JCWIFI TO HOST TOWNHALL ABOUT PROPOSED TOWER
There has been a lot of buzz on social media recently about a proposed tower near the Firebaugh Observatory on Stephenson Street in Freeport. Unfortunately, much of the information circulating has been speculative or based on half-truths.
According to city officials, the proposal is for a zoning ordinance variation to construct a 150-foot Wi-Fi tower, not a cell tower, as some posts have reported. The variation is being applied for by JCWIFI, a local provider of wireless internet services.
The variance application was originally scheduled to be discussed and voted on at the Zoning Board of Appeals meeting on March 5. However, at the last minute, the petitioner requested a continuance. The proposal will now be voted on at the April 2 meeting.
In the meantime, JCWIFI has announced a town hall public meeting for residents to hear facts about the proposal and voice their opinions and concerns. The meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 30, at 6 p.m. at City Hall.
Freepod will continue to monitor the story and report back as new developments unfold.
CITY PREPARES TO DEMOLISH VACANT DOWNTOWN BUILDING
Demolition is underway on a long-vacant building in downtown Freeport, and city officials are warning nearby businesses about short-term impacts.
Crews are tearing down the former One Hour Sanitary Cleaners building, which was deemed unsafe due to a collapsing roof and other safety concerns. Officials say the demolition is complex, requiring the structure to be taken down in layers because of tight spacing between buildings.
Road closures and limited access are expected, raising concerns from neighboring businesses about customer safety and traffic disruptions.
City leaders say those concerns are valid but believe removing the dangerous structure will ultimately open the door for future development and bring more activity to the downtown area.
The project is expected to be finished by the end of May.
DILLAN VANCIL WINS GOP HOUSE PRIMARY
Republican voters in Illinois' 17th Congressional District have chosen their nominee for November.
Business owner Dillan Vancil defeated Carroll County Board Chair Julie Bickelhaupt in Tuesday's primary, winning 58% to 42%. He held a lead of roughly 4,800 votes when declared the winner late Tuesday night.
The Monmouth-based coffee shop owner campaigned on support for small businesses, economic growth and reducing the federal deficit.
In a social media post, Vancil criticized incumbent Democrat Eric Sorensen, saying Illinois families are facing higher costs and growing division.
Sorensen, who ran unopposed in the primary, is seeking a third term.
The 17th District stretches across 14 counties, including a significant portion of Freepod's coverage area.
HCC SIGNS TRANSFER AGREEMENT WITH ISU
Highland Community College has signed multiple transfer agreements with Illinois State University for students pursuing degrees in early childhood or special education.
The agreements allow students who begin their college careers at Highland to transfer to ISU while maximizing credit transfer and minimizing duplication of instruction.
Transfer agreements are standard practice for community colleges and universities in Illinois. Highland already has multiple agreements with institutions across the state.
FREEPORT STUDENT GARDEN IS NOW TAKING ORDERS
The student garden at Freeport High School is gearing up for the growing season. Along with a wide variety of fruits and vegetables grown by students and staff, the garden also sells garden-ready plants.
These starters are cultivated by FHS students and make kick-starting a home garden easier. This year, the student garden is offering pickup or delivery for residents within 5 miles of Freeport who place orders of $50 or more.
Plant varieties include broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cucumbers, leafy greens, melons, peppers, tomatoes and herbs. The garden also sells harder-to-find varieties such as kohlrabi and okra.
Pickup will be Wednesday, May 13, from 3:30 to 6 p.m., and deliveries will take place Thursday, May 14.
To order, visit https://my.cheddarup.com/c/2026fsgplantsale/items.
POLLINATOR SEEDS FOR SALE BY STEPHENSON COUNTY FARM BUREAU
A discounted pollinator seed sale is underway in Stephenson and Carroll counties.
With support from the Illinois Farm Bureau, Growmark and FS, local farm bureaus are offering two seed mix options this year.
The Butterfly Mix is designed to support monarchs, butterflies and bees, while a separate CRP mix includes grasses to help reduce weeds and is available for approved conservation plots.
Officials say the program helps boost pollinator habitats across the region.
Orders must be submitted by March 30.
You can place an order online at on.ilfb.org/stephensonseedsale or by contacting the Stephenson County Farm Bureau directly.
PAINT THE PORT T-SHIRT CONTEST FOR KIDS
Young artists in Freeport are invited to showcase their creativity in a new contest.
Organizers of Paint the Port are asking children 13 and younger to help design the official 2026 event T-shirt.
Children can submit original artwork through April 3, with top designs moving on to a public vote on social media. One winning design will be selected and featured on shirts worn throughout downtown Freeport during the event.
Organizers say it's a fun way for kids to get creative, whether they enjoy drawing, painting, or doodling.
Families are encouraged to grab their art supplies and participate before the deadline.
To enter, visit painttheport.com.
REMINDER ABOUT DROPPING OFF WOODY DEBRIS
In the wake of recent windstorms, the city of Freeport is reminding residents about rules for disposing of woody debris.
Residents may drop off debris less than 4 inches in diameter at the city's collection site at 1001 North Island Avenue between 7 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Residents must check in at the office before dropping off materials. Contractors are not allowed to use the site.
