Regional Media Podcast Network

Janna talked about the 1st Sterling Street Fest success and the upcoming Hot Dog Day in Sterling.

 The Clinton Area Rod Club invites one and all to the 38th Annual “Fun in the Sun Car Show” Sunday, August 16, 2026 at: 251 Ball Park Drive, Clinton Iowa (Down by Riverfront Drive). Registration on the day of the show is $15 from 9am until noon. There are no classes – all vehicles are welcome to enter.

Scott discussed the previous city council meeting agenda and some projects being completed before summer runs out. 

Keri talked about another successful Let's Feed Our Children summer program, and a few events down the calendar coming up.

Sheriff Booker had no crimestoppers incidents to share or crime of the month. Conversation then went to community safety and some upcoming events.

RaeAnn joined Ken Peel on Wake Up Tri-Counties to discuss National Minority Mental Health Awareness, reproductive health services, school physicals, and insurance navigators. Henry and Stark County Health Department and First Choice Healthcare Clinics are reminding residents about several summer health services. Family planning and reproductive care are available in Kewanee and Toulon, including exams, pregnancy testing, contraceptive options, and free condoms, with some patients qualifying for free or reduced-cost care. The clinics are also offering $50 cash school and sports physicals through summer 2026, along with immunizations and lead screenings. July’s National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month is also be...

Samantha Rux joined Ken Peel on Wake Up Tri-Counties to discuss cyclosporiasis, blood drive, and National Night Out. OSF St. Luke Medical Center is urging residents to take precautions amid a Midwest spike in cyclosporiasis, a foodborne illness caused by a parasite often linked to contaminated produce. Samantha Rux says symptoms can include diarrhea, appetite loss, weight loss, cramping, bloating, and dehydration, with illness appearing anywhere from two days to two weeks after exposure. Health officials recommend washing produce, choosing whole-head lettuce over pre-chopped kits, discarding outer leaves, and cleaning hands, utensils, and prep surfaces. OSF will also take...

Kewanee National Night Out 2026 brings free family fun and a movie in the park

The Kewanee Police Department will host National Night Out 2026 on Tuesday, August 4th, from 4:30-7:30 PM at Northeast Park. The free community event is designed to bring neighbors, families, and first responders together for an evening of fun and community engagement.

The event also includes a Nintendo Switch 2 raffle, with $5 tickets available. The winning ticket will be drawn on August 5 at 10 AM. You can purchase tickets at www.zeffy.com or at the event on August 4th.

Activities and attractions include:

Cambridge is closing out summer with a busy community calendar. The final concert in the park is set for Thursday, July 30th, at 6:30 PM in College Square Park, featuring two bands and free music. Saturday brings the Rotary Car Show downtown, with registration from 8 to 10:30 AM, trophies, food, and a 50-50 raffle. The FFA drawdown follows at 5 PM, with a street dance at The Combine from 8 to 11 PM. Looking ahead, the Cambridge Historical Museum marks its second anniversary on August 8th, and iCash with Senator Anderson comes to the Village Office on August 25th.

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State Senator Mike Halpin says Illinois’ new budget includes added support for school lunch programs and a three-month food assistance bridge for families losing federal benefits. Speaking on Wake Up Tri-Counties, Halpin also defended new taxes on digital advertising and social media platforms, saying the revenue could help fund services including mental health care. He said higher education funding remains a top priority, especially for rural students and schools like Western Illinois University. Halpin also discussed efforts to recover back wages, ease substitute teacher shortages, limit eminent domain for CO₂ pipelines, and protect vulnerable adults under guardianship.

Stat...

Republican nominee for Illinois Secretary of State Diane Harris joined Wake Up Tri-Counties with Ken Peel to discuss her campaign priorities. Harris, a Joliet native, retired ComEd employee, small business owner, library trustee, substitute teacher, and Joliet Junior College trustee, says DMV access is a major concern. She criticized appointment-only systems and called for walk-in service, kiosks in libraries or grocery stores, and expanded mobile options. Harris also emphasized election integrity, saying voter registration tied to driver’s licenses should include stronger cross-checks with government agencies. She also pledged cooperation with federal officials on CDL licensing records. Her campaign we...

