This One Time in Kankakee

What happens when a single viral video transforms a devastating rare medical diagnosis into a half-million-dollar community miracle?

In this feature-length episode of This One Time in Kankakee, host Jake LaMore sits down with local residents Hollie and Jesse Erickson for an incredibly raw, moving, and ultimately triumphant conversation about their youngest son, Bedford.

When Bedford was just a toddler, he was diagnosed with Schwartz-Jampel Syndrome (SJS), an ultra-rare genetic condition with only about 150 documented cases in medical history. Jesse and Hollie open up about the physical and emotional realities of SJS—a condition that causes a painful, perpetual "Charley horse" across Bedford's entire body, complicating everyday routines like buckling a car seat or brushing his teeth . 

But instead of retreating into the isolation of a rare diagnosis, the Ericksons chose to share their journey online. A simple TikTok video of Bedford trying to navigate a local park exploded into a global phenomenon, gaining over 5 million views . What followed can only be described as a real-life It’s a Wonderful Life moment. In less than a year, a massive wave of local and global generosity poured in, raising over $500,000 to construct a state-of-the-art, fully inclusive playground at Grace Christian Academy in Kankakee. 

Key Topics Covered in This Episode:

• The SJS Diagnosis: An engineer’s perspective on tracking down a medical mystery and facing a "progressive and permanent" reality. 
• The Reality of Special Needs Parenting: The exhausting physical demands of SJS and the emotional toll it takes on a family. 
• Going Viral for Good: How a town in the UK accidentally helped launch Bedford’s video to 5 million views. 
• The Kankakee Rally: A look at the local businesses, high school friends, and elementary students who stepped up to fund the playground . 
• Siblings of Special Needs Kids: The intentional ways Hollie and Jesse support their oldest son, Linkoln, ensuring he thrives alongside his brother . 
• A Global Connection: How a family from Illinois is now bridging the gap for isolated SJS families in Slovakia, Lebanon, and Brazil . 

About the Show:

This One Time in Kankakee is a narrative storytelling podcast highlighting the unique people, places, and history of Kankakee County, Illinois. Hosted by Jake LaMore and proudly produced by the WVLI Podcast Network.

Subscribe & Listen: Don't miss this unforgettable testament to the power of community, empathy, and a little boy who refuses to live small. Hit subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts! 

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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.

This episode of This One Time in Kankakee explores a pivotal moment in local history: the October 1872 fire that destroyed the county's first permanent courthouse. Drawing on historical research by Jack Klasey of the Kankakee County Museum, the narrative reconstructs the events of a windy Friday night when a landmark limestone building was nearly lost to the flames.

The episode details the challenges faced by the community before the existence of an organized fire department and highlights the urgent efforts of citizens to preserve vital public records from the burning structure. Beyond the fire itself, the story examines the subsequent arson investigation and the complex negotiations with insurance companies that followed.

To learn more about the specific cause of the fire, the fate of the suspects involved, and how the courthouse was eventually restored, listen to the full narrative. This installment provides an in-depth look at the resilience of Kankakee’s early residents and the preservation of the county’s legal heritage.

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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.

What makes a gym more than just a place to sweat? In this special bonus episode of This One Time in Kankakee, Kaelin Patterson shares the story of Ken Castongia—known to the "Morning Crew" at Fit Body U as the Fitness Godfather.

Ken was a man living with Parkinson’s, but he refused to let his diagnosis define his spirit. Kaelin, a long-time employee of Fit Body U, recounts his friendship with Ken, the witty dry humor that kept the gym floor laughing, and the surprising family connection with Brandi Jensen that brought the story full circle.

From a "small world" realization to a life-saving intervention alongside Steve Wilder, this episode explores how a simple gym routine turned into seven extra years of meaningful life for a beloved local man. It is a testament to the power of showing up for one another and the unique "Godfather" energy Ken Castongia left behind.

This bonus episode is solely sponsored by the 2026 Juneteenth Jamboree. Celebrate strength, freedom, and community on Saturday, June 20, 2026, at the Lisieux Pastoral Center in Kankakee. The event features The Natural Physique Showcase, a drug-tested bodybuilding competition for all ages.

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

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

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 the summer of 1997, Tom Klonowski was in his mid-twenties and just starting his journey as the owner of Pizza by Marchellonis in Bourbonnais, Illinois. It was a Friday night in August when a routine order for a pepperoni pizza turned into a life-altering encounter with a man the local press dubbed "The Pizza Bandit."

In this episode of This One Time in Kankakee, host Jake LaMore sits down with Tom to recount the details of the robbery and the multi-state investigation that followed. Tom shares the vivid details that remain with him nearly thirty years later—from the specific golf polo the robber wore to the high-stakes "code words" his family used to keep watch over the shop in the weeks that followed.

We also discuss:

• The Investigation: Tom’s experience working with Detective Kunce and the Bourbonnais Police Department during a string of local pizza shop robberies.
• The Ohio Arrest: The strange-but-true story of how the suspect was finally apprehended after trying to blend in as an employee during a robbery in another state.
• Resilience & Recovery: Tom’s honest reflection on the emotional aftermath of the event and the importance of seeking help after a traumatic experience.

A Note on the Research: While Tom's memory of these events is clear, the official paper trail has faded over time. Jake shares his efforts to locate the original police reports and Daily Journal articles, and why those records are no longer available in the public archives.

Episode Highlights:

• [03:38] – Tom’s signature intro: "This one time in Kankakee..."
• [06:10] – The Friday night order that changed everything.
• [14:21] – The "pizza apron" ruse and the eventual arrest in Ohio.
• [29:51] – Tom’s advice on processing trauma and moving forward.

Subscribe & Follow: Hear the full story of the Pizza Bandit by subscribing to This One Time in Kankakee on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. Have a story of your own? Reach out 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.

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!

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 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.