CARROLL AND OGLE COUNTY AMONG STATE LEADERS IN WHEAT PRODUCTION
Farmers in northwest Illinois are posting strong wheat yields, with Carroll and Ogle counties among the top performers in the state.
According to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Carroll County averaged more than 111 bushels per acre in 2025, ranking second statewide, and produced more than 327,000 bushels.
Ogle County averaged nearly 107 bushels per acre and produced more than 524,000 bushels across nearly 5,000 acres.
Statewide, a dozen counties reached triple-digit yields, highlighting a strong year for Illinois wheat production.
Officials say the numbers reflect favorable growing conditions and continued efficiency from local farmers.
IHDA ASKS FOR FEEDBACK ON HOUSING NEEDS
Illinois residents are being asked to weigh in on housing needs across the state.
The Illinois Housing Development Authority is launching a public survey as part of its statewide housing plan. Officials say the goal is to better understand local housing challenges and development needs.
The survey is expected to take less than 15 minutes to complete.
Residents can take the survey: https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/ed937f5477db49dcb85c8575953cd404?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExQ0lBb3U3WDVhVVQzRG1sRHNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR4_IFPtwda7WkBzSG8Xm5SqEXRcstu_JxqladRuveJcgUbdSv4ncclsiKvszQ_aem_vN99EoYe0N811tbt7LKMOQ.
PROPOSED BILL WOULD REQUIRE HIGH SCHOOLS TO OFFER VOTER REGISTRATION
A proposal in Illinois would require high schools to offer graduating seniors the opportunity to register to vote.
The measure, known as the Rev. Jesse Jackson Senior Young Voter Empowerment Act, recently passed a House committee with unanimous Democratic support.
Some Republicans have raised concerns about adding unfunded mandates for schools and questioned whether it would increase turnout.
Advocates say the measure honors civil rights leader Jesse Jackson and could help engage more young people in the democratic process.
PRITZKER CALLS FOR HIGHER NUMBERS OF POSTSECONDARY DEGREES
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker is directing state agencies to increase the number of adults with college degrees or job training credentials.
The state currently falls short of its goal of 60% by 2025, with recent data showing about 57% of adults credentialed.
The governor says the push is critical, citing projections that more than 70% of jobs will soon require education beyond high school.
The group is expected to deliver recommendations by December 2026.
Local governments across central Illinois are moving ahead with data center regulations as state lawmakers have yet to act.
Data centers have raised concerns about heavy water and energy use. Proposed legislation, known as the Power Act, would require companies to report usage and cover energy costs.
In the meantime, counties such as Logan are considering zoning and environmental regulations, while Pekin has already rejected a proposed project following community pushback. While there are no public plans for a data center in northwest Illinois, many in the community are watching the issue closely, as the likelihood of such a proposal moving forward remains significant.
State lawmakers remain divided, with some calling for local control and others urging statewide guidelines to balance economic growth with environmental protections.
BOYER COLLOQUIUM ANNOUNCED
Highland Community College will host its 31st annual Boyer Colloquium on April 1 at 7 p.m.
A panel of experts, including state Sen. Steve Stadelman, will discuss the environmental, economic and ethical challenges tied to artificial intelligence.
Organizers say the goal is to help the public better understand how emerging technology affects communities and the environment.
The Boyer Colloquium, named for local veterinarian M.E. Boyer, has been a longtime tradition, bringing discussions of ethics, economics and ecology to the Freeport community.
POLKAFEST TICKETS ON SALE NOW
Tickets are on sale for a unique celebration in Freeport.
The Lincoln-Douglas Society is hosting Polkafest on April 25 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Masonic Temple, celebrating National Pretzel Weekend.
The event will feature live music from the Zwiefel Brothers, along with food, drinks and plenty of polka. Local favorites, including The Traveling Chefs, Lena Brewing Company and Freeport Pretzel Company, will be on hand.
There will also be a silent auction with a variety of items.
can be purchased at 9 East Coffee, the Greater Freeport Partnership, at the door or online: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pretzel-city-polka-fest-tickets-1983087034704
Organizers say it's shaping up to be a fun, family-friendly event that you won't want to miss.
IN CLOSING…
As we wrap up this week's show, we'd like to remind listeners to check out last week's interview. Freepod co-host Tim Connors spoke with Denny Garkey, the man behind the local legend Little Cubs Field. Tim and Garkey discussed the project's origins and future opportunities for the field.
This coming Tuesday, the featured interview will be with Rob Boyer and Randi Kohlbauer from the city of Freeport. Co-host Alan Wenzel spoke with Boyer and Kohlbauer about ongoing and upcoming infrastructure projects helping to grow and maintain the Pretzel City. The interview will be available starting at noon Tuesday, March 31. You can find it, along with all other interviews, on Freepod's website, www.freepod.org, or wherever you get your podcasts from.
We’d like to thank our community liaisons and reporters for providing pivotal content, our partners at WNIJ in DeKalb for helping share Freepod with a larger audience, and the Mass Communication Department at Highland Community College for producing this podcast.
As always, please like us on Facebook, subscribe on your preferred podcast platform, and share with friends. To make a tax-deductible contribution supporting local news content, please visit www.freepod.org.
This has been Freepod. Thank you for listening.
Copy Edited by Eryn Lent