Riley O'Neil has logged more hours behind a microphone than any other Rockford radio personality, starting out with his hiring at WROK in February of 1983. He’s also the longest-tenured morning show host in WROK's 100-year history, with 22 years as the host of the WROK Morning Show. He’s a multi award-winning commercial producer, voice-over artist, and much sought after product and service endorser for multiple local businesses. In addition to hosting the WROK Morning Show with Joe Dredge, Riley also writes for 1440WROK.com, covering everything from Illinois' best local restaurants, to some of the wildest and funniest things Illinois residents have gotten themselves into, and everything in-between.
Riley O'Neil
Here’s When (And How) They’ll Dye Chicago’s River Green
Many things just scream St. Patrick's day; lots of green clothing, lots and lots of green beer, shamrocks, parades, corned beef and cabbage, and of course, the traditional dyeing of the Chicago River. Here's when and how Chicago authorities plan to make the river turn green.
Illinois Shelter: Name A Litterbox After Your Ex For Valentine’s!
Why take the high road and forget all about that failed romance when you can name a litterbox or a cockroach after the person who broke your heart? Why indeed.
Check Out These Illinois Animals On The Endangered Species List
There are far more endangered and threatened animal species in Illinois than I have space to write about, but here are a few you may have heard of, and maybe a couple of animals you didn't even know were living in Illinois.
How About A Valentine’s Visit To Illinois’ Most Romantic City?
I know, when you think of romantic Northern Illinois towns and cities you automatically think of New Milford, Chemung, or Elmoville...maybe Loves Park, too. However, there is another place in this part of the state that actually made the list of the 140 Most Romantic Small Towns in America.
Midwest Woman Steals Amish Horse And Buggy From Walmart Lot
There are weird crimes taking place every hour of every day, but swiping an Amish horse and buggy out of a Walmart parking lot may have won the prize for the weirdest crime in the nation last Saturday.
When People Leave Illinois, They Go Mostly To These 3 States
We've been hearing for years about something called "Outbound Migration" here in Illinois, which is a fancy way of saying "kissing a state goodbye." Illinois may no longer be the state leading the nation in outbound migration, but we're near the top. Ever think about where you'd move if you left Illinois?
World’s Largest Christmas Light Maze: About An Hour From Rockford
There's no shortage of cool, fun, and interesting holiday things to do in and around the Rockford area, and the rest of Illinois offers up some great things, too. However, no one will think you and your family are being disloyal to the Land of Lincoln if you hop the border to check out what's going on in Franklin, Wisconsin.
Check The Stats: Illinois Totally Rules Pumpkin Growing Worldwide
As Hall-of-Fame baseball pitcher Dizzy Dean once said, "It ain't bragging if you can do it," and the state of Illinois has the bragging rights and the ability to back it up when it comes to growing pumpkins.
This Toxic Illinois Plant Will Make You Feel Like You’re On Fire
Last week, we told you about an Illinois plant, blooming right now, that may be pretty but it's also deadly. Today we look at a slightly less dangerous Illinois plant that can cause you extreme misery if you touch it.
No Overseas Travel Needed: Check Out The 7 Wonders Of Illinois
There's no need to spend a bunch of money traveling throughout the Greek Isles and Egypt if you're looking for wonders (although that would be fun). The 7 Wonders Of Illinois are all within easy driving distance.