Joe Crain

This is #MedalOfHonor Day. The ALPLM is privileged to have several in its collection. Now on display is one awarded posthumously to Andrew Jackson Smith, an African American soldier in the #CivilWar who was initially denied the honor. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Ja…

FORECAST FUNNIES! The forecast said to dress for the 70s this afternoon…

Sensory-Friendly Evening at the ALPLM 💙 Adjusted lighting, lower sound, reduced effects + quiet space for a more comfortable visit. 🗓 April 2 | 4–6 PM 🎟 Free | No registration 🔗 ow.ly/UL1W50Yyg1l

Happy Breakfast Club Day! 🏫🎒 On March 24, 1984, five students walked into Saturday detention and walked out as "The Breakfast Club!" To celebrate, some of our Troopers brought the nostalgia to life by reenacting a few of the film’s most iconic dance moves at ISP Des Plaines Headquarters, the very place where much of the movie was originally filmed. 🎵 Credit: Don't You (Forget About Me) by Simple Minds

GO SALUKIS!!! I started the day with fellow @SIUC Salukis at the morning coffee break at Harvest Market - Springfield, sponsored by @wsiutv . It’s the kick-off event for the day long “Saluki Takeover” of the Capital City.

Special guests at @ALPLM last week -- Miss Illinois Nitsaniyah Fitch, Miss Illinois Teen Lillie Brown, and Miss America Cassie Donegan, Miss Illinois. They took a real interest in Abraham Lincoln and were generous in posing for pics with our staff and visitors!

@BBarn64 Your call was great, but Coach Rafferty’s “Take me to the Balkens, please!” was on another level.

Fun night !

OH MY GOODNESS THAT ALMOST WENT IN! 🤯 NEBRASKA HOLDS ON 😱 #MarchMadness @HuskerMBB

Heroes come and go. But legends like @KentPavelka live forever.

@MihillChris @bariweiss Unbelievable— well, given Bari’s short reign of failure on the TV, not entirely unbelievable.

Everything @bariweiss touches turns to 💩

Noah Eagle has the Westwood One Radio call of Siena-Duke, on the same row as his dad, Ian. Ian Eagle: "The best part has been how many people have come up to me and said today, 'Yeah, I just met your brother.' That's been a confidence builder." 🏀🎙️

This is the day I’ve dreamed of for three years. Stefan finally gets his opportunity to showcase his incredible talent. Cardinals fans, you won’t be disappointed! To my best friend in the whole world: WELCOME TO THE SHOW!!!

@BradGalli Best news I’ve heard all day! @jasonbenetti is tops!

Jason Benetti will now be calling both the Michigan and Michigan State NCAA Tournament games on TV on Thursday. He is stepping in for Brian Anderson, who is under the weather.

@BBarn64 It would be fun to hear the two of you calling a game! ONIONS!!!

Enjoyed visiting with Bill Raftery !

19 years ago, a high school basketball coach put his team manager into a game for the final four minutes. The kid had never played a single minute of competitive basketball in his life. He scored 20 points. Jason McElwain was diagnosed with severe autism at age two. He didn’t speak until he was five. He couldn’t chew solid food until he was six. He wore a nappy for most of his early childhood. As a baby, he was rigid, wouldn’t make eye contact, and hid in corners away from other children. He tried out for his school basketball team every year and got cut every time. Too small. Too slight. Barely 5’6 and about 54 kilograms. But he loved the game so much that his mum called the school and asked if there was any way he could be involved. The coach created a team manager role for him. For three years, McElwain showed up to every practice and every game. He wore a shirt and tie on match days. He ran drills, handed out water, kept stats, and cheered every basket like he’d scored it himself. On 15 February 2006, the last home game of his final school year, the coach let him suit up in a proper jersey and sit on the bench. With four minutes left and a comfortable lead, the coach sent him in. His first shot missed. His second missed. Then something shifted. He hit a three-pointer. Then another. Then another. His teammates stopped shooting entirely and just kept passing him the ball. He hit six three-pointers and a two-pointer. 20 points in four minutes. The highest scorer in the game. When the final buzzer went, the entire crowd rushed the court and lifted him onto their shoulders. His mum tapped the coach on the shoulder, in tears. “This is the nicest gift you could have ever given my son.” McElwain won the ESPY Award for Best Moment in Sports that year, beating out some of the biggest names in professional sport. He’s 36 now. He works at a local supermarket, coaches basketball, has run 17 marathons including five Boston Marathons, and travels the country speaking about never giving up. When asked about that night, his coach still gets emotional. “For him to come in and seize the moment like he did was certainly more than I ever expected. I was an emotional wreck.”

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Here are some Irish-themed songs from our huge collection of 19th century sheet music. The first two are about supporting #AbrahamLincoln and the #CivilWar. The third is about overcoming adversity.

TOP O’ THE MORNING! Enjoyed corn beef hash and eggs this morning at D'arcy's Pint for the annual St. Patrick’s Day ☘️ AM Springfield broadcast on @WMAYNews — complete with the St. Andrew’s Society bagpipe corps stopping by for a live performance!

I’ve taken control of @ClassicKymo this afternoon to play the soundtrack to your weekend — including triple plays from your favorite rockers! Listen with the Classic KYMO App 📱 the livestream at classickymo.com 💻 or ask your smart speaker to play Classic KYMO 🔊

ALL ABOARD!!! Today’s the day for the Springfield Model Railroad Club’s Train Show in the Orr Building at the Illinois State Fair.

@BBarn64 On the radio — hitting the road from Mom & Dad’s in Carbondale at 2pm and heading back to Springfield. Go Illini!!!

Let us know how and where you are listening today from College Park !