Morton MUSE & News

Send Ben a message, he'd love to hear from you. What does it feel like to leave your home in Busan, South Korea, land in the cornfields of Central Illinois, and call it home for a year? In this episode, we sit down with Sean Kim — a high school senior from South Korea who spent nearly 12 months in Morton as part of the Rotary International Youth Exchange program — along with Sue Colby, Youth E...

Send Ben a message, he'd love to hear from you. What happens when a mother and daughter spend 31 years building a business together—and then decide to rebrand, relocate, and take the biggest leap of their careers? In this episode, we sit down with Ann and Kim, the mother-daughter team behind Jute + Jade , Morton's full-service floral and interior design studio. What started as Floral Desi...

Send Ben a message, he'd love to hear from you. What happens when a mother and daughter spend 31 years building a business together—and then decide to rebrand, relocate, and take the biggest leap of their careers? In this episode, we sit down with Ann and Kim, the mother-daughter team behind Jute + Jade , Morton's full-service floral and interior design studio. What started as Floral Desi...

Send Ben a message, he'd love to hear from you. What happens when you recreate an entire town in miniature—complete with local Morton businesses—and let kids run the show? In this episode, we sit down with Mallory Swanson, owner of Main Street Play Cafe, Morton's newest family destination that opened in February 2024. Mallory didn't just open another play space—she built a kid-sized...

Send Ben a message, he'd love to hear from you. What happens when you recreate an entire town in miniature—complete with local Morton businesses—and let kids run the show? In this episode, we sit down with Mallory Swanson, owner of Main Street Play Cafe, Morton's newest family destination that opened in February 2024. Mallory didn't just open another play space—she built a kid-sized...

Send Ben a message, he'd love to hear from you. What does it look like to leave behind a successful career in law and finance to pursue your true passion? In this episode, we sit down with Joe, the owner and sole operator of Tradecraft, Morton's newest bakery specializing in expertly crafted French laminated pastries.  Yum! Joe's journey is a bit unconventional. From East Peoria to C...

Send Ben a message, he'd love to hear from you. What does it look like to leave behind a successful career in law and finance to pursue your true passion? In this episode, we sit down with Joe, the owner and sole operator of Tradecraft, Morton's newest bakery specializing in expertly crafted French laminated pastries.  Yum! Joe's journey is a bit unconventional. From East Peoria to C...

Send Ben a message, he'd love to hear from you. In this episode of Morton MUSE & News , we sit down with Todd Staley, the heart and hands behind Staley Lawncare and Landscaping . Todd isn’t just a business owner—he’s the CEO, operator, foreman, and sometimes even the janitor of his thriving local company. But beyond the mowing stripes and landscaping projects, Todd is a man deeply rooted i...

Send Ben a message, he'd love to hear from you. In this episode of Morton MUSE & News , we sit down with Todd Staley, the heart and hands behind Staley Lawncare and Landscaping . Todd isn’t just a business owner—he’s the CEO, operator, foreman, and sometimes even the janitor of his thriving local company. But beyond the mowing stripes and landscaping projects, Todd is a man deeply rooted i...

Send Ben a message, he'd love to hear from you. In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, Morton Muse & News welcomes Jordan Spicklemire — a Morton mom, former high school counselor, and passionate advocate for childhood in the digital age. Jordan shares her journey from Carmel, Indiana to Morton, Illinois, how her time in schools shaped her view of kids’ mental health, and why Jonathan Hai...

Send Ben a message, he'd love to hear from you. In Part 2 of our conversation with Jordan Spicklemire , we shift from personal experience to community action. Jordan walks us through the Wait Until 8th pledge — a national movement with a powerful local twist — and how she’s helping Morton families join forces to delay smartphones until after 8th grade. We talk about how the pledge works, what...

Send Ben a message, he'd love to hear from you. In this episode of Morton MUSE & News , we sit down with David Getz—Morton High School Orchestra Director, Central Illinois Youth Symphony conductor, and composer of Ruth: The Musical . From his humble beginnings composing as a teen to writing and producing an original 27-song concert-style musical, David shares how this labor of love was bor...

