Galesburg In Focus

Wil Hayes, Sarah Willet and Mandy Dixon from the Knox County Health Department join WGIL's Chris Postin for Part 2 of an interview discussing Food Safety Awareness Month and Emergency Preparedness Month.

Dean McKillip is a man of firsts — and some pretty impressive ones. A 1977 Galesburg High School graduate, Dean McKillip led the Silver Streaks to Galesburg’s first-ever appearance in the Illinois state football playoffs in 1976. He finished his Streaks football career ranked first in single rushing yards with 1,386 his senior season. He was the first, and still the only Streaks athlete to throw a...

Galesburg High School has had just four unbeaten football seasons in program history dating back to 1906. Rodney Bunch was a junior on the 1956 Silver Streaks team that went 9-0 under Hall of Fame coach C.C. Van Dyke, and was led by such players as the Kimbrough twins — Albert and Elbert — and quarterback Doug Mills. Rodney Bunch joined WGIL's Jay Redfern to talk about that memorable 1956 football...

Lots of big things have been happening for both campuses of Carl Sandburg College, and its downtown Galesburg Annex. A new Science and Technology Center was built on the main Galesburg campus, a number of other improvements have been made at the campus in Carthage, and the Annex is about to undergo a bit of change that will keep it operational. Seamus Reilly, Carl Sandburg College president, talks...

An information event for seniors and veterans will take place from 9 a.m. to noon Monday, Sept. 9 at the Spoon River College Community Center, located at 2500 E. Jackson Street in Macomb. The event is hosted by state reps Dan Swanson and Norine Hammond, along with Western Illinois Home Health Care and McDonough District Hospital. It will feature free health screenings, as well as helpful informati...

In this episode of Galesburg In Focus, WGIL's Jay Redfern interviews Chris Stiles, the former head football coach of the Silver Streaks from 1988 to 1991. Stiles reflects on his impactful tenure, especially the memorable 1991 season when the team went 8-2, won the Western Big 6 Conference title, and faced off against Joliet Catholic in a memorable state playoff game featuring a snow storm and a fu...

In this episode of Galesburg In Focus, host Chris Postin speaks with Mike Spinks, owner of All Stars Sports Academy & Skate Palace, Joey Range from the academy's "Solution" program, and Knox College student Lily Burns, a former participant in the program. They discuss the upcoming launch of the "Solution" program, a FREE after-school initiative for students in grades 5 through 12. The program will...

In this episode of Galesburg In Focus, WGIL's Jay Redfern sits down with Galesburg's new athletic director, Nick Young, and Aaron Furrow, president of the Galesburg Athletic Booster Club, to discuss the start of fall sports for the Silver Streaks. They dive into the lineup of head coaches for the season, the Galesburg Athletic Booster Club's mission and its vital role in supporting student-athlete...

The State of Illinois Friday announced that tourism in the most recently ended fiscal year increased again, breaking a record set just last year.  In Galesburg, there were record-setting numbers of tourists, too.  Pretty good for a city where people have long said there's "nothing to do." Randy Newcomb, Executive Director of the Galesburg Tourism and Visitors Bureau, would beg to differ with that...

In this episode of Galesburg In Focus, representatives from OSF HealthCare join WGIL's Chris Postin to share updates and community health initiatives. Kitlynn Stinson, Supervisor for Physician Offices, discusses the upcoming OSF School and Sports Physicals Clinic on Saturday, August 10, where affordable physicals will be offered alongside fun entertainment for kids. Then, Susie Melvin, Director of...

Andrew McGadney is now into his fourth year as president of Knox College, and after some not-so-great times in the past, the college is making a comeback. A near-record number of new students will take to the campus shortly, millions of dollars in improvements are underway that, in some areas, might be considered "deferred maintenance," and much more. We get an update on all of it from McGadney, w...

In this episode of  "Galesburg In Focus," WGIL's Chris Postin welcomes Reina Reyes, chief operations officer, and Staci Simpson, director of operations, from the Knox Community Health Center. As National Health Center Week is celebrated Aug. 4-10, the discussion highlights the vital role local health centers play in our communities. Reina and Staci share insights into the special focus days planne...

In the mid 1970s, Jay Matson was among a select group that envisioned a specialty shopping and dining district designed to help save retail in downtown Galesburg, Illinois. That vision, which became known as Seminary Street Historic Downtown District., quickly turned into a success story that’s been a model for other cities around the country. Nearly a half century later, Seminary Street Historic...

