SBA Loan Deadlines, ONU Graduation This Weekend, and Locavore Farm’s Global Milestone

In this edition of the WVLI News Update, Rob West provides essential information regarding the final deadlines for Small Business Association (SBA) Disaster Relief Loan Centers in Kankakee County. Residents and business owners affected by the March storms have a limited window to visit local sites in Aroma Park, Bradley, and Kankakee to begin the application process.

The report also covers significant developments within the Kankakee Police Department, including new hires and promotions that impact local staffing levels. In consumer news, a voluntary recall has been issued for popular potato chip brands due to potential contamination concerns; listeners can find out which specific brands are affected and what steps to take.

Additional segments include:

• An analysis of current gas price trends across Illinois and Indiana.
• Details on a vehicle fire that impacted traffic on I-65 near Rensselaer.
• Recognition for a Grant Park farm featured in a prestigious global travel publication.
• A legal update regarding a guilty plea from a former area educator.
• A preview of graduation weekend at Olivet Nazarene University and local community events for Mother's Day.

The update concludes with a comprehensive look at regional sports, including winning streaks for Chicago baseball and upcoming season openers. Listen to the full episode for complete details, location hours, and local reports.

Listen to more great shows on the WVLI Podcast Network:

This One Time in Kankakee  (Narrative Storytelling)

Kankakee Valley Community Happenings  (Businesses & Non-Profits)

The voices you trust, beyond the dial. 

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:00

Today and tomorrow, the last days to visit any of the three Small Business Association disaster relief loan centers set up throughout Kankakee County to help those affected by the March 10th storms.

SPEAKER_03 0:13

They will need to be bring proof of address, identification. Like I said, the thing that um crosses over into all types of loans is the tax return. And that basically will get the ball rolling.

SPEAKER_01 0:26

SBA Loan Center set up in Aroma Park Village Hall, Northfield Square Mall in Bradley, and the train depot in Kankakee, hours today from 9 to 6, Saturday, 10 to 2. Business owners, nonprofits, homeowners, and renters eligible to apply for low-interest SBA loans. At Monday night's Kankakee City Council meeting, Kankakee Police Department introduced Lucas Bills as the newest officer on the force. Mayor Chris Curtis says that brings the department to full staff.

SPEAKER_02 0:52

We just hired sent three officers to the Academy, which actually may put us a little bit over. We may be at 68 versus 67 budgeted, knowing that we got some retirements coming up, and uh that'll put us back probably down at one short again.

SPEAKER_01 1:05

So Demetrius Williams was also promoted to sergeant at Monday night's Kankakee City Council meeting. Utz is recalling two of its popular potato chip brands due to a risk of salmonella contamination. The company recalling select flavors and bag sizes of Zaps and Dirty Brand Potato Chips because the company was notified the milk powder in some of its seasonings may contain salmonella and had been recalled separately. UTS is voluntarily recalling the chips, although tested seasonings were negative for the bacteria. No illnesses have been reported in connection with the recalled chips. The company says you shouldn't eat them though, just in case. Gas prices down slightly today as we head into the weekend. Triple A says the average cost for a gallon of regular no lead gas four dollars ninety eight cents across the land of Lincoln. That is down a penny overnight, still more than a half a dollar a gallon more expensive than it was at this time last month. In the Kankakee area, Triple A says gas running four ninety five on average, also down a penny overnight, but eighteen cents more expensive than at this time last week. Gas in Iroquois County running four ninety one on average, it's four ninety one a gallon on average in Ford County, four ninety-two in Grundy County, four ninety four on average in Will County. Across the state line, Triple A says a gallon of gas set you back four dollars sixty-four cents a gallon on average in Newton County, four hundred eighty-nine in Benton County, four eighty-three in Jasper County. Triple A says a gallon of gas running four dollars fifty-three cents on average across the Hoosier State. Nationwide average for a gallon of gas, four dollars fifty-four cents. Semifire on I-65 near Rensselaer, Indiana, tied up traffic on the interstate Thursday morning. Jake Lamore with the details.

SPEAKER_04 2:43

Rob Rensselaer volunteer fire reports they were called out just after 5 Thursday morning to the interstate for a semi-fire. When they got there, firefighters found the tractor and trailer, which was hauling rolled cardboard engulfed by flames. It took firefighters a few hours to get the fire under control. There were no injuries reported, but traffic on the interstate was tied up for a time as cleanup efforts got underway. I'm Jake Lamour.

SPEAKER_01 3:10

One of Kankakee County's tourist destinations getting global attention. Angelina Gere, executive director of Visit Kankakee County, has more.

SPEAKER_00 3:18

Locavore Farm in Grant Park has been featured in Frommer's Comfort in the Wild, a global travel book highlighting unique nature destinations around the world. This recognition places Locavore alongside internationally known travel experiences and makes it one of only two Illinois destinations included in the publication. It's a huge moment, not just for Locavore Farm, but for Kangakee County tourism as a whole.

SPEAKER_01 4:05

Charging documents say he invited a child to his home to have sex in December. The former driver's ed teacher is to be sentenced in July. It's because it's graduation weekend at Olivet. Olivet's registrar, Mark Mountain, tells us more.

SPEAKER_05 4:22

We have a baccalaureate service Friday night at 7.30 for all of our students and their families. And then on Saturday, we have the undergraduate uh commencement ceremony at 9.30 with Dr. Philly Chambo, the uh general superintendent of the Church of the Nazarene. We'll be giving the commencement address for uh about 525 undergraduate students. And then in the afternoon at 230, we have about 250 graduate students will be receiving degrees. And uh the commencement speaker for that event is Matt McBurney, Vice President of Public Relations and Communications for Riverside Healthcare.

SPEAKER_01 4:59

Mountain said it'll be Olivet's 113th graduating class. Plenty to do around Kankakee County this Mother's Day weekend with a look at a few of the events. Here's Angelina Gere, Executive Director of Visit Kankakee County.

SPEAKER_00 5:11

Friday night, head to Kankakee County Speedway for Friday night racing. Grandstand's open at 5 30 with racing at 7, featuring all the adrenaline of a quarter mile clay oval track. Saturday morning, shop local at the Kankakee Farmers Market in downtown Kankakee from eight until noon with fresh produce, handmade goods, ready to eat treats, music, and family fun. Then Saturday evening, stick around downtown for cruise in the square from six until eight. A laid back gathering of beautiful cars, trucks, bikes, and everything on wheels. Find more weekend events at visit Kankakee County.com.

SPEAKER_01 5:49

In sports, Cubs beat the Reds eight three yesterday, completing the four-game sweep. The Cubs on a nine game winning streak, they visit the Rangers starting tonight. Sox were off yesterday, they host the Mariners tonight. St. Louis Cardinals, two won winners over the San Diego Padres, same two teams there tonight. The Chicago Fire FC host the New York Red Bulls tomorrow. Chicago Sky opened the WNBA regular season at Portland tomorrow night. NBA playoffs continued last night. The Pistons beat the Cavaliers, the Thunder down the Lakers, 76ers host the Knicks tonight, the Spurs visit the Timberwolves. One game last night in the Stanley Cup playoffs, Hurricanes beat the Flyers, two games on the schedule tonight, Sabres host the Canadians, the Golden Knights visit the Ducks. And NASCAR is in New York this weekend for the go bowling at the Glen from Watkins Glen International Raceway. That's a look at news and sports here on this Friday. Have a good rest of your day and a great weekend. Be safe, everybody. I'm Rob West.