Send Ben a message, he'd love to hear from you. In this episode of Morton MUSE & News , we sit down with David Getz—Morton High School Orchestra Director, Central Illinois Youth Symphony conductor, and composer of Ruth: The Musical . From his humble beginnings composing as a teen to writing and producing an original 27-song concert-style musical, David shares how this labor of love was bor...

Send Ben a message, he'd love to hear from you. Morton has long been known for its top-tier schools , but have you ever wondered why we stay ahead of the curve—especially when it comes to technology, AI, and student well-being? Join us on this episode of Morton Muse & News as we sit down with Don Sturm , Morton CUSD 709’s Technology Integration Specialist and a driving force behind how Mor...

Send Ben a message, he'd love to hear from you. What makes a small town more than just a place to live? It’s the people who pour their hearts into it. In this episode of Morton Muse & News , we sit down with John Cirilli—a lifelong Morton advocate, local banker, and dedicated community volunteer. From his journey back to Morton after college to meeting his wife during Pumpkin Festival week...

Send Ben a message, he'd love to hear from you. Ever thought about volunteering but didn’t know where to start? Or maybe you’re curious about the impact volunteers have on Morton? In this episode of Morton MUSE & News , I sit down with the incredible JoLynn Weiler—lifelong Morton resident, community champion, and self-proclaimed volunteer expert (seriously, is there anything she doesn’t vo...

Send Ben a message, he'd love to hear from you. Since 1952, Johnson’s Floral has been a cornerstone of Morton, providing beautiful floral arrangements for life’s most meaningful moments. In this episode, we sit down with Paul Grethey , third-generation owner, to talk about the history, challenges, and triumphs of running a family-owned business in a small town. Paul shares how his father bough...

Send Ben a message, he'd love to hear from you. *****Part II In this heartfelt and deeply moving episode of Morton Muse & News , we sit down with Tom Van Ness as he shares his incredible journey of resilience, healing, and finding purpose after the devastating loss of his wife. Tom’s story isn’t just one of grief; it’s about how the support of a small-town community can become a lifeline d...

Send Ben a message, he'd love to hear from you. In this heartfelt and deeply moving episode of Morton Muse & News , we sit down with Tom Van Ness as he shares his incredible journey of resilience, healing, and finding purpose after the devastating loss of his wife. Tom’s story isn’t just one of grief; it’s about how the support of a small-town community can become a lifeline during life’s...

Send Ben a message, he'd love to hear from you. Scott Witzig is the Executive Director of the Morton Community Foundation (MCF), a role he has held since 2007. He is deeply committed to supporting Morton, Illinois, and its surrounding communities through philanthropy and community development. Known for his quiet yet impactful leadership, Scott has received accolades such as the Morton Chamber...

Send Ben a message, he'd love to hear from you. The Morton High School band, based in Morton, Illinois, has a stellar reputation for its exceptional musical talent and competitive achievements. Over the years, the band has become a powerhouse, consistently performing at a high level in both state and national competitions. Their success is largely due to the dedication of the students and the...

Send Ben a message, he'd love to hear from you. Ms. D'Alfanso is the Cross Country coach for Morton Junior High School. Her team recently won the state competition, highlighting her success as a coach and the accomplishments of her athletes. She plays a key role in shaping the young runners, guiding them both physically and mentally to perform at their best.  Owen secured 4th place at the...

Send Ben a message, he'd love to hear from you. Kim Litwiller is the Executive Director of the Morton Chamber of Commerce and the CEO of the Morton Economic Development Council in Morton, Illinois. She was initially hired as the Director of Business Development in January 2024, but by June 2024, she was promoted to Executive Director and CEO of the Chamber and the EDC. Litwiller's goal in...

Send Ben a message, he'd love to hear from you. Jeremy Short serves on the board of directors for the Morton Chamber of Commerce and works for Precision Planting , a company that specializes in advanced agricultural technology solutions to optimize planting performance. Precision Planting is known for its innovative tools, such as the eMHD planter, which enhance farming efficiency and producti...

Send Ben a message, he'd love to hear from you. In 2015, Williams took on the role of director at Morton Public Library, succeeding a director who had held the position for 36 years. Since then, she has focused on enhancing community engagement and partnerships, bringing her expertise in public relations to strengthen connections between the library and local organizations. Additionally, she h...