The 618 Now

Concert Summer Nights are right around the corner

In this episode, we discuss:

• Summer concert series coming to the Downtown District! 
  • Family friendly concerts where you can bring your own chair and hang out for hours of entertainment
• Podcast Partner, The Bike Surgeon and their Tues night rides
• Calendar:
  • Sat, March 25 Electronics Recycling 9am-noon
  • Thurs, Marcy 30 @ 7pm OTHS Winter Guard Community Performance @ Milburn Campus
  • OTHS Spring Musical Beauty and the Beast
    • Fri, 3/31 @ 7pm
    • Sat, 4/1 @ 2pm + @7pm
    • Sun, @ 2pm  
  • We interviewed Reilly Bickle, Gage Williams and Abby Samuelson about their time spent on the production! 
  • Purchase tickets here- they're selling out quickly!

Have an idea for a podcast topic? Submit it here! Follow us on Instagram @The618Now.

You will love this new map!

In this episode, we discuss:

• O'Fallon's new interactive development map- keep up with what's being built around town!
• the city's On Demand app which is a convenient way for residents to submit service requests directly to the city. Requests may be submitted online or using a smartphone. Search your app store for "OFallon on Demand." 
• our weekly podcast partner, Vine Street Market @ OFallon Station!
• On the calendar:
  • Friday, March 17th @ 5pm Downtown District St. Patrick's Day Grub Crawl
  • Sat, March 18th 9am-noon, Vine Street Micro Market @ OFallon Station
  • Wed, March 22 @ 10am Shiloh's Meeting with the Mayor
  • Friday March 31- Sunday April 2 OTHS' Beauty and the Beast @ Milburn Campus. Purchase tickets here. 
  • Sat, April 1st VFW Post 805's 0.1K Race

Have an idea for a podcast topic? Submit it here! Follow us on Instagram @The618Now.

For the first time in state history...

In this episode, we discuss:

• OTHS Lady Panthers won their first State Championship title and it was a CRAZY good game! Watch highlights here. Great job team!
• The Barn, a new sports and recreation complex coming to O'Fallon
• Podcast Partner, Carrollton Bank!
• the calendar: 
  • Thurs, March 16 @ 6:30pm OFallon Candidates' Forum (25 days until the April 4th election!)
  • Friday, March 17 Downtown District Grub Crawl
  • Sat, March 18 Vine Street Micro Market 9am-noon
  • March 31 - April 2 OTHS Spring Musical of Beauty and the Beast at the Milburn Campus. Purchase tickets here.

Have an idea for a podcast topic? Submit it here! Follow us on Instagram @The618Now.

The one about farmers’ markets and fighter jets!

In this episode, we discuss:

• Tomorrow (Sat, March 4th) is the first Micro Market of the season at O'Fallon Station!
• why we're hearing so many fighter jet aircraft over the skies of O'Fallon and Shiloh!
• The Scott Air Force Base Air Show is coming up May 13-14th- over 100,000 visitors are expected to attend the 2-day event

On the calendar:

• Sat, March 4 9am-noon Vine Street Market Micro Market at O'Fallon Station
• Sat, March 4 6pm The Great OTHS Puzzle Race at the Smiley Campus
• Sun, March 5 8am Top of the Morning 5K race at Toolen's Running Start
• Thurs, March 9 6:30pm Shiloh Trustee Candidate Forum 
• Thurs, March 16 6:30pm OFallon Candidate Forum
• Sat, March 11 Doors open at 6pm, trivia starts at 6:30pm OTHS Band Booster Movie Night Trivia 

Have an idea for a podcast topic? Submit it here! Follow us on Instagram @The618Now.

Stealth community group helping students flourish

In this episode, we discuss:

• The high school Endowment Fund and it's recent special round of grant funding to help various students and organizations
• Friday, May 5th is the Endowment Fund's largest Fundraiser
• The Chamber is hosting our annual 8th Grade Career Fair on April 24th- join about 70 other career role models in meeting with students throughout the day to teach them about your industry or job! Contact Debbie, director@ofallonchamber.com,  if you have a unique or interesting job and want to participate.
• Sat, Feb 25th is the Polar Plunge in support of Special Olympics. Join the O'Fallon Police Dept's team and take the plunge to help athletes!
• Friday, March 3rd is the Estelle Kampmeyer PTO's Glow Bingo Fundraiser
• Sunday, March 5th is the Top of the Morning 5K at Toolen's Running Start

Have an idea for a podcast topic? Submit it here! Follow us on Instagram @The618Now.

