Changes

Primarily on the weekends WKEI airs FOX Sports Radio Network coverage which offers around-the-clock sports coverage and programming.  

Primarily on the weekends WKEI airs FOX Sports Radio Network coverage which offers around-the-clock sports coverage and programming.  

Previously WKEI was a [[CBS News Radio]] affiliate and [[ABC radio]] affiliate. The national network affiliations primarily mean the station plays approximately 6 minutes  

Previously WKEI was a [[CBS News Radio]] affiliate and [[ABC radio]] affiliate. The national network affiliations primarily mean the station plays approximately 6 minutes of the national news at the top of each hour in addition to some nationally broadcast programs from the respective affiliates. National news network programs include: The Joe Pags Show, The [[Hugh Hewitt]] Show, The Jim Bohannon Show. Previously when a CBS radio affiliate the station would play the The Osgood file with Charles Osgood and CBS World News Roundup.

 

of the national news at the top of each hour in addition to some nationally broadcast programs from the respective affiliates. National news network programs include: The  

 

Joe Pags Show, The [[Hugh Hewitt]] Show, The Jim Bohannon Show. Previously when a CBS radio affiliate the station would play the The Osgood file with Charles Osgood and CBS  

 

World News Roundup.

== Station slogans ==

== Station slogans ==

Tri-County Radio

*Tri-County Radio

The Talk of the Tri-Counties

*The Talk of the Tri-Counties

== Previous seasons of programs ==

== Previous seasons of programs ==

"Coaches Corner" is a 2 hour, Saturday morning, local tri-county sports radio show produced from the WKEI studios. The frontline teams covered during the show are the Kewanne Boilermakers and Wethersfield Flying Geese teams. Later a change to the second Kewanee highscool team combining with Anawan is now known as Annawan/Wethersfield Titans. Since it's inception in the 1990's there have been many hosts. Previous hosts include former station general manager Gary Petersen, actor/producer [[Bryan Kreutz]], Tony Sarnow, Bob McKee, and Sean Kernan. Russ Hughes, longtime color analyst for the Kewanne Boilermakers, has also interviewed many of the IHSA highschool head coaches as well for the show.  

"Coaches Corner" is a 2 hour, Saturday morning, local tri-county sports radio show produced from the WKEI studios. The front line teams covered during the show are the Kewanne Boilermakers and througout much of the programs run the Wethersfield Flying Geese team. Later a change to the second Kewanee high school team combining with Annawan is now known as Annawan/Wethersfield Titans. Since the shows inception in the 1990's there have been many hosts. Previous hosts include former station general manager Gary Petersen, actor/producer [[Bryan Kreutz]], Tony Sarnow, Bob McKee, and Sean Kernan. Russ Hughes, longtime color analyst for the Kewanne Boilermakers, has also interviewed many of the IHSA high school head coaches as well for the show.  

At different air-dates From the 1990's and some still airing through today WKEI's programs include:

At different air-dates From the 1990's and some still airing through today WKEI's programs include:

*The [[Michael Medved]] Show  

*"The [[Michael Medved]] Show"

*The [[Dave Ramsey]] Show  

*"The [[Dave Ramsey]] Show"

*The Jim Bohannon Show

*"The Jim Bohannon Show"

*The [[Lars Larson]] Show  

*"The [[Lars Larson]] Show"

*The Radio Factor hosted by [[Bill O'Reilly]]

*"The Radio Factor hosted by [[Bill O'Reilly]]"

*Morning News with Bob McKee

*"Morning News with Bob McKee"

*People to People  

*"People to People"

*Open Line

*"Open Line"

*Tuned In

*"Tuned In"

*RFD Today

*"RFD Today"

*Noon Farm Show

*"Noon Farm Show"

*The Trading Post  

*"The Trading Post"

*Agritalk

*"Agritalk"

*The [[Mark Levin]] Show

*"The [[Mark Levin]] Show"

*CBS Sports Weekend

*CBS Sports Weekend

*Fighting Illini Sports

*Fighting Illini Sports

== Program and station history ==

== Program and station history ==

On July 18, 1951, the Federal Communications Commision granted a construction permit to the Kee Broadcasting Company for a 100 watt full-time AM station in Kewanne (Henry  

On July 18, 1951, the Federal Communications Commision granted a construction permit to the Kee Broadcasting Company for a 100 watt full-time AM station in Kewanne (Henry County) Illinois.

