Freepod - The news you've been missing

08/19/2025

Here's your in-depth interview for August 19, 2025!

FREEPOD and TimBeck2 host Tim Connors interviews Tim Cook, Executive Director of Malcolm Eaton Enterprises and Malcolm Eaton’s Community Liaison Brian Babcock about the Freeport Area Eats & Beats event coming up this Saturday!

Eats & Beats is a 2-day food and music festival coordinated by Freeport area nonprofit groups. It will be held at the FAM Arts Plaza in downtown Freeport on August 22-23, 2025.

Listen here: https://freepod.org/podcasts

08/15/2025

🌙 🌟 Tomorrow is the 3rd Saturday of August, so you know what that means! The Observatory is open Saturday (8/16) at 8 p.m.! Join us for this week’s presentation on bad astronomy in the media, and stick around afterwards for stargazing through telescopes 🔭

As always, the Observatory is free and no admission required! Donations welcomed 💫

08/14/2025

Here’s your newscast for August 14, 2025!

1. City road work
2. Tire recycling event
3. Streaming service now available through the Freeport Public Library
4. Krape Park Art Walk
5. Paint the Port
6. Public school registration reminders
7. FHN recognized for cardiac arrest survival rate
8. Highland’s Volunteer Literacy Program
9. The week ahead…
- Half-price book sale at the VOICES Book Nook
- Music at Debate Square – vanfunk
- Cub Food brat stand - Forrestville Valley Elementary PTO
- Farmers Markets

Here's how to listen:
https://freepod.org/podcasts
or find both English and Spanish audio/script at https://www.northernpublicradio.org/freepod

Spanish Translation:

¡Aquí está el noticiero del 14 de agosto de 2025!

1. Obras viales en la ciudad
2. Evento de reciclaje de llantas
3. Servicio de transmisión ahora disponible a través de la Biblioteca Pública de Freeport
4. Paseo Artístico del Parque Krape
5. Pinta el Puerto
6. Recordatorios de inscripción a escuelas públicas
7. FHN reconocido por su tasa de supervivencia a paros cardíacos
8. Programa de Alfabetización Voluntaria de Highland
9. La semana que viene…
- Venta de libros a mitad de precio en el Rincón de Libros VOICES
- Música en Debate Square – vanfunk
- Puesto de salchichas Cub Food - Asociación de Padres y Maestros de la Escuela Primaria Forrestville Valley
- Mercados de Agricultores

Cómo escucharlo: https://freepod.org/podcasts o encuentra el audio/guión en inglés y español en https://www.northernpublicradio.org/freepod

08/12/2025

Here's your in-depth interview for August 12, 2025!

FREEPOD host Alan Wenzel speaks with Brian Caldwell of AutoSmart Classic Car Sales and Consignment at the former location of the Stephenson County Visitors Center on Route 20 just east of Freeport.

Listen here: https://freepod.org/podcasts

08/08/2025

⚠️ ATTENTION ⚠️
It has been observed that vehicles continue to drive through the intersection of Stephenson and Park. At this time, the amount of activity is DELAYING the project.

So in case you didn't see it before, here's what you need to look out for (Please help us keep construction on schedule):

🚧 IMPORTANT INTERSECTION CLOSURE 🚧
The intersection at W. Stephenson Street and Park Boulevard will be closed for multiple weeks starting Thursday, August 7.

The intersection will not be opened after work hours.

In addition, Stephenson will be closed from Greenfield to Sunset.

Road closed signs give crews the proper space and safety to work. Ignoring them could result in injury, project malfunction and more. The City asks that you pay attention to road closed signs and obey them with the utmost caution.

08/08/2025

Becky is also one of our reporters for FREEPOD as part of TimBeck2! Thank you for all that you do!

You may know her as a Freeport High School English instructor or assistant speech coach, but did you know Becky Connors served as Director of the Freeport Art Museum from 1990 to 2002? During her tenure with FAM, Becky launched Sketches newsletter, the Family Arts Festival, Summer ArtWorks, Christmas Memories, and the Wine Tasting Event. With leadership from Tom and Lynn Hartog, she was at the helm when the Philip Dedrick collection and endowment were established. In the 1990s, FAM brought performances by the Rockford Symphony Orchestra, Second City, and Muntu Dance Company to Freeport.

Thank you, Becky!

08/07/2025

Here’s your newscast for August 7, 2025!