Are you a parent or guardian looking for a safe and happy place for your child to be while you are at work or attending school? The Knox County YMCA offers a Before & After School program in conjunction with elementary and middle schools in Galesburg and Knoxville. Erica Lawson, member service & marketing director at the Knox County YMCA, joins WGIL's Chris Postin to discuss the program on Galesbu...

Mike Ebbing and Richard Nixon never had a chance to meet face to face, but they were quite familiar with each other's voices over the phone. Mike Ebbing, a graduate of Galesburg High School in 1965, worked as a White House switchboard operator at the Camp David Presidential Retreat from 1970 to 1972, as part of the White House Communications Agency. During his time there, Ebbing handled numerous s...

It has been anything but a quiet summer for the Galesburg School District, and now school is starting in less than a month. Some problems have cropped up along the way, though, with public outcry over a new computerized attendance-taking system, to problems over a property tax levy the Knox County Clerk says can't in any way be refunded. We get answers on all those things and more from John Asplun...

In this episode of Galesburg In Focus, host Jay Redfern sits down with Jami Isaacson, son of the late legendary baseball coach, Jimmy Isaacson. The historic Galesburg baseball diamond at H.T. Custer Park has been named Coach Jimmy Isaacson Field in honor of his 48-year coaching career in Galesburg. Jami reflects on what this honor means to him and his family, the significance of the field bearing...

From a carnival and fair food, to livestock displays, to grandstand events like stock car races, a concert, tractor pull and more, there's something for everyone at the Knox County Fair in Knoxville. The oldest county fair in Illinois is set for July 8-13 at the Knox County Fairgrounds. Josh Smith, Ted Inness and Darcy Thorpe of the Knox County Fair board join WGIL's Chris Postin to preview the fa...

You've no doubt heard plenty in the last couple months about how Derrek Blackwell, now-former Galesburg High School Football Coach and GHS security officer, entered into a "diversion program" not long after his arrest in April on domestic violence charges.  If successful, that means the case will be dismissed and won't be on Blackwell's record any longer. In just their third year, the Knox County...

Clarence Wyatt, the President of Monmouth College, is retiring from the post as of Sunday, June 30, following more than a decade of service.  Wyatt, up to that point, had spent most of his academic career at an institution of higher learning in his native Kentucky. Wyatt has definitely made an impact on Monmouth College in his time here.  Prior to turning in his keys, he spoke with Will Stevenson...

Join host Jay Redfern as he sits down with Craig DeVrieze, a renowned Quad Cities sports journalist and golf historian who has covered the PGA Tour's John Deere Classic for nearly 40 years. Craig DeVrieze has covered the John Deere Classic since 1984 for two Quad Cities newspapers, Golf World magazine, and currently pgatour.com. He authored “Magic Happened: Celebrating 50 Years of the John Deere C...

In this episode of Galesburg In Focus, WGIL's Chris Postin talks to Rene Elks-Cedillo, a nurse practitioner and wound care provider for Graham Health System. She shares insights about its Wound Care Clinic, located at 530 N. Seminary St. in Galesburg, where they offer services on Mondays and Thursdays. The episode also highlights the significance of Wound Care Awareness Month, emphasizing the impo...

Dr. Becca Schwieter and office manager Jolene Eiker of Animal Medical Center in Galesburg talk pet health in this episode of Galesburg In Focus. They discuss protecting your pets from the summer heat, flea and ticks season, heartworm and other vaccinations. They also talk about wellness exams for your pets and when you should get a blood workup for your pets.

The Galesburg Community Arts Center has settled into its new home at Main and Seminary Streets, and Executive Director Tuesday Çetin says it will now be able to operate better than it has before, while continuing to offer displays, activities, and special events to adults and children alike.  And, it's all free. Çetin talks with Will Stevenson on Galesburg In Focus.

Our guests on this episode of Galesburg In Focus are excursion leaders of a new travel company that promises to offer unique experiences — blending classic sights with hidden gems. Galesburg natives Jennifer Zolper Peck and Kathryn Stoerzbach are the founders of The Cultural Take. Whether they’re leading you to Rio de Janeiro, or Belize, or Croatia or Portugal, they say with The Cultural Take, a v...