A podcast about the people and places of Kankakee County, IL. Hosted by, Jake LaMore.
Episodes
Monday Oct 31, 2022
Monday Oct 31, 2022
Happy Halloween! Please enjoy this spooktacular episode of Kankakee Podcast that was recorded live at the Kankakee County Museum with the Kankakee Paranormal Investigations Team on Saturday, October 15th, 2022. The team shares some of their spookiest paranormal experiences in Kankakee County and so much more.
After the recording, we headed over to the Taylor one-room schoolhouse on the grounds of the museum to do a paranormal investigation. View that footage on our Facebook page and YouTube account.
Special thank you to Mike, Emily, Chris, and Steve of the Kankakee Paranormal Investigations Team, and also to Veronica Featherston and Diana Crawley of the Kankakee County Museum for making this episode possible!
Kankakee Paranormal Investigations Team Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/K3PITeam
Kankakee County Museum Links:
Website: https://www.kankakeecountymuseum.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kankakeecountymuseum
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kankakeecountymuseum/
I hope you have a safe and spooky Halloween!
Much Love,
Jake LaMore
P.S. Support the podcast for as little as $1/month:
Monday Oct 24, 2022
Monday Oct 24, 2022
Jimmy Retondo, Nick Steele, and Nick Galik of Kankakee rock trio, City Cash, join us on this episode of Kankakee Podcast to talk about their debut album that was just released a few months ago!
Listen to their debut album on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/7yk4pxI5MB5VGMddEP2WPM?si=36aUvCiqQgGDbe1keF7GDA
Official website: https://citycashmusic.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100072477255372
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/citycashmusic/
Much Love,
P.S. Support the podcast for as little as $1/month:
Thursday Oct 20, 2022
Thursday Oct 20, 2022
I first met Adam Elroy earlier this year and became fascinated with his story of how he went from being a grade school history teacher in Bourbonnais to becoming a Financial Advisor at Edward Jones in Kankakee. I've always struggled with my finances and understanding what a financial advisor truly does. I know I couldn't be the only in this situation, so I thought it would be a great idea to bring Adam on for a bonus episode of Kankakee Podcast to help clear the air for us when it comes to financial advisors. It's an uncomfortable conversation to have, I know. However, Adam has been really helpful to me and I'm sure he will do the same for you.
Adam has also been one of our strongest supporters of Kankakee Podcast and I'm very grateful to him for that.
You can contact Adam Elroy at:
Phone: (815) 932-8484
Email: Adam.Elroy@edwardjones.com
Website: https://www.edwardjones.com/us-en/financial-advisor/adam-elroy
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100075681198318
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-elroy-17144a93/
Much Love,
P.S. Support the podcast for as little as $1/month: https://patron.podbean.com/kankakeepodcast
Monday Oct 17, 2022
Monday Oct 17, 2022
Ted Petersen was born and raised in Momence, IL. When he started playing football in the early 1970s at Momence High School, he did it just to feel like he was one of the guys. Petersen never imagined he would end up becoming All American in college, going pro, and winning two Super Bowl Championships. However, that came true in 1978 and 1979 when he was playing for the Pittsburg Steelers along with Terry Bradshaw and other future hall of fame players. This conversation give us a real perspective on what the NFL was like roughly 45 years ago and just how humble of a person Ted really is. After retiring from the NFL, Ted became a physical education teacher in Pennsylvania. Eventually, he returned to Kankakee County in 2008 and became the Athletic Director at Kankakee Community College. Now, Ted works for Van Drunen Farms in Momence.
I truly enjoyed talking with you, Ted. Thank you for your time and all you do for our community!
Much Love,
Jake LaMore
P.S. Support the podcast for as little as $1/month:
Monday Oct 10, 2022
Monday Oct 10, 2022
Milner Media Partners began all the way back in 1983. Tim Milner and his brother Tommy were attending a Sox game together in Chicago. Before going to the game, they stopped at a bar nearby the stadium. The bar was playing 99.9 FM. The two brothers had been trying to buy their own radio station for awhile and really loved what they heard on 99.9 FM. They went to the payphone at the bar and called the station to ask who the owner was. Tim and Tommy found out the station was in fact for sale and eventually purchased it for a million dollars with the aid of their parents, Gene and Jackie. When the Milners took control of the station, the call letters were changed to WBUS The Bus. It was a rock formatted station at the time. Unfortunately, in 1985, Tommy Milner died in a tragic car accident. After Tommy's death, the format changed to Top 40 and had tremendous success. The station had a very large regional signal that reached not only Kankakee but into Chicago and parts of Indiana. Around 1994, the Milner family decided to sell 99.9 FM. The market was hot and the price was right. In March of 1995, Milner purchased 95.1 FM and that's when WVLI The Valley was born. Tim had what he thought was a brilliant idea for a format: Greatest Hits, Greatest Artists. An oldies station essentially but, with a twist. Many thought that this format would not go over well. However, Tim proved them wrong. Here we are 27 years later and The Valley has become a staple for many in Kankakee County. It's the number one most listened to radio station in our area. Not only that, Milner Media is also the home of two other successful radio stations, River Country 101.7 FM and WFAV 95.1 FM. River Country is also broadcast on 103.7 FM and locally in the Bourbonnais area on 96.1 FM.