1. City utilities update
a. Road work – major updates & road closures! (Please note that after time of recording, some roads are NOT reopening for the evening, so please continue avoiding driving through the project locations)
b. Burchard water tower repainting
2. Cruise Night returns
3. Lincoln Douglas 5K
4. VOICES half-price sale with bonus interview with Sarah Knapp
5. Stephenson County Crime Stop presentation
6. Stuff the Bus at Walmart
7. City of Freeport 2025 photo contest
8. The week ahead…
a. Music on Debate Square – 8/7
b. Music on the Patio – 8/8
c. Cub Foods brat stand - The Children’s Hands-On Museum – this weekend
d. Paws for Reading – Saturday at FPL at 11am

Here's how to listen:
https://freepod.org/podcasts
or find both English and Spanish audio/script at https://www.northernpublicradio.org/freepod

Spanish Translation:

¡Aquí está el noticiero del 7 de agosto de 2025!

1. Actualización de servicios públicos de la ciudad
a. Obras viales: ¡actualizaciones importantes y cierres de carreteras!
b. Repintado de la torre de agua de Burchard
2. Regresa la Noche de Cruceros
3. Carrera Lincoln Douglas 5K
4. Oferta de mitad de precio de VOICES con entrevista extra con Sarah Knapp
5. Presentación de la Detención del Crimen del Condado de Stephenson
6. Rellenar el Autobús en Walmart
7. Concurso de fotografía de la Ciudad de Freeport 2025
8. La semana que viene…
a. Música en Debate Square – 7/8
b. Música en el Patio – 8/8
c. Puesto de salchichas de Cub Foods - Museo Infantil Interactivo – este fin de semana
d. Patas para Leer – Sábado en FPL a las 11 a. m.

Cómo escucharlo: https://freepod.org/podcasts o encuentra el audio/guión en inglés y español en https://www.northernpublicradio.org/freepod

08/06/2025

ICYMI!

During our July 31 newscast, we discussed how the Greater Freeport Partnership and the museums of Stephenson County are hosting a Passport to the Past self-guided tour of the County’s museums and the Stephenson County Genealogical Society located at the Freeport Public Library through Labor Day weekend.

FREEPOD and TimBeck2 host Becky Connors caught up with Sharon Welton, Executive Director of the Stephenson County Historical Society for more about this fun and informative season-long tour.

You can pick up the passport at various locations. Learn more with the link in the comments!

You can catch the interview on our July 31 newscast.

https://freepod.org/podcasts

08/05/2025

Here's your in-depth interview for August 5, 2025!

FREEPOD and TimBeck2 host Tim Connors visits with the folks at Drake Farms about their delicious sweet corn.

Listen here: https://freepod.org/podcasts

07/31/2025

Here’s your newscast for July 31, 2025!

1. City roadwork update
2. Downtown demolition planned
3. Public school registration reminders
4. Stephenson County Health Department offering free back-to-school
5. Lifelong Learning at HCC
6. A bloomin’ great visit with Stephenson County Farm Bureau
7. Music Under the Stars Pop Concert
8. Passport to the Past (with audio clip)
9. Thank you for the flowers!
10. The week ahead…
- Music at Debate Square – July 31 - Lobbin Robbins
- Music on Chicago – Aug. 1
- Cub Foods Brat Stand – Supporting Little Cubs Field
- National Night Out on Aug. 5
- “The Wild Bunch” at the Lindo

Here's how to listen:
https://freepod.org/podcasts
or find both English and Spanish audio/script at https://www.northernpublicradio.org/freepod

Spanish Translation:

¡Aquí está el noticiero del 31 de julio de 2025!

1. Actualización sobre las obras viales de la ciudad
2. Demolición planificada en el centro
3. Recordatorios de inscripción para las escuelas públicas
4. El Departamento de Salud del Condado de Stephenson ofrece regreso a clases gratuito
5. Aprendizaje permanente en HCC
6. Una visita fantástica a la Oficina Agrícola del Condado de Stephenson
7. Concierto pop "Música bajo las estrellas"
8. Pasaporte al pasado (con clip de audio)
9. ¡Gracias por las flores!
10. La semana que viene…
- Música en Debate Square – 31 de julio - Lobbin Robbins
- Música en Chicago – 1 de agosto
- Puesto de salchichas Cub Foods – Apoyo al Little Cubs Field
- Noche Nacional el 5 de agosto
- "The Wild Bunch" en el Lindo

Cómo escucharlo: https://freepod.org/podcasts o encuentra el audio/guión en inglés y español en https://www.northernpublicradio.org/freepod

07/29/2025

Here's your in-depth interview for July 29, 2025!

FREEPOD and TimBeck2 host Tim Connors takes a walk down memory lane about the many breweries that have added a sense of community and camaraderie in Freeport’s history.

Listen here: https://freepod.org/podcasts