Heather Beckley and Lisa Damron with Mt. Vernon Tourism and Festivals Inc. respectively, join Big Jake's show to chat about Scoopie Night at Mt. Vernon's Cuvler's as well as this weekend's Market Days & Pawfest events.

Jo Dee joins Big Jake for a second interview ahead of her show in Nashville at the Washington County Fair. This time around, Jake and Jo Dee talk her faith and it's importance alongside her career choice. Would she ever do a collaborative album featuring her hits sung alongside newer country artists. Were there ever any songs that she passed on that would go on to become huge hits, you'll be shocked at the big one she passed up. And so much more!

After a widely successful 2023 concert, The Washington County Fair is proud to announce that headlining the fair concert on July 10th, is Jo Dee Messina, a country artist who has posted nine No. 1 hits, sixteen Top 40 songs, sold over five million albums worldwide, and has been honored by the ACM Awards, CMA Awards, and Grammy Awards.

Opening for Messina is Walker Montgomery, who has been chosen as an Artist to Watch by Country Now, Music Mayhem Magazine, Sounds Like Nashville, and The Boot. The Country Next pick by Country Now is a rising singer/songwriter who knows a thing or two about family tradition, but he’s an artist making his own legacy. The 21-year-old son of John Michael Montgomery and nephew of Montgomery Gentry’s Eddie Montgomery pedigree is matched only by his country passion.

The concert will take place at the Washington County Fairgrounds in Nashville, Illinois. Gates will open at 6 PM, and the show will begin at 7 PM. Tickets (if available) and show information can be found at thewashingtoncountyfair.com!

Students from all walks of life come together to learn and compete while helping their community. But they also have a lot of fun while doing it. A common theme in these nominations was just how fun it was to be a part of the Mt. Vernon FFA chapter. It’s a place where you can make lifelong friends while still working hard and learning valuable skills that will be carried on later in life. A high performing and highly active chapter, students from Mt. Vernon are always out and about in the community. Throughout the year they do over 250 activities and over 30 different community events, while still making time to lend a helping hand. Students have volunteered at various events from The Lights at Cedarhurst to helping the Jefferson County Farm Bureau and everything in between. They also host a Safety Day Camp to help teach Jefferson County students about farming and agricultural safety awareness. Congrats to one of our FFA Chapter of The Month Finalists, The Mt. Vernon Township High School FFA! Thank you to Elias Mullinax, Mt. Vernon FFA President & Morgan Payne, Mt. Vernon FFA Vice President for joining the show this morning.