled by the Henry County Farm Bureau. Katie Laleman from the Henry County Farm Bureau joined Wake Up Tri-Counties on Wednesday to update everyone on planting season and to talk about the huge amount of scholarship dollars that the Farm Bureau was able to hand out due to the generosity of the Henry County community. They are hoping for similar generosity this year with a pair of upcoming, Golf related fundraisers, two of the biggest of the year: The Henry County Farm Bureau Golf Outing at Baker Park and Birdies for Charity.

This Saturday, May 13th, the Kewanee Farmer's Market is back! Diane DeMay and Katie Yaklich joined Wake Up Tri-Counties to invite everyone to welcome the Farmer's Market back for another year this Saturday  on the corner of Tremont and Third, near the Kewanee Train Depot. Vendors with fresh veggies, baked goods, and crafts will be on hand with stuff for sale at the Kewanee Farmer's Market and its a great chance to support local gardeners, farmers and crafters. Hours are 8 AM to 12 Noon Saturdays and Wednesdays. Listen to our conversation with Diane and Katie for more on the Kewanee Farmer's Market and how you can become a vendor.