On this episode of This One Time in Kankakee, host Jake LaMore turns the microphone on himself to share a hilarious and humbling "rookie mistake" from his early days in broadcasting.

Travel back to Valentine’s Day 2015. Jake was only three months into his career as an on-air personality at Milner Media in Bourbonnais. What started as a simple food delivery order quickly turned into a high-stakes dilemma involving a locked glass door, a missing cell phone, and the cold reality of a winter afternoon on North Convent Street.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• How a quick trip to the front door led to Jake being "trapped in a glass cage."
• The struggle of being "green" in the radio industry and trying to stay professional while panicked.
• A desperate, 90s-style rescue mission involving a physical phone book and the team at Enterprise Rent-A-Car.
• The 2015 struggle: What happens when you don't have a single colleague's phone number memorized?

Before he was the seasoned host you know today, Jake was just a kid in a vestibule wondering if he’d ever get back into the studio. Does he manage to get back in before his next shift? Who eventually comes to his rescue?

Listen to the full episode to hear the story of the lockout that Jake hasn't lived down for over a decade!

About the Podcast

This One Time in Kankakee is part of the WVLI Podcast Network. Hosted by Jake LaMore, the show explores the unique, funny, and sometimes miraculous stories that define the Kankakee area community.

Support for this episode comes from:

• Raven Spring Media: Capturing your brand’s unique story through expert video production and photography. Visit RavenSpringMedia.com.
• Kankakee Area YMCA: More than just a gym—it’s a movement. Join today at K3YMCA.org.

Have a story of your own? Whether it’s funny, sad, or miraculous, Jake wants to hear it! Email your story to [email protected] and help us tell the story of Kankakee, one memory at a time.

Subscribe & Review: Enjoying the show? Follow us on your favorite podcast platform and leave a rating to help others find these local stories!

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Want more from the WVLI Podcast Network? Listen to the WVLI News Update with Rob West every weekday morning! Get the days local news from the greater Kankakee County, IL area in 10 minutes or less. 

Subscribe now on your preferred podcast platform: https://wvlinewsupdate.buzzsprout.com

The Voices You Trust, Beyond The Dial.

In this special bonus episode of This One Time in Kankakee, host Jake LaMore sits down with Navy veteran Kaelin Patterson for a raw, verbatim account of the 1999 Bourbonnais Amtrak crash.

On March 15, 1999, Amtrak’s City of New Orleans collided with a semi-truck driven by John R. Stokes, who was hauling 18 tons of steel. The resulting derailment claimed 11 lives and left a community in shock. Kaelin, just off a shift at the Kmart warehouse, found himself thrust into a "wartime" scenario in his own backyard.

Kaelin details his experience sifting through the wreckage, the haunting silence of the debris, and the steady leadership of Fire Chief Steve Wilder. We also explore the facts behind the tragedy, including the legal aftermath and the "Stokes Law" that changed Illinois traffic reporting forever.

This bonus episode is solely sponsored by the 2026 Juneteenth Jamboree. Join Kaelin and the community on Saturday, June 20, 2026, at the Lisieux Pastoral Center for a celebration of strength and freedom. The day features The Natural Physique Showcase, a premier, drug-tested fitness event.

• Spectator Admission: $10
• Athletes: $50 initial registration / $20 additional category
• Location: 381 St. Joseph Ave, Kankakee, IL
• Inquiries: [email protected]

Featured Sponsors: Noodles and Company, Stacked Nutrition, Po Boys, Maxwell & Brady Schumer, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, Netherton’s Bodyshop, and Jensen’s Funeral Home.

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What does it take for a 14-year-old girl to raise over $100,000 for her community? In this deeply moving episode of This One Time in Kankakee, we sit down with Alexis McCullough and her mother, Cassandra, to discuss the journey behind the Gold Star Families Memorial Monument at Marcotte Park in Bourbonnais.

Following the sudden loss of her father, Colonel Mark McCullough, Alexis transformed her grief into a mission. This isn't your typical Eagle Scout story. From "secret meetings" with a mysterious advisor named "Voldemort" to navigating the "armpit of Illinois," Alexis and Cassandra share the raw, witty, and heartbreaking reality of life as a Gold Star Family.

