Latest / WIXN AM 1460 - Shaw Local Radio / Talk Line 09-21-2026: Rock Falls Tourism's Melinda Jones talks taco throwdown, lumberjacks, and more

Transcript

Talk Line 09-21-2026: Rock Falls Tourism's Melinda Jones talks taco throwdown, lumberjacks, and more · WIXN AM 1460 - Shaw Local Radio

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: Hey there, Sauk Valley. Welcome back here with the Waking
• 0:02
  Speaker 1: Crew here on FM 95.1 and AM 1460 WIXN. It's
• 0:07
  Speaker 1: 816 on your Monday morning. Happy start to the new week.
• 0:11
  Speaker 1: And kicking off today for a talk line, Melinda Jones
• 0:14
  Speaker 1: is here from Rock Falls Tourism here to tell us
• 0:17
  Speaker 1: all about an event that I've been letting you know
• 0:19
  Speaker 1: about but I'm excited for, and that's the Taco Throwdown Festival. Melinda,
• 0:24
  Speaker 1: take that away.
• 0:25
  Speaker 2: Oh my gosh, this is our third year. It's going
• 0:27
  Speaker 2: to be a blast as always. We have the taco
• 0:30
  Speaker 2: eating contest. We have the vendors doing the best taco
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  Speaker 2: competing for that. And we have Zawa Live and DJ
• 0:36
  Speaker 2: Plone and all kinds of vendors. So it's a blast.
• 0:40
  Speaker 1: Yeah. I mean, that's music, wrestling, tacos. You know, whether
• 0:46
  Speaker 1: it's the contest or getting to sample all these different
• 0:49
  Speaker 1: tacos and so cheaply at that. Yes. I mean, talk
• 0:53
  Speaker 1: about a good day where you're just going to go
• 0:55
  Speaker 1: have some good food. You're going to leave full, have
• 0:57
  Speaker 1: some great entertainment. And I know, what I want to say,
• 1:01
  Speaker 1: the last time you were in here, there had been
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  Speaker 1: maybe one spot for the contest. I've got to imagine
• 1:06
  Speaker 1: that's filled by now, right?
• 1:07
  Speaker 2: Yep, for the taco eating. All 10 slots are filled.
• 1:10
  Speaker 1: Because I didn't know, I've let everybody know tentatively. I
• 1:13
  Speaker 1: was like, last time I spoke with you, there was one.
• 1:16
  Speaker 1: I was like, so I don't know for sure if
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  Speaker 1: it is, but I've been telling everybody. So there it is.
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  Speaker 1: It's official. It is. Our taco titans are locked in.
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  Speaker 2: They are. And they're ready, man. They come in and
• 1:26
  Speaker 2: pay their fee to get in. And they're like, oh,
• 1:29
  Speaker 2: I can do this. I can do this. So it's fun.
• 1:32
  Speaker 1: So did last year's champion, do you know if they
• 1:35
  Speaker 1: registered this year?
• 1:36
  Speaker 2: He did not. So it's going to be a local.
• 1:38
  Speaker 1: Because that individual, you said, what, 16 tacos last year?
• 1:42
  Speaker 2: 16 tacos in 10 minutes.
• 1:44
  Speaker 1: Oh, my God. I don't think I could do that
• 1:46
  Speaker 1: in two hours. No, I know. Let alone 10 minutes. Yeah. Oh,
• 1:51
  Speaker 1: my goodness. You got some emergency Pepto on the side there. Yeah, right.
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  Speaker 1: You know. That's a high bar to set. Although, since
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  Speaker 1: the reigning champ isn't there, maybe you won't have to
• 2:01
  Speaker 1: finish that many to claim this year's. But I hope
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  Speaker 1: you're practicing because that's the kind of heat that you're
• 2:07
  Speaker 1: going to see at these things. But just so cool. And,
• 2:11
  Speaker 1: I mean, and then, again, getting to try all the,
• 2:13
  Speaker 1: you know, the different vendors' tacos, the live music, the wrestling. Yeah.
