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.

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.