BOONE COUNTY, Ill. (WIFR) – Four stateline bars are moving on in a statewide online competition after thousands of votes pushed local businesses into the next round of voting.

The bracket-style competition, organized by Dive Bar Road Trip, started with 205 nominated bars across Illinois. Founder Chris Whillock says 6,301 votes came in during the opening round, narrowing the competition down to only 32.

Whillock says the competition helps mom and pop shops thrive.

“We all like the little bars. We want them to stay in business,” said Whillock. “It will bring people through the door.”

Representing the stateline in the next round are The Stumble Inn, Mortimer’s Roadhouse, Buchanan Street Pub and Stumpy’s Pub.

At the Stumble Inn in Capron, co-owner Bjorn Nebergall says making the top 32 puts a spotlight on his business, which people have been supporting for years.

“This place has been special for a long time,” said Nebergall. “It feels good. We kind of know where we stand in the community. We have a lot of good customers, a lot of loyal regulars that come in here.”

Nebergall says the food and staff are what make his bar stand out.

“It can be anywhere from a family environment during the day and more adult at night, but it’s definitely a welcoming place for people,” said Nebergall.

Just minutes away in Poplar Grove, Mortimer’s Roadhouse also secured a spot in the top 32. Manager Michelle Burke says she was excited to see that two other Boone County businesses made the list.

“Somebody once called us a diamond in the rough, that we are a hidden gem that most people don’t know, that it’s kind of scary on the outside, but once you get in, you feel right at home,” said Burke.

Burke says Mortimer’s has a lot to offer, like live music, karaoke and even sand volleyball.

In Belvidere, Buchanan Street Pub owner Brandy Reames says the competition helps bring most customers and business through the doors.

“I think that the exposure is absolutely amazing for all of the small businesses, whether it’s on social media or we can throw a party for it, it really gets our names out there,” said Reames.

Reames says many businesses have supported one another throughout the voting process.

“I don’t think it’s so much the competition as it’s just everybody rallying together. I know that there were a bunch of bars that I personally voted for. They voted for us and it’s just fun all the way around,” said Reames.

The next round of voting begins Saturday as bars compete for a place in the Sweet 16.

The Illinois championship round wraps up June 27 at 10 p.m. The winner will earn the title of Illinois Champion before advancing to the national competition next year.

To vote head to Dive Bar Road Trip’s Facebook Page.

PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — Making his second shot for the Illinois top job, 2022 Republican Gubernatorial Nominee Darren Bailey made his case as to why he should replace Gov. JB Pritzker.

Bailey won the Republican nomination in the March primary and will be up against Pritzker on Nov. 3.

Pritzker is seeking a third term. Bailey lost by 13 percentage points in 2022. In that election, Pritzker won Peoria County by two points. Despite that loss, Bailey feels confident in the rematch.

“You learn from mistakes and you put together a plan, said the Southern Illinois farmer. “What really needs to be done here? You know, I think I understood that in 2022. But I did a lot of talking and not enough listening. I’m trying to listen more. We’re being very well received with that, especially in Chicago.”

Bailey was a guest on WMBD News On the Record to discuss his priorities if elected the 44th governor of Illinois.

Energy costs

Ameren recently announced a temporary increase in the power supply charge on utility bills over the summer, from 8.7 cents per kilowatt-hour to 11.326 cents, starting June 1.

For better understanding, a refrigerator uses 1 to 2 kilowatts per day, according to Appliance Update.

Jim Chilsen with Citizens Utility Board says data centers are one of the main drivers for the price hike.

Bailey said that it is just poor planning. He said clean energy initiatives passed by Democrats have shut down coal power plants, causing an energy shortage.

“When I started serving as a state representative in 2019, we were exporting energy. We had everything that we need,” he said. “Today, we are literally having to import energy because we’ve shut down reliable energy.”

He said the state needs to expand its energy production by adding more coal, natural gas, and nuclear power plants.

“Otherwise, we’re just simply going to push people out of the state because of affordability,” he said. “We’re not going to be able to lure the businesses in that are going to create the jobs because they simply can’t afford it.”

The Hammond Bears?

The Chicago Bears have tried to make a deal with the state of Illinois to build a stadium in Arlington Heights. The NFL team has asked for multiple tax subsidies, including a reduction in property taxes.

However, Illinois lawmakers failed to pass and the Bears have said they are moving ahead with planning to move to Hammond, Indiana. Hoosier lawmakers passed $1 billion in taxpayer subsidies to woo the team.

Bailey said he wants to speak with the Chicago-based NFL team before the general election. He said Illinois Democratic leadership has screwed up.

 “They’ve got a plan. JB Pritzker doesn’t have a plan,” he said.

Bailey said Pritzker mismanaged COVID-19 relief funds, federal dollars used to support states during the global pandemic. While Bailey didn’t specify what deal he would have made in Pritzker’s shoes, he said the Democratic governor could have used some of the COVID-19 relief funds to fund a stadium.

“We simply can’t afford what Indiana is offering, and to offer just a simple tax break, as has been done with the history of Illinois, well, that’s why our property taxes are so high. That’s why people and businesses are leaving Illinois and going to states like Indiana,” he said.

Fiscal responsibility

Bailey would like to provide tax relief to residents, and he said he’d do so by cutting the Illinois budget.

The 2027 fiscal year budget for the state totals $55.9 billion, a slight increase over this year’s $55.1 billion. Bailey said he wants to go through the budget and find programs, or “waste,” to cut.

“People need transparency, and the state government needs accountability. So bringing that to them, busting open this budget, finding, just finding the waste, because I know it’s full of it,” he said.

“Showing that to the people, making sure that they understand where their money is going because they’re not going to be happy about it,” he continued.

Bailey’s campaign

His second run for governor was shortly met with heartbreak, after learning his son, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren died in a helicopter crash in Montana.

Despite the loss, Bailey continued his run.

“Spending two months just soaking up family. Just soaking up this time and having a, you know, a new outlook on life, the brevity of it, the importance of it,” he said.

Another revelation for Bailey was when he went through his late son’s computer. “He was actually contemplating, unbeknownst to Cindy and I, a possible run for a state rep or a state Senate in 28,” he said.

That for him, that was all he needed.

Now he’s continuing with his campaign in hopes of becoming the 44th governor of Illinois.

“More bureaucracy, more legislation, more mandates. Illinois doesn’t need that,” he said. “The taxpayers need relief. That comes through a commonsense budget that everyone can decipher, see the details, understand that, and that’s what I propose, making that the top priority.”