What happens when an EGOT winner and Chicago legend unexpectedly shows up to your community theater rehearsal? On this episode of This One Time in Kankakee, we hear the incredible true story from director Andrew McBurnie about the night Jennifer Hudson visited Bourbonnais to see Acting Out Theatre Company's production of Godspell.

Andrew shares a behind-the-scenes account of how a passing joke among the cast turned into a secretive, last-minute confirmation during the most stressful week of the show. Hear about the moment the cast realized an A-list celebrity was in their small audience, the invaluable advice she gave them during an impromptu Q&A, and the unforgettable moment she stood just feet away and sang "Memory" with no microphone.

This is more than a celebrity story; it’s a powerful tale about humility, the validation of local arts, and the deep connection that makes the Kankakee County community so special.

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.

Every town has landmarks, but what happens when a group of bored teenagers decides to relocate one? In this episode of "This One Time in Kankakee," we bring you the legendary story of a crime that wasn't the crime, and how a 500-pound plaster cow ended up in a suburban living room.

In 2008, Shane Whitlock and his friends, armed with a "borrowed" shopping cart and a severe case of late-night boredom, set their sights on the iconic cow statue outside the Exploration Station Children's Museum at Perry Farm Park in Bradley, IL. What follows is a hilarious comedy of errors, including a herculean effort to push their prize through town, a brilliantly timed but unrelated arrest for stealing a Wendy's banner, and a mother's rude awakening to find a farm animal and a police officer in her home.

This is a quintessential Kankakee County story about how the dumbest decisions make the best memories, the absurdity of youth, and the long, painful walk of shame when you have to carry a 500-pound cow back where you found it at sunrise.

In this episode, you'll hear about:

• The "kidnapping" of the cow statue from Perry Farm in Bradley.
• How to move a 500-pound bovine using a Jewel-Osco shopping cart.
• Getting arrested for stealing a banner, but not the giant cow in your living room.
• A mother's reaction to finding a life-sized farm animal next to her couch.
• The grueling, pre-dawn journey to return the statue to the park.

TIMESTAMPS: 

00:00 - Intro: The night a landmark disappeared 

01:13 - Meet Shane: Teenage life in 2008 Bradley, IL 

02:18 - The Target: The Perry Farm Park Cow Statue 

03:10 - The Heist: A Cow in a Shopping Cart 

04:34 - Mission Accomplished: A Cow in the Living Room 

04:57 - The Unrelated Crime: Stealing a Wendy's Banner 

06:02 - Mom Wakes Up to a Cow and a Cop 

07:38 - The Mission: Return the Cow 

08:34 - The Long Walk Home (for the cow) 

09:40 - The Aftermath & A Generational Tale of Pranks

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 happens when the subject of your news report calls you directly? In this episode of "This One Time in Kankakee," host Jake LaMore sits down with veteran Kankakee radio news director Rob West (WVLI, WFAV, River Country) for a story that blurs the line between journalism and a real-life crisis negotiation.

In 2008, after reporting on a bank robbery in Bourbonnais, IL, Rob received a shocking call on his personal cell phone. On the other end was the robber himself, who wanted to tell his side of the story because he trusted Rob from listening to his newscasts. This single phone call triggered a tense, multi-day saga involving the Bourbonnais Police Department, a manhunt, and a dramatic, high-speed conclusion on Route 50.

Join us for a gripping Kankakee County true crime story that explores the unique bond between a local radio personality and his audience, the ethical tightrope of a journalist caught in the middle of a crime, and the desperate actions of a man on the edge.

In this episode, you'll hear about:

• The 2008 robbery of the Centrue Bank in Bourbonnais.
• A local news director's direct phone conversations with an active bank robber.
• The collaboration with Bourbonnais Police to identify and locate the suspect.
• The profound trust and connection inherent in local radio.
• The dangerous and dramatic conclusion to the manhunt at the O'Zinga Brothers quarry.

TIMESTAMPS: 

00:52 - Meet Rob West: A Career in Kankakee Radio 

02:04 - The 2008 Bourbonnais Centrue Bank Robbery 

02:51 - "Hi, I'm the bank robber." - The First Call 

04:42 - A Journalist's Dilemma: Involving the Police 

06:25 - The Manhunt & Learning the Robber's Name 

07:34 - A Warning from the Police Chief 

08:57 - The Final Call & The Chase on Route 50 

10:58 - The Aftermath: Justice for Rick James Pierce 

11:47 - The Unique Power of Radio and Audience Trust

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.

Welcome to the premiere episode of This One Time in Kankakee, the podcast that uncovers the unforgettable true stories of Kankakee County. Host Jake LaMore kicks off the series with a deeply personal family legend that has been told for nearly 90 years.

Travel back to a hot summer day in 1936 Manteno, Illinois. At just three years old, Jake's grandfather, Franklin Weber, was accidentally run over by his father's tractor. What follows is a miraculous story of survival, featuring an incredible feat of paternal strength, a look at 1930s medicine at the St. Mary's Hospital, and a twist of fate that connects this near-tragedy to a 69-year love story.

This episode explores rural life during the Great Depression, the resilience of the human spirit, and the power of family history. It’s a foundational story for our exploration of the moments that have shaped the people and places of Kankakee County.

In this episode, you'll hear about:

• Life on a small farm in Manteno, Illinois during the 1930s.
• The dramatic true story of a childhood tractor accident.
• The incredible feat of strength that became a local legend.
• A look at historical medical treatments at St. Mary's Hospital.
• A heartwarming story of destiny that you have to hear to believe.

ABOUT THE PODCAST: "This One Time in Kankakee" explores the unforgettable true stories—big and small—from the people of Kankakee County, Illinois. Hosted by Jake Plummer, a production of the WVLI Podcast Network.

SUBMIT YOUR STORY: Do you have a story that starts with "This one time in Kankakee..."? Email Jake LaMore at [email protected].

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.

Discover the heart and humor of Kankakee County in This One Time in Kankakee, a narrative storytelling podcast hosted by Jake LaMore, featuring unforgettable true stories from local voices. From a childhood memory of surviving a tractor accident, to a phone call from a bank robber, to the Perry Farm cow statue ending up in a living room—these are the moments that bring our community to life.

Real people. Real memories. Real Kankakee.

Listen to the trailer now and subscribe for new episodes wherever you get your podcasts. First three episodes premiere on Monday, October 6th. 

This One Time in Kankakee is a production of the WVLI Podcast Network. The voices you trust, beyond the dial.