In the dead of winter 1938, the tiny village of Bonfield, Illinois, made national news for a bizarre reason: it banned the card game Rhummy. On this episode of "This One Time in Kankakee," discover the strange and true story of the "Rhummy Rebellion."

Amid the Great Depression, Bonfield was known as a "sinless village" in Kankakee County, thanks to strict Blue Laws that forbade everything from liquor to dancing to playing baseball on Sundays. But when a group of housewives, calling themselves "rhummy widows," lodged a formal complaint, the town board added one more harmless pastime to the banned list.

This episode details the local standoff:

• The Law: Mayor Rubin Orwig and the village board impose a $10 fine (over $200 today) for playing a simple dime-a-hand game.
• The Rebels: Led by defiant barber William Brohm, the local men refuse to give up their only pastime.
• The "Speakeasy": When the ban becomes immediate, the rummy game doesn't stop—it just goes underground, forcing the players into secret hideaways.

Learn how this small-town dispute between morality and camaraderie escalated into a story picked up by the United Press and splashed across the front page of the Kankakee Republican News.

This episode features special voice performances from:

• Denny Case as the 1930s radio news narrator
• Mike Tomano as William Brougham
• Bill Dyche as Leo Reigel
• Rob West as Justice Yeates
• Chris Nickles as Mayor Orwig
• Greg Odeneal as the card player

(This story was researched and written by Jack Klasey. Check out his weekly history blog at kankakeecountymuseum.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.

A short preview of what's to come on the next episode of This One Time in Kankakee. Believe it or not, the card game rummy or rhummy was once banned in the Village of Bonfield.

Listen to the full episode this Monday, November 3rd. Click the follow button now so you don't miss out!

What happens when an EGOT winner and Chicago legend unexpectedly shows up to your community theater rehearsal? On this episode of This One Time in Kankakee, we hear the incredible true story from director Andrew McBurnie about the night Jennifer Hudson visited Bourbonnais to see Acting Out Theatre Company's production of Godspell.

Andrew shares a behind-the-scenes account of how a passing joke among the cast turned into a secretive, last-minute confirmation during the most stressful week of the show. Hear about the moment the cast realized an A-list celebrity was in their small audience, the invaluable advice she gave them during an impromptu Q&A, and the unforgettable moment she stood just feet away and sang "Memory" with no microphone.

This is more than a celebrity story; it’s a powerful tale about humility, the validation of local arts, and the deep connection that makes the Kankakee County community so special.

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.

Every town has landmarks, but what happens when a group of bored teenagers decides to relocate one? In this episode of "This One Time in Kankakee," we bring you the legendary story of a crime that wasn't the crime, and how a 500-pound plaster cow ended up in a suburban living room.

In 2008, Shane Whitlock and his friends, armed with a "borrowed" shopping cart and a severe case of late-night boredom, set their sights on the iconic cow statue outside the Exploration Station Children's Museum at Perry Farm Park in Bradley, IL. What follows is a hilarious comedy of errors, including a herculean effort to push their prize through town, a brilliantly timed but unrelated arrest for stealing a Wendy's banner, and a mother's rude awakening to find a farm animal and a police officer in her home.

This is a quintessential Kankakee County story about how the dumbest decisions make the best memories, the absurdity of youth, and the long, painful walk of shame when you have to carry a 500-pound cow back where you found it at sunrise.

In this episode, you'll hear about:

• The "kidnapping" of the cow statue from Perry Farm in Bradley.
• How to move a 500-pound bovine using a Jewel-Osco shopping cart.
• Getting arrested for stealing a banner, but not the giant cow in your living room.
• A mother's reaction to finding a life-sized farm animal next to her couch.
• The grueling, pre-dawn journey to return the statue to the park.

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 - Intro: The night a landmark disappeared

01:13 - Meet Shane: Teenage life in 2008 Bradley, IL

02:18 - The Target: The Perry Farm Park Cow Statue

03:10 - The Heist: A Cow in a Shopping Cart

04:34 - Mission Accomplished: A Cow in the Living Room

04:57 - The Unrelated Crime: Stealing a Wendy's Banner

06:02 - Mom Wakes Up to a Cow and a Cop

07:38 - The Mission: Return the Cow

08:34 - The Long Walk Home (for the cow)

09:40 - The Aftermath & A Generational Tale of Pranks

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 happens when the subject of your news report calls you directly? In this episode of "This One Time in Kankakee," host Jake LaMore sits down with veteran Kankakee radio news director Rob West (WVLI, WFAV, River Country) for a story that blurs the line between journalism and a real-life crisis negotiation.

In 2008, after reporting on a bank robbery in Bourbonnais, IL, Rob received a shocking call on his personal cell phone. On the other end was the robber himself, who wanted to tell his side of the story because he trusted Rob from listening to his newscasts. This single phone call triggered a tense, multi-day saga involving the Bourbonnais Police Department, a manhunt, and a dramatic, high-speed conclusion on Route 50.

Join us for a gripping Kankakee County true crime story that explores the unique bond between a local radio personality and his audience, the ethical tightrope of a journalist caught in the middle of a crime, and the desperate actions of a man on the edge.

In this episode, you'll hear about:

• The 2008 robbery of the Centrue Bank in Bourbonnais.
• A local news director's direct phone conversations with an active bank robber.
• The collaboration with Bourbonnais Police to identify and locate the suspect.
• The profound trust and connection inherent in local radio.
• The dangerous and dramatic conclusion to the manhunt at the O'Zinga Brothers quarry.

TIMESTAMPS:

00:52 - Meet Rob West: A Career in Kankakee Radio

02:04 - The 2008 Bourbonnais Centrue Bank Robbery

02:51 - "Hi, I'm the bank robber." - The First Call

04:42 - A Journalist's Dilemma: Involving the Police

06:25 - The Manhunt & Learning the Robber's Name

07:34 - A Warning from the Police Chief

08:57 - The Final Call & The Chase on Route 50

10:58 - The Aftermath: Justice for Rick James Pierce

11:47 - The Unique Power of Radio and Audience Trust

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.

Welcome to the premiere episode of This One Time in Kankakee, the podcast that uncovers the unforgettable true stories of Kankakee County. Host Jake LaMore kicks off the series with a deeply personal family legend that has been told for nearly 90 years.

Travel back to a hot summer day in 1936 Manteno, Illinois. At just three years old, Jake's grandfather, Franklin Weber, was accidentally run over by his father's tractor. What follows is a miraculous story of survival, featuring an incredible feat of paternal strength, a look at 1930s medicine at the St. Mary's Hospital, and a twist of fate that connects this near-tragedy to a 69-year love story.

This episode explores rural life during the Great Depression, the resilience of the human spirit, and the power of family history. It’s a foundational story for our exploration of the moments that have shaped the people and places of Kankakee County.

In this episode, you'll hear about:

• Life on a small farm in Manteno, Illinois during the 1930s.
• The dramatic true story of a childhood tractor accident.
• The incredible feat of strength that became a local legend.
• A look at historical medical treatments at St. Mary's Hospital.
• A heartwarming story of destiny that you have to hear to believe.

ABOUT THE PODCAST: "This One Time in Kankakee" explores the unforgettable true stories—big and small—from the people of Kankakee County, Illinois. Hosted by Jake Plummer, a production of the WVLI Podcast Network.

SUBMIT YOUR STORY: Do you have a story that starts with "This one time in Kankakee..."? Email Jake LaMore at 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.