• 2:17
  Speaker 1: it's just a fantastic day and you see this the
• 2:20
  Speaker 1: popularity that's just growing more.
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  Speaker 2: And more it does i mean who doesn't love tacos
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  Speaker 2: so you know that's the biggest thing and then zawa
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  Speaker 2: live they're huge so they'll do two performances one at
• 2:30
  Speaker 2: five and one at seven and those stands down there
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  Speaker 2: will be packed so get there early if you want
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  Speaker 2: a close-up seat yeah so.
• 2:37
  Speaker 1: And i'm glad i think we've had our share of
• 2:39
  Speaker 1: the rain it kind of got packed in over the
• 2:41
  Speaker 1: last week i know knocking on that as i say
• 2:43
  Speaker 1: it but um Definitely looking a lot better for that,
• 2:46
  Speaker 1: but I've got to tell you, I'd attend this thing
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  Speaker 1: in the rain if it was. I think a lot
• 2:51
  Speaker 1: of people would.
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  Speaker 2: Yeah, just get your little umbrellas out there, grab your tacos,
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  Speaker 2: and go watch Zawa, because I don't think Zawa would
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  Speaker 2: stop if it was raining or not.
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  Speaker 1: No, they're nuts. They would go for it, and it's
• 3:03
  Speaker 1: always a fantastic show. Anything else folks should know about
• 3:06
  Speaker 1: this event, Melinda?
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  Speaker 2: So we've got eight tackle vendors that will be making
• 3:11
  Speaker 2: the $ 2 sample tackles that you can purchase. You'll vote
• 3:13
  Speaker 2: for them via QR code or you'll come to the
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  Speaker 2: Rock Falls Tourism tent and you can vote there just
• 3:19
  Speaker 2: by a ticket. And then I do want to let
• 3:21
  Speaker 2: everybody know the tackle eating contest. We had some complaints
• 3:24
  Speaker 2: last year about people couldn't see because there's hundreds of
• 3:27
  Speaker 2: people watching the tackle eating contest. Thanks to Boss Roofing,
• 3:30
  Speaker 2: we now have a trailer. So those contestants will be
• 3:32
  Speaker 2: sitting on trailers so everybody will be able to see.
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  Speaker 2: So that's a good thing.
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  Speaker 1: Awesome.
• 3:37
  Speaker 2: And then, you know, there's extra stuff besides the ninth
• 3:41
  Speaker 2: hole mini golf. He'll have his trailer out there so
• 3:44
  Speaker 2: you can play mini golf. We've got a car racing
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  Speaker 2: that's going to be out there. You can do that.
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  Speaker 2: We've got Miss Rosie's face painting. So there's a lot
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  Speaker 2: of extra stuff that you can do as well. So
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  Speaker 2: good for the family.
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  Speaker 1: Yeah, a full afternoon of activities. You get your little
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  Speaker 1: ones out there. You wear them out. Maybe you'll wear
• 4:01
  Speaker 1: yourself out and go have a good nap afterwards. I
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  Speaker 1: think I would after a day of tacos and wrestling
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  Speaker 1: and activities. Go home, take a good nap, throw something
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  Speaker 1: on for the kiddos, let them chill. I love it.
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  Speaker 1: And it's starting to feel more like fall. This is
• 4:14
  Speaker 1: moving in. And so we're just going to slightly touch
• 4:16
  Speaker 1: and remind folks because you'll be back with more details
• 4:18
  Speaker 1: on the Lumberjack Show.
• 4:20
  Speaker 2: Yep. So that's October 3rd at Selmy's. And we have
• 4:24
  Speaker 2: Lumberjack Enterprises. They're real lumberjacks. And they come from Minnesota.
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  Speaker 2: And they'll do three shows, 11, 1, and 3 o'clock.
