Southeastern Illinois College in Harrisburg has picked up new hands-on training equipment through a statewide giveaway. The school received a 2026 Can-Am Defender HD11 side-by-side, valued at more than 24 thousand dollars, through the Can-Am for a Cause program. The vehicle was secured after a nomination from Car Corral of Carmi and will be used in the college’s PowerSports Technology program. Instructor Ralph Boots says the addition gives students real-world experience with modern engines, electronics, and diagnostic systems they’ll see on the job. Only two vehicles were awarded across Illinois, and school officials say the donation strengthens workforce training as demand grows for skilled technicians.
Ed Histed
Ed launched his radio career in 1975 and has spent more than five decades in the broadcasting industry. During that time, he has served in a wide range of roles including Air Personality, News Director, Sales Manager, Operations Manager, and General Manager at numerous radio stations in various markets across the country. Beyond on-air and management responsibilities, Ed has also worked extensively on the technical side of broadcasting. His background includes RF engineering and information technology, with particular experience configuring digital automation systems and remote voice-tracking platforms used by stations across the country. Ed was also among a select group of industry professionals invited by Google to its California headquarters following the company’s acquisition of Scott Studios. He was one of just 12 broadcasters nationwide chosen to participate in discussions and provide input during the design and rollout of Google’s digital broadcast automation platform. Although the majority of Ed’s career—spanning roughly four decades—was rooted in music radio, he transitioned into news and information programming in 2012. He says the move into spoken-word broadcasting was a natural evolution after decades of experience in multiple areas of the industry.