 

WKEI AM 1450 began as a 100-watt AM station in 1952 in Kewanee, Illinois, providing the town with its first local radio signal. WKEI went on the air at 6 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 11, 1952. A dedication ceremony was broadcast at 1 p.m. The first building for the station was a small concrete block building, which still stands at the base of the transmitting tower on the corner of South Beach and West Garfield streets, across from Windmont Park in Kewanne, Illinois. Surplus Army equipment was used for the first broadcasting setup when the station first went on the airwaves. This setup was assembled by co-owner Elwood “Woody” Scandrett and a local “do-it-all” engineer named Ernie Tomlinson.

County) Illinois.

WKEI AM 1450 began as a 100-watt AM station in 1952 in Kewanee, Illinois, providing the town with its first local radio signal. WKEI went on the air at 6 a.m. Thursday,  

 

Sept. 11, 1952. A dedication ceremony was broadcast at 1 p.m. The first building for the station was a small concrete block building, which still stands at the base of the  

 

transmitting tower on the corner of South Beach and West Garfield streets, across from Windmont Park in Kewanne, Illinois. Surplus Army equipment was used for the first  

 

broadcasting setup when the station first went on the airwaves. This setup was assembled by co-owner Elwood “Woody” Scandrett and a local “do-it-all” engineer named Ernie  

 

Tomlinson.

The first sports event ever aired on WKEI was a high school football game between the Kewanee Boilermakers and Canton Little Giants at 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12, 1952.

The first sports event ever aired on WKEI was a high school football game between the Kewanee Boilermakers and Canton Little Giants at 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12, 1952.

Phil Miler, the first sports director and sports voice for the station, whose voice was heard on WKEI before it was officially on the air, for a column.  

Phil Miler, the first sports director and sports voice for the station, whose voice was heard on WKEI before it was officially on the air, for a column.  

 

After the station went on the air, Miler was employed part-time doing sports and sales. He gathered and wrote copy for two sportscasts six nights a week, at 6:15 and 10:15 p.m., and the latter seven nights.

After the station went on the air, Miler was employed part-time doing sports and sales. He gathered and wrote copy for two sportscasts six nights a week, at 6:15 and 10:15  

 

p.m., and the latter seven nights.

For nine seasons — 1952 to 1960 — he was a one-man sports department. During one fall and winter, Miler broadcast 80 high school football and basketball games.

For nine seasons — 1952 to 1960 — he was a one-man sports department. During one fall and winter, Miler broadcast 80 high school football and basketball games.

Miler originated live broadcasts from the Illinois cities of Quincy, Champaign, Rochelle, DeKalb, Peoria and Quad Cities.

Miler originated live broadcasts from the Illinois cities of Quincy, Champaign, Rochelle, DeKalb, Peoria and Quad Cities.

While a CBS Radio affiliate, WKEI was also the Kewanee,IL affiliate for [[St. Louis Cardinals]] of [[Major League Baseball]], [[NFL]] Football on Westwood one, and The  

While a CBS Radio affiliate, WKEI was also the Kewanee,IL affiliate for [[St. Louis Cardinals]] of [[Major League Baseball]], [[NFL]] Football on Westwood one, and The  

Illini. Along with local personalities, Kris Wexell and Bob McKee the station was previously owned by Miller Media Group. In October of 2007 WKEI became the first AM radio  

Illini. Along with local personalities, Kris Wexell and Bob McKee the station was previously owned by Miller Media Group. In October of 2007 WKEI became the first AM radio  

station in Illinois to simalcast it's programing on 2 FM translators. 104.3 FM Kewanee and 100.1 FM in Galva IL.

station in Illinois to simulcast it's programming on 2 FM translators. 104.3 FM Kewanee and 100.1 FM in Galva IL.

== Locations ==

== Locations ==

WKEI was first located at 207 Baker Building, 202 1/2 North Tremont, in Kewanne, IL.

*WKEI was first located at 207 Baker Building, 202 1/2 North Tremont, in Kewanne, IL.

WKEI studios moved in 1961 to the Hotel Kewanee, 125 North Chestnut Street, in Kewanne, IL.  

*WKEI studios moved in 1961 to the Hotel Kewanee, 125 North Chestnut Street, in Kewanne, IL.  

Since 1981 WKEI and WJRE broadcast studios are both located at 133 East Division Street in Kewanee, IL.

*Since 1981 WKEI and WJRE broadcast studios are both located at 133 East Division Street in Kewanee, IL.

== External links ==

== External links ==