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  Speaker 2: And then at 2 o'clock, we'll have the Women's Skillet
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  Speaker 2: Throwing Contest, which we did that last year. So it's
• 4:37
  Speaker 2: the second year for that. And always a fun day
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  Speaker 2: at Selmy's.
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  Speaker 1: Oh, yeah, absolutely. And it's not too early, you know,
• 4:45
  Speaker 1: talking about this. October 3rd is around the corner. I mean, oh,
• 4:48
  Speaker 1: my gosh. Yeah. Me and you are going to be talking, what,
• 4:52
  Speaker 1: Halloween and then Christmas before long here. I know. Yeah,
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  Speaker 1: I know. I haven't started Christmas shopping. I don't think
• 5:00
  Speaker 1: my wife has either, and that's usually a late start
• 5:02
  Speaker 1: for her already at this point of the year. So
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  Speaker 1: we'll shore up that difference somehow. Make you feel like
• 5:08
  Speaker 1: you're in a spending spree for others. But speaking of
• 5:12
  Speaker 1: getting ahead and into, you know, Other holiday events, you've
• 5:17
  Speaker 1: still got sign-ups for your Spooktacular event.
• 5:19
  Speaker 2: Yep, so our Spooktacular Halloween Lighted Golf Cart and UTV
• 5:22
  Speaker 2: Parade is October 17th, but we have sign-ups already going.
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  Speaker 2: October 14th is the last day to sign up. That's
• 5:29
  Speaker 2: just so we can have everything tallied up and ready
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  Speaker 2: to go. There are prizes for that, but this is
• 5:36
  Speaker 2: our third year for that as well. We've had 25
• 5:38
  Speaker 2: entries the past two years. I'm looking for more. But
• 5:41
  Speaker 2: it is a fun time, and the spectators that come
• 5:43
  Speaker 2: out to watch that, they love it. They love getting
• 5:46
  Speaker 2: candy and just seeing the creation that everybody does. And
• 5:50
  Speaker 2: we don't just get golf carts and UTVs just from
• 5:53
  Speaker 2: this area. We've had Amboy. We've had Chadwick. We've had Morrison.
• 5:56
  Speaker 2: So we're getting them from everywhere. So it's a fun time,
• 5:59
  Speaker 2: and people really enjoy decorating their UTVs and golf carts.
• 6:03
  Speaker 1: Yeah, I can see how this has been something that's growing.
• 6:06
  Speaker 1: I like hearing other communities just kind of joining up
• 6:09
  Speaker 1: and getting involved in this. Because it's a really cool
• 6:11
  Speaker 1: site to see. I love people's creativity. And so I
• 6:15
  Speaker 1: hope those of you out there who love to go
• 6:17
  Speaker 1: hard are going harder and bigger and better this year.
• 6:20
  Speaker 1: It's just the creativity. That's what I love the most.
• 6:25
  Speaker 2: Yeah, totally. So I remember the first year, you know,
• 6:27
  Speaker 2: I was just picturing some little streamers and a couple
• 6:30
  Speaker 2: lights on their car, and they blew me away. When
• 6:32
  Speaker 2: they came by the judges' stand, I was up there,
• 6:34
  Speaker 2: and I was like, oh, you guys did it. You
• 6:37
  Speaker 2: did what I was expecting to have, wanting to have,
• 6:39
  Speaker 2: and you guys went overboard.
• 6:40
  Speaker 1: So I'm just always.
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  Speaker 2: Thrilled with it.
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  Speaker 1: Well, yeah, same here. If you're going to be this
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  Speaker 1: year's winner, get started now. And, of course, where can
• 6:48
  Speaker 1: they sign up?
