Episodes
On Monday evening, the Kewanee City Council reviewed several proposed ordinances and resolutions, including the presentation of Restorative Justice from Mitrese Smith, a third-year law school student, and approved a resolution to vacate a portion of the alley between Jackson and Washington Streets. Council members approved a timber sale agreement with Fischer Sawmill and considered and tabled a long-term financial modeling contract with Waterworth for city infrastructure. Other resolutions included transferring real estate interests to the Illinois Department of Transportation and selecting...
Head football coach Tony Gripp joined Issac Forney on Wake Up Tri-Counties to talk about the Round 3 Quarterfinals for the A&W Titans on Saturday, November 15, 2025. An electric atmosphere is expected this Saturday as the A-W Titans go head-to-head with the Lena-Winslow Panthers in the IHSA Class 1A Football Playoff Quarterfinals. The matchup kicks off at 1 PM at Wethersfield Memorial Stadium, where both sides look to extend their impressive seasons. Fans can rally behind their teams in person, with digital tickets available on GoFan for $8 plus a $1.40 fee, or purchase admission with cash ...
Samantha Rux with OSF HealthCare joined Wake Up Tri-Counties to talk about the respiratory illness season and what illnesses are prevalent at the moment. Hand, foot, and mouth disease is on the rise in young children, especially those in daycare, according to OSF HealthCare pediatricians. Classic symptoms include red blisters on the hands, feet, and inside the mouth, along with fever, sore throat, and irritability. While most cases are mild and treated at home, parents should consult a doctor if high fever or worsening symptoms persist. Experts stress the importance of handwashing and disin...
RaeAnn Tucker from the Henry and Stark County Health Departments and First Choice HealthCare Clinics joined Wake Up Tri-Counties to discuss Nurse Practitioner’s Week, vaccines, a lab special for a food donation, insurance navigators, and expanded mental health services in Stark County. Residents in Henry and Stark Counties can take advantage of extended general health and thyroid panel blood test specials at First Choice Healthcare Clinics in Kewanee and Toulon, now available through January 1, 2026. The $40 offer, plus a non-perishable food donation, covers a comprehensive panel including ...
Galva Mayor Rich Volkert joined Wake Up Tri-Counties to discuss the November 3rd city council meeting. Key topics included the sale of an old squad car to a city police officer and a positive report from the city’s auditor, confirming strong financial practices. The council addressed changes at the ethanol plant due to new restrictions on carbon dioxide emissions. Lapis Construction is set to begin a multi-year project to store CO2 deep underground, with further public meetings planned as the process unfolds, which could take a couple more years, according to Mayor Volkert. Lastly, Veterans...
RaeAnn Tucker with the Henry and Stark County Health Departments and First Choice Healthcare joined Wake Up Tri-Counties to discuss extended WIC program hours, Diabetes Awareness Month in November, Insurance Navigator events, flu vaccinations for adults and children, and an A1C test special. November is National Diabetes Awareness Month, and local health agencies are urging residents to pay close attention to warning signs like frequent thirst, fatigue, and blurry vision. With millions at risk, early detection is vital. First Choice Healthcare is offering reduced-price hemoglobin A1C blood ...
Samantha Rux from OSF HealthCare joined Wake Up Tri-Counties to discuss National Radiologic Technology Week, infectious season, seasonal affective disorder, and availability of appointments for radiology services at OSF Saint Luke Medical Center in Kewanee. This week marks Rad Tech Week, an annual tribute to the essential work of medical imaging and radiologic technologists. These professionals are key players in the healthcare system, utilizing advanced technologies like X-rays, MRIs, CT scans, and ultrasounds to aid in diagnosing and treating patients. Rad Tech Week not only highlights th...
Illinois is set to become the latest state to legalize medical aid in dying, after the State Senate approved Senate Bill 1950 on Friday. The legislation, championed by Senator Linda Holmes, would allow terminally ill adults with less than six months to live to request medication from a physician to end their lives if they choose. Holmes, reflecting on the pain of losing both parents to cancer, says the bill offers dignity and relief from suffering. The measure includes strict safeguards, requiring mental health assessments and barring surrogates from making the request. The bill now awaits ...