Henry County Farm Bureau is wrapping up a busy summer and preparing for August events. Katie Laleman says the county fair brought strong member turnout, new sign-ups, and a successful pedal pull despite weather challenges. Membership is available for both farmers and associate members, with benefits ranging from legislative advocacy to travel and retail discounts. Coming up, the Farm Bureau Foundation’s Golf Fun Day is set for Friday, August 14th, at Baker Park in Kewanee, supporting scholarships and Ag in the Classroom. The foundation awarded $61,000 in scholarships this year. Young Leader Discussion Meet activities are also planned for Au...

RaeAnn Tucker joined Wake Up Tri-Counties to discuss the "12 Communities in 12 Months" outreach event, prevention efforts to avoid mosquito bites and West Nile Virus, upcoming insurance navigator events, food inspections, school physicals, and free blood pressure checks on kiosks in Kewanee and Toulon. Henry and Stark County health officials are taking services on the road this month. Their “12 Communities in 12 Months” outreach stop is set for Friday, July 24th, from 10 AM to 2 PM at the Stark County Junior Fair in Wyoming, with medication disposal, free blood pressure checks, health information, giveaways, and insurance navigator help. Residents are also urged to f...

OSF St. Luke Medical Center is bringing health care directly to rural communities through the OSF OnCall King Caravan. Samantha Rux says the mobile unit includes two exam rooms and can offer screenings such as blood pressure and cholesterol checks, with some visits including an onboard provider. The caravan serves Bureau, Henry, LaSalle, and Putnam counties, including a monthly stop at the Kewanee YMCA on the fourth Thursday from 11 AM to 1 PM. It may also return for Hog Days and the Stampede. Event organizers can request a mobile health unit through www.osfoncall.org.

Alejandro Alvarez joined Wake Up Tri-Counties to talk about the upcoming golf outing and preschool screenings. AbilitiesPlus is highlighting programs and upcoming events serving Henry County residents. Director of Development Alejandro Alvarez says the nonprofit, founded in 1959, supports people with disabilities through residential services, day programs, work services, public transportation, and its Preschool for All, which is open to children ages three to five with or without disabilities.

AbilitiesPlus is also preparing for its 35th annual golf outing on Monday, August 3rd, at Midland Golf Club, with registration at 11 AM and a shotgun start at noon. Sponsors...

Samantha Rux from OSF HealthCare joined Wake Up Tri-Counties to talk about the dangers of e-bikes and electric scooters and provide safety tips for use. OSF St. Luke Medical Center is urging families to treat e-bikes and electric scooters as motor vehicles, not toys. Samantha Rux says emergency and trauma teams are seeing more child injuries linked to speed, lack of control, and limited understanding of traffic rules. Medical experts recommend helmets every ride, and some devices may call for face shields. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises riders be 16 or older for many of these devices.

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RaeAnn Tucker from the Henry and Stark County Health Departments and First Choice Healthcare Clinics joined Wake Up Tri-Counties to discuss food safety during a power outage, outreach events in Wyoming, mental health services, home food safety and licensing, and insurance navigators. During power outages, keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed; refrigerated perishables may be unsafe after four hours, while a full unopened freezer can last up to two days. Residents are also urged to check food carefully once power returns.

The department’s “12 Communities, 12 Months” outreach visits the Stark County Junior Fair in Wyoming on July 24th, wi...

The Dyer Davis Band joined Wake Up Tri-Counties to talk about their group, the 2026 "Stay With Me" summer tour, and perform live from the Sav-A-Lot studio. The Dyer Davis Band is a blues-rock powerhouse known for electrifying live performances that blend modern blues with Southern rock and classic rock influences. Fronted by guitarist and vocalist Dyer Davis, the band delivers soaring guitar solos, gritty vocals, and a high-energy stage presence that has earned them a growing following across the United States.

A live blues-rock show is headed to Cambridge, Illinois, as Dyer Davis and his band perform...

Downtown Kewanee will be filled with art, music, shopping, and family fun during the Prairie Chicken Arts Festival on Friday and Saturday, July 17–18, 2026. Festival activities include chalk art, an art show, food vendors, a flea market, live entertainment, children's activities, museum tours, and local shopping. The celebration also features a Shop Small Business Crawl running July 9–18 and student artwork displayed in downtown storefronts July 13–20.

Friday's events include a Sneak Peek Art Show from 5–7 PM at the Hog Capital Building and the Santa's Jingle & Mingle dance party from 7–9 PM in the Rotary Tent.

