Galesburg In Focus

Bri Jefferson just returned from 10 days in Vegas, but it was more than a pleasure trip. A 2020 Knoxville High School graduate and currently a senior at Bradley University, Bri participated in a 10-day international business program that culminated with working at Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas. Bri and her colleagues with Living Sport worked at the Super Bowl fan fest the week leading up to the bi...

[caption id="attachment_648896" align="alignleft" width="150"] Dr. Mark DeYoung[/caption] Graham Medical Group has been aggressive in Galesburg since the sudden failure of Cottage Hospital in early 2022. The Canton-based medical group has opened  convenient care along with family medicine and specialty care clinics in Galesburg, and this August a third facility is expected to open at  2300 N. Semi...

Galesburg Mayor Peter Schwartzman joins WGIL's Jay Redfern for this episode of Galesburg In Focus. Schwartzman was elected Mayor of Galesburg in 2021 after serving the previous 10 years as the city’s Ward 5 alderman. He has has a long track record of community involvement and service. But while the job of mayor may seem like a full time career, Schwartzman does have an office other than the one he...

House calls are making a comeback. Western Illinois Home Provider Care delivers in-home primary care to any place you call home. They provide services to everyone from young families with busy schedules to medically complex patients that struggle to or cannot attend office visits. Their home provider care services offer patient-driven, individualized medical care in the convenience of your own hom...

For the first time in 46 years, Bob Anderson is not coaching high school basketball. Anderson — who built a resume that includes 732 career victories, an Elite Eight state tournament appearance and a plaque in the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame — retired as the boys basketball coach at ROWVA/Williamsfield in early December 2023. A 1965 Williamsfield High School graduate where...

Kate Johnson, clinical supervisor of OSF OnCall Digital Care for Pregnancy & Postpartum and Amy Mefford, nurse practitioner and certified nurse midwife with OSF OnCall join WGIL’s Chris Postin to discuss the OSF OnCall Pregnancy & Postpartum Digital Care Program. Women who are enrolled have 24/7 access to specially trained nurses and advanced practice providers. Through an easy-to-use app, they re...

This episode of Galesburg In Focus features one of those special and rare persons who is recognizable by one name. If you say Harley around Galesburg, people instantly know you are talking about arguably the most famous and influential man ever associated with Knox College. Harley Knosher came to Knox College its basketball coach in 1960, and retired 40 years later, leaving a lasting and enduring...

Scott Kelley played in one of the biggest upsets and in what is generally considered one of the greatest games in the history of Galesburg Silver Streaks basketball. Part of the Campbell and Kelley twin towers duo that starred for the Streaks in the mid 1970s, Kelley helped lead the Galesburg boys basketball team to an improbable 85-79 overtime win over undefeated and No. 1 ranked Peoria Richwoods...

Megan Brown, manager of Seminary Estates Independent Living, and Bridgette Teel, manager of Hawthorne Inn Assisted Living, join WGILs Chris Postin on this episode of Galesburg In Focus. They discuss "test drives" at both facilities, a process for elderly loved ones who have thought about taking this step for a more worry-free lifestyle. The idea behind the test drive is to have mom or dad stay for...

Five men took turns running the city of Galesburg in 2023, but the latest and current city manager has plans to stay awhile. Hanson assumed the position as the city’s top administrator on Dec. 11, 2023, after spending the past four years as the assistant city manager in Normal. Hanson joins WGIL's Jay Redfern on this episode of Galesburg In Focus, where they talk about a variety of topics, includi...

There’s a new book coming out about Galesburg basketball, and who better to tell the story than a man who played for, coached and even called games on the radio for the Silver Streaks. Barry Swanson was a key player and the second-leading scorer on legendary Coach John Thiel’s 1966 Silver Streaks team that brought home the 2nd-place trophy from the IHSA state tournament in Champaign. Swanson later...

Do the holidays have you down? Becky Mowers, licensed clinical social worker and co-founder of Crossroads Counseling & Life Coaching in Galesburg, joins WGIL's Chris Postin to talk about managing holiday stress, navigating family conflicts, financial pressures, and dealing with grief and loneliness including Seasonal Affective Disorder. [caption id="attachment_646252" align="aligncenter" width="30...

A small Galesburg business continues to do big things on the worldwide stage. Galesburg residents Michael and Heather Acerra launched Lux Blox in 2015 and have made the product a 100% made in the USA learning toy. Lux Blox, according to its owners, are an award-winning, innovative construction toy that is more than just a plaything — it's a reflection of the brilliance of nature. On this episode o...

