Episodes
Monday Sep 13, 2021
#18: Darrell Damper - Comic Book Creator
Monday Sep 13, 2021
Monday Sep 13, 2021
Darrell Damper, creator of the Comic Book Series, "Hi-Top".
It never ceases to amaze me just how many talented people live here in Kankakee County. Another person to add to the list of incredible artists in Kankakee is comic book creator, Darrell Damper. I follow the Kankakee hashtag on Instagram and came across one of Darrell's drawings one day. It was a drawing of his inaugural character named, Hi Top, and I was thoroughly impressed. After I commented on his Instagram post, we ended up direct messaging each other and setting up a time to talk on Kankakee Podcast. What you're going to learn on this episode is that Damper is a Navy veteran who was born in Omaha, Nebraska, lived most of his life in Kankakee, and finally made the leap to making his first comic book in his thirties.
There are currently to two issues of "Hi-Top" out right now. They can be purchased in person at Dragon's Refuge on Larry Power Road in Bourbonnais, The Horde Collectables and Gaming on Broadway in Bradley, or online at 4thsondesigns.com.
This Sunday, September 19th, from 1:00pm to 4:00pm, Darrell will be at Horde Collectables and Gaming to celebrate the release of Hi Top's second issue and to autograph copies. Everyone is welcome!
Much Love,
Monday Sep 06, 2021
#17: Jim Ridings
Monday Sep 06, 2021
Monday Sep 06, 2021
Local award-winning author, Jim Ridings.
Jim Ridings has written and published more than 20 books of local Illinois history. Several of those books are specifically about Kankakee County history. I've been reading, Kankakee Stories: A Third Volume of Wild Kankakee Stories, and it's mind blowing just how much has happened in our county's history. It was an honor to have Jim on this episode of Kankakee Podcast to walk us through a plethora of these incredible stories. A few of the topics we cover include the murder of Stephen Small and Jim's latest book, Images of America: Western Kankakee County.
Thank you for being on the podcast, Jim!
Much Love,
Monday Aug 30, 2021
#16: Jake Lee - Kankakee County Auditor
Monday Aug 30, 2021
Monday Aug 30, 2021
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized more and more that I don’t know much about how our local government works. I also know I’m not the only one who doesn’t understand local government operation. So once in awhile on Kankakee Podcast, we will talk with local government officials. I promise it won’t be as boring as it sounds. Many of our local leaders also have fascinating life stories to share besides talking about their political office position. I think it’s important to not only learn about the offices they hold but also learn about what they are really like as ordinary people. With the exception of Kankakee City Alderman, Dave Baron, Kankakee County Auditor, Jake Lee, is our first political guest on the podcast where the focus is directly on his life story and office. Jake and I have met a handful of times over the past 2 or 3 years but this is the first time where we were able to sit down and really talk. Not only is Jake the first African American elected county auditor, he was also born and raised in an area of Kankakee County I’ve been wanting to learn more about, Hopkins Park. After listening to this episode, I think you’ll find that Jake Lee is a very kind, hard working, down to earth guy. That was my takeaway. Thank you for being on Kankakee Podcast, Jake!
Much Love,
Jake LaMore
Monday Aug 23, 2021
#15: Heroes, Hogs, & Hot Rods 2021
Monday Aug 23, 2021
Monday Aug 23, 2021
Left to Right: Eric Peterson of Project Headspace & Timing, Jake LaMore, host of Kankakee Podcast.
On Saturday, August 14th, 2021, we recorded our very first live episode of Kankakee Podcast at Heroes, Hogs, & Hot Rods in Manteno, IL. Considering this was the first time I had ever done something like this, I think it went well! If you were one of the people that attended, thank you fro coming! Heroes, Hogs, & Hot Rods is an event put on by the non-profit organization, Project Headspace & Timing, which assists veterans with finding the mental health services they need in Kankakee County. You may already know this since the group's founder, Eric Peterson, was the guest on the first episode of Kankakee Podcast. Not only does this live episode include the return of Eric, but it also contains conversations with Mike Totten, a veteran who has benefited from Project Headspace & Timing's services, and Kelly Frey, president of Buddy Check 22.
Special thanks to our sponsors for helping make this live episode happen!
Much Love,
Monday Aug 09, 2021
#14: Franklin Weber - The Prairieland Printer
Monday Aug 09, 2021
Monday Aug 09, 2021
Franklin Weber age 88 of Manteno, operating his Miehiel Vertical Letterpress in July 2021.
You may know him as Mr. Weber or Franklin but I know him as Papa. Born in 1933 and raised in Manteno, it didn't take Franklin Weber very long to discover what he was truly passionate about: printing. While visiting his aunt and uncle on the south side of Chicago one day, Franklin was given a small table top letterpress by one of their neighbors. He was only 11 years old at this time. From that point on, my grandfather continued to learn and upgrade his printing equipment. Finally, by 1971 he was able to open up his own print shop, F. Weber Printing Company, on route 50 in Manteno, along with my grandmother, Anna. The shop was in operation until December of 2020. Since then, my family and I have been in the process of cleaning out the building and selling our printing equipment. Spending a lot of time in the old print shop lately has brought back so many wonderful memories of my childhood and also the time I spent working there from 2007 to 2015. I thought this would be a good time to share my Grandpa Weber's story and legacy.
This episode is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Franklin's story. If you want to read more, you can purchase his memoir, "The Prairieland Printer: The Life & Story of Franklin Weber".
I wouldn't be who I am today without his help, knowledge, and guidance. I love you, Papa. Thank you for all you've done for not only me but the entire family.
Much Love,
P. S. We are recording our very first episode of Kankakee Podcast in front of a live audience on Saturday, August 14th at Heroes, Hogs, and Hot Rods in downtown Manteno from 1:30pm to 2:45pm! This is absolutely FREE to the public. Anyone can come! Thank you to our wonderful sponsors, KCC Foundation, Kankakee City News, Noble Dairy Queen Stores, and Digital World Design, for helping make this live episode happen.
Monday Aug 02, 2021
#13: Nick Huffman - Beyond The Looney Bin
Monday Aug 02, 2021
Monday Aug 02, 2021
Nick Huffman at The Looney Bin in Bradley, IL.
I'm sure you know who Nick Huffman is or have at least heard his name. I feel like most of us have talked with close friends who have told us stories about Nick over the years. I've met Nick a few times over the last three years or so but it was always a handshake and hello. I've always wanted to get to know him better beyond the stories I'd hear about him. That opportunity came up last week when I sat down with Nick at his office inside The Looney Bin. I had no idea what I was in for. I learned things that gave me chills up and down my spine. It wasn't all bone chilling stories though. There are plenty of heart warming stories to be heard in this episode as well.
Thank you Nick for being so open with me. I'm happy we finally met each other properly.
Much Love,
P. S. We are recording our very first episode of Kankakee Podcast in front of a live audience on Saturday, August 14th at Heroes, Hogs, and Hot Rods in downtown Manteno from 1:30pm to 2:45pm! This is absolutely FREE to the public. Anyone can come! I'm currently seeking sponsors to help cover the cost of this special episode. If your business is interested in becoming a sponsor, please email me for the details at lamoremediallc@gmail.com. Thank you!
Monday Jul 26, 2021
#12: Preservation Realty - Downtown Kankakee Economic Development
Monday Jul 26, 2021
Monday Jul 26, 2021
Old Midland States Bank Building at the corning of Schuyler and Station Street in Kankakee.
Pope Brace Building on South Washington Avenue near Court Street in Kankakee.
We take a deep dive into the major economic developments that are currently happening in downtown Kankakee with Preservation Realty. Joining us on this episode is Lisa Wogan, Barbi Brewer-Watson, Dave Baron, and Nicole Smolkovich. Two of the projects included in this endeavor are the repurposing of the old Pope Brace Building and the former Midland States Bank Building in downtown Kankakee. I found it to be really exciting to hear the great things that are happening in order to help Kankakee flourish into a new golden age. The beautiful thing about this is that each one of us can take part in this growth. However, It's up to us on whether we choose to climb aboard or not.
Much Love,
P. S. We are recording our very first episode of Kankakee Podcast in front of a live audience on Saturday, August 14th at Heroes, Hogs, and Hot Rods in downtown Manteno from 1:30pm to 2:45pm! This is absolutely FREE to the public. Anyone can come! I'm currently seeking sponsors to help cover the cost of this special episode. If your business is interested in becoming a sponsor, please email me for the details at lamoremediallc@gmail.com. Thank you!
Monday Jul 19, 2021
#11: 1920s Prohibition from Chicago to Kankakee - Kankakee County Museum
Monday Jul 19, 2021
Monday Jul 19, 2021
Schuyler Avenue in downtown Kankakee in the 1920s.
It's that time of the month already where we are joined by the Kankakee County Museum to put out a special episode of Kankakee Podcast! Executive Director, Veronica Featherston, and Research Coordinator, Jorie Walters, take us back to the Prohibition era of the 1920s. As you probably already know, Chicago's Al Capone was one of the most prolific bootleggers of that time in history. Jorie tells us about the possible connections between Capone and the Kankakee area. I'm using the word possible because there is no hard evidence to back this up. It certainly is fun to imagine and talk about though! After all, there is a good chance that these stories are true given Al Capone's character and nature. If it wasn't Capone, it could have easily been another bootlegger from Chicago.
Monday Jul 12, 2021
#10: The Globetrotting Martin Sisters with Ryan Hall
Monday Jul 12, 2021
Monday Jul 12, 2021
Ryan Hall holding a picture of his great great aunts, Mable & Lula Martin.
A few weeks ago I received a message on the Jake LaMore Facebook Page from a guy named, Ryan Hall. He told me how much he enjoyed listening to Kankakee Podcast and how he would love to share the story of his famous great great aunts, The Globetrotting Martin Sisters. I had never heard of them before! I did a quick Google search on the Martin sisters and the first thing I found was an article in The Daily Journal from 2018 written by, Jack Klasey. After I read the sentence in the article about how the sisters traveled to over 75 countries, I gave Ryan the green light to come onto the podcast to talk about his adventurous relatives. I live to hear stories like this about Kankakee County residents. Thanks for sending me that Facebook message and being on the podcast, Ryan!
Much Love,
Jake LaMore
Below are pictures, keepsakes, souvenirs, & YouTube vidoes of Mable & Lula Martin that Ryan was willing to share with me.
YouTube Video of African Safari in 1953:
Monday Jul 05, 2021
#9: Musa Man (Zion Ali)
Monday Jul 05, 2021
Monday Jul 05, 2021
Left to Right: Musa Man (Zion Ali) and his good friend, Joe Martin.
I've always believed it's super important to support local original music. As you can imagine, it's extremely difficult to launch a successful career writing and performing songs for a living. It's not impossible though as Musa Man, a.k.a. Zion Ali points out in today's episode of Kankakee Podcast. His positivity radiated throughout the room as we sat and talked. It felt good to feel his drive and determination to reach the stars with his music and acting chops.
Zion writes and releases his own music under the name, Musa Man. He just dropped a brand new feel good song called, "Got Me In A Dream". His best friend, Joe Martin, helped him shoot the music video for it, which they filmed in downtown Kankakee.
Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/5-H_8ztf3I8
Thanks for being on the podcast, Zion and Joe! I had a lot of fun talking with you both. I thoroughly believe both of you are going to achieve great things together.
Much Love,
Jake LaMore