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What's the Story Pekin?

Gary Gillis - Host
Pekin
Pekin, Illinois
Everett Dirksen
Spanish-American War
Abraham Lincoln
Bathrooms
Kitchens
Seasonal Affective Disorder
Pekin Park Foundation Learning Garden
Jeanette Rankin
Pekin High School
Hong Kong
Aging In Place
Parkside Fitness
Springfield, United States
Whig Party
Pekin, Ohio
DIY Home Improvement
Gloria Ranney
Regenerative Agriculture

What’s the Story, Pekin?-a podcast where we share stories of what’s happening in Pekin as told by their authors. We will discuss the community’s profile and personalities, attempting to be an objective source of information on topics of interest to many of us. In the process, we hope to discover the power of possibilities and find reasons for much needed optimism.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes165Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BusinessEntrepreneurship

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Latest Episodes

Gary concludes his visits with Ray LaHood as they discuss the impact of Everett Dirksen and of the importance of observing "America 250".

Gary talks with Ray LaHood about his book and its focus on his efforts to foster discussion and healthy debate during his public life.

Gary sits down with a local historic icon to tell his story and experiences.

Gary visits with Joel Steger and Jennifer Anderson of Pekin Community High School discussing the school's focus on the future for all students.

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Recent Guests

Chris Kaergard
Communications Director and Historian of the Dirksen Center
Dirksen Center
Episode: Some Everett Dirksen Stories You May Not Know
Larissa Reinhart
Author of Winning the Earthquake
Author
Episode: The Jeanette Rankin Story
Susan Rynerson
Represents the Tazewell County Genealogical and Historical Society
Tazewell County Genealogical and Historical Society
Episode: Tazewell County Genealogical and Historical Society Update
Shawna Burnice
Superintendent of Illinois River Valley Special Rec Association (IRVSRA)
IRVSRA (Illinois River Valley Special Rec Association)
Episode: The Pekin Park District's IRVSRA Story
Keith Knox
Manager of Parkside Fitness
Park District of Pekin
Episode: What's the Story with the New Solar Field on Broadway?
Jason Vogel
Director of Cultivation and Garden Education for the Pekin Park Foundation Learning Garden
Pekin Park Foundation Learning Garden
Episode: Pekin Park Foundation's Learning Garden
Greg Ranney
Husband of Gloria Ranney, long-time community member
Episode: A Tribute to Gloria Ranney
Seth Ranney
Police Chief, son of Gloria Ranney
Pekin Police Department
Episode: A Tribute to Gloria Ranney
Dr. Regina Brian
A clinician who operates B Integrative Psychology
B Integrative Psychology
Episode: What is Seasonal Affective Disorder?

Host

Gary Gillis
Host with deep involvement in Pekin-focused storytelling and local history initiatives.

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Talking Points

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Pekin Park Foundation's Learning Garden
Q: What is a Learning Garden, and what is the goal behind it?
The Learning Garden is intended to be a regenerative gardening learning center where people can acquire skills to grow their own food, understand soil biology, and implement sustainable practices that reduce costs while improving health.
What Happens When a City Steps in - The Pekin Motel 6 Story
Q: So Byron, share with us a little bit about your company.
Byron describes Dean Commercial Inc. as a hotel development company that remodels existing hotels, evaluates dirt for new projects, and handles site development and entitlements, working with city processes to bring a hotel to Pekin without operating the hotel themselves.
The Jeanette Rankin Story
Q: Why did Rankin vote against entering World War II, and how does that compare to her World War I stance?
She viewed both conflicts through a moral lens, arguing that war erodes democracy and harms civilians; the WWII vote echoed the WWI reasoning, showing a consistent, principle-driven stance rather than opportunistic party alignment.
The Pekin Park District's IRVSRA Story
Q: What are the future plans for the facility and IRVSRA's mission?
Plans include expanding the sensory area, adding a larger sensory garden, and continuing to broaden services and partnerships so more community members can participate and feel at home in the facility.
The Pekin Park District's IRVSRA Story
Q: What kinds of programs and participation numbers are they seeing?
The programs cover day camps, after-school care, and weekend events with a minimum age of seven for most activities; overall participation includes hundreds of participants across different programs, with ongoing Special Olympics involvement and broad age ranges.

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Frequently Asked Questions About What's the Story Pekin?

What is What's the Story Pekin? about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Episodes center on Pekin's local history, community stories, and practical projects shaping everyday life. Conversations weave through Pekin's past with figures like historians and library researchers, alongside coverage of current initiatives such as municipal redevelopment, solar energy projects, garden education, and inclusive recreation programs. The mix of archival storytelling, neighborhood features, and project updates suggests a show focused on civic pride, local heritage, and community impact, often grounded in tangible case studies and on-the-ground perspectives. A few episodes lean into broader historical narratives ( Everett Dirksen, Jeanette Rankin, the Pekin Agreement) while others spotlight ongoing local projects (IRVSRA, the... more

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1. Up First from NPR

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What's the Story Pekin? launched 3 years ago and published 165 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on What's the Story Pekin??

Recent guests on What's the Story Pekin? include:

1. Chris Kaergard
2. Larissa Reinhart
3. Susan Rynerson
4. Shawna Burnice
5. Keith Knox
6. Jason Vogel
7. Greg Ranney
8. Seth Ranney

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