COVID, RSV and influenza are surging, and Galesburg-area OSF HealthCare officials are at your service to help you deal the illnesses. On this edition of Galesburg In Focus, OSF HealthCare experts join WGIL's Chris Postin to discuss a variety of health issues. Colleen Reynolds, media relations coordinator with OSF HeathCare, talks about the surge of COVID, RSV and Influenza what OSF is doing to hel...

November is National Diabetes Month. Audra Baker and Angie Grady from OSF HealthCare Holy Family Medical Wound Care Center in Monmouth join WGIL's Chris Postin to discuss diabetes and accompanying issues of wounds. The care team at OSF Wound Care uses the latest, most advanced solutions to treat slow-healing or non-healing wounds.

One of Galesburg’s most established and popular coffee shops is celebrating a milestone in November. Innkeeper’s Fresh Roasted Coffee, 80 N. Seminary St. in Downtown Galesburg, turns 25 this month. Jessica and Ben Ketchum purchased Innkeeper’s from founders Mike Bond and Johan Ewalt in 2021 and have proceeded to put their own special touches on the business while maintaining the original charm of...

Evan Massey has just started his 50th year of coaching at Galesburg High School, including his 46th straight season of coaching Silver Streaks girls basketball. Eight more victories — which could come this season — will give him 1,000 for his career. What would it mean to reach 1,000 wins? How did he build one of the premier girls basketball programs in Illinois? What was it like to get so close,...

Need a COVID-19 vaccination? The Knox County Health Department is making appointments for the updated Moderna COVID-19 vaccine that is now available for individuals 6 months and older. Wil Hayes, Assistant Public Health Administrator for Knox County Health Department, and Erin Olson, Director of Public Health Information and Community Engagement for the Knox County Health Department, join WGIL's C...

Nancy Olson, director of Physician Offices for OSF HealthCare, joins WGIL's Chris Postin to discusses the current and upcoming relocations of physicians and providers offices here in Galesburg, Knoxville & Abingdon. Previously: Is your OSF HealthCare provider relocating? Here are some changes for the Galesburg-area  

OSF HealthCare has added Dr. Amro Elsharoud as new primary care physician to serve Galesburg and surrounding areas. On this episode of Galesburg Live, WGIL's Chris Postin talks to Dr. Elsharoud about how he will ensure increased access for patients in need of family medicine and obstetrical care at OSF Medical Group in Galesburg, and OSF Medical Group – Obstetrics & Gynecology in Galesburg. Dr. El...

OSF HealthCare has added Dr. Samuel Vazquez as new surgeon to better serve Galesburg, Monmouth and surrounding areas. On this episode of Galesburg Live, WGIL's Chris Postin talks to Dr. Vazquez about his background and how being bilingual will assist serving the Hispanic and Latino communities. Dr. Vazquez received his medical education from the University of Illinois College of Medicine and obtai...

Foster’s Voice, Inc. was founded by Kevin and Jaime Atwood, on July 30, 2017, nine days after their son, Foster, died by suicide. He was only 19 years old. WGIL's Chris McIntyre talks to Kevin Atwood and James Sullivan about Foster's Voice and its mission to end suicide and the stigma around mental illness by improving the conversations and creating awareness, action and hope. Foster's Voice recen...

[caption id="attachment_642607" align="alignleft" width="200"] Frank McAndrew[/caption] Why do people do what they do, say what they say, and think like they think? Frank McAndrew gets inside our heads and tells us why. Longtime Knox College professor of psychology Frank McAndrew is well-known as a purveyor of psychological science to lay audiences. His blog at Psychology Today Magazine and his ot...

OSF HealthCare experts join WGIL's Chris Postin to discuss cancer awareness, screening and expanded local treatment options in this edition of Galesburg Live. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Mary Mowen, director of imaging at OSF HealthCare St. Mary Medical Center in Galesburg and Holy Family Medical Center in Monmouth, urges women to get their mammogram. Lead imaging tech Heather Hut...

The son of legendary Silver Streaks basketball coach John Thiel, Mark Thiel left his own legacy at Galesburg High School. A 1973 grad, Mark Thiel was the first Streaks athlete to win 9 varsity letters when Galesburg was a 3-year high school — excelling in football, basketball and baseball. Mark went on to play baseball at the University of Missouri, twice setting the single-season home run record...