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.