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Nick Huffman Almost Left Kankakee For Good
One of the most popular episodes of Kankakee Podcast is number thirteen with Nick Huffman, the owner of The Looney Bin in Bradley. There are so many great things I took away from that episode. One of the things I often think of is right in the beginning of the episode when Nick said he…
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Why We Need To Retrain The Way We Think Of Kankakee County
I know many of us here in Kankakee County have been somber since Wednesday, December 29th, 2021. The main cause of that being a shooting that murdered Bradley Police Sergeant Marlene Rittmanic and injured, Officer Tyler Bailey. I posted a comment on one of The Daily Journal articles on Facebook about how many area towns…
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Episode 34: 10 Most Listened to Episodes of 2021
Here’s who made the cut for the 10 most listened to episodes of Kankakee Podcast in 2021! Did your favorite make the list? Listen to this episode to find out! Special thank you to: Seth & Mary Burkey, Josh LaMore, Brianna Whittler, Franklin & Anna Weber, Dawn & Jim LaMore, Lizzie Yolich, Noble Dairy Queen…
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Episode 33: Travis Garcia – School Resource Officer
I’m pleased to welcome the very first police officer to be a guest on Kankakee Podcast, Travis Garcia. Originally from Indiana, Travis made his way here about ten years ago and started working for the Bourbonnais Police Department. It wasn’t too long after he started patrolling the streets that he became the School Resource Officer…
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Jake LaMore Reads The Polar Express
I want to take this time to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for supporting Kankakee Podcast and LaMore Media L.L.C. in 2021. I’d like to wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Growing up, one of my favorite Christmas books to read was The Polar…
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Episode 32: Dawn Broers – Fortitude Community Outreach
Fortitude Community Outreach is a grassroots nonprofit in Kankakee County that provides emergency shelter, street outreach, transitional housing, and workforce development for the homeless. The backbone of this wonderful organization is founder, Dr. Dawn Broers, PhD, LCSW. Dawn and I had a great conversation starting from where she grew up in Indiana to what the…
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Episode 31: Jack Klasey – The Storyteller
Jack Klasey is a man of many talents. Excuse the pun but I would say he’s a, “Jack of All Media”. I’ve always considered him to be a one of the greatest Kankakee County Historians but as I learned during this episode he prefers to be known as a storyteller. Whether you know Jack from…
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Episode 30: Riverview Historic District
One of the most beautiful neighborhoods in the Kankakee County is without a doubt the Riverview Historic District in the city of Kankakee. This district is filled with unique custom built homes and many of them are over 100 years old. You want to see inside these homes, don’t you? It just so happens that…
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Episode 29: Native American Heritage Day 2021 – Kankakee County Museum
Hey! I hope you had a great Thanksgiving filled with lots of love, food, family and friends. With today being the day after Thanksgiving, most of us are thinking about it being Black Friday. However, there is a more important civil holiday we should be celebrating today, Native American Heritage Day. Veronica Featherston of the…
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Episode 28: Derek Grant – Apply Pressure
Kankakee resident, Derek Grant, is a walking miracle. After hearing his life story on this episode of Kankakee Podcast, you’ll be wondering how in the world is he still alive. If you ask Derek, he’ll tell you that he’s unbreakable and that it’s all part of God’s plan. That’s where his apparel brand and life…
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Episode 27: Staci Wilken – Kankakee County Convention & Visitors Bureau
The Kankakee County Convention & Visitors Bureau just moved to a new location in downtown Kankakee. Not only that, Executive Director, Staci Wilken, has hired on a new team to launch the bureau into a new era. They are having a meet and greet at The Majestic on Schuyler Avenue in Kankakee this Wednesday, November 17th…
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Episode 26: Steam Hollow Brewing Co. – Blane & Natalie White
This Thursday, November 11th is Veterans Day. It presented the perfect opportunity to speak with two Navy veterans, Blane & Natalie White, who own and operate Steam Hollow Brewing Company in Manteno. The brewery also has a few special events planned to celebrate Veterans Day this week, including a Veterans Showcase this Saturday, November 13th. …
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Episode 25: Manteno St. Joseph Church with Josh LaMore
St. Joseph’s “Mammoth” Double Spired Church. It burned down July 29th, 1898. Early Postcard of the Church’s exterior with Our Lady Academy Administration building to the right. There are no known photos of the church before the Academy’s construction in 1907. Early postcard of the Church’s interior, when the church had gas lights. Side view…
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Episode 24: Jenny Schoenwetter of Harbor House
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Since the pandemic began, the amount of domestic abuse cases seen in the Kankakee County Courthouse have increased dramatically. With that being said, I thought this would be the perfect time to sit down with, Jenny Schoenwetter, who is the executive director of Harbor House. The nonprofit organization exists…
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Episode 23: Radeke Brewery
Hey! I hope you’ve been enjoying the fall like weather we’ve been having lately here in Kankakee County. Before we dive into this week’s episode, I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who came by and said hello at the Kankakee Podcast booth this past Sunday at Halloween Downtown. I had such a…