Jeff Cross isn’t usually a planner. But for his 30th wedding anniversary, he decided to go big. In this episode of This One Time in Kankakee, we hear the incredible true story of how a 1990s meet-cute at a Bourbonnais Blockbuster led to a secret flash mob in downtown Kankakee.

Hear how Jeff organized 50 friends and family members, dodged suspicious bailiffs while sneaking around the Courthouse bushes, and used a "fake cake" to keep his wife from ruining her own surprise. It’s a story about love, logistics, and the community coming together on Court Street.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• The Origin Story: How a misheard name at the hospital made Jeff a "Kankakee legend" from birth.
• The Meet-Cute: A nostalgic look back at dating in the 90s involving Subway sandwiches and Blockbuster nametags.
• The Heist: How Jeff secured "clearance" from a local Judge and hid behind trees to keep the secret.
• The Payoff: What it takes to coordinate a dance routine in the freezing February slush.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Kankakee County Courthouse
• Knights of Columbus
• Busse & Rieck Flowers
• Subway (Bourbonnais)
• The "Eagle" distraction technique 🦅

Have a Kankakee story? We want to hear it! Email jake@milnermediapartners.com to tell us about "This one time in Kankakee..."

Want more from the WVLI Podcast Network? Listen to the WVLI News Update with Rob West every weekday morning! Get the days local news from the greater Kankakee County, IL area in 10 minutes or less.

Subscribe now on your preferred podcast platform: https://wvlinewsupdate.buzzsprout.com

The Voices You Trust, Beyond The Dial.

It was the winter of 2001. The muffler had just fallen off, and the rust was setting in. But Nick Stalnos wasn't ready to give up on his 1993 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera. Instead, he grabbed his friends, bought every roll of silver tape he could find, and created a local legend.

In this episode of This One Time in Kankakee, we sit down with Nick to hear the true story behind "The Silver Bullet." From delivering pizzas on Kennedy Drive to a hilarious run-in with Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White on I-57, Nick takes us back to a time before GPS, when a car was more than just a vehicle—it was a canvas.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Why a Kankakee pizza delivery driver decided to wrap his car bumper-to-bumper in duct tape.
• The hilarious reactions from Chicago locals (and one very confused snake owner).
• The story of how the "Silver Bullet" passed an unexpected inspection by Jesse White himself.
• Why the "duct tape craze" of the early 2000s holds a special place in local history.

Mentioned in this episode:

• The Daily Journal
• Papa John’s Kankakee
• Jesse White Tumblers
• I-57 & Kennedy Drive

Have a Kankakee story? We want to hear from you! Send us your "This One Time in Kankakee" moment to jake@milnermediapartners.com.

Want more from the WVLI Podcast Network? Listen to the WVLI News Update with Rob West every weekday morning! Get the days local news from the greater Kankakee County, IL area in 10 minutes or less.

Subscribe now on your preferred podcast platform: https://wvlinewsupdate.buzzsprout.com

The Voices You Trust, Beyond The Dial.

What began as a routine trip to the pediatrician at Riverside Hospital quickly turned into a life-altering journey for the Pomranky family. In this episode of This One Time in Kankakee, host Jake LaMore sits down with local mom Jennifer Pomranky to share the powerful story of her son, Mads.

Diagnosed with a rare form of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) at just five months old, Mads faced an uphill battle that required aggressive chemotherapy and a life-saving stem cell transplant. But just as a perfect donor match was found, the world shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jennifer takes us inside the isolation of the hospital, the terror of the diagnosis, and the incredible relief of finally meeting the stranger who saved her son's life. Today, Mads is a healthy, energetic six-year-old who is officially considered CURED.

In this episode, you will hear:

• The Kankakee Moment: How a thorough exam by Dr. Batista at Riverside Hospital led to a critical early diagnosis.
• The Treatment: The reality of navigating chemotherapy and isolation with an infant at Comer Children's Hospital.
• The Pandemic Hurdle: How a global shutdown almost prevented a life-saving transplant.
• The Donor Connection: The emotional story of Kaitlyn, the college student who paused her life to save a stranger, and her heartwarming relationship with the Pomranky family today.
• Life After Cancer: Mads’ development, his love for drawing, and what it means to be "cured."

Mentioned in this episode:

• DKMS: The international nonprofit bone marrow donor center. You can register to be a donor with a simple cheek swab. Visit DKMS.org to save a life.

Share Your Story: Do you have a memory that happened right here in Kankakee County? We want to hear it. Email us at jake@milnermediapartners.com and finish the sentence: "This one time in Kankakee..."

Want more from the WVLI Podcast Network? Listen to the WVLI News Update with Rob West every weekday morning! Get the days local news from the greater Kankakee County, IL area in 10 minutes or less.

Subscribe now on your preferred podcast platform: https://wvlinewsupdate.buzzsprout.com

The Voices You Trust, Beyond The Dial.