Saturday begins with the Guns...

Drew Herridge with the Marshall-Putnam County Fair Board joined Ken Peel on Wake Up Tri-Counties to give an update for the 2026 Marshall-Putnam Fair. The Marshall-Putnam County Fair is celebrating 105 years with a packed schedule in Henry, running July 15th through 19th, with pageant activities beginning July 12th. Drew Herridge, Director and Chairman of Events, says the fair remains free to enter with free parking every day. Highlights include Wednesday’s kickoff dinner and wine tasting, Kids Fun Day on Thursday, the demolition derby on Friday, and America’s PPL pull on Saturday. The biggest draw is Thursday night’s concer...

RaeAnn Tucker joined Wake Up Tri-Counties to discuss heat safety, firework safety, CPR classes, holiday hours, free radon test kits, and insurance navigators. Henry and Stark County health officials are highlighting several July services for residents. Free radon home test kits are available while supplies last at the Kewanee office, 110 North Burr Boulevard, with no holds. The departments and First Choice Healthcare Clinics will also be at the Stark County Junior Fair in Wyoming on July 24th from 10 to 2, offering medication disposal, blood pressure checks, giveaways, and health information. Officials are also urging heat safety as temperatures climb above 90...

The Kewanee Chess Association is opening the board to players of all ages and skill levels. Founder Obrey Blumenshine says the group began from his lifelong love of chess and a desire to create a free, social place for the community to play, learn, and connect. Obrey says the association is now affiliated with the Illinois Chess Association and U.S. Chess Federation, with plans for rated tournaments in Kewanee.

Chess players in Kewanee have a standing invitation to gather each week for friendly competition and conversation. The Kewanee Chess Association is hosting free open playing sessions...

Mayor Volkert joined Wake Up Tri-Counties to discuss the carbon capture moratorium, playground equipment, a new police vehicle, and reelection. Galva Mayor Rich Volkert says the City of Galva is moving ahead on several major priorities following a packed council meeting. Council members approved an appropriation ordinance for the 2026-2027 fiscal year and unanimously backed Henry County’s moratorium on carbon sequestration projects, citing safety questions and the need for more information. Volkert also addressed ambulance response concerns, police vehicle replacement, and more than 100 local ordinance violations. On growth, he pointed to business retention, a planned housing development east of...

Jon Looney, Kevin Lucas, and Steve Franklin joined Wake Up Tri-Counties to talk about "Stuff the Bus" on Friday, Rotary Free Swim, First Christian Church Food Pantry, and the joint Rotary and First Christian Church clothing and backpack giveaway. Kewanee Rotary, the Salvation Army, and First Christian Church are teaming up for another Community Day at the Pool on Saturday, July 25th. Backpack and school supply distribution begins at 11 AM, with the pool opening at noon. Organizers say last year’s event handed out 429 backpacks, and they hope to reach 500 this year. Free children’s clothing will also be avai...

The Minions band together to save the day after unleashing monsters upon an unsuspecting world.

RaeAnn Tucker joined Wake Up Tri-Counties to discuss fireworks safety, food safety, Men's Health Month, the 12 in 12 Outreach Event in Stark County, school physicals, and insurance navigators. Henry and Stark County Health Departments and First Choice Healthcare Clinics will be closed Friday, July 3rd, for the Independence Day holiday, with limited home services continuing. RaeAnn Tucker says residents should keep safety in mind for the Fourth, from fireworks to cookouts. Officials urge adults to supervise fireworks, keep sparklers away from children, and never relight duds. Food safety reminders include keeping meat cold, avoiding cross-contamination, and discarding questionable leftovers. First...

OSF Saint Luke Medical Center is reminding Tri-Counties families to prepare for summer heat and the upcoming school year. Samantha Rux and family medicine provider Kate McGough joined Wake Up Tri-Counties to discuss heat safety, school and sports physicals, and expanded lactation support. McGough has earned certification as an internationally board-certified lactation consultant, offering guidance for new and expectant mothers, including breastfeeding challenges and returning to work. OSF Healthcare is also encouraging parents to schedule physicals through OSF MyChart or by calling 309-852-7700. With extreme heat expected, residents are urged to limit afternoon outdoor activity, hydrate, check on...