When an empty bowl raises $10,000

In this episode, we discuss:

• The O'Fallon Woman's Club Empty Bowl lunch coming up on Wed, Feb 22 from 11am-2pm at Gateway Classic Cars. This is the social event of the year and raises $10,000 for the O'Fallon Food Pantry.
• Tickets can be purchased for $10 at Wolfersberger Funeral Home, FurChild, Carrollton Bank or at the door during the event. 
• Sat, Feb 22nd is the Polar Plunge in support of Special Olympics of Southern Illinois. Join the largest fundraising team in the state, the O'Fallon Police Department, by either plunging or just donating :)

Have an idea for a podcast topic? Submit it here! Follow us on Instagram @The618Now.

Celebrating our 100th episode!

In this episode, we discuss:

• our 100th episode!!
• energy rates in O'Fallon and Shiloh
• Super Bowl fun facts!
• Wed, Feb 15th @ 5:30pm is the Chamber's Book Club hosted by Matt Smallheer. 

Have an idea for a podcast topic? Submit it here! Follow us on Instagram @The618Now.

Artificial intelligence: business friend or foe?

In this episode, we discuss:

• artificial intelligence and how businesses are using it
• tax season is underway and the AARP offers free tax preparation services through the O'Fallon Public Library. You do not have to be a senior citizen or a card holder of the library to use this service!
• Friday & Sat Feb 3 and 4th: Bank of O'Fallon Shootout at OTHS. We covered it and all of the excitement of this year's talent in last week's episode. 
• Fri, Feb 10th is the Sweetheart's Dance (formerly the Father/Daughter dance) at the Regency Conf center. Ticket price includes dinner, flowers, dancing and a professional photo. 
• Sat, Feb 11th at noon is a corn hole tournament at the VFW sponsored by the Friends of Scott SCCS Rotary Club. 
• Wed, Feb 22nd 11am-2pm is the Empty Bowl Lunch hosted by the O'Fallon Woman's Club in support of the O'Fallon Food Pantry.

Have an idea for a podcast topic? Submit it here! Follow us on Instagram @The618Now.

Top talent coming to OFallon

In this episode, we discuss:

• Two of the top nationally ranked high school basketball players are coming to Bank of O'Fallon's Shootout Feb 3 and 4th. It's a huge community event! Tickets will sell out!
• #1 IL team will attempt to secure bragging rights against the #1 MO team too!
• OTHS now offers free 24/7 tutoring for students
• Sat, Jan 28th is Brian Keller Day in the Downtown District- enjoy a downtown trivia walk and art/photograph expo beginning at 1pm
• Tues, Jan 31st is the Band Boosters Skating fundraiser at SkateCity from 6-8pm, $7 admission and $4 rentals
• Thurs, Feb 2nd is a job fair with O'Fallon Parks and Rec 
• Vine Street Market at OFallon Station is now accepting vendor applications for the upcoming market season!
• Summer camps for Parks and Recreation are filling up quickly- consider signing up the kids now before spots sell out.

Have an idea for a podcast topic? Submit it here! Follow us on Instagram @The618Now.

Who spent $1M in just 2 weekends?

In this episode, we discuss:

• visitors to the Family Sports Park had an estimated $1M of economic impact over 2 weekends this past fall and over $2.6M in the last 4 months- money that goes into our local economy to support businesses
• a few good deeds that helped out elementary students recently
• Sat, Jan 28th is Brian Keller Day in the Downtown District
• Friday and Sat, Feb 3 and 4th is the Bank of O'Fallon Shootout at OTHS- a great community event that draws top basketball talent throughout the state. 
• Wed, Feb 15 @ 5:30pm is the Chamber Book club hosted by Matt Smallheer at The Tye-Dyed Iguana. We're reading The Pumpkin Plan! 

Have an idea for a podcast topic? Submit it here! Follow us on Instagram @The618Now.