The Mayor of Geneseo, Sean Johnson, was our guest on Tuned In this week to remind people to Shop Geneseo. The shops of Geneseo are open and while it won't be quite the same as it has been in the past, the Geneseo Christmas Walk will still take place next month. Shoppers need to wear masks and keep social distance but you're still getting the opportunity to support local businesses during the holiday shopping season.

State Representative Tony McCombie by Regional Media

Annie Crabtree from Kewanee is finding success as a first time Children's book author. Annie set a goal for herself during the pandemic shutdown to write a children's book and in a matter of months, a story based on a dream she had, is now ready to go into the stockings of kids around the world. The book titled "What Happened to Santa Claus's Beard" is available via Amazon.com but you can also get it at several local, Kewanee businesses as mentioned in this Tuned In conversation on Tuesday, November 24th.

Cornerstone Credit Union Rock Solid Advice-November 2020 by Regional Media

The Centers for Disease Control is advising people not to travel over Thanksgiving and not to gather in large groups in closed spaces because the virus is passed most often in this scenario. Diane Teske, Safety and Quality Manager for OSF HealthCare, told WKEI on Tuned In that travel for Thanksgiving is not recommended. Diane also talked about the #MaskedUp initiative which OSF Healthcare joined last week. Diane says that Masks are the most effective way of keeping the virus at bay. Nothing can keep you completely safe but wearing a mask is the best chance you have of not getting this potentially deadly virus.

Director Dana Nachman loves a good inspiring story. A few years back she documented how a whole town came together to make one boy's dream of being Batman come true in the documentary, Batboy! Now she's taken on another inspiring subject. Operation Santa Claus is an initiative in which the Post Office chooses letters from kids to help Santa Claus highlight some extra special kids who've seen hardship but are still hopeful that Santa Claus will be there for them. It's a beautiful story filled with heartwarming letters from kids to Santa answered by Santa's post office elves.

Amron Buchanan and Ken Knowles joined WKEI for People to People on Monday morning to talk about Goodfellows Christmas Baskets. It's not going to be the same this year, naturally, due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation. Amron and Ken tell WKEI that adjustments had to be made and this year, instead of Christmas baskets, those in need will be given certificates for food, including a family sized ham, from Save A Lot. If you know someone in need of a Goodfellows Christmas certificate this year, which will be mailed out to residences in time for Christmas, call Kewanee Schools and register that family in need to receive a Goodfellows Christmas certificate to be used at Save A Lot.

Princeton Mayor Joel Quiram says he’s optimistic about the financial future of the city. While visiting Wake Up Princeton on WZOE-AM, the mayor said he’s encouraged that the city’s sales tax numbers for seven of the past nine months were all up over the previous three years. He credits that to residents focusing on shopping locally.

Concerning Governor Pritzker’s Tier 3 restrictions that went into effect recently, Mayor Quiram says the city encourages all businesses to give serious consideration to following the mandate. But he added that local governments have been given no authority to enforce the governor’s orders.

Mayor Quiram says it’s important to remember while looking at the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 that the overwhelming majority of those who have gotten the virus have also recovered.  He says Perry Memorial Hospital has 25 beds and at last report the availability was well over 50 percent.

The mayor urges residents to observe the CDC guidelines by wearing masks, washing your hands and maintaining social distance. He also says he believes with two promising vaccines, there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Chris Sullivan plays Toby on the hit NBC series This is Us but that is certainly not his only area of interest. Chris has recently launched the band Joseph the Spouse, a band whose music evokes 70's rock and bluegrass. The first Joseph the Spouse album dropped this week. It's called Six Feet From Under and having listened to it myself, I can tell you it's really good. We talked to Chris Sullivan about his first record and how it lyrically resembles the moving intimacy of This is Us.

November is National Diabetes Month and Kris Willis, Diabetes Educator with OSF Healthcare joined WKEI this week to talk about Diabetes management and athletes. Athletes with Diabetes or anyone with diabetes who keeps an active lifestyle can benefit from Diabetes educators who can help you plan your way to your best athletic performance while managing your diabetes. Kris Willis explains the challenges involved and how to work toward overcoming them.