Regional Media Podcast Network

BIg Brothers Big Sisters has their big bowling event (Bowl for Kids Sake) coming up April 14th.  This is their signature fundraising event each year. The gist of it is you gather donations by either asking friends and family to contribute by check the electronically via their peer to peer website or you host a fundraising event. The bowling event is really just the party we throw to say thank you for all the work you did raising money for Big Brothers Big Sisters. Teams consist of up to 6 people and they get free bowling, pizza, drinks, a t-shirt and prizes. They also have a fabulous silent auction during the event that anyone can come and bid on.

It’s a great way to have a fun night on the town and help an organization at the same time.

The Galva City Council met on Monday, March 27th, 2023, in a well attended meeting. Members of the public turned out to see Monday's meeting and were on hand as the Galva City Council chose to enter into an agreement with consultants to provide help in building up Galva's downtown area. The consultants will spend the next several weeks speaking to downtown business owners and making observations regarding ways Galva can bolster the downtown area. This was among several big topics at Monday's Galva City Council Meeting. Programming note: Mayor Volkert will also be our guest on Wake Up TriCounties on Wednesday with questions specific to the race for Galva Mayor which will be on the ballot on April 4th, 2023.

Kewanee Mayor Gary Moore joined Wake Up Tri-Counties on Tuesday, March 28th, 2023. The Mayor was on hand to wrap-up Monday's Kewanee City Council Meeting at which the Mayor had a heated encounter with a local business owner whose special use permit was revoked. The Mayor discussed the tense exchange and reiterated the reasons why the special Use Permit for 1047 North Main Street in Kewanee was rescinded on Monday night. The Mayor also discussed why the Council decided to table a decision regarding a rezoning request from Murray Brothers regarding property located at 139 Tenney Street. And the Mayor discussed the decision to table a request regarding property in the 700 Block of West South Street. The owners of the property hope to build a storage facility that would also have a solar array.

With inflation having caused prices to rise at grocery stores across the country, it's created challenges for people hoping to eat healthy. Sara Umphleet OSF Saint Luke Medical Center Dietitian joined Wake Up Tri-Counties with tips on how to eat healthy on a budget. Sara has 10 tips for healthy eating without breaking he bank. Sara joined Samantha Rux on Wake Up Tri-Counties on Monday, March 27th, 2023.

Sparks chats with Richard Chamberlain from the Good Food Collaborative about their Choice-Based Food Pantry, which recently opened in the Western Illinois Regional Council building at 133 West Jackson Street in Macomb.

The Choice-Based Food Pantry seeks to helps assist McDonough County families who are struggling with food insecurity, and is open Tuesdays and Thursday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For more information on the Choice-Based Food Pantry or to make a donation to the Good Food Collaborative, visit their webpage at goodfoodcollaborative.org or give them a call at (309) 326-3049.

Jock Hedblade from the Macomb Area and Convention Bureau (MACVB) returns to the studio to discuss the improvements to their website, including the new, easier process for adding events to the calendar, as well as a sneak-peek at the upcoming self-guided "Looking For Lincoln" app. 

For more information about upcoming events or to add an event, visit the MACVB website at visitforgottonia.com.

Elizabeth Argo is the Youth Activities Coordinator for the Maryville Public Library. Last Saturday was the Children's Business Fair, where kids with an entrepreneurial drive see what it's like to come up with a product, write a business plan, create inventory, design and create their marketing plan, then present their products at the fair.  This years fair brought in over six thousand dollars from over 30 participants. They also figured the sales tax after the fair to lend more realism to the event.

Trooper Jason Wilson with the Illinois State Police joined Wake Up Tri-Counties on Friday to talk about the effort the Illinois State Police is making to educate kids about online grooming. Trooper Wilson talked about the ways in which criminals are reaching out to kids via social media and their smartphones. Trooper Wilson tells WKEI that kids need to be unafraid to talk to parents or authorities when they've been approached or have been tricked by online criminals. Trooper Wilson also talked about an effort the Illinois State Police are making to educate the public on the dangers of Road Rage.

In today's Friday Good News debut segment, Wethersfield 3rd graders, Walker and Crewe joined Wake Up Tri-Counties with The Good News on National Down Syndrome Day which was celebrated on Tuesday, March 21st, 2023. Wethersfield 3rd graders welcomed a person with Down Syndrome to class on Tuesday as part of the recognition the day. Walker and Crewe told us about the day and why it was important to Wethersfield students.

The Kewanee Public Library will play host to Kewanee born author Becca Kinzer, the author of the romance novel, Dear Henry, Love Edith, on Friday, March 24th at 2 PM. Dear Henry, Love Edith is Becca Kinzer's debut novel which she wrote while working as a full time nurse and a mom. Becca will be discussing her background and the book at the Kewanee Public Library on March 24th, 2023. Also, Tech Office Hours are back at the library. Sara tells WKEI that if you need help with using your smartphone, laptop or Tablet, the library can assist you on Tuesday, March 28th, 2023 between 5 PM to 7 Pm at the Kewanee Library.