In this episode, we dive into:

• The Logistics of Grief: How Alexis used her father’s military discipline to coordinate a massive community project.
• The "No Plan B" Mentality: Why Alexis refused to build a simple park bench and insisted on a $100,000 black granite monument.
• Kankakee's Spiderweb: The incredible way local businesses and residents rallied to "chisel away" at the final cost through donations of labor and materials.
• Full Circle Moments: The surprise presentation of a Ground Zero 9/11 flag and the emotional letter from the DFW firefighters who tried to save her father’s life.
• The Marble in the Box: Cassandra’s powerful metaphor for how grief changes over time, but never truly leaves.

Whether you are a scouting enthusiast, a military supporter, or a Kankakee local, this story of resilience, "embracing the suck," and building a lasting legacy will leave you inspired.

Send us Fan Mail

Want more from the WVLI Podcast Network? Listen to the WVLI News Update with Rob West every weekday morning! Get the days local news from the greater Kankakee County, IL area in 10 minutes or less. 

Subscribe now on your preferred podcast platform: https://wvlinewsupdate.buzzsprout.com

The Voices You Trust, Beyond The Dial.

“This one time in Kankakee... I went to jail for hunting.”

In 1959, Lou Perakis was a seventeen-year-old Greek immigrant living on the South Side of Chicago. When his older brother, John, decided to head south for the opening day of pheasant hunting season, Lou tagged along for what he thought would be a simple Saturday morning in the country.

Instead, a series of events near Aroma Park led to a wrestling match with a game warden, a $150 fine, and one of the most unique legal proceedings in Kankakee County history.

In this episode of This One Time in Kankakee, Lou shares a detailed look at:

• The "Old Country" Defense: How a billboard and a language barrier nearly worked in his brother’s favor.
• The Aroma Park Dance Hall: A visit to the building that now houses the American Legion on Sandbar Road (we think?), where the line between bartender and judge was remarkably thin.
• Kitchen Table Justice: Lou’s firsthand account of a legal hearing held in a private kitchen.

Lou’s story is more than just a brush with the law; it’s a fond look back at the competitive nature of his brother John and a snapshot of Illinois life in the late 1950s.

Send us Fan Mail

Want more from the WVLI Podcast Network? Listen to the WVLI News Update with Rob West every weekday morning! Get the days local news from the greater Kankakee County, IL area in 10 minutes or less. 

Subscribe now on your preferred podcast platform: https://wvlinewsupdate.buzzsprout.com

The Voices You Trust, Beyond The Dial.

In this episode of This One Time in Kankakee, we sit down with Dr. Kalisha Hill, the Chief Medical Officer at Saint Mary’s Hospital. While many know her as a local healthcare leader, Dr. Hill stepped onto the national stage in 2020 when she appeared on CNN to provide expert medical analysis on the autopsy findings of George Floyd.

We go behind the scenes of that high-stakes interview—from the "emergency makeup kit" in her Kankakee office to the clinical precision required to explain complex forensic data to a grieving nation. But more than just a media moment, Dr. Hill shares her journey from the South Side of Chicago to becoming a "doctor’s doctor" in pathology.

Dr. Hill discusses her philosophy of "bridging the chasm" in a polarized world, the importance of character over labels, and why she chose to make Kankakee the home for her medical practice and her family. We also touch on her appearances on Fox News regarding AI in healthcare and her memoir, Pinnacles: Visible and Invisible

Send us Fan Mail

Want more from the WVLI Podcast Network? Listen to the WVLI News Update with Rob West every weekday morning! Get the days local news from the greater Kankakee County, IL area in 10 minutes or less. 

Subscribe now on your preferred podcast platform: https://wvlinewsupdate.buzzsprout.com

The Voices You Trust, Beyond The Dial.

On a Saturday at noon in September 1966, Kankakee experienced a crime that felt like it was ripped from a Hollywood noir film. A gunman ambushed an armored car driver in an alleyway, abducted him, and made off with over $42,000 in cash.

