Actor John Ashton has played many roles in his lengthy career but is perhaps best known as playing Judge Reinhold's cantankerous veteran partner opposite Eddie Murphy in Beverly Hills Cop. Most recently however, Ashton has delivered the best work of his career in a new independent drama called Once Upon a River. Once Upon a River stars Ashton as Smoke, a terminally ill cancer patient living out his last days in a dilapidated shack of a home when he meets a young girl on a tragic journey. Kenadi DeLaCerna plays the young girl who lost her family and escaped from a fate of being put into the system by taking a boat journey down the river. Once Upon a River will be available on Blu Ray DVD and Streaming Rental on January 12th.

Kewanee Police Chief Nick Welgat joined WKEI on Monday's edition of People to People to discuss a recommendation he plans to make to the Kewanee City Council intended to update City Animal Ordinances. Specifically, the change that the Chief is recommending involves repeat offenders whose dogs escape regularly and for whom fines don't appear to alter behavior. The new measure takes inspiration from City of Kewanee nuisance laws from property and will be laid out tonight for the City Council and go through a review with Kewanee City Attorney Justin Raver before it goes back to the Council for the chance to become part of the ordinance. We also talked with Chief Welgat on Monday about his first months in the office and his reaction to the move toward Police reform in Springfield.

Rock Falls Chamber Getting 2021 Moving by Regional Media

Whiteside County Health Department COVID-19 Information by Regional Media

Good Things Happened at The YWCA, More to Come in 2021 by Regional Media

Whiteside County Crime Stoppers with Sheriff Booker by Regional Media

Are you financially prepared for the New Year? Have you set your budget? These are important things that no one enjoys doing but that must be done and done regularly. Jolene Efnor from Country Financial joined WKEI's Tuned In program to discuss financial preparedness, budgeting and your insurance needs. For those who need just a little extra help setting that budget for the new year, Jolene sent along a budgeting tool from Country Financial to give you a little more help.

The new found footage horror movie The Curse of Aurore arrives on Blu Ray, DVD, and Streaming Rental on January 12th. The film tells the story of three friends who go to Canada to come up with a movie script about the Canadian crime legend of Aurore. Aurore was a child in a Quebec suburb in the early 1900's who was murdered by her parents. It's said to be the story that brought crimes against children to the attention of the nation. Since then, a legend has arisen around the story of Aurore. Producer and star Llana Barron happened to have lived in Quebec in the same town as Aurore Gagnon and her family and from there, the movie, The Curse of Aurore was born. On Friday, January 8th, our Sean Kernan had the chance to chat with star and producer Llana Barron and Director Mehran Torgoley about The Curse of Aurore.

Princeton Mayor Joel Quiram was on WZOE’s Wake Up Princeton show to update residents on several important issues facing the city. The mayor said at Monday’s city council meeting, they authorized a new ordinance that would allow poultry in residential neighborhoods. Currently, poultry is only allowed in areas zoned for agricultural use. The new ordinance will be considered after the new city council takes their seats in May, after the city election in April.

The mayor also discussed a proposed project to transform part of Columbus Street into a walkway. He said the plan would take “an approximate 100 foot stretch of a narrow, drab, downtown one-way street that sees maybe 50 cars a day” and change it into something that would add to the ambiance of Main Street.

Mayor Quiram also said at the next Princeton City Council meeting on January 18, the council will vote again on Perry Memorial Hospital’s affiliation with OSF Healthcare. This will be the second and final vote. The first vote taken on Monday was favorable toward the city’s agreement to the affiliation.

Dixon Habitat for Humanity by Regional Media