SNAP benefits are set to end for millions in Illinois this Saturday, leaving families in Springfield’s 16th District vulnerable to hunger. State Senator Willie Preston called attention to the crisis at a recent press conference, stressing that 1.9 million Illinoisans—including children, seniors, and veterans—will lose critical food assistance. Preston urged community members to support local food pantries, reminding listeners that pantries alone can’t fill the gap left by the federal program. He praised Governor Pritzker for dedicating $20 million to state food banks and coordinating ongoin...
SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Michael E. Hastings advanced legislation designed to protect homeowners from excessive insurance rate increases and ensure fairness, transparency and accountability in Illinois homeowners insurance.
"With this legislation, we are putting fairness and accountability back into the system," said Hastings (D-Frankfort). "Here is what this means for Illinois homeowners — no more surprise renewals, no more fine print, no more ‘gotcha’ letters in the mail.”
The legislation would establish clear rules for homeowners insurance, including:
No surprise renewals: Companies ...
Springfield’s energy debate has heated up as State Senator Neil Anderson from Andalusia voiced sharp concerns after the passage of the so-called “Energy Omnibus Bill.” Anderson argues the new legislation grants excessive power to unelected regulators, removes protections that cap energy costs, and pushes taxpayer-funded experimental battery projects into local communities. While acknowledging that lifting the ban on nuclear reactor construction is a positive change, he warns it’s not enough to offset what he sees as a shift toward expensive and unreliable green policies. Anderson insists af...
Coach Zach Anderson joined Issac Forney on Wake Up Tri-Counties to discuss the new 8-man football team and heading to the playoffs for the first time in three decades. Galva’s football team is making history this season, reaching the playoffs for the first time as a standalone program since 1994. Head Football Coach Zach Anderson, a Galva alum, credits this turnaround to renewed community spirit, fresh athletes joining the team, and a culture shift toward hard work and determination. Shifting to 8-man football has brought new opportunities—and challenges centered around speed on the field. ...
Samantha Rux from OSF HealthCare joined Wake Up Tri-Counties to discuss Halloween safety. Halloween Row, located on East Prospect Street, is gearing up for a lively and crowded celebration this year, as festivities fall on a Friday. The city will once again close the street to traffic, creating a safer environment for hundreds of trick-or-treaters. As Halloween approaches, residents on East Prospect and across the city are reminded to prioritize safety during trick-or-treating.
The OSF HealthCare Emergency Management Team emphasizes safety by sharing the "SCARE SAFE" acronym with reminders ...
As Halloween approaches, the Henry and Stark County Health Departments, together with First Choice Healthcare, urge families to prioritize safety. Parents should keep sick children home and encourage frequent hand washing. Most accidents stem from trips, falls, and traffic, so motorists need to be especially alert for trick-or-treaters at dusk. Costumes should be short to prevent tripping and include reflective tape for visibility. Children under 12 are advised to have adult supervision, stick to familiar neighborhoods, and avoid entering strangers’ homes. For more safety tips and resources...
Stark County FFA Students Toby Williams, Jake Primo, Emma Howell, Hailie Ales, Addison Nowlan, Klaire Bays, Darilis Knobloch, and FFA Advisor Taylor Wilkinson joined Wake Up Tri-Counties to talk about winning state championships with their projects and heading to Nationals next week, a new greenhouse, and visiting the elementary school to talk about "Stranger Danger." Five projects have advanced to the prestigious status of national finalists, while another project was recognized with an impressive 11th-place finish. These talented students will discover their final rankings in October, whe...
Central School Principal Jason Anderson and Assistant Principal Jill Peart joined Wake Up Tri-Counties to discuss what is happening at Central Elementary and Junior High School. Central Elementary and Junior High are celebrating several achievements this month. The Central Steamers Junior High Football team has wrapped their season undefeated, boasting a 6-0 regular record and 7-0 in the conference. At the recent Kewanee School Board meeting, school leaders were recognized for advancing the Central School Improvement Plan (SIP). The school received a grant directed at boosting math profici...
Sara Billiet with the Kewanee Public Library joined Wake Up Tri-Counties to talk about Halloween, Spider Art, the 150th Library Celebration, the Hope Diamond, and the Fall Health Clinic with First Choice Healthcare. The Kewanee Public Library is marking its 150th anniversary this Sunday with an open house, blending historical displays, community performances, and family-friendly crafts from 2 to 4 PM. Children can join walking spider craft workshops leading up to Halloween, while regular story times and the popular Lego Club keep young minds engaged. The “I Spy” shelves offer weekly challen...