But as Kankakee Police Chief Thomas Maass and his team began to investigate, they realized the call was coming from inside the house. The "victim," a young officer named Ronald Balthazor, wasn't just a driver—he was an active-duty policeman living a desperate double life.

In this episode of This One Time in Kankakee, we unpack the "inside job" that shook the community to its core. We follow the trail from the City National Bank alley to a sweltering getaway truck on the Iroquois County line, and finally to a tense polygraph test in Chicago. It’s a story of high-stakes temptation, "discrepancies" that wouldn't jibe, and a secret stash hidden behind rocks and tile along the Iroquois River.

What’s inside this episode:

• The Heist: The step-by-step "ambush" of the Kankakee Armored Car Service.
• The Double Life: How an active-duty officer maintained his facade for four days while his colleagues hunted for a phantom gunman.
• The Breakdown: The role of 1960s forensics and lie detector tests in cracking the case.
• The Recovery: Chief Maass’s emotional press conference and the search for the stolen bags of loot.

Credits: This story was researched and written by Jack Klasey. For more deep dives into Kankakee's hidden history, check out Jack's weekly blog he used to write at the Kankakee County Museum website before his passing: kankakeecountymuseum.com. We miss you, Jack. 

Send us Fan Mail

Want more from the WVLI Podcast Network? Listen to the WVLI News Update with Rob West every weekday morning! Get the days local news from the greater Kankakee County, IL area in 10 minutes or less. 

Subscribe now on your preferred podcast platform: https://wvlinewsupdate.buzzsprout.com

The Voices You Trust, Beyond The Dial.

What really happened the night pop star Aaron Carter got into a brawl at a dive bar in Bradley, Illinois?

In this episode of This One Time in Kankakee, Jake LaMore sits down with local artist and musician Tommy Solis—the man right in the middle of the chaos—to set the record straight on one of the most bizarre nights in Kankakee County history.

It was a night that started with 90s nostalgia at The Looney Bin and ended with police lights, ambulances, and a TMZ headline that went global. For years, the internet has known it as the time Aaron Carter was "attacked" by a group of locals. But the truth involves a misunderstood security request, a racially charged insult ("Bye, Felipe"), and a tackle that looked like it belonged in the NFL.

In this episode, we cover:

• The Setup: How a local hip-hop fusion band ended up opening for—and doing security for—the former teen idol.
• The "Bye Felipe" Incident: The exact moment a fan interaction turned into a viral confrontation.
• The Fight: A play-by-play of the "Troy Polamalu" style tackle that stopped the show.
• The Aftermath: Debunking the rumors of a brutal beating, the truth about Aaron’s "injury," and the cancelled encore show.
• The Legacy: Tommy reflects on the eerie "Final Destination" reality that he is the last surviving member of the main trio involved in that night.

Join us for a narrative journey into the collision of fading Hollywood glitz and Kankakee grit.

Guest: Tommy Solis (Member of Ill State and All The Cool Molecules)

Links & Resources:

• Submit your own Kankakee County story: [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail

Want more from the WVLI Podcast Network? Listen to the WVLI News Update with Rob West every weekday morning! Get the days local news from the greater Kankakee County, IL area in 10 minutes or less. 

Subscribe now on your preferred podcast platform: https://wvlinewsupdate.buzzsprout.com

The Voices You Trust, Beyond The Dial.

We launched This One Time in Kankakee on the WVLI Podcast Network in October 2025, and the stories have been nothing short of wild. In this year-end recap, host Jake LaMore cracks open the vault to count down the Top 3 Most Downloaded Episodes of the year.

If you are new to the show, this is the perfect place to start. We revisit the funny, the historical, and the shocking moments that defined our first season.

In this episode, we cover:

• The Tie for Bronze: Two very different brushes with fame and danger.
  • "Jennifer Hudson came to see our musical": That time Jennifer Hudson surprised the cast of Godspell in Bourbonnais (feat. Andrew McBurnie).
  • "A bank robber called me": That time News Director Rob West received a phone call from a bank robber.
• The Silver Medal: A dive into local history with the Village of Bonfield Banned Rhummy. Discover how a harmless card game in 1938 led to a "rebellion" and a crackdown on local gambling.
• The Gold Medal: The #1 story of the year! The hilarious true confession of the "I kidnapped a plaster cow from Perry Farm Park", where a shopping cart and a bad idea led to a police encounter in a living room (feat. Shane Whitlock).