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  Speaker 2: You can come into Rock Falls Tourism and sign up
• 6:52
  Speaker 2: at our office, 603 West 10th Street. Or if you
• 6:54
  Speaker 2: go to our annual events on our website. The forms
• 6:57
  Speaker 2: are on there. There's two different forms. If you have
• 6:59
  Speaker 2: a Rock Falls permit, off-highway permit, you'll get that. If
• 7:02
  Speaker 2: you're not from Rock Falls or don't have that highway permit,
• 7:06
  Speaker 2: then just get another one. It's called temporary, and then
• 7:09
  Speaker 2: you can ride around Rock Falls all day that day
• 7:11
  Speaker 2: on your temporary permit.
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  Speaker 1: Awesome. And once again, if you didn't listen, if you
• 7:16
  Speaker 1: didn't hear it, how long do they have?
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  Speaker 2: They have until October 14th.
• 7:20
  Speaker 1: It'll be here before you know it. I know hearing
• 7:23
  Speaker 1: anything that sounds like weeks away, but you Don't put
• 7:25
  Speaker 1: it off. You'll end up forgetting and then scrambling. And
• 7:27
  Speaker 1: do I got time? Don't do that to yourself.
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  Speaker 2: No, no.
• 7:31
  Speaker 1: Anything else you want to share this morning, Melinda?
• 7:33
  Speaker 2: I just want to give a shout out to my sponsors. Absolutely.
• 7:36
  Speaker 2: So our top tier sponsors are Johnson Oil, Sauk Valley Bank,
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  Speaker 2: CGH Rock Falls Medical Center, Holiday Inn Express and Suites,
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  Speaker 2: Low Share Heating and Air Conditioning, River Country 101, Arthur's
• 7:47
  Speaker 2: Garden Deli, Boss Roofing, Siding Experts, Candlelight Inn, Community State
• 7:52
  Speaker 2: Bank of Rock Falls, Extreme Dumpsters, Kunis Auto Group of Sterling,
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  Speaker 2: Babylonian Express Care, Selmy's Greenhouse and Family Farms, Sterling Federal Bank,
• 8:00
  Speaker 2: Total Construction Services, and United Metal Buildings, as well as
• 8:04
  Speaker 2: all the other tiers. We very much appreciate them. So
• 8:06
  Speaker 2: we can put on Taco Throwdown and Lynn Lumberjack's show.
• 8:09
  Speaker 2: So it's very important.
• 8:11
  Speaker 1: Yeah, it could not happen without these things. So yes,
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  Speaker 1: a big, big thank you and shout out to all
• 8:17
  Speaker 1: the sponsors for helping make these things possible. And of
• 8:20
  Speaker 1: course to you and everyone at Rock Falls Tourism for
• 8:22
  Speaker 1: being the brain children and the workers to put it forward,
• 8:26
  Speaker 1: whether it's creating it, arranging it, executing it, working, finding
• 8:30
  Speaker 1: sponsors to make sure these are things that happen. It's
• 8:33
  Speaker 1: a lot of work to have fun in the Sauk Valley,
• 8:36
  Speaker 1: but thankfully Melinda and the team are the ones doing
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  Speaker 1: it and you The rest of us just get to
• 8:40
  Speaker 1: show up and enjoy.
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  Speaker 2: And thank you to our volunteers, too. I mean, we
• 8:43
  Speaker 2: can't do it without our volunteers. And we need a
• 8:45
  Speaker 2: few more on Friday if anybody wants to volunteer.
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  Speaker 1: There you go. You might have something to do with
• 8:50
  Speaker 1: your Friday morning. Be a part of it, not just
• 8:52
  Speaker 1: a spectator. Well, Melinda, thank you once again for coming on,
• 8:56
  Speaker 1: sharing all the details about the fun in Rock Falls,
• 8:58
  Speaker 1: and for all the hard work that you and everyone
• 9:00
  Speaker 1: does at Rock Falls Tourism, of course, with sponsors and
• 9:02
  Speaker 1: volunteers to make these things happen. We do appreciate it.
• 9:05
  Speaker 2: Thank you so much.