I consider myself lucky to have been born and raised right here in the Rock River Valley, a place that my family and my wife Amy's family have called home for generations. I was first hired at WROK in 1983, and except for a short departure, I've spent my entire career right here in Rockford. Halloween of 2019 will mark my 18th anniversary of hosting the WROK Morning Show, making me the longest-serving morning show host in the station's nearly 100-year history. Amy and I have been happily married for 28 years, with two (now grown) children, Spencer (who does voice-overs for audio books and commercial voice-over work, too), and Molly (a graduate of Rock Valley College who also dazzles with service at a popular local restaurant). I'm luckier than I ever thought possible. When I'm not here at the station, I can usually be found at one of Rockford's many great, local events, either as host/master of ceremonies, or as an attendee. If we should meet, feel free to buy me 1 to 7 drinks.
Riley O'Neil
Study Names This Place As Illinois’ Most Charming Small Town
There's no shortage of small towns scattered throughout the state of Illinois. Some are vibrant, some are rundown, but of all the small towns in the Land of Lincoln, one particular place gets the title of Illinois' most charming small town.
7 Illinois High Schools Named Among Best 50 In The United States
Having seven high schools ranked in the top 50 high schools in the entire country is pretty cool, but in order to send your kid to one of Illinois' top ranked high schools, you might have to call a realtor and moving company.
Illinois Stink Bugs: Here’s What You Didn’t Know About Them
Here in Illinois, we deal with these bugs mainly in the Spring and again in the Fall...but sometimes in the winter when they've broken into our homes. Here are some things you may not know about Illinois stink bugs, like for example, how many different types we have in this state.
Shortage: Clorox Wipes May Be Hard To Find In Illinois-Here’s Why
Just in time for cold and flu season comes the news that one of Illinois' and the nation's go-to products, Clorox Disinfecting Wipes, will probably be in short supply due to some manufacturing problems.
Check The Numbers: Which Midwestern State Drinks The Most?
When it comes to elbow-bending with a beverage in our hands, Midwesterners can pretty much drink with anyone in the country. However, when it comes to drinking, which Midwestern state's residents are pounding more than their neighboring states? You probably have a good guess for this one.
8 Of The 10 Deadliest Insects In The World Live In Illinois
If you've always thought that one of the big advantages of living in Illinois is our relative lack of deadly creatures (animal or insect), you might want to think about revising that opinion. We've got some nasty creepy-crawlies in the insect world, and they love living in Illinois.
Trick-Or-Treating: Is There A Maximum Age Limit In Illinois?
We've all had the experience of someone who is just too old to be out trick-or-treating showing up at our door on Halloween, but do we have rules in place that make that illegal in Illinois? Well, in some places the answer is definitely yes.
Do You Know About Illinois’ Weird Way Of Taxing Halloween Candy?
If you've been an Illinois resident for any length of time, I'm sure you realize that our state's leaders have never met a tax they didn't like or want to impose upon citizens. That would include a strange bit of logic when it comes to the taxability of Halloween candy.
Illinois Look Up: The Last Super Moon Of 2023 Is This Week
2023's allotment of Super Moons is about to run out. We've already had three of them this year, including two in a single month, but this week's Harvest Moon Super Moon is the last one we get until 2024.
Illinois’ First Snowfall? It Will Probably Be On This Date
It's around this time every year in Illinois that we remember we're going to need those shovels and scrapers whether we like it or not, and probably sooner rather than later.