EXCLUSIVE SNEAK PEEK: Stick around to the very end for a teaser of our first episode of 2026. We are sitting down with Tommy Solace to get the real story behind the infamous Aaron Carter fight at The Looney Bin. Was it a brawl? Was it staged? And what does "Bye Felipe" mean? Find out next week.

Links & Resources:

• Submit Your Story: Have a "This One Time in Kankakee" moment? Email [email protected]
• Listen to the Full Episodes: Scroll back in your feed to hear Episodes 2, 3, 4, and 5 in their entirety.
• Website: wvli927.com/totk3
• Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram

Send us Fan Mail

Want more from the WVLI Podcast Network? Listen to the WVLI News Update with Rob West every weekday morning! Get the days local news from the greater Kankakee County, IL area in 10 minutes or less. 

Subscribe now on your preferred podcast platform: https://wvlinewsupdate.buzzsprout.com

The Voices You Trust, Beyond The Dial.

Jeff Cross isn’t usually a planner. But for his 30th wedding anniversary, he decided to go big. In this episode of This One Time in Kankakee, we hear the incredible true story of how a 1990s meet-cute at a Bourbonnais Blockbuster led to a secret flash mob in downtown Kankakee.

Hear how Jeff organized 50 friends and family members, dodged suspicious bailiffs while sneaking around the Courthouse bushes, and used a "fake cake" to keep his wife from ruining her own surprise. It’s a story about love, logistics, and the community coming together on Court Street.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• The Origin Story: How a misheard name at the hospital made Jeff a "Kankakee legend" from birth.
• The Meet-Cute: A nostalgic look back at dating in the 90s involving Subway sandwiches and Blockbuster nametags.
• The Heist: How Jeff secured "clearance" from a local Judge and hid behind trees to keep the secret.
• The Payoff: What it takes to coordinate a dance routine in the freezing February slush.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Kankakee County Courthouse
• Knights of Columbus
• Busse & Rieck Flowers
• Subway (Bourbonnais)
• The "Eagle" distraction technique 🦅

Have a Kankakee story? We want to hear it! Email [email protected] to tell us about "This one time in Kankakee..."

Send us Fan Mail

Want more from the WVLI Podcast Network? Listen to the WVLI News Update with Rob West every weekday morning! Get the days local news from the greater Kankakee County, IL area in 10 minutes or less. 

Subscribe now on your preferred podcast platform: https://wvlinewsupdate.buzzsprout.com

The Voices You Trust, Beyond The Dial.

It was the winter of 2001. The muffler had just fallen off, and the rust was setting in. But Nick Stalnos wasn't ready to give up on his 1993 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera. Instead, he grabbed his friends, bought every roll of silver tape he could find, and created a local legend.

In this episode of This One Time in Kankakee, we sit down with Nick to hear the true story behind "The Silver Bullet." From delivering pizzas on Kennedy Drive to a hilarious run-in with Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White on I-57, Nick takes us back to a time before GPS, when a car was more than just a vehicle—it was a canvas.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Why a Kankakee pizza delivery driver decided to wrap his car bumper-to-bumper in duct tape.
• The hilarious reactions from Chicago locals (and one very confused snake owner).
• The story of how the "Silver Bullet" passed an unexpected inspection by Jesse White himself.
• Why the "duct tape craze" of the early 2000s holds a special place in local history.

Mentioned in this episode:

• The Daily Journal
• Papa John’s Kankakee
• Jesse White Tumblers
• I-57 & Kennedy Drive

Have a Kankakee story? We want to hear from you! Send us your "This One Time in Kankakee" moment to [email protected]. 

Send us Fan Mail

Want more from the WVLI Podcast Network? Listen to the WVLI News Update with Rob West every weekday morning! Get the days local news from the greater Kankakee County, IL area in 10 minutes or less. 

Subscribe now on your preferred podcast platform: https://wvlinewsupdate.buzzsprout.com

The Voices You Trust, Beyond The Dial.