On a more personal note, I'd like to thank Tim Milner and the entire Milner Media family for everything they have done to support me and Kankakee Podcast. Without the Milner family, I don't think Kankakee Podcast would have happened. They didn't create the podcast directly or anything like that. They did however give me my first job in radio back in 2014 and drilled into my brain just how important it is to make a positive impact on your local community. When I first started working at Milner Media, I didn't think being involved with the community was as important as they made it out to be. However, overtime I began to learn the importance of community. Tim Milner, his family, and my co-workers at Milner Media taught me that. So when I say Kankakee Podcast probably wouldn't have happened without Milner Media, that's what I mean. I have a career and a future that I love thanks to the Milner Media family. I hope they know how grateful I am for that.
Learn more about Milner Media's radio stations below:
Much Love,
Jake LaMore
P.S. Support the podcast for as little as $1/month:
Monday Sep 26, 2022
Monday Sep 26, 2022
The Great Inter-State Fair existed in Kankakee from 1911 to 1932 and took place in what is present day Old Fair Park. At one point, it was almost as large as the Illinois State Fair in Springfield. Jack Klasey of the Kankakee County Museum joins us once again to share the incredible story.
Upcoming events at the museum:
The Geologic Story of Kankakee - Sat. Oct. 8th - 1pm
Artisan Faire - Sat. Nov. 5th
Learn more about these events at:
https://www.kankakeecountymuseum.com/
https://www.facebook.com/kankakeecountymuseum
https://www.instagram.com/kankakeecountymuseum/
Much Love,
Jake LaMore
P.S. Support Kankakee Podcast for as little as $1/month:
https://patron.podbean.com/kankakeepodcast
Monday Sep 19, 2022
Monday Sep 19, 2022
I've always wanted to learn more about the Greek community here in Kankakee County. We're finally diving into that subject a little bit here on Kankakee Podcast with Father Nick Greanias of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Kankakee! Even if you're not a religious person yourself, please give this episode a try. The majority of the focus is more on the history surrounding the church and the Greek culture as a whole. I found everything Father Nick had to say to be extremely fascinating.
The 87th Annual Greek Festival is coming up Sunday, October 2nd, from 11am to 5pm, at the church on 296 North Washington Avenue in Kankakee. If you really want to submerge yourself into the Greek culture, this is the perfect place to do it. Everyone from all walks of life is welcome!
You can find more information about the festival on the Facebook event page here: https://www.facebook.com/events/807312553740607
Thank you for your time, Father Nick!
Much Love,
Jake LaMore
P.S. Support the podcast for as little as $1/month: https://patron.podbean.com/kankakeepodcast
Monday Sep 12, 2022
Monday Sep 12, 2022
We are on location once again for this episode of Kankakee Podcast! Except this time, we find ourselves at the most well known house in all of Grant Park, The Bennett-Curtis House. The owner, Scott Zizic, was kind enough to take some time out of his day to talk with me about the history of the house and the business he runs there.
Learn more by visiting https://bennettcurtis.weebly.com/
Thank you for your time, Scott!
Much Love,
Jake LaMore
P.S. Support the podcast for as little as $1/month:
Monday Sep 05, 2022
Monday Sep 05, 2022
Locavore, pronounced like carnivore, is someone who's diet consists of mostly locally grown or produced food. At Locavore Farm in Grant Park, you can dine on the land at a 100 foot table eating food that was all organically grown just a few steps away from where you're sitting. Rachael Jones joins us on this episode of Kankakee Podcast to share the story of how her family came up with the concept for Locavore Farm.
Learn more at locavorefarm.com.
Follow them on Facebook and Instagram @locavorefarm.
Thanks for sharing your story with us, Rachael!
Much Love,
Jake LaMore
Monday Aug 29, 2022
Monday Aug 29, 2022
What is economic development and what does it look like here in Kankakee County? Angela Morrey, the Director of Marketing and Business Attraction at the Economic Alliance of Kankakee County, joins us on this episode of Kankakee Podcast to answer those questions! I know I have a much better understanding of what economic development is after talking with Angela. I hope you have the same benefit!
Learn more about the Economic Alliance of Kankakee County: https://www.kankakeecountyed.org/
Contact Angela Morrey:
Thanks for being on the podcast, Angela!
